Local Ceramics, Local Soup and Local Song

Family Kitchen hosts a friendly soup-off extravaganza

Yoga Bend

In the Hatha Vinyasa practice the group aims to deepen connection with breath, body and mind. While holding and sometimes flowing through different yoga postures, the group can experience physical, energetic, psychological and emotional affects. All levels are welcome. Mondays-Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30am and Saturdays, 10:15-11:15am. The Space, 2570 NE Twin Knolls Dr., Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 305-793-5176. smaranayogabend@gmail.com. First class is free.

Himalayan Kriya Yoga & Soundbath

Come tap, shake, breath, stretch and release any stagnant energies or anxieties to prepare yourself for a deep journey of awareness inward through a sound bath meditation with gongs, bowls, drums, flutes, chimes and more instruments. No prior yoga experience needed. All levels, body types and thought beliefs welcome. Thu, May 18, 6-7pm and Thu, May 25, 6-7:30pm. Hanai Foundation, 62430 Eagle Rd., Bend. Contact: 808-783-0374. kevin@soundshala.com. $20.

Kirtan: Celebrate With the Bend Bhakti Collective Kirtan, sacred song, dance and community. Celebrate with the Bend Bhakti Collective. Thursdays, 7-8:30pm. First Presbyterian Heritage Hall, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: 541-382-4401. Free-$20.

NAMI Basics NAMI Basics is a 6-session education program for adults who provide care for school-age and adolescent youth who are experiencing mental health symptoms. The course is free and open to adults anywhere in Oregon who need help managing mental health services for a child or teen. Thursdays, 6:30-9pm. Through June 22. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@ namicentraloregon.org. Free.

NAMI Connection Peer Support Group

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. Mondays, 7-9pm. Contact: 503-230-8009. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.

Pregnancy & Labor Preparation: An Obstetrics Physiotherapy Perspective

Want to know what you can do to support your body through a pregnancy, how to prepare for labor, and when to reach out for a little extra help? May 18, 6-7:30pm. Hanai Foundation, 62430 Eagle Rd., Bend. Contact: 541-728-4894. mackenzie@sanctumbend.com. $20-$40.

Shadow Yoga Basics, Donation Based Introduces principles and practices of Shadow Yoga, with an emphasis on the lower structure and building the pathway of power. Pay what you can. Mondays, 6-7pm. Continuum, A School of Shadow Yoga, 155 SW Century Dr., Suite 112, Bend. Contact: 541-588-2480. info@continuum-yoga.com. $1 - $19.

Vedic Meditation Society of Bend: Yoga of the Supreme Divine Mother Sunset silent meditation of relaxed self-surrender to the Supreme Reality as the Divine Mother. Vedic meditation opens the ecstatic vibrations of the Goddess (“divine intoxication”) in the body spontaneously and without self effort. Email first to join! Fridays-Sundays, 7-8pm. Riley Ranch Nature Preserve, 19975 Glen Vista Rd., Bend.

Contact: vedaofbend@gmail.com. Donation/No One Turned Away.

Weekly Mindfulness Meditation Group

These 90-minute sessions will include two 20-minute meditations, walking meditation and a discussion. If you sit on a cushion, bring your own. Beginners are welcome. Arrive early to meet people and settle into your place. No RSVP required. Thursdays, 6:30pm. Grace First Lutheran Church, 2265 NW Shevlin Park Rd., Bend. Contact: 802-299-0722. bendtnhsitters@gmail. com. Free, donations accepted.

Yin + Breathwork: 7-Week Chakra Series Yin + Breathwork: 7-Week Chakra Series. Each session, the group will explore the energetic and emotional blocks people are holding onto in that week’s chakra. The group will move this stuck energy using sound healing, Yin yoga and active breath work—creating deep emotional release and making space for joy and clarity. Every other Friday, 10am-1pm. Through June 16. Breathe Love Bend, 2100 NE 8th St., Bend. Contact: 541-224-8133. lisa@breathelovebend. com. $315.

Family Kitchen will host a soup-off fundraiser on Sunday, May 21, and all of Central Oregon is invited. Local chefs will cook up soup with carefully crafted flavors, labor and love. Local potters Justin LeBart and Hunter Tieg will provide handmade ceramic bowls for attendees to pick out, eat soup out of and take home with them. Local musicians will bring live music and chill vibes to the celebration. It’s a local fest and will benefit Family Kitchen meals.

Family Kitchen has been around since 1986 and provides a nutritious meal every day of the week (and two on Friday) in Bend. It also provides all meals to the Lighthouse Navigation Center and Stepping Stone Shelter. Nearly 3,000 fresh meals are shared with the community each week through Family Kitchen, according to its website.

“Anybody can come and have a meal with [Family Kitchen.] Nobody's asking any questions or making them prove the need or anything like that. We make sure the meals are tasty and well-balanced. Folks can have as much as they need or as little as they need. That’s all very important to us,” said Donna Burklo, Family Kitchen program director.

Chefs from J-Dub and Joolz will represent the two professional teams. The other two soups will be made by Family Kitchen volunteer teams who regularly cook soup during the week for Family Kitchen meals. The four soups will go head-to-head for the crowd favorite winner and blind-taste winner.

“I made sure that our volunteer teams weren't going to be using any ingredients that they wouldn't normally be able to use for a soup at Family Kitchen, because it needs to be what we serve,” Burklo said. “We serve amazing soup. Ask any of our diners. So, they're just making what they would normally make for our diners, and then the restaurants are doing whatever they want.”

Here’s how the crowd favorite competition works: the crowd gets to taste soups from each pot, pick one, fill their bowl and first soup to run out, wins the crowd favorite. The blind-taste competition will feature local celebrities — Mayor Melanie Kebler, Morgan Gwynn of Central Oregon Daily, food critic Barb Gonzalez and others. The panel will decide on the blind-taste soup-off winner.

Local bands — Appaloosa, Canyon Creek Trio, Bobby Lindstrom and Friends and James Michael Miller — will provide tunes for the night. Tickets are available and can be purchased online or at the door.

Soulfull Bowls Soup Off Ceramics and Music Extravaganza

Sun., May 21, 3-6pm Family Kitchen 231 NW Idaho Ave., Bend familykitchen.org

$25-$30