
Artis
Artis Moon Amarche has practiced a wide range of meditation styles over the past 25.
- Lucille Ball
Take Five Meditation is Washington, D.C.'s premiere meditation only studio. We offer drop in and membership-based classes to help you develop and enhance your meditation practice. Whether you’re new to meditation or have been meditating for years, Take Five is a one-stop shop for all your meditation needs. Our world-class instructors (aka Guides) specialize in many different meditation traditions, bringing you unparalleled diversity in the options available for you to explore. Located in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood of our nation’s Capital, Take Five exists as your oasis from the hectic pace of day-to-day life.
Eldad is a husband, father, Realtor, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Harley Davidson rider, published author, world traveler, and all around foodie, pretty much in that order. He was born in Israel, moved to Zimbabwe, then to Queens, college in Boston, and finally to Washington, D.C. where he's lived ever since (if we don't count the year he sailed the Caribbean on a boat named Take Five with his best friend and was first introduced to meditation via a teacher on a Bahamian beach). After 27 years here, D.C. has been, is, and always will be Eldad's home.
Eldad's core is his family – his wife Jodi, son Eli (17), and daughter Talia (12). He works out religiously and fanatically, noting, “Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.”
Over the years, he experimented with meditation, but it became a profound source of comfort and strength following the passing of both of his parents within months of each other in 2012. At 43 years old, he started experiencing real anxiety for the first time. He began very deeply pondering his mortality and everything in his life from relationships to career choices to his purpose and on and on. His brain was on overload.
At that time, Eldad rediscovered meditation and began practicing on a daily basis through the self-teaching resources he could find. He found a calmness and a presence of being in the moment that he had never experienced before. The anxiety went away. Meditation was his game changer, and Eldad became determined to share meditation and mindfulness with his community too.
Tara has worked as a personal trainer and yoga teacher in the District of Columbia since 2001. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York in a multi-cultural family with a father who believed that world travel was an important part of education, shaping who she is. While living in the city, she grew up with a passion for the outdoors and worked as a wilderness guide in the Adirondacks during her summers off from college. She spent a lot of her free time cultivating her love of long distance running, cross-country skiing, and discovering the wonders of nature.
Due to their shared love of nature, Tara and her husband Laurent moved to Helena, MT for six years after graduate school. During this time, she found her passion for yoga, trained for marathons, and started to cultivate her meditation practice. Tara discovered the lifelong benefits of meditation when she used yoga and meditation techniques to have a completely natural and drug-free birthing experience with her twin sons.
While living in Montana, Tara launched a program that provided advocacy across the entire state on behalf of children in abuse and neglect cases in the court system. It was then that Tara travelled to DC for work, fell in love with the city, and decided to move her family back east.
Her two sons (Tristan and Loic) who are now sophomores in college went to DCPS schools from kindergarten through high school. During her sons’ years at Janney Elementary, Deal Middle, and Wilson High School, Tara was immersed in each community as a member of the PTA and as a fitness provider to a large swathe of her local community.
With an extensive personal background and practice in yoga and meditation, Tara was always interested in finding that place where she could support Washingtonians in moving from working with their bodies to also working with their minds. Through personal experiences, Tara learned that power and healing come through a regular meditation practice.
Tara lives happily in Friendship Heights DC with her husband Laurent, her cat Sai, and her dog Stella.
Welcome,
We're Eldad and Tara, co-founders of Take Five Meditation. We created Take Five with one simple mission - to enable the greater Washington, D.C. community to find peace and happiness in their daily lives.
With our understanding of the intense, busy, networking, and intellectual ethos of Washington, D.C., Take Five Meditation provides an oasis, a place of deeply grounding mindfulness, a strong sense of community, and intellectual discovery.
If you meditate regularly, you've thought about trying meditation but don't know where to begin, or you were turned off by your existing options, then Take Five Meditation is the place for you. We've developed a space, class curriculum and special community events that will teach you how to bring tranquility, joy and balance into your everyday life through the pracitice of meditation.
Wondering how we do it? Stop by, try one of our guided meditation classes, and enjoy complimentary tea we source from Teaism in our community lounge where you will meet some of D.C.'s most fascinating people in our growing Take Five community. You'll be glad you did.
See you on the cushion!
Tara and Eldad
These classes are perfect for your daily meditation practice. Squeeze one in before work, during your lunch break or on your way home.
This half hour class is an opportunity to drop out of your mind, with all of its many pre-occupations, and to settle into alignment with your body. We will practice such techniques as: body scan, slow mindful stretching and Shamatha (calm-abiding) meditation. You will learn how to slow down, to relax the grip of your mind, and to feel at home in your body.
We all contain wisdom within us. We each have an inner compass that is oriented towards our truthful, joyful self-expression. So, how is it that we get stressed out, that we lose our way? We forget to prioritize pleasure. We forget to check in with our inner compass. In this class, we will practice checking in with our mind, heart and body, and discern what is truth for us. We will also practice some energetic meditative techniques, and creative exercises, designed to release stress, and open us up to greater flow and intuitive knowing.
Listening to the pure vibrant tone of the Crystal bowl, we come into a state of deep relaxation instantly. Access clarity and stillness with greater ease as the crystal bowls bring you rejuvenation and cleansing.
Settle the mind using concentration techniques, then trust yourself to open...to the simplicity of effortless being-ness.
This class offers a guided contemplative journey that introduces "calm abiding" or Shamatha, a breath based practice from the Tibetan tradition, that calms and centers body, mind and spirit.
Learn to drop out of the busy-ness of the mind to inhabit the wisdom and aliveness of the body.
Mantra meditation is a form of vibrational healing that works from the inside out. Access deeper levels of awareness using simple sacred sounds that lead you to the stillness within, thereby washing all thoughts, worries and concerns away in the process.
Not sure where to start with your meditation practice? We've got you covered. Come see and learn what meditation is all about.
The use of essential oils during meditation can enhance the experience by promoting a sense of calm, clarity and grounding. This guided meditation class will provide you with relaxation, breathing and meditation techniques, supported by the ancient healing benefits of essential oils. This practice will help students to mindfully engage and integrate body, breath, mind and heart to promote deep relaxation and healing.
Any movement can be performed as a meditation, if we apply mindfulness and a slow pace. This class will explore the connection between conscious breath and movement through walking meditation, tai chi, cathartic dance and restorative postures. This class is great for those who want to experience the healing benefits of meditation but would like to move their bodies before finding stillness.
Known as 'sleep of the yogi,' Yoga Nidra is deeply restorative on all levels (mental/emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual). This is a conscious nap - a guided meditation that you do laying down, slowing your brainwaves down to the depths of deep sleep, while remaining awake. At the heart of this work, the purpose is to tune in to the subtle messages your higher self is giving you - whether that is through physical symptoms that are manifesting, a whisper in your mind or spirit, or emotional & energetic imbalance - and listen, with all of yourself, connect the dots, allow healing & Shift to take place. Awaken to your authentic voice, strengthen your connection with your true nature, and empower yourself to respond to life, rather than react to it.
Does being online feel partly okay and partly compulsive? To borrow from an old saying, technology is a wonderful servant, and a terrible master. Find refuge, with others who understand, from the pull toward the phone. Find refuge in a more ancient pull...to be deeply with yourself.
Explore meditation in movement, contrasted with stillness. Begin at the beginning, simply observing yourself in your normal gait, connecting your witness with your everyday self. Then slow down, speed up, walk in patterns, walk a labyrinth, and sometimes, stop. These classes will include some live music/sound healing.
When you're ready to go deeper or simply have more time, these classes are the ideal length to treat yourself.
The creative process is used as a vehicle for meditation. With mindfulness practice, we learn to let go of external expectations and simply to “be” in and with the creative moment. No art experience necessary.
Mindfulness practices strengthen our inherent ability to focus our mind and be attentive to what's going on around us. By learning to change our habits through regular practice, both on and off the meditation cushion, we can lead more productive, happy lives. Everyone is welcome, whatever your experience level. This 45 minute class builds on the 30 minute version both in depth and duration. If you liked our 30 minute version, you'll love this 45 minute offering.
This ancient vibrational tool offers a sound massage for the body, mind and soul. Lie down, get comfortable and receive the symphonic multi-layered sounds of the Gong as they wash over you.
Mindfulness Games is a class where you can combine your love of meditation and play! It is an authentic way to practice and embody mindfulness. By igniting your creativity, sparking joy and connecting with others, you will surely deepen your meditation practice.. Meditation is a social practice just as much as it is an inward journey. We learn best through play and having healthy fun is a therapeutic tool for relieving stress. You will learn new games and get to experience mindfulness twists on games you love!
Self-judgement can be automatic. We don’t realize we are shutting ourselves out of our own hearts. Learn to rest in the heart of compassion.
Known as 'sleep of the yogi,' Yoga Nidra is deeply restorative on all levels (mental/emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual). This is a conscious nap - a guided meditation that you do laying down, slowing your brainwaves down to the depths of deep sleep, while remaining awake. At the heart of this work, the purpose is to tune in to the subtle messages your higher self is giving you - whether that is through physical symptoms that are manifesting, a whisper in your mind or spirit, or emotional & energetic imbalance - and listen, with all of yourself, connect the dots, allow healing & Shift to take place. Awaken to your authentic voice, strengthen your connection with your true nature, and empower yourself to respond to life, rather than react to it.
We are often caught in our thinking mind, analyzing everything in order to make decisions. Our bodies hold much wisdom for us and can offer us answers that our minds simply can not figure out. Spend some time connecting to the inner wisdom that lies within and make decisions from a more grounded place.
This special hour long class happens every second Sunday of the month
* cost for this class is treated the same as our 45 minute classes
Celebrating, Period events at Take Five Meditation are a safe space for all women and girls to gather together. Gatherings include meditation, self-care, and time to share stories and experiences. This is a beautiful opportunity for mothers, daughters and sisters to connect and learn about each other.
- Joyfully express your feminine creative power and ability to experience the life cycle within you.
- Find rest and self-loving care.
- Experience the feminine birthright of profound pleasure.
- Come into a healthy balance with the masculine within yourself and out in the world.
Book our space for a unique special event or have us come to you. These 75 minute classes promote socializing, team building and good old fashioned wholesome fun. Onsite bookings can include refreshments, food and more. Call or email for details and pricing.
We can practice being mindful in any moment…why not while playing games? These games are designed to help feel more connected to yourself and others!
These classes are ideal for those looking to enhance their practice or to delve deeper into a specific topic of interest. Typically offered as a set of classes, these offerings are not part of our regular recurring schedule. To find out when these popular offerings are taking place, sign up for our newsletter or keep an eye below for schedule and signup details. These offerings are priced separately, however, our monthly and annual members receive discounts.
Subject matter experts regularly visit Take Five to offer one of a kind talks and discussions. Don't miss the opportunity to meet and converse with these fascinating individuals who honor us with their time and wisdom. To find out when a speaker will be at the studio, sign up for our newsletter or watch for a posting on our online schedule. These events are priced separately, however, monthly and annual members will receive a discount.
Artis Moon Amarche has practiced a wide range of meditation styles over the past 25.
Artis Moon Amarche has practiced a wide range of meditation styles over the past 25. She brings to our Take Five family Yoga Nidra guided meditation & Walking Meditation. Artis is a certified Reiki Master, certified Childbirth Educator, holds a certificate of Advanced Training from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, is a trained Yoga Nidra guide, and holds a BFA in Fine Arts from Corcoran College of Art + Design.
Benjamin Shalva leads seminars around the world in Spiritual Cross-Training, Kabbalah Yoga, Jewish Meditation, and Mindfulness Meditation
As a writer, rabbi, meditation teacher, and yoga instructor, Benjamin Shalva leads seminars around the world in Spiritual Cross-Training, Kabbalah Yoga, Jewish Meditation, and Mindfulness Meditation. He received his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and his yoga teacher certification from the Yogic Physical Culture Academy in Los Cabos, Mexico. Shalva serves on the faculty at the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington, leads musical prayer services for the 6th & I Historic Synagogue and Bet Mishpachah in Washington, DC, and serves as the camp rabbi for Tamarack Camps in Detroit, Michigan. His writings have been published in numerous publications including the Washington Post, Elephant Journal, and Spirituality & Health magazine. He is the author of two books -- Spiritual Cross-Training: Searching through Silence, Stretch, and Song and Ambition Addiction: How to Go Slow, Give Thanks, and Discover Joy Within. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he lives in Reston, Virginia, with his wife, Sara, and their two children.
David Martin combines his skill set as a yogi, healer and sound worker to create an immersive experience in sound meditation.
David combines his skill set as a yogi, healer and sound worker to create an immersive experience in sound meditation designed to release students from subconscious patterning, habitual tendencies and past conditioning. David received his 200 hour registered yoga teacher training certification and Reiki master training certification from the University of Maryland Center of Integrative Medicine in 2015. He is now an avid daily student of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan and presented by his masterful teacher, Jai Dev Singh Khalsa.
Jen Young guides you to unite the wisdom of your body, the compassion of your heart and focus of your mind to bring you into greater wholeness.
In her meditation classes, Jen Young guides you to unite the wisdom of your body, the compassion of your heart and focus of your mind to bring you into greater wholeness. From this place of wholeness, you can find clarity and ease. You can more readily see the path in front of you and trust your inner guidance.
A student of flow states, Jen's work is about personal growth through breath, imagination, creativity, physical movement and connection to the natural world. She believes that when people have the tools they need to heal and express who they authentically are, the world also heals.
Jen is the founder of Spitfire Arts through which she teaches yoga, healing and expressive movement. She also offers guidance on Belly Love, a self-Love/self-care practice of sending Love from your heart to your belly.
Jeneen is our Sound Healing guide leading some of the most unique and popular, relaxing, mind blowing classes we offer.
Jeneen is our Sound Healing guide incorporating crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, gong drum, or tuning forks, into some of the most popular, relaxing, mind blowing classes we offer. Jeneen's background and teaching experience in yoga and meditation which began at age 18, has spanned decades and flows from a diverse group of renowned teachers from various backgrounds. A short list of some of her instructors include Dharma Mittra, Sri Karunamayi Ma, David & Shannon Life, Swami Bua, Shiva Rea, Andres Mamet, Yogeshwar (Darin Soma) and many more. Jeneen brings an energy and passion to her classes that is second to none.
Jennifer's root meditative practice is Shambhala Buddhism, and she is an active teacher of Buddhist Studies and Contemplative Arts at the Baltimore Shambhala Meditation Center
Jennifer's root meditative practice is Shambhala Buddhism, and she is an active teacher of Buddhist Studies and Contemplative Arts at the Baltimore Shambhala Meditation Center. She fervently believes that we all possess intuitive wisdom within us, and we can access our inner presence of calm knowing whenever we need it. We need only to drop our pre-conceptions, and "tune in", and listen. She also believes that wisdom resides in the body, and so we must listen to our body, in order to listen to our soul.
Klia provides both private and group sessions in mindfulness meditation and "mindfulness games".
Klia provides both private and group sessions in mindfulness meditation and "mindfulness games". She facilitates normalizing one's own experience--be it overwhelm, confusion, anxiety, depression-- by hearing others'. Klia was originally invited to teach and be mentored by Tara Brach. Outside of Take Five, Klia has led workplace mindfulness trainings since 2005.
Manisha has been exploring, practicing and studying different types of meditation for over 20 years.
Manisha has been exploring, practicing and studying different types of meditation for over 20 years. She spent 8 years studying Buddhist meditation in the Nyingma tradition and continues to connect to the core teachings. As a yoga teacher and bodyworker, she has witnessed how important it is for people to feel more at ease in their bodies in order to allow for a sense of spaciousness in their minds. It’s when we allow for that space, that inspiration, ideas, and messages can come to us. Manisha creates a receptive and safe space for students to explore their practice while offering gentle guidance to stay present during the process.
Naina teaches the Kundalini yoga and meditation classes.
Naina teaches the Kundalini yoga and meditation classes. She has been practicing meditation for over 10 years. She was drawn to Kundalini yoga because of its effectiveness in changing the subconscious mind, strengthening the nervous system, magnetizing opportunities, and energizing the body.
Rhiannon Landesberg is a yoga and meditation instructor with a deep passion for sharing the benefits of mindfulness practices with people of all ages.
Rhiannon Landesberg is a child, family and adult yoga and meditation instructor with a deep passion for sharing the benefits of mindfulness practices with people of all ages. Rhiannon has worked as a full-time yoga and mindfulness teacher in public, charter and private schools over the past six years, implementing programs that emphasize well-being, empathy and resilience. Her vision is a world where children and adults alike have the tools to transcend and reverse the detrimental effects of chronic stress and trauma in our communities.
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