Meditation as Medicine: Tibetan Self-Healing WORKSHOP SERIES
WITH Dr. Bryan Watrous, DACM, LAc. and Julia Mariko Shannon, M.Ed.
MONTHLY SUNDAY SERIES: NOVEMBER 9, DECEMBER 14, JANUARY 11, FEBRUARY 8, MARCH 8
2:00 - 5:00 PM
Meditation as Medicine is a monthly series of in-person introductory workshops based on the teachings of Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, world-renowned traditional Tibetan physician and lineage holder of the Yuthok Nyinthig, the unique spiritual healing tradition of Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa). This series invites participants to explore their own constitutional typology and learn to apply customized Tibetan self-healing practices, including meditation, movement, breath, sound, and the healing properties of plants and herbs found in the Medicine Buddha’s Botanical Garden, Tanaduk.
Meditation as Medicine explores multiple methods of meditation to give participants a range of meditative experiences, each with unique benefits. Based on the fundamental self- healing principle of balancing the inner elements of Wind, Fire, and Earth & Water, each workshop includes guided instruction and group practice of meditative and nature-based healing methods. Meditation as Medicine is designed for those curious about learning which meditative and self-care practices might be the best fit for their individual body-mind typology. Through these practices, participants will gain tools to increase self-awareness and promote inner balance by working with the inner elements to calm, detoxify, and energize.
The workshops will take place inside the beautiful Yuthok Ling Temple and outdoors in the Tanaduk Garden at Pure Land Farms, as weather permits.
Open to all, including both experienced practitioners and those completely new to meditation and Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa).
Participants may drop in for a single workshop or subscribe to the entire series. An optional supplemental text by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, Let Meditation be thy Medicine, is available for purchase online or in-person at Pure Land Farms.
In-Person at Pure Land Farms
(This event will not be streamed online)
Price: $200 for series of 5 workshops (or $45 for drop in class), Limited to 25 participants
Advanced registration required
Sunday Dec. 14th, 2025
Workshop 2: Calming Inner Wind to Nourish Mind and Body
Introduction to the Wind Element – Tanaduk Garden
- What is the inner Wind element? How does it increase craving and attachment?
- Diet and lifestyle tips for balancing Wind to settle the body-mind and reduce
overwhelm and burnout
- Explore Wind pacifying foods and herbs: calming and nourishing foods and
drinks
- Wind pacifying tea tasting
Warm Oil Therapy – Yuthok Ling Temple
- Introduction to Tibetan external therapies
- Hormé - Mongolian warm oil therapy demonstration
- Group Hormé application practice to pacify inner Wind
Guided Meditation – Yuthok Ling Temple
- Guided detox breathing (Ninefold Purification Breathing)
- Guided group meditation: Vajra Breathing Practice to purify inner channels, calm
the breath, and soothe the nervous system
- Guided relaxation
Facilitators: Dr. Bryan Watrous, DACM, LAc. and Julia Mariko Shannon, M.Ed.
Dr. Bryan Watrous is a doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, with over 20 years of clinical practice. He is a Sowa Rigpa Tibetan Medicine practitioner and Ngakpa, ordained, non-monastic Tibetan Tantric Buddhist. Bryan is the clinical assistant of Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and the resident doctor at Pure Land Farms, Topanga. Julia Mariko Shannon is a student of Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, completed a certificate in Sowa Rigpa Counseling from the Sowa Rigpa Institute of Tibetan Medicine, and holds a Master of Education degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.