Mahjongg's back!! If you’ve ever wanted to learn, here’s your chance! If you already took the first course, here's a chance to deepen your Mahjongg practice. 

When: Wednesday October 9th, 16th, 30th and November 6th from 7-9pm ET

Where: In Person Only @ Sweetbay Yoga Studio 4853 Cordell Ave, pH-11, (Triangle Towers, 16th floor) Bethesda, MD

Cost: $140 for the full series (4 sessions). You will automatically be enrolled in all four sessions. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide refunds if you're unable to make all of the sessions (i.e., this is the price for the full event). 

What is Mahjong?

Mahjongg is a tile-based game that was developed in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. Like the Western card game rummy, Mahjongg is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. While some liken mahjongg to gin rummy, the truth is that mahjongg is gin rummy on steroids!! Classic mahjongg is played with four people and 144 Domino-like tiles, annually redesigned cards, and about 55 possible combinations of hands. Best of all, it is a social game that allows friends and family to get together and have fun!

And boy -- is mahj a hot ticket these days!

Maybe is the post-Covid thing where we’re all looking for ways to reconnect. Maybe it’s our concerns about our aging brains. Maybe it’s a rekindling of memories reaching back to our maternal ancestors. Maybe it’s the desire to just have some fun with friends. Whatever IT is, now’s your chance to join in. 

Mahjongg has a rich, diverse history. Originating in China, the game is linked to Confucius and his love of birds, as “mahjongg” means “sparrow”.  The clacking of the mahjong tiles during shuffling is said to resemble the chattering of sparrows. Anyone who saw the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” might recall that scene towards the end of the film at the mahjongg table where the clacking tiles were fiercely flying.

More recently, mahjongg worked its way into the culture of Jewish women. In 1937, a group of Jewish women formed the National Mahjong League. The game became more popular during World War II. It was a staple game of Jewish bungalow colonies in the mid-20th century and many of today’s players learned from their mothers and grandmothers.

Join Lyndsey Van Vliet and Laurie Williams to learn this amazing game, among your favorite Sweetbay community. Like yoga, once you begin to learn about it, you’ll be hooked and play for the rest of your life. Together, Lyndsey and Laurie have been playing for more than 20 years and enjoy nothing more than sharing this wonderful game with others and spreading the mahjongg word! Laurel will provide a simple soup for each Wednesday night, along with light beverages.