Each month, we invite the teachers at WITHIN to offer wisdom and inspiration around a particular topic. In March, we’re talking about rest: why it’s so important and how to help yourself get more of it.
On March 16th, three of our teachers will get together for an informal conversation on Zoom exploring this month’s theme: WITHIN Meditation teachers Tessa Jonson and Jonathan Borella, and TendWell Collective co-founder Andrea Stern. Whether you join them live 1-2pm PDT / 4-5pm EDT, or listen to the recording afterwards, you’re sure to get a variety of perspectives and ideas to nourish your meditation practice.
Anyone can submit a question ahead of time for the teachers - just fill out this quick form. We also welcome your questions live! Please note, during the conversation we will record both the questions submitted and the responses from the teachers. If you’d prefer that we not mention your name, be sure to indicate that on the form or when you type your question in the Zoom chat.
This conversation will be held online via Zoom; the link will be provided to you via email when you register. Registration is $15.
If you’re a WITHIN Member, this is included in your membership - email us for the promo code!
Tessa Jonson
Tessa Jonson is a yoga and meditation instructor, specializing in Yoga Nidra. A Wisconsin native turned global nomad, she wandered for years, avoiding the status quo and instead searching for a meaningful life. Finally she tried yoga - and subsequently meditation - through a 30 day online challenge and immediately knew that she'd found what she'd been looking for. The practice has since transformed her life completely, both inside and out.
Now, Tessa finds the greatest pleasure and deepest fulfillment in sharing and teaching all things related to the practices and philosophies of Yoga and, in particular, Yoga Nidra meditation. She is passionate about making meditation accessible to everyone and feels like she is here to guide others to their own space of presence, healing, and divinity. Although she is primarily a private instructor, she also runs The Never Settle Society with her husband - a community and coaching program that helps people figure out what they want to do with their lives. She loves fluffy kitties, the Grateful Dead, wandering in nature, and homemade tamales.
Jonathan Borella
Suffering shared is half the suffering. Joy shared is twice the joy. Jonathan is inspired by sharing mindfulness practices with people seeking to develop their innate resilience and live integrated lives with kindness and wisdom.
Jonathan Borella was ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh into the Order of Interbeing in 2013. In his 15 years of practice, he has been a community builder for local Sanghas, organized monastic tours, offered practices and teaching at several monasteries and practice centers around the U.S. and Vietnam, and created mindfulness programs for college students, teens, families in crisis, prisoners, social workers, and corporate employees.
Following a year long training at Deer Park Monastery, Jonathan moved to Ukiah, California to start the Sugarplum Sangha, a residential mindfulness community that offers daily meditation sessions and retreats on campus and online. Jonathan's favorite mindfulness practices are pottery, tea, aikido, and eating.
Andrea Stern
Andrea Stern is one of the co-founders of TendWell Collective, a San Francisco and Oakland Bay Area wellness collective with members and teachers Worldwide that’s committed to accessible wellness for all.
Andrea is the mother of a wild and courageous boy named Silas, who motivates and encourages her to create a more beautiful and just planet. She also owns Satori Yoga Studio formerly in San Francisco’s Financial District. She believes that the benefits of body and breath awareness are essential tools for all human beings. She values vulnerability, passion, creativity, and acceptance.
She spent the last 16 years of her life building a "yoga and meditation business". Now, she is interested in creating a new community that embraces a wider spectrum of humanity. Expanding access is not a controversial concept. It's merely out of alignment with what has ruled our society until now. She is creating a world where the transactional aspect of wellness is no longer the focus.