Following our sesshin at San Damiano, we will be closed August 23-29, resuming our normal schedule on Sunday, August 30.
We will also be closed for all daytime events August 12-14 because we are replacing the center’s roof.
Following our sesshin at San Damiano, we will be closed August 23-29, resuming our normal schedule on Sunday, August 30.
We will also be closed for all daytime events August 12-14 because we are replacing the center’s roof.
This summer offers a wonderful opportunity to join together for a four-night, five-day sesshin at the scenic San Damiano Retreat Center, nestled in the hills above Danville. The tranquil setting provides the perfect environment for deepening our practice and connecting with the natural beauty surrounding us. Each participant will enjoy a private room and bath, ensuring comfort and space for personal reflection.
Throughout the retreat, we will spend our days in silence, engaging in sitting zazen and walking meditation. The program includes outdoor walking on the beautiful grounds and hiking paths, offering a chance to experience mindful movement in nature. Oryoki meals will be shared, fostering a sense of community and mindfulness around eating. Dharma talks will be offered, providing guidance and inspiration for our practice.
Next Gen Zen is an affinity group for zen practitioners, meditators in adjacent traditions, and zen-curious newcomers who are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. We meet at Stone Creek every Monday night from 6-7:30
Each meeting starts with a circle in the zendo and a brief check in with another participant. Then we sit Zazen for twenty minutes, including brief meditation instruction. Afterward we read a short Buddhist writing together and break into small groups to discuss. To close out the evening we have tea and cookies in the Sangha room. The small group format of our discussions allows dharma wisdom to arise collectively from the group, and often the deepest insights arise from an offhand comment over tea.
This weekly meeting provides a safe and consistent space for silent reflection and a chance to discuss the challenges of juggling all the demands of this phase of life with peers. There have been occasional social events as well, the most recent being potluck dinners and a movie night.
The group is open and newcomers are always welcome.
Please reach out to info@stonecreekzen.org with any questions, or to be added to our group email list and Discord channel.
Zazen instruction and an orientation to the zendo are now being offered on the first Saturday of every month.
Registration is not required, but if you have questions, please email info@stonecreekzen.org.
Ongoing Yoga Classes
Wednesday 9:30 – 11:00am
In Person and Online
Corina Stoicescu teaches classes in the Viniyoga tradition that focuses on meeting the unique condition of the individual. Using breath centric movement and pose adaptations, she helps students find integrity in all the poses. Classes are accommodating to a large variety of people and designed so students learn about their own bodies and minds and how the tools of yoga can serve them.
Every month when possible, she offers a series where students can experience the cumulative effect of going deeper in a particular subject.
Please, purchase a ticket before coming to class.
Corina Stoicescu first started teaching yoga in 2005. After a bicycle accident, she discovered Viniyoga and and used Buddhism to help heal her body and heart. She is certified as both a 300 hour Viniyoga Wellness Instructor and 500 hour Viniyoga teacher. In 2020, she completed 1000 hour Yoga Therapy training and is certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). Yoga therapy can address specific health and healing needs like preparing for surgery, post surgery care, osteoporosis, digestive issues, Parkinson’s, allergies, trauma, etc. using through the full spectrum of yoga tools. She has been practicing meditation and daily life mindfulness practice since 2002 and uses both the Buddhist and Yogic understanding to inform her perspective.