Ananda: An ancient Sanskrit word meaning “Divine Bliss.” It is our natural state of being.

About Us

Ananda Community Center for Conscious Living offers holistic mind-body treatments, classes and community partnership for the Charlottesville and Central Virginia area. Our goal is to facilitate personal healing and to provide information and tools for those interested in pursuing a holistic-centered life.

Holistic Living and Mind-Body healing is an integrative experience. It involves partnership between your mind, body and spirit. Because of the vast range of services, modalities, treatments and products available on the market, no one practitioner or service can cover what a single individual may need or want at any time.

Abby Arnold, owner and director of Ananda Community Center for Conscious Living, is a Master Reiki practitioner with advanced certification in a number of Reiki modalities, including traditional Usui, Sechem-Seichim, Karuna Ki and Lightarian Reiki.  She has been involved with the metaphysical and conscious living movements for over 20 years, and for a number of years owned a New Age bookstore on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.  She is also an experienced university professor. She currently teaches at the University of Virginia and holds an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Bennington College and an M.S.W. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a member of the International Association of Reiki Professionals.

For information on our other therapists and consultants, see their biographies listed on the class/treatment appointment schedule.

Curious About Energy Healing?

The following web sites can help you navigate this complex arena and learn about the variety of practices available, the  scientific research happening and the levels of accreditation and training offered.  Energy Healing can profoundly change your life for the better, but it is a somewhat intangible practice.  Be clear about the results you wish to achieve, listen to your inner guidance, and remain open to unknown possibilities. At the same time, choose your practice(s) and practitioner(s) thoughtfully and remain wary of outrageous claims. Miracles can and do happen, but reputable energy therapy treatments offer the benefits of healing and renewal, which is not necessarily the same thing as a cure.

• The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, a branch of the NIH, is the Federal Government's lead agency for scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
• The International Center for Reiki Training
• Soul Medicine Institute

Here in Charlottesville, The University of Virginia Mindfulness Center offers instruction in meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices as well as physician instruction and scientific research into alternative stress reduction techniques.

Note: You must use your own discretion, common sense and intuitive guidance when choosing a practitioner and service.  If a service or practitioner feels "sketchy" to you, or the service they offer is something you are uncomfortable with, do not participate.  Alternative healing, intuitive consultations and mind-body wellness practices are helpful, but do not replace the need for sound medical opinions and treatment. No service that we offer should take the place of medical treatment or the advice of your doctor. While we try to provide a level of responsible screening, we can make no definitive claims about the effectiveness of the people to whom we refer you,treatments, consultations or classes we offer, or any referrals we make. Ananda Wellness Center LLC is not responsible for the quality of the event or your experience with it. You must use your own judgment and seek sound medical advice when pursuing any options.