A Doorway in Time: Yoga as a Journey of Being

Esalen at Sunset

Facility: Esalen
Location: Big Sur, CA
Leader: Thomas Fortel
Dates: Week of January 3-8, 2010

In many ways, our whole life is a series of doorways and passages into new or forgotten ways of being. Now, once again, we stand on the precipice of a new decade, looking at the likelihood of a radically new way of life and being, emerging before our eyes and unfolding through our very own selves and intentions. Over time, the practices of yoga can create a softening of habits and patterns, a clarifying of mind, and a gradual opening of the spiritual lotuses (chakras). All of this leads to an expanded field of awareness beyond our personal ego, and into a wellspring of life-force (energy) and our place in the ocean of consciousness.

One of the most profound environments for retreat is simply being in nature. In this first week of the new decade we will take time each day for reflection, contemplation, and discussion. Each morning begins with meditation, pranayama (conscious breathing), and journal writing and continues after breakfast with an active morning yoga practice. In the afternoons, we'll meet for restorative yoga and conclude our days with a secret Esalen spiritual practice: lawn-lying, meeting at various locations on the Esalen property as we study the energy of Mother Earth and Father Sun. We will sing too, for sure. All levels of yoga practice are welcome; please have at least three months of recent yoga experience. Please bring a yoga mat and a journal.

CEUs available for nurses.

CEUs available for NCBTMB practitioners.