Community Conversations is an offering where members of the Satya community – and beyond – continue the unifying practice of yoga through intentional, facilitated dialogue. Much like the physical practice of yoga asana (poses), the practice of intentional conversation is a practice of connection and awareness. As we exercise our capacity for purposeful, patient, and honest communication, we gain a greater understanding of ourselves and others, build a stronger sense of community and our common humanity, allowing us to carry compassion forward into the rest of our lives. 

Every Thursday, our community will gather for a shared meal, conversation, and human connection. Each Thursday (except for the last each month) will consist of an intentional dialogue practice following the structure of Restorative Circles facilitated by Madison. 

This practice integrates fundamental tenets of yoga philosophy, namely ahimsa (nonviolence) and satya (truth), while using the framework of Restorative Circles to facilitate the intentional dialogue. In each 90-minute conversation, Madison, the facilitator, will guide participants through thoughtfully prepared questions centered around a particular theme, to which all participants have the opportunity to respond. In order to ensure a respectful space for all, conversations follow community-established guidelines.

Last Thursday of the Month

The last Thursday of every month will be an Open House for Community Conversations where Satya friends can gather to simply get to know one another and eat delicious food prepared by the community. This will be a space for an introduction to the community conversations gathering, unstructured, yet still intentional.

Participants are encouraged to bring something to the metaphorical and literal table, should they be both willing and able. If you would like to contribute something to our shared meal, you can sign up for the potluck here. We kindly ask that you offer food prepared without major allergens (dairy, gluten, nuts) so that we can serve everybody.

Our Community Conversation theme for Summer 2026 is Righteous Defiance.

To defy injustice is to engage in a radical act of love. It is a willingness to act in accordance with what is morally salient, to fight for what you know is right even – and especially – in the face of tremendous opposition. This defiance is not simple nor is it selfish; it is a moral obligation we have to meet the moment with love and kindness and hope for a better future that we know is possible. 

This radical act of love is a part of everything we do at Studio Satya. Surrounding our sacred studio space where many we join together in the unifying practice of yoga is a beautiful mural (courtesy of the one and only Mary) revealing the Sanskrit mantra:  

लोकः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु 

“Lokāḥ Samastāḥ Sukhino Bhavantu” roughly translates to: “May all beings in all the world be happy, be free from suffering, be at peace.” This mantra is not simply a work of art to adorn the studio walls; it is an essential message that is foundational for our community as we join together through the unifying practice of yoga. 

This radical act of love is rooted in our common humanity: the realization that we share this common experience of being human, with all of its struggles and imperfections, and that this experience is interconnected, not isolated. By recognizing our interconnectedness, our flaws, and our struggles, we inspire a sense of compassion for ourselves and each other, are able to extend grace to ourselves and each other, and evolve our collective sense of morality. Awareness of our common humanity enhances our individual capacity to understand and respect the inherent worth and dignity of us all.

Righteous defiance is a radical act of love that empowers us in our fight against the oppressive forces that threaten our fellow humankind and beloved earthly beings. In this moment when our neighbors are separated from their families without due process, when rights are reserved for a select population and not us all, we can use this power of human connection as a foundation for collective action. Leading with love, we can bring a better world into existence.

Community Conversations utilizes the structure of Restorative Circles, a practice rooted in Indigenous and first peoples cultures around the world, designed to facilitate meaningful conversation within the community. In each practice, all participants, including the facilitator, are comfortably seated in a circle facing each other. The format for conversation in every restorative circle consists of: Opening, Discussion, Movement & Breaks, and Closing.

Opening: Facilitators begin each conversation by guiding participants through a short meditation before honoring the history and intention of the Restorative Circles practice. Once connected to the purpose and moment of the intentional dialogue practice, facilitators review the community-established guidelines for conversation (these guidelines are available in the section below for you to review).

Discussion: After agreeing to the conversation guidelines, facilitators then guide participants through a series of thoughtfully prepared questions related to the current theme. Conversations are mediated by a talking piece: an object passed from person to person that signifies the roles of who is speaking (holding the piece) and who is listening (everyone else) at any moment. This allows every individual equal opportunity to speak without interruption, as well as respectfully listen to others. As it moves around the circle, the talking piece signifies the roles of speaker and listener. 

Movement & Breaks: Staying seated for the full 90-minute practice may be possible for some, but can be uncomfortable (or simply not possible) for others. To ensure everyone can remain present and comfortable during the conversation, facilitators will offer some time for breaks and guided movement between prompts, though participants are encouraged to do whatever they need to do throughout the practice to take care of their bodies.

Intentional Closing: Once all questions have been asked and everyone has had the opportunity to share, the facilitator will close the conversation practice with another meditation.

Community Conversations is intended to be a welcoming and respectful space for purposeful discussion in our community. To honor this intention, all conversations will follow community-established guidelines for participation. These guidelines are essential to the practice of intentional conversations: they are a deliberate, mutual agreement for community dialogue to ensure that every community member listens to – and is heard by – others with compassion. 

We will begin with the following guidelines, adding more as the practice grows:

Respect the talking piece. Remember that the talking piece serves as a symbol of reverence for the intentional conversation. Throughout the conversation, the talking piece designates who is speaking (holder of the talking piece) and who is listening (everyone else).

Speak from the heart. Remember that this space is for everyone to speak honestly, without worry for how others may feel as a result. This practice of intentional conversation encourages us to speak truthfully, to practice satya. 

Listen to understand. Remember that this is a space for compassionate understanding, not a space for judgment. This practice encourages us to listen to our fellow community members, without defensiveness, judgment, or impatience. 

Take the time you need, knowing that others need time as well. Remember that speaking honestly requires patience, from both speaker and listener. The practice of intentional conversation is a space to practice patience in communication. 

Honor confidentiality. Remember that this is a space of confidence for our community., and what other participants share here is not yours to share with others. What happens in community conversations, stays in community conversations.

‘Pass’ at any time. Remember that you are not required to speak during this conversation, only listen.At your turn, you have the autonomy to pass the talking piece instead of sharing. 

Building Trust: Establishing the foundations for community through compassionate conversation.

Attunement to Awareness: Deeply listening, to ourselves and each other, with the intention to understand. 

Growing Together: Developing relationships with ourselves and each other through compassionate conversation.

The Courage to Be: Acting intentionally as we navigate the many challenges and uncertainties of life, together.

Quiet Creativity: Honoring the unseen and quiet phases of the creative process, a necessary part of forward movement. 

Growing Together: Becoming who we are meant to be in our evolution of life, together.