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Illuminating Our True Nature: A Weekend with Michelle C. Johnson, hosted by Circle Yoga


  • Circle Yoga 3838 Northampton Street Northwest Washington, DC, 20015 United States (map)

This workshop will take place at Circle Yoga in Washington, DC, and on Zoom. Attend live, and/or access the recording afterwards.

Our friends at Circle Yoga will host guest teacher Michelle Cassandra Johnson for a book event and special weekend immersion, and we are thrilled to partner with them for this important work.

Join in person at Circle Yoga, or be part of the experience online. Michelle will share teachings and practices from her newest book, Illuminating Our True Nature: Yogic Practices for Personal and Collective Healing. Given our turbulent times, Michelle offers a balm for our suffering, insight into how yoga philosophy and practices can support compassionate understanding of ourselves and others, and tools for healing on a collective level. Participants will receive a recording of the session(s) for which they are registered.

November 1, 2024

Illuminating Our True Nature
Book Talk, Signing & Practice

Friday, Nov. 1  |  6:00-8:00pm

Join Michelle C. Johnson, author of Illuminating Our True Nature, for a yoga practice, book reading, talk, and signing. In this session, Michelle will draw from yoga philosophy, specifically, the kleshas or reasons why we suffer individually and collectively. Michelle will guide and share practices from her latest book informed by the eight-limbed path of yoga to support you in identifying how the kleshas show up in your life and how to respond to them. No yoga experience is necessary.

A paperback copy of the book (with a retail value of $19.95) is included in the registration fee. Participants living outside the DC area will receive the book by mail.

November 2-3, 2024

Illuminating Our True Nature
Yogic Practices for Personal and Collective Healing

Saturday, Nov. 2  |  1:00-6:00pm
Sunday, Nov. 3  |  1:00-6:00pm

Yoga is an ancient practice designed to support us in meeting whatever might arise, moment to moment. In this weekend immersion, we will explore how we can engage in spiritual practice to meet the personal and collective suffering we experience. We will explore the five root causes of suffering, as presented in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:

avidya - a lack of clear sight
asmita - an overidentification with the ego
raga - an attachment to pleasure
dvesha - aversion or avoidance
abhinivesha - a fear of death or letting go

We will move through various practices, including asana, pranayama, meditation, mudra, and mantra, to meet ourselves and our suffering and, ultimately, to mitigate suffering and create conditions for liberation for ourselves and all beings.

Throughout this weekend immersion, we will explore the following themes:

  • The Root Causes of Suffering-The Kleshas

  • Collective Grief and Healing

  • The Yoga Sutras

  • How to Meet the Moment with Our Practice

  • How to Heal by Engaging Our Spiritual Practice

  • Creating Conditions for Collective Liberation

  • And more!

Come prepared to learn, build community, practice, connect with your heart, and work toward a just and liberated world for all!

Fees & Registration

About Sliding Scale Fees

Circle Yoga offers sliding scale fees for select offerings to make programs more accessible. The Reduced Rate is for people experiencing financial hardship. The Pay It Forward Rate is the standard fee plus extra to help cover students paying the Reduced Rate. Partial scholarships are also available.

Book Talk, Signing & Practice

Friday, Nov. 1, 6:00-8:00pm
in person and online

Standard Rate — $35
Reduced Rate — $25
Pay It Forward Rate — $45

Your registration for the Friday evening book talk, signing, and practice includes a paperback copy of Michelle's latest book, Illuminating Our True Nature. Books can be picked up at the studio, or they can be mailed to participants joining from out of the area. Participants will receive a recording of the session, which can be viewed for 30 days after.

Yoga Practices for Personal
and Collective Healing
Saturday, Nov. 2, 1-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 3, 1-6pm
in person and online

Standard Rate — $225
Reduced Rate — $175
Pay It Forward Rate — $275

Register by October 1 for the Saturday/Sunday workshop with Michelle to receive a free copy of her latest book, Illuminating Our True Nature. Books can be picked up at the studio, or they will be mailed to participants joining from out of the area. Participants will receive a recording of the Saturday/Sunday sessions, which can be viewed for 30 days after.

About Michelle

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher and practitioner, racial equity consultant and trainer, and intuitive healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle teaches workshops and immersions and leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide. As a dismantling racism educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. More about Michelle.