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SADHANA
RETREATS
The
Sanskrit word, Sadhana, refers to practices that deepen our attunement
to spiritual life and the noble qualities we want to open, strengthen
and realize in ourselves and others. Combining the physical and energy
trainings of yoga with the mind and insight trainings of both yoga and
Buddhism, this retreat is a spacious time to immerse yourself in a spiritually nurturing, core
strengthening, healing environment with other seasoned practitioners.
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You'll begin each day in silence, with an
inspiring early morning guided sadhana of asana, pranayama,deep
relaxation and meditation.
Relaxed study, balanced practices and ample room for reflection through
asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, meditation, journaling, periods of
silence and chanting transform depleted energy into fresh enthusiasm.
Insights gained through the presentation and discussion of yoga
philosophy and transformational mind trainings from Yogic and Tibetan
Buddhist traditions, clarify habitual confusions and shine a light on
our shared sources of happiness and wellbeing. Taken onto the mat and
integrated into the body through deep guided yoga experiences,
these new learnings can become a trustworthy foundation for the next stage of your journey.
The informal atmosphere will allow you to make the postures your own.
You'll discover new ways to work with familiar postures and add new
postures to your repertoire as well. When you leave, you’ll be
re-inspired with practical insight, daily life skills, lighthearted
humor, refreshed energy, core yoga techniques, relaxed mind, stable
emotions, and a renewed determination to practice.
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"With rest, peace
and insight I saw
the possibilities in my own evolution spiritually, mentally, physically
and emotionally.
This course is a “must” for the development of
consciousness and lightening the 'load'."
-Connie
Windon
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Friday-Sunday, October 21-23, 2011
BHAGAVAD GITA:
The Song Of The Soul
The profoundly insightful and emotionally moving Bhagavad Gita depicts
the core relationship of an individual soul with universal spirit. Following
the extraordinary life journey of Arjuna, the embodiment of the soul, we
learn from his encounters with success and failure, joy and sorrow, victory
and defeat all the while being guided by the spirit of the universe, Krishna.
Revered by masters and studied by students for centuries, the spiritual
insights conveyed in these inspired writings serve as mirrors of our human
path of sorrow and joy, loss and gain, life and death - from the beginning
of life to the final stage.
If we can more clearly grasp the real truths of this life journey, we can
recognize and choose what nurtures and sustains us while letting go of
what keeps us trapped in samsara – the endless wheel of suffering.
Through this higher path we can experience a happier more creative and
fulfilling existence, one that is also of service to others, while bringing us
the greatest joy.
Our topics will include a self guided inquiry based on the Gita; dharma -
our life's purpose; duhkha - the misery of the dark night of the soul;
vishada - the role of sorrow in awakening; vidya - the wisdom of the Self;
buddhi yoga - the wisdom of intuition; atman - the soul of the Self; koshas
- the layers of the Self; karma yoga - the way of compassionate action;
bhakti - devotion to the One in all; vairagya - renunciation of attachments;
and maya - the worldly realm of illusion.
Recommended Texts:
Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell
The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita by Shri Krishna Prem
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Friday-Sunday, March 9-11, 2012
THE YOGA SUTRAS:
Threads of Consciousness:
Considered by yogis to be an authentic view of the path and a
detailed map of consciousness, the Yoga Sutras delineate the stages and
techniques by which the individual soul can extricate itself from it’s
endless cycles of suffering and attain liberation. Sage Patanjali’s
detailed sequencing - from the nature of mind to the source of
suffering, from the eight limbed practice to the vast possibilities of
liberation – presents us with a methodical approach to gain insight and
understanding of our own highest potential.
In this program you will be guided into selected core insights of
Classical Yoga and explore how to integrate this stunning treatise into
your own practical knowledge of yoga. You will be able to navigate
through the basic topics and see how they build on each other.
Our topics will include: Organized overview of the chapters and key
topics; mind and it’s relationship to our true nature; vrittis – types
of mental activity; kleshas – suffering and it’s causes; ashtanga – the
eight limbs; pratyahara – attention turning inward; dharana – developing
steady concentration; dhyana – one pointed attention; Samadhi –
expanded consciousness and it’s levels.
Recommended Texts:
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Alistair Shearer
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated By Chip Hartranft
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Christopher
Baxter, E-RYT500+, RA – is both a
registered professional architect and master yoga educator with more
than 30 years experience. The author of
"Kripalu Hatha Yoga" and for 20 years, a founding member of Kripalu
Center, he was founding director of the Kripalu Yoga Teachers
Association and Director of Yoga Development. Instrumental in the
development of Kripalu Yoga, Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training and the Yoga
Alliance - the national accrediting affiliation for Yoga Teachers and
Training Schools, he is now Director of Training for the 500-hour
Teacher Certification Program at Discovery Yoga Center. atmacoreyoga@gmail.com
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