October at Holds The Moon
Greetings, Beloved Commmunity!
We are excited to announce some shifts and changes this season and some technical updates including that we will soon be migrating to a new website/newsletter platform in November so please look out for that!
Co-Steward & Founder Kawai (aka James "Jishin" Anthony), will be mostly in Hawaii for the season of Lonoikamakahiki (November and December), a time of peace, harvest, and community celebration. He will be creating a new pool and aquatic community with his local (plantation descendant) and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) family in Hilo Town on the big island of Hawai'i. Co-Steward Seh-reum Tom and other Holds the Moon community members will be guiding the space in his absence, maintaining what we have all built together and leading us into a new chapter with some exciting changes!
Soon our scheduling will move from Acuity and be integrated into the new platform and with it we will also be announcing a new membership model, we thank you all for your patience and grace with our scheduling and communications as we navigate these changes!SPECIAL EVENTS:
Women’s Water Circle — New Moon, New Seeds
Saturday, October 10 | 6–8 PM | Oakland
An intimate women’s gathering in warm, body-temperature water. Through breath, gentle movement, dance, floating rest, and mindful connection, we’ll plant the seeds of the version of ourselves we want to nurture and see grow over the next six months. With the new moon as our symbol of beginnings, we’ll make space to listen inward and reconnect with our intentions.
No swimming or dance experience is required. Limited to 12 participants.
Details & reservations:
https://events.inteligenciaacuatica.com/
Aquatic Contact Dance — An Aquatic Intelligence Experience
Saturday, October 17 | 6–8:30 PM | Oakland | $50
A guided warm-water experience exploring breath, floating, touch, shared weight, and spontaneous movement. Through solo, duet, and group explorations inspired by Contact Improvisation, we’ll practice supporting and being supported, listening through the body, and discovering new movement possibilities. The gathering opens into a playful aquatic jam—a space to dance in water, with water, and as water.
No dance, Contact Improvisation, or swimming experience is required. Limited spots; RSVP required.
Details & reservations:
Intro to Aquatic Dance with Kriss Rulifson
Saturday October 17th, 11AM - 4PM
This aquatic workshop is designed for people new to aquatic dance and/or those embracing “beginner’s mindset”. It doesn’t matter how many times I enter the water, there is a feeling each time right before submerging, right at the edge— this is where we begin. We will slow down and listen, be moved by the water and breath and eventually fluidly weave between solo and group dances.
This event will take place at a private warm water pool (~4ft deep & heated to 95°F) in Oakland, and the address will be shared with those who sign up.There are only 12 spots due to the size of the pool, please fill out this form and complete the payment to reserve your spot.
https://www.kristenrulifson.com/upcoming-workshops
Price: $125-225
Venmo: @kristen-rulifson
Intro to Aquatic Therapy in Oakland, California
Dive into the art of bodywork in water
Experience the transformative power of water in this 2.5-day intensive, where you will learn the fundamental principles of Ways of Water, an approach that integrates multiple aquatic therapy modalities to provide a solid and versatile foundation.
Through a combination of theory and hands-on practice in the pool, we will explore:
Body mechanics and fluid movement in water
Submersion techniques and smooth transitions.
The physical principles that make water a unique space for healing and well-being
By the end of this course, you will have the tools to submerge and flow with another body in the water, sharing this experience safely and with confidence. This introductory course provides a strong foundation that you can expand and adapt to your personal style.
Ideal for bodyworkers, wellness practitioners, and anyone interested in exploring the therapeutic potential of water.
Join us in this immersion and discover a new way to connect and heal through water!
Nov 13 - 15 , 2026
Fri, Nov 13th: 5–8pm | Sat 14th & Sun 15th 10am–6pm
$490
Holds the Moon, Quan Yin Temple
No experience needed.
Limited spots – reply to reserve yours!
Register: https://rb.gy/vcges
Deeper Waters
This course delves deeper into the wisdom and potential of aquatic therapy. Building upon a solid foundation, participants will gain the freedom to explore various planes of movement, enhance their sensitivity to fascial dynamics in water, and improve their ability to flow seamlessly during immersions.
Course Highlights:
Profound Techniques: Learn sophisticated methods to engage with the body’s fascial system, optimizing therapeutic outcomes in the aquatic environment.• Intuitive Immersions: Develop a heightened awareness of the body’s internal responses, allowing for more intuitive immersions.•
Introduction to Rebozo: Experiment the potencial of Rebozo (cloth ) in the water, adding a membrane like experience, a hanging your treatment
Dates: November 16- 17, 2026
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Holds the Moon Quan Yin Temple, Oakland, California
Contribution: $420
Register:
https://forms.gle/fJD7B2E4XKSMK2Rs6
*Limited space
OCTOBER EVENTS:
weekly sitting meditation (dry-land)
EVERY TUESDAY · 6-7:30 PM in the Zendo*
Sitting meditation with James in the Pacific Zen Institute style: some simple instruction, a koan for the group, some silent meditation, and then some conversation and the four vows. We will be gathering in person and virtually joining David Weinsteins’s weekly zoom Koan meditation group. (www.pacificzen.org)
*free/dana based by donation
Intro to Aquatic Peer-to-Peer Bodywork Class (Triad Round)
EVERY SATURDAY · 10 AM-1 PM & SUNDAY · 1-4 PM
Together, the group (up to 6) will explore aquatic somatic connection variously, including: solo, in triads, pairs, and the whole group, supporting and holding each other in bodywork mode--and also interacting in contact improv dance mode. Blissful to receive, delightful to give, and always amazing to connect, transform, and integrate in the moment. This is a non-professional, peer-to-peer practice of connection w/friends & family based on James's original training in the Watsu Round and blending elements of Healing Dance and Aguahara.
$60--sliding scale: $40/$20 coupons in registration link description
(NOTAFLOF) No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds
age 55+ Intro to Aquatic Peer-to-Peer Bodywork Class (Triad Round)
EVERY TUESDAY · 1-4PM
Together, the group (up to 6) will explore aquatic somatic connection variously, including: solo, in triads, pairs, and the whole group, supporting and holding each other in bodywork mode--and also interacting in contact improv dance mode. Blissful to receive, delightful to give, and always amazing to connect, transform, and integrate in the moment. This is a non-professional, peer-to-peer practice of connection w/friends & family based on James's original training in the Watsu Round and blending elements of Healing Dance and Aguahara.
$60--sliding scale: $40/$20 coupons in registration link description
(NOTAFLOF) No One Turned Away For Lack of Funds
beginner aquatic dance series
Every 3rd Monday
OCTOBER 19 · 6-9 PM
This space welcomes those new to aquatic dance to learn the basics of warm water contact improv and begin to develop familiarity and attunement in the water with guidance from experienced aquatic dancers and facilitators. Each session will be guided by rotating facilitators from Holds the Moon and visiting guest teachers.
6pm: Arrival/Opening
6:30pm: Class
7:30pm: Jam
8:30pm: Closing/Departure
$70-$30 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $50, use code WATER50
To pay $30, use code WATER30
pouring in: a birthworkers aquatic circle
Every 3rd Wednesday
OCTOBER 21 · 6-9 PM
this is a space open to non-aquatic birthwork practitioners (doulas, midwives, nurses, etc) to be held in the water in a circle of peer support, facilitated by a group of rotating aquatic dance and bodywork practitioners and facilitators who have backgrounds in birthwork
~a space to fill your own cup~
$40 (NOTAFLOF)
a space to grieve: monthly BIPOC/PGM circle
OCTOBER 22 · 7-10 PM
$55-$22 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $44, use code WATER44
To pay $33, use code WATER33
To pay $22, use code WATER22
*we have two gifted spots available per circle reserved for Black, Indigenous & SWANA (centering Palestinian, Lebanese, Sudanese & Iranian) kin, worktrade options also available, please email universaltideshifter@gmail.com at least a day ahead of time
Facilitated by Seh-reum Tom & Sabah Brinson
*please only book if you identify as Black, Indigenous, a Person of Color/Person of the Global Majority
clarity, consent & curiosity: aquatic container culture & care pt. 1
OCTOBER 27 · 4-7 PM
*while this is a workshop offered as a requirement for new facilitators & practitioners before sharing their practice here in the temple, it is also open to any participants who are interested in embodied consent practices within aquatic work
please take part 1 before taking part 2
(This workshop is influenced and inspired by the Wheel of Consent® as developed by Dr. Betty Martin. We have trained with the School of Consent and have permission to share these practices, but are not yet certified facilitators. For more information visit www.schoolofconsent.org.)
Facilitated by Seh-reum Tom
$111-$55 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $99, use code WATER99
To pay $77, use code WATER77
To pay $55, use code WATER55
clarity, consent & curiosity: aquatic container culture & care pt. 2
NOVEMBER 21 · 2-5 PM
*while this is a workshop offered as a requirement for new facilitators & practitioners before sharing their practice here in the temple, it is also open to any participants who are interested in embodied consent practices within aquatic work
please take part 1 before taking part 2
(This workshop is influenced and inspired by the Wheel of Consent® as developed by Dr. Betty Martin. We have trained with the School of Consent and have permission to share these practices, but are not yet certified facilitators. For more information visit www.schoolofconsent.org.)
Facilitated by Seh-reum Tom
$111-$55 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $99, use code WATER99
To pay $77, use code WATER77
To pay $55, use code WATER55
Sessions
For 1:1, 2:2, or 2:1 aquatic bodywork sessions, you may book with Kawai (James) and Seh-reum here on Acuity
If you are interested in receiving discounted sessions from student practitioners, or if you yourself are a new practitioner interested in joining our practice groups, or for general inquiries, please fill out our form here.
with love,
Seh-reum & Kawai (James) at Holds the Moon
