DECEMBER 2025

No More Dharma Candy: A Deeper Look into the Teachings of the Buddha

A continuing series with Bhante Sujatha

In our practice, it’s easy to reach for what feels sweet and the teachings that comfort and inspire us. But the Buddha’s path was never meant to be candy; it was medicine. True dharma doesn’t just soothe us, it wakes us up.

No More Dharma Candy is a continuing series of conversations and reflections with Bhante Sujatha, offering a deeper exploration of the Buddha’s teachings. These teachings ask something of us, and reveal the truth of life as it is, while pointing toward genuine freedom.

Together we’ll explore how these ancient insights come alive in modern practice, not as ideas to admire, but as ways of seeing that transform how we live, love, and let go.

See the first three dates and topics below. More dates and topics to come! Most sessions will be in person with some remote to accommodate Bhante's traveling schedule.

Session 1 (Remote): The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path - The Way of Liberation

Sunday December 21, 2025 • 3:00-4:30pm • $20

The Buddha’s first and most complete teaching begins not with belief, but with seeing clearly: that life includes suffering, that this suffering has a cause, that its end is possible, and that there is a path leading there.

This way, the Noble Eightfold Path invites us to live with wisdom, integrity, and mindful awareness. Through right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration, we learn to meet life’s challenges with clarity and compassion.

This session explores how these timeless truths can guide us through modern confusion, showing that awakening is not distant or abstract, but a lived experience available in each moment.

Workshop details:

 Remote Session: This workshop will be held remotely. A link to join the session will be included in the confirmation email sent to all registered participants.

Session 2: The Three Marks of Existence: Seeing Life As It Truly Is 

Sunday February 1, 2026 • 3:00-4:30pm • $40

Everything we experience, our bodies, relationships, emotions, and even our beliefs, shares three universal qualities: impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self. This teaching invites us to look deeply into the fabric of reality, loosening our grip on what can never stay the same.

When we see clearly, peace becomes possible not in control, but in understanding. These truths ask us to stop fighting the flow of change and to rest instead in wisdom, which delivers a freedom born of insight, not escape.

Workshop details:

 In-Person Session: This workshop will be held in person at The Yoga Effect.

Session 3: Karma and Intention: The Subtle Art of Cause and Effect 

Sunday April 5, 2026 • 3:00-4:30pm • $40

Karma is one of the most frequently discussed and least understood teachings of the Buddha. It is not about fate, reward, or punishment; it is about intention (cetana). Every thought, word, and action plants a seed. Over time, these seeds ripen into the conditions of our lives and the states of our hearts.

When we see karma clearly, it no longer feels like a system of judgment, but a path of freedom. We begin to recognize that each moment offers a choice to create suffering through confusion or to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and release.

This session explores karma not as a distant moral law, but as an intimate, moment-to-moment practice: understanding how our intentions shape our experience, and how awakening begins with what we choose right now.

Workshop details:

 In-Person Session: This workshop will be held in person at The Yoga Effect.

Cancellation Policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given.
Thank you.

Renew & Reset: New Year's Eve Yoga & Intention Ceremony

Wednesday December 31, 2025 • 4:30-6:00pm • $35

What to expect: 

In addition to the yoga practice, we will engage in guided meditation to help center your mind and heart. Concluding the workshop is a meaningful intention-setting ceremony where you will have the opportunity to reflect on your aspirations for the coming year.

Together, we will create a supportive space to let go of the old and embrace the new with mindfulness and positivity.

Cancellation Policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given. Thank you.

JANUARY 2026

Trust Your Inner Knowing: A Meditative Inquiry & Restorative Yoga Workshop with Sarah Lill

Sunday January 18, 2026 • 3:00-5:00pm • $40

Start the new year by tuning into your body’s natural wisdom.

This two-hour workshop invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with your inner guidance. Through meditation, restorative yoga, and journaling, you’ll cultivate trust in yourself and step into the year ahead, grounded in your natural strengths.

What to Expect:

 🌿 Guided meditation to quiet the noise and foster clarity.

• ✍️ Reflective journaling (journals provided).
• 🕉️ Restorative yoga to rest deeply and embody presence.
• 🍵 A cozy cup of tea to sip as you reflect (tea provided).
• 💫 Beginner-friendly practices to help you start the year grounded in trust and inner strength.

Come as you are! This workshop provides a nurturing space for rest, reflection, and connection. 

Cancellation policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given. Thank you

Pilates 101 with Stacey Wheeler

Saturday January 31, 2026 • 2:00-3:30pm • $40

Align, Breathe & Control: The Fundamentals and Principles of Mat Practice

This introductory workshop offers a supportive space to explore the foundations of Pilates. We’ll begin with a brief overview of the history of Joseph Pilates’ method and the key benefits of a consistent Pilates practice.

What to Expect:

The majority of the session will focus on learning and practicing the core principles that underpin the classical Pilates mat series—including

• Alignment
• Breath work
• Concentration
• Control
• Precision

Participants will be guided through beginner-level exercises from the original 34-exercise mat sequence, with plenty of time for hands-on learning, questions, and individualized support. 

Whether you are brand-new to Pilates or looking to deepen your understanding of the fundamentals, this workshop will help you build confidence, body awareness, and a strong foundation for future practice.

Cancellation policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given. Thank you

FEBRUARY 2026

Yoga Nidra & Sound Healing with Stephanie Bersh

February 27, 2026 • 7:00-8:30pm • $35

Transformative Sound Healing: Experience Yoga Nidra and Crystal Bowls

Come unwind, rejuvenate, and connect with your inner self.

Join us for a transformative and deeply restorative experience combining Yoga Nidra and the healing vibrations of crystal sound bowls. This 90-minute workshop is designed to guide you into a state of profound relaxation, where body and mind can release tension and stress.

Workshop Details and Benefits:

Through the practice of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep), you’ll be gently guided into a meditative state while the harmonious sounds of crystal healing bowls resonate through your being, balancing your energy and promoting inner peace.

• Achieve a state of profound relaxation and stress release.
• Experience energy balancing and inner peace.

This workshop is perfect for all levels, offering a serene space for deep healing and renewal.

Cancellation Policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given. Thank you.

MAY 2026

Bloom Your True Nature: Restorative & Somatic Yoga Workshop with Sarah Lill

Sunday May 17, 2026 • 2:00-3:30pm • $35

Join us for a season of growth, renewal, and awakening—an invitation to reconnect with the wisdom and compassion that already lives within you. Many of us carry self-doubt and self-criticism that quietly hold us back. This restorative and somatic yoga workshop creates a nurturing space to release those doubts, cultivate self-compassion, and reconnect with your authentic self.

Through gentle yoga, somatic awareness practices, and restorative meditation, you’ll soothe tension, quiet the inner critic, and awaken your inner vitality. We’ll also explore simple Ayurvedic-inspired self-care routines to support daily self-kindness and nurture your well-being beyond the mat.

What to Expect:

In this supportive, rejuvenating workshop, you will:

• Release tension and self-judgment with restorative yoga poses designed for deep relaxation.
• Cultivate self-compassion and quiet the mind through somatic practices and meditations.
• Learn practical Ayurvedic tips and self-care rituals to support self-kindness, resilience, and vitality.

Workshop Details:

Open to all levels, this workshop offers the perfect pause to breathe, restore, and step fully into your authentic self. Reserve your spot today and gift yourself a springtime renewal of body, mind, and heart.

*This workshop includes gentle movement and seated meditation.

Cancellation policy: As a courtesy to our teachers who plan their workshops thoughtfully, workshops are non-refundable if less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation is given. Thank you

October 2026

The Yoga Effect presents:
Yoga, Meditation & Hiking Retreat
in Boulder, Co

**Please note: This retreat is now sold out.

To request to be on the waitlist, please email Anna at:
[email protected]

Historic Chautauqua Park, Boulder, Co
Thursday, October 1 | Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Led by Bhante Sujatha, Anna Ottolino & Liz Carpenter 

Pricing:

All rooms include 1 queen bed and 1 private bathroom.

• Single Occupancy: $3,200 per person
  
  
• Discounted pricing: $2,650 per person
  (For couples or friends sharing 1 queen bed)
  
  
• Check-In: Thursday, October 1 at 4:00 pm
  *Please note: The Denver airport is approximately 1 hour from Boulder.
  
  
• Check-Out: Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 am
  
  

Payment Schedule:

• A 50% deposit is required at the time of registration. 

• Remaining balance due August 31, 2026

• Details below
   

Every autumn, for just a fleeting moment, Colorado’s aspens turn to gold, setting the mountains ablaze with breathtaking color. This brief and magical time is one of nature’s most spectacular displays a season of transformation, beauty, and deep reflection. Because this time of year is so sought after, we’re securing this retreat far in advance to ensure a truly special experience.

Nestled in the historic Chautauqua Park, this retreat offers a powerful blend of yoga, meditation, and guided hiking, creating space to reconnect with yourself and nature. Led by Bhante Sujatha, Anna Ottolino, and Liz Carpenter, you’ll be guided through practices that nourish the body, mind, and spirit as you move through the golden-hued trails and stillness of the mountains.

 
General Itinerary:

• Daily yoga and breath-work sessions with Anna and Liz
• Teachings, Meditation, and Wisdom from Bhante Suhatha
  
• Guided hikes among the golden aspens
• Inspiring practices for mindfulness and renewal 
• Accommodations at The Historic Colorado Chautauqua
  
• Included: All meals and transportation to and from the hiking locations
   

Not Included:

• Airfare
• Transportation to and from the airport
  
  

This is more than a retreat, it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature's beauty, deepen your practice and witness a rare, fleeting moment of autumn's brilliance. Because this one of the most sought-after times in Colorado, space is extremely limited. 
 
Reserve your spot ASAP!

To reserve your spot, please email Anna Ottolino at [email protected] for instructions on
submitting your 50% deposit. Thank you