From there, to here
Awaken Your Sunday
With Zen Meditation, Wisdom & Connection.
Upcoming Programming
A 3-hour in-person experience at Zen Life & Meditation Center of Chicago, Aug. 22, 2026 1:00-4:00 pm CDT, 46 Lake St. Oak Park, IL 60302.
Early Bird Special until July 31
Members: Early Bird Price - $30 (Regular $40)
NonMembers: Early Bird Price - $45 (Regular $55)
Workshop Outcomes
Better understand menopause as a whole-person transition: Explore menopause as a transition that can impact body, mind, emotions, energy, and identity. Receive general educational insights and supportive perspectives informed by medical expertise.
Experience meditation practices that support nervous system regulation: Practice guided mindfulness and meditation techniques that support calm, grounding, emotional balance, rest, and self-awareness. Explore how short, sustainable practices can fit into daily life.
Practice menopause-informed movement and yoga: Experience gentle, accessible movement tailored to this stage of life. Explore practices that support nervous system calming, mobility, physical comfort, energy balance, and reconnection with the body.
Cultivate self-compassion and connection: Create space for reflection, self-care, and shared experience. Feel less alone in the challenges and transitions of menopause while reconnecting with inner wisdom and resilience.
Leave with a personalized practice plan: Identify a few simple practices that feel realistic and supportive, with ideas for integrating mindfulness and movement into everyday life.
This Workshop Is For You If You’re…
In perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause
Curious about navigating this life transition with greater awareness, self-compassion, and support
Looking for practical ways to care for body, mind, and emotional well-being
Interested in mindfulness, meditation, gentle movement, or yoga as supportive practices
Seeking a welcoming community of women with shared experiences
Meet your Facilitators
Juri is a certified Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher through Zen Life & Meditation Center of Chicago, a Gestalt-certified coach, and a Positive Intelligence coach. She integrates mindfulness, neuroscience, somatic awareness, and practical tools to help people navigate stress, caregiving, leadership, and life transitions with greater balance and self-compassion. Juri is also the Founder of Interconnected LLC and has over 25 years of experience coaching leaders and supporting transformation in organizations.
Dr. Melanie Jessen is a family medicine physician, certified hatha yoga instructor, osteopathic educator, and certified Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher through Zen Life & Meditation Center of Chicago. For more than 25 years, she has combined patient care, physician education, yoga, and mindfulness practices to support whole-person well-being. Dr. Jessen brings a compassionate, medically informed perspective to menopause, mindfulness, movement, and women’s health.
No Prior Experience Needed
This workshop is open to all levels. No previous experience with meditation, mindfulness, yoga, or movement practices is required. Practices will be gentle, accessible, and adaptable for a range of comfort levels and abilities.
Disclaimer Language
This workshop is intended for educational and wellness purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. General educational perspectives informed by medical expertise will be shared, but participants are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers regarding personal medical questions or concerns.
You’re invited to our Day of Remembrance/Mini O-Bon Festival!
Join us on Sunday, Aug. 2nd from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at Zen Life & Meditation Center for a morning of prayer, story, movement, and shared food — honoring those who came before us.
Our program includes a Buddhist Memorial Service, a Circle of Remembrance where you can share a story of your loved one, a Mini Bon Dance with three traditional O-Bon folk dances, and a Community Feast of Japanese and Hawaiian style food.
Honor your loved one by having their name inscribed on our Memorial Wall. We ask a minimum donation of $200. Deadline for names: July 23, 2026. Contact Roshi June at June.tanoue@zlmc.org or 708-297-6321,
Community Feast: $10 adults • $5 children
All are welcome.
Five Dharma leaders and artists will gather for a 5-day working creative residency at Zen Life & Meditation Center to explore Buddha Dharma through movement, voice, creative expression and not-knowing. Together they will bring a broader view of Buddhist practice by embracing the embodied and social nature of human existence.
The residency integrates traditional Buddhist practices of Shamatha, Zen, and Vipassana meditation chanting, ritual, and Dharma sharing, with other forms honoring the many ways different communities access and express the Dharma, such as vocal song, spoken word, art, listening circles, and the indigenous art form of Hula.
The work of the week will be shared with the public in two Dharma offerings: Voicing Moving & Exploring Zen. We’d love for you to join us:
Sat., Aug. 8th, 7-8:30 pm (CST) - Hybrid: at ZLMC
(Please register for this with the button below so we know you’re coming)Sun., Aug 9th, 10-11:00 am - offered as part of ZLMC Sunday Morning Zen program - Zoom Link
We invite you to the practice of dana/generosity, whether with in-person help or through monetary contribution. Suggested Dana of $15 - 30 for Saturday night and Sunday’s presentation.
We invite your Dana Contribution to cultivate an open heart
and nurture our mutual interconnections.
Questions? Contact Roshi June Tanoue.
The living mandala is composed of:
Venerable Clear Grace Dayananda,
Roshi/Kumu June Kaililani Ryushin Tanoue,
We are able to hold this experimental residency with these five wonderful dharma teachers due,
in part, to the generosity of a grant from the Frederick Lenz Foundation
About
Cultivating mindful awareness through our practice
Zen meditation and the cultivation of mindful awareness form the core of our practice, offering profound benefits such as stress management, deeper relationships, and a richer life experience.
The center is like a breath of fresh air in this chaotic and ungrounded time in history. It has given me an insightful perspective on what is essential in this life we all share.
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