REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Registration is required through the Laguna Hills Community Center / City of Laguna Hills Community Services Department.
When registering, please use the Catalogue Number for the series you wish to attend.
Register through the City of Laguna Hills:
https://secure.rec1.com/CA/city-of-laguna-hills-ca/catalog
TAI CHI RULER AND MANTRA YOGA FOR PEACE
An 8-Week Mind-Body Wellness Experience
Oct 29th - Dec 17th, 2026 (Winter Session), Catalogue #2729
Art Room B, 6:00-7:00pm
Maximum class size: 8 students
Class fee: $100 - Resident / $105 - Non-resident
Laguna Hills Community Center
25555 Alicia Parkway
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
949-707-2680
**The Laguna Hills Community Center has joyfully extended our Tai Chi Ruler And Mantra Yoga series into the Winter 2027 session.
Discover a unique mind-body practice that brings together gentle movement, mindful breathing, energy cultivation, sacred sound and mantra meditation in a peaceful, welcoming and non-competitive environment.
Each class begins with the Tai Chi Ruler, a traditional practice that encourages gentle movement, balance, coordination, relaxation and the cultivation of chi — vital energy. We then move into Mantra Yoga and meditation, using sacred sound, conscious breathing and focused awareness to quiet the mind and cultivate inner peace.
These two traditions beautifully complement one another: Tai Chi Ruler supports balance, vitality and harmony within the material body, while Mantra Yoga nurtures peace, clarity and spiritual awareness within the heart and spirit soul.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
• Gentle Tai Chi Ruler movements
• Mindful breathing and relaxation
• Mantra meditation and sacred sound
• Practices for cultivating inner peace
• A supportive and peaceful environment
• Simple practices that can be continued at home
No previous experience with Tai Chi Chuan, yoga or meditation is necessary.
ONGOING 8-WEEK SERIES
Each series continues the practice, allowing students to join for one 8-week session or continue from series to series as their practice develops.
Series 2: October 29 – December 17, 2026
Catalogue #2729
Series 3: January 7 – February 25, 2027
Catalogue #2730
Series 4: March 4 – April 22, 2027
Catalogue #2731
A PRACTICE FOR BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT
This class brings together elements from a lifelong journey through martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan, Bhakti Yoga, mantra meditation and Kirtan — creating a gentle practice centered on peace, balance, awareness and connection.
Come as you are. Breathe. Move. Chant. Relax. Cultivate peace from within.
INSTRUCTOR
Patita Pavana dasi (Annette Laborte)
Patita Pavana dasi (Annette Laborte) is a longtime practitioner and teacher of martial arts, Kenpo Karate, Kajukenbo, Tai Chi Ruler, Tai Chi Sword, Tao An Pai Kung Fu, Nui Kung, Bhakti Yoga, Mantra Meditation and Kirtan Yoga, with more than 45 years of experience studying and sharing practices for peace, wellness, spiritual connection and personal growth throughout Southern California.
Her teaching brings together her extensive martial arts experience with her lifelong practice of Bhakti Yoga creating a gentle and accessible approach centered on conscious movement, mindful breathing, peace, compassion and spiritual awareness. Her intention is to help students develop a consistent personal practice that supports greater balance in the body, clarity in the mind and peace within the heart.
HONORING MY TEACHERS
I am deeply grateful for the teachers who have guided and influenced my lifelong journey in martial arts, healing arts and spiritual practice. I will always carry their loving influence into my teaching today, honoring their wisdom through practices that cultivate peace, awareness, balance, compassion and harmony of body, mind and spirit.
Srimati Katyayani Devi dasi Thakurani — Spiritual Master
I am very fortunate that my spiritual journey has been deeply guided by my Spiritual Master, Srimati Katyayani Devi dasi Thakurani, whose teachings in Bhakti Yoga philosophy and the Vedic teachings of love, devotion and service to the Supreme Soul have profoundly shaped and enriched my spiritual life over the past 20+ years.
Through my Spiritual Master's guidance and mercy, my teacher has deepened my understanding of Bhakti Yoga (union with God through Love and Devotion), devotion and service, it is a privilege to share Yoga Philosophy, sacred sound (Kirtan Mantra Meditation) and spiritual practices with communities throughout Southern California.
I have been given the spiritual name, Patita Pavana dasi, by my Spiritual Master which means “servant of the One who purifies fallen souls,” reflecting a path of devotional service and love for God. True peace begins within the heart and grows through a life of devotion, compassion and service.
Senior Grandmaster Lucky E. Luciano
With deep love, respect, and gratitude, I honor my uncle, Senior Grandmaster Lucky E. Luciano, a distinguished 9th-degree black belt and Grandmaster of Kajukenbo, whose life was devoted to the martial arts and the principles of discipline, integrity, humility, and respect.
Uncle Lucky's martial arts journey began in Hawaii at a young age, and through decades of dedication, he became a respected teacher, mentor, and leader in the Kajukenbo community. His teachings reflected the understanding that true mastery is not measured by rank alone, but by one's character, willingness to learn, and commitment to helping others grow.
As someone whose own journey has included Kajukenbo, Kenpo Karate, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi Chuan, I am grateful for the teachers who have contributed to my path. My uncle holds a special place in that lineage—not only as a martial arts grandmaster, but as family.
His philosophy that “to teach is to learn” reminds me that we are always students, no matter how much knowledge we acquire. We honor our teachers by practicing with sincerity, sharing what we have learned, and passing their wisdom on to future generations.
Uncle Lucky, thank you for the legacy you left in the martial arts and for being part of my journey. Your teachings and example remain a meaningful part of the foundation upon which I continue to build my own practice.
With love, respect, and gratitude, I honor your legacy.
Grandmaster Sifu Share K. Lew
I have had the privilege of studying Tai Chi Ruler, Tao An Pai Gung Fu and Nui Gung with the late Grandmaster Sifu Share K. Lew. His teaching reflected patience, humility, discipline and deep respect for the traditional roots of these practices.
I am grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing what I was so blessed to learn from Sifu Lew and I shall strive to pass these teachings forward with the same respect and sincerity with which they were shared with me.
Todd Iwao Takeuchi-Mochizuki
Todd is a respected teacher, founder and trainer of “The Intrinsic Project” (https://www.intrinsic-project.org/) He is a mentor whose teachings profoundly influenced my understanding of martial arts, movement, energy cultivation and the responsibility that comes with sharing knowledge within a community.
Todd represents the importance of discipline, awareness, respect and continual learning. Through my studies with him, I continue to practice Nui Gung and Shen Gung, and had the opportunity to teach Tai Chi Sword and meditation within women's groups at various school that Todd founded. His influence continues in the way I approach teaching — with respect for the tradition, gratitude for the teacher and a sincere desire to share practices that can benefit others and our communities.
Thank you,
Patita Pavana dasi (Annette Laborte)
KIRTAN AND SPIRITUAL SERVICE
In addition to teaching Tai Chi Ruler and Mantra Yoga, Patita Pavana dasi has devoted much of her life to sharing mantra meditation through music, also known as Kirtan. She serves as Director of Events for Spirit Soul And Friends® - A Musical Peace Troupe, leading Kirtan, meditation gatherings and educational programs throughout Southern California at festivals, community churches, private events and plant-based venues. Her greatest joy is helping people experience greater peace, connection and well-being through the spiritual practice of Bhakti Yoga and the Vedic teachings.
PEACEFUL INDIVIDUALS CREATE A PEACEFUL SOCIETY