Here are some Helpful Basics before your first day.

When to Arrive

Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your first session, and please be at least 5 minutes early to all sessions thereafter. This will help you and other participants to better settle into the experience.

Our door will lock two minutes before the session. This is to ensure that other participants get the full experience, free from distraction, as they move forward. Please be early.

If you need parking, we have an on-premise parking lot with signs marked ‘Alexandria Zen Center’. Simply move the orange cones aside and park in one of our spots.

What to Wear

Please wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in, like a t-shirt or sweatshirt with yoga or gym pants. Please wear pants, not shorts or skirts.

If you will be traveling to work after your session, feel free to use our changing rooms after the session.

What to Expect

On day one, we outline the basics of Zen and its overall usefulness in daily life. Through brief lessons in history, methodology, and techniques, you will begin to understand the benefits of practicing Zen on a regular basis.

You will learn how to sit in Zazen (Zen-style meditation) most efficiently. The correct positioning of meditation cushions will improve posture and overall comfort. We will also cover methods in deep breathing and techniques to improve focus.

How to Deepen Your Experience

After your first experience, we offer several avenues to become a member with us and participate on a regular basis. This will allow you to bring your practice to a much deeper level within our community. As you grow with your practice, we provide elements to deepen your path to enlightenment, including dharma talks, koan training, sesshin, zazenkai, jukai, and Zen book discussions.

We look Forward to Meeting You!

For a deeper understanding of Zen Buddhism, visit our About Zen Buddhism page.