Description:
A three-day yoga retreat focusing on Yoga as a tool to calm the mind, release unwanted emotional and behavioral patterns, and rejuvenate your cells.  The keys to staying mentally, physically and emotionally balanced are the same as they have been for thousands of years.  Cleanse the mind, detoxify the body, release fear, move the spine and keep it moving, eat well.

Weekend Includes:

• Yoga Classes AM/PM group classes
  
• Mindfulness in Nature
  
• Conscious Eating seminar
• The Healthy Back seminar and workshop
• Meditations
  
• Delicious gourmet meals
  

YOGA
The time is now to wake up to the full potential of who we are.  We as a species are evolving rapidly towards higher and higher states of awareness. Kundalini yoga is the technology of the human consciousness to assist us in our evolution.  With Kundalini yoga, we begin to discover the true self, and once she/he is revealed to us, there is no turning back.  Within our true self lay all our neurosis, addictions, methods of coping, undesirable behavioral patterns and also the shiny diamond of our beautiful, unlimited selves.  We need to accept and embrace all parts in order to reach that shining, luminescent diamond.  Kundalini yoga encompasses the science of breath (pranayam), and Naad yoga (mantra), meditation and postures. Through the breath, mantra and movement we come to a place of letting go and self-acceptance and the ability to see ourselves illuminated by our wisdom and true nature, which is love.  Kundalini yoga is also a tool for emotional and physical detoxification and can help you to remove negativity  and cleanse toxins from the body.  You have the option of taking one or two yoga sessions each day; early morning Sadhana and early evening session.

SADHANA

The word Sadhana means a practice or self-discipline that allows one to experience the infinite in one's self.  In the yogic scriptures it is said that if you devote 1/10 of your day to Sadhana, the rest of the day will be taken care of by the returning energy that you have generated.  Sadhana is done before sunrise because the angle of the sun to the earth at that time is very good for meditation.  Also there is more prana, (life force) at this time, and the body rhythms are most set to receive and utilize the energies.   Sadhana is a powerful practice for clearing fears and anxieties.

NATURE
The entire universe vibrates to sound.  It is the more subtle sounds that hold the highest vibrations such as those found in nature.  Nature is the ultimate listener, teacher and healer.  Enjoy the unbridled beauty of the Catskills and the sculpture park in winter, with group and private walks.  The Retreat is located at the beautiful Art of Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, New York (about 2 hours north of NYC).   See www.retreatartomi.com for more details.

CONSCIOUS EATING
The Conscious Eating seminar focuses on helping the full time worker to choose his or her diet wisely. For many people, busy lives have gotten in the way of properly nourishing the body.  Unhealthy eating patterns result in systematic weight and body-fat gain over time. This has a degenerating affect on the body and psyche.  Our society is bombarded with pesticides, herbicides, chemicals and preservatives in our food which muck up our systems, lowering the immune system and making us vulnerable to disease and illness.  We will be focusing on organic eating, detoxification methods and methods of pinpointing food sensitivities. We will also address how to eat to lose extra pounds.  A toxic system will create a sluggish metabolism.  This is why many people cannot lose pounds, even when they have cut back on calories.  The combination of detoxifying the body with healthier eating, yoga and the emptying of emotional baggage is a powerfully effective way to regenerate and rebuild the body.

BACK CARE
Improving body mechanics and posture opens the door to understanding the connection between your back and ingrained mental patterns.  This seminar includes a postural analysis and exercises to strengthen and stretch the back to release pain and misalignment.  Much of your self-confidence and ability to "hold yourself up" during the hard times, lies in the strength and flexibility of the upper and lower back.  Day to day pressures and misuse of the body (e.g.  extended time sitting at a desk or driving) will cause the muscles in the upper and low back to become overstretched and weak.  There is a yogic saying, "you are as young, as your spine is flexible."  The health of the spine is essential to remaining young and vital.

Schedule:
Day 1    
10:00 am   Arrive  
11:00 am   Orientation for weekend
12:30 pm    Lunch
2:30 pm     Group Circle - Letting Go ceremony
4:00 pm     Yoga Session
6:30 pm     Dinner
8:00 pm     Meditation

Day 2  
5:00 am     Sadhana (early morning yoga)
8:00 am     Breakfast
9:30 am     Healthy Back Seminar
12:30 pm   Lunch
1:30 pm     Mindfulness in Nature Walk
4:00 pm     Yoga Session
6:30 pm     Dinner
8:00 pm     Group Circle - 2008 Manifesto

Day 3   
5:00 am     Sadhana
8:00 am     Breakfast
9:00 am     Conscious Eating Seminar

12:00 pm   Lunch
1:00 pm     Group Circle - Revelations
2:30 pm     Depart

                                                                                     - Cassandra Deas, Verona, NJ

PICTURES FROM OUR JANUARY 2008 RETREAT