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Join us in community as we look back on the joys and challenges of 2025  through reflection, movement, meditation, and heartfelt conversation.  We'll practice deepening our awareness of the light that continues to guide us — both within and among us. 

Whether you join in person or online, this gathering offers a space to rest in gratitude, wisdom, and connection as we welcome the return of the light, and the  joys, challenges, and the ways our Dharma practice has supported us through it all.

We will begin with a meditation and Dharma talk on Reflecting on Our Dharma Practice led by Ali Hedayat.  After a short break, Laura Liss will guide us through gentle movement, helping us settle into our bodies with calm awareness. We will conclude with chanting, Q&A and group reflection.

• This is a free community event. All donations are warmly appreciated — 100% of contributions will support the Pantry Project and the SLO Homeless Project.
• All are welcome! No prior experience is necessary. 
• While there is no fee to attend, registration is required for planning purposes.
• This retreat will take place at the White Heron Sangha Meditation Center and on Zoom.

Items to bring to the center or to have available at home:

   * A yoga mat, blanket, and if you have them - bolsters/cushions. 
   * Paper/journal and pen/pencil - if you'd like to write down your reflections.

Remember to wear comfortable clothing! Tea and snacks will be provided at the center.

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Ali Hedayat, M.Ed.'s lifelong curiosity led him to explore a range of philosophical traditions, psychological frameworks, and contemplative practices. He began meditating in the mid-1990s and was part of the first facilitator training program at InsightLA, where he deepened both his personal practice and his capacity to support others on their journeys.

For many years, Ali led a biweekly sitting group for InsightLA in the South Bay area and participated in numerous residential retreats across various traditions. His dedication to mindfulness in education also inspired him to conduct workshops— including one at the Los Angeles County Office of Education—focused on bringing contemplative awareness into learning environments.

Now based on California’s Central Coast, Ali continues to practice and facilitate mindfulness programs, sharing his warmth, insight, and decades of experience to help others cultivate presence and balance in their daily lives.

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Along with experience as a psychotherapist, social worker, partner, and mother of three adult children, Laura Liss, MA, MSW is a Certified MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) Instructor, meditation mentor, and yoga teacher. Beginning with Yoga in 2005, Laura expanded her teaching in 2016 to include MBSR courses, mindfulness workshops, and meditation instruction.

In 2017, Laura's practice broadened as she explored Buddhist teachings and participated in residential retreats. She completed the White Heron Sangha Leadership Development Program in 2022 and leads discussion groups, classes, and workshops at both White Heron Sangha and Crows End Retreat, where community and shared practice continue to inspire her.

At the heart of what Laura offers is a deep devotion to guiding people on their mindful journeys, nourished by the quiet strength she discovers when meeting life’s moments with kindness, curiosity, and compassion. You can visit her website slomindful.com.

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