Seniors Craft Class. "From Clutter to Keepsake: Craft a Memory Album With Creative Memories" on four Friday afternoons at 10 a.m.-noon, from Feb. 6-27. RCC's Senior Academy and the Reston-Herndon Senior Center will present a workshop with a Creative Memories consultant that will teach students how to preserve photos. All materials provided. The class is intended for persons age 55 and older. The fee is $20 for Reston residents and $40 for non-residents. Reston-Herndon Senior Center, 1850 Cameron Glen Drive in Reston. Register either in person or by faxing a completed RCC Registration form to 703-476-8617. Call 703-476-4500 (V/TTY).
Pastel Drawing. Reston resident Carol Berman will help students to learn the medium and improve drawing skills on Thursday mornings, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at her Reston studio. Cost is $15 per session. Call 703-437-9068.
Buddhist Meditation Classes. Participants will find "inner peace through gaining a practical understanding of the mind." Classes are conducted by Dr. Meggie Byrne, M.D. of Vajrayogini Buddhist Center and include guided meditations, Buddhist teaching, Q&A and refreshments on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at Brown's Chapel, Brown's Chapel Road, Reston. A $10 donation is suggested. Call 202-294-8156 or visit www.meditation-dc.org.
Gentle Adult Yoga Classes. Ongoing classes are held in Reston at Brown's Chapel. Beginners level. Mondays, from 7-8:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 7:30-9 p.m. Simple breathing, stretching and deep relaxation techniques are taught. Cost is $60/monthly. Family yoga classes forming for the spring. Call for more information and registration at 703-476-2827.
Lamaze Childbirth Classes. Certified Lamaze instructor at the YMCA in Reston. A series of five classes are offered on Tuesday nights, from 7-9 p.m. Call 703-631-4629 for a schedule and to register.
Gentle Hatha Yoga. Classes for beginners and those who would prefer to remain at a Gentle level are offered Saturdays, 12-1:30 p.m., at Brown's Chapel. Cost is $50 for five classes; $12 for drop in. Weekday daytime and evening classes are available in private studio in Reston. Call 703-787-0268.
ESL Courses. Reston Community Center offers English as A Second Language (ESL) courses for adults with beginning to intermediate levels of proficiency in English. The courses will cover basic grammar, conversation, pronunciation and writing. Classes are targeted to people age 16 and older. Students are required to take a free Assessment Test before they can attend a class. The fee is $20 for people who live or work in Reston and $87 for all others. For information on assessment testing, class locations, dates and times, call the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 (TTY/V).
Registration begins in January for ESL classes offered by Hogar Hispano of Catholic Charities at 24 sites throughout Northern Virginia. Cost is $40 per semester and includes a textbook. Call 703-534-9805, Ext. 222 or visit www.ccda.net, for a schedule.
Meditation. Learn how to improve physical health and state of mind through easy to learn Buddhist meditation techniques. Classes taught by Dr. Meggie Byrne, MD of Vajrayogini Buddhist Center on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, from 7-8:30 p.m. There is a $10 suggested donation. Brown's Chapel, near Baron Cameron Ave., Reston. Call 202-294-8156 for details or visit www.meditation-dc.org.
Self-Defense. Classes meet every Sunday at the Reston YMCA, from 4-5:30 p.m. Other classes meet 1-2 hours twice a week: Wednesday, from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Saturdays, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The program is recognized by the Police Martial Arts Association and the American Jujitsu Association. For information on classes, call 703-435-3824, or the YMCA program manager, Todd Morris, at 703-742-8800.
Dance. The Reston Community Center is offering adults several introductory dance classes:
* Ballroom Dance, which takes place on eight Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., from Jan. 15 to March 4, is a basic introduction to Rumba, fox trot, cha-cha, and waltz.
* Swing Dance I is an introduction to East Coast Swing. It will be held from 7:30-8:30 on eight Thursdays, from Jan. 15 to March 4.
* Salsa Dancing I teaches the rudiments of salsa: how to hold your partner, rhythm, style and steps. This class will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on eight Tuesdays, from Jan. 20 to March 9.
* Salsa Dancing II will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on eight Tuesdays, from Jan. 20 to March 9.
All of these dance classes will be held at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. The cost of each class is $50 for people who live or work in Reston and $75 for all others.
Contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500.
Kiddie Open Gym. For ages walking through five years. Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., Tuesdays and Thursdays, through March 4, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Open play, tumbling, big wheel days and kiddie basketball. Special days planned including pool time. A schedule is available. Adults must accompany children. Cost is $3 per child or save with a season pass. Call 703-787-7300.
Art Classes. Artist Lassie Corbett is offering classes for children and adults at Herndon Old Town Gallery-A Place to Paint, 720 Lynn St., Herndon. Beginning and Advanced Watercolor classes are offered, day and evening. Oriental brush painting on Thursday afternoons in a combined class for beginners and advanced students. Special weekend workshops in mixed media and collage. Call 703-435-1888. Visit www.lassiecorbettart.com.
Pilates and Yoga. Balanced Bodies has announced the new winter schedule featuring weekly programs beginning in January and running through March 27 with classes for beginners, advanced beginners and intermediates. Added to the pilates roster are classes aimed at cardio and strength with BOSU (Both Sides Up Apparatus).
In addition to a variety of classes for adults (16 years and over), Balanced Bodies offers classes for children up to age 15 on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. The program offers a workout and education on the healthy aspects of staying in shape plus the truths and myths of exercise and nutrition. The focus of all programs at Balanced Bodies is on building cardiovascular endurance and abdominal strength using fundamental exercises.
Call 703-408-8136 or visit www.bbodies.com.
Starshine Theater Young Actors' Workshop. Rehearsals set to begin on a new musical drama, "The Van Gogh Cafe," based on the novel by Newbery Award-winning author Cynthia Rylant, on Saturday, Feb. 7 at The School of Theatrical Dance in Great Falls. Adapted and directed by Patricia Budwig, the play is open to boys and girls, ages 8-16. It is a full-production experience, offering a speaking role to every student, as well as lead singing and action/dance roles for those interested. A professionally produced CD soundtrack of the original musical score will include cast members' vocal talents. Performances will take place in late March at The Great Falls Grange. Call 703-790-9050 or e-mail StarshineTheater@aol.com for complete audition and rehearsal information.
Wee Play. A weekly activity class for ages 2-3 and their parents. Sing songs, make crafts, play with balls, hoops, and paddles, shake the parachute and enjoy a snack. Classes are held at the Classical Ballet Academy in Herndon on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. Sessions are 10 weeks and cost $90. Call Kathy Brennan to register at 703-403-8699.