“In an age of constant acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. In an age of constant distraction, nothing is more luxurious than paying attention. In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.”
What are your tools of connection?
The world is moving at an ever-faster pace as technology brings us paradoxically closer together and farther apart. You have the capacity to text, talk, and video call people from all over the world with a devise that fits into one hand.
These conversations and connections allow you to build relationships with colleagues, friends, and family who live all over the globe. This can be exhilarating in the ways that it builds bridges and fosters creativity.
It has an obvious downside: Talking with my nephew on the East Coast on FaceTime is wonderful, but it is nothing compared to snuggling with him on the couch. I am so grateful that I get to have this face time with him, but I also feel the sorrow of missing the in-person connection.
These technologies also carry the expectation that you reply immediately, even if its a Sunday afternoon and the message is from work (and it’s not that urgent). The pace of evolution with these technologies is rapid-fire, and its dramatically changing our attention, families, and society - in both positive and negative ways.
I’ve been asking myself:
How do you go with the flow of change and stay connected to yourself in a nourishing way?
How can you find balance with the benefits and disadvantages of such powerful technology?
How can you insert The Pause that allows you to explore the luxuriousness of paying attention?
Is this feeling of urgency in alignment with my priorities over the long arc of time?
Yoga as Connection
While technology is an obvious modern tool of connection, the Yoga practice offers you a very different method of connecting. In yoga philosophy, yoga is sometimes described as a process and other times as a state. Both perspectives of yoga offer insight into modern life.
At first glance, you may think of yoga as fancy shapes, flexibility, and movement. But Yoga is much more than that. It is a path that connects you to yourself through techniques of inquiry.
It is obvious and subtle.
It is form.
It is breath.
It is movement.
It is stillness.
Dedicate a day to The Pause
Unplug for a day as you journey into an enchanting forest of redwoods at Land of Medicine Buddha. Deepen your connection to yourself through yoga practices that highlight inquiry and exploration. Longer class times will allow you to explore: asana, pranayama, philosophy, and meditation. Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared vegetarian lunch, walk in the redwoods, and spark a conversation with a growing community on the path of practice.
Your day will begin with a short discussion about yoga and the practices it presents for connection. This will lead to a movement practice that invites you to experiment with sliding and gliding while supported on the earth. These movements become the foundation for a series of yoga asanas (postures) that involve flow, form, and breath. You will have the opportunity to add more support to these practices or to challenge yourself (or both). The movements will gradually lead you a Pause before you head into the redwoods for a vegetarian lunch and break.
The afternoon session will be structured similar to the morning, further inviting you to connect to sensation in both movement and stillness. The practices are appropriate for all levels, although some yoga experience is recommended.
Schedule
9:30-12:00pm - Morning Practice in the Pine Room
12:30-1:30pm - Lunch provided by LMB
2-4:30pm - Afternoon Practice in the Pine Room
Practices will include: yoga philosophy, SATYA, asana, pranayama, and meditation.
Tuition
$150 per person on/before February 3, 2020
$175 per person after (all registrations must be received before Feb 15)
A limited number of work-study scholarships are available. Please email Dawn if you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships.
Payment via Cash or Check is preferred, online registration welcome.
Registration Instructions
Step One: Submit your tuition payment to Dawn via cash, check, or online. Please email Dawn if you would like to mail a check. (cash or check is preferred, but online payments are welcome)
Step Two: Complete the electronic registration form for each participant registering.
Please Note: You must submit a registration form and payment in full in order to complete your registration. Please contact Dawn with questions or concerns.
Retreat Logistics
The retreat will be hosted at Land of the Medicine Buddha in Soquel, CA. A vegetarian lunch is provided for all students, and all registrations and payments must be received 7 days before the retreat (this allows the Land of Medicine Buddha to make appropriate arrangements for our arrival).
Please bring your mat and any/all yoga props that you have. I will provide one block, strap, and blanket per person.
You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the retreat. Car-pooling is encouraged, and Dawn will help connect you to other students to arrange a ride share.
There is no cell phone or internet service on the grounds. Please turn off all devices before your arrival, and honor yourself and other students by leaving all devices at home or tucked away. If you need to be reached by friends or family in the case of an emergency, please give them the office number for the Land of the Medicine Buddha. (831)462-8383
Agreement with Land of the Medicine Buddha
In order to preserve the sacred energy of the Land of Medicine Buddha, we ask that all visitors to Land of Medicine Buddha join us in observing the following precepts to make your stay as peaceful and enjoyable as possible.
Please avoid killing any living being, including mosquitoes.
Please avoid taking what is not freely given.
Please avoid sexual misconduct.
Please avoid deliberately lying to anyone.
Please avoid intoxicants such as alcohol and recreational drugs.
