Just Sit Saturday

Just Sit Saturday is a weekly opportunity to practice zazen (Zen sitting meditation) in a structured group setting without the commitment of a full weekend or residential retreat. The three-hour morning session uses a straightforward format: alternating periods of stillness and movement, which gives your legs and mind regular breaks and makes it easier to sustain focus over the morning.

Soto Zen emphasizes shikantaza—just sitting, without a specific object of concentration. The practice is simply to sit upright, follow your breath, and return your attention when the mind wanders. This approach can feel accessible to beginners while remaining substantial for experienced practitioners. At Atlanta Soto Zen Center, Saturday sits are a way to deepen a home practice or prepare for longer retreats like sesshin (intensive multi-day practice).

The format—alternating zazen and kinhin (walking meditation)—is standard in Zen practice and helps prevent the physical restlessness that can arise during long periods of sitting.