"The Deliberate Stillness: Meditation & Yoga Day-Long delivered me from chronic high angst about the wildfires encircling Northern CA at this time to a spacious inner calm and expansiveness that feels like I am living beyond the Ego Mind. And in this state, I feel alert but not hyper-vigilant, physically worked but restored and lighter in spirit akin to joy. It was a noteworthy observation to experience this expansive freedom in our last meditation following the yin practice. These two practices together have a power I had never experienced. I hope to do more of this with you in your classes and retreats as we move into The Mystery together" Many many hugs of gratitude from my sequestered life in Oakland"
–Michelle
Wardrobe: Please wear comfortable clothing and bring layers for the varied weather at Green Gulch. We will be outdoors on the deck or lawn for a few practices. Shoes that are easy to slip on and off are best. Nothing's more fun than being in the Yurt during the rain.
Props: All yoga props, including yoga mats, are supplied. If you prefer to use your own, please bring them. Eye pillows are not included; please bring one if you have one.
Space: We will be in the YURT for this retreat. After lunch, there is time to stroll to Muir Beach.
Diet: A plant-based diet is best for this day, as well as potentially the day before and after. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, oily and sugary foods. The organic lunch served at Green Gulch is vegetarian.
Please bring a snack to share: cookies, nuts, chocolate... These treats will be available for everyone at the tea counter.
Silence: This is a silent retreat, with opportunities to speak during discussion periods. Please maintain Noble Silence during the retreat by refraining from talking to other participants, reading, writing, going online, using cell phones, or communicating with anyone outside of the retreat, except in the event of a medical emergency.
Health: We will be in a wonderfully cozy yurt with a wood-burning stove. Because the space is intimate and we will be engaging in breathing practices, please cancel if you are not feeling well or if your family or friends have been exposed to COVID.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
$185. Your registration fee is your deposit.
The retreat includes all instruction, a vegetarian lunch, tea service, all props, time for hiking or walking through the farm and gardens, or a stroll on Muir Beach.
Limit of 25 participants.
Cancellations:
Your registration is 50% nonrefundable. Reservations canceled less than 30 days before the retreat date are 100% nonrefundable.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
This schedule is subject to inspiration & impulse...
9: Opening Circle, Arriving, Settling—Noble Silence
9:30 Abiding Mediation
10: Qi Gong
11: Abiding Meditation
Tea Break
11:30 Asana
12:30 Lunch
2:00 Yoga Nidra
2:30 Yin Yoga
3:30 Abiding Meditation
Tea Break
4:00 Somatic Movement
4:30 Closing Circle
5: Departure
"The time we spent in the yurt was comforting and insightful - and a needed reprieve from the world. You are remarkable. I am impressed with your words and guidance through it all. You have such a gift David. It’s beautiful to see someone utilize the gifts they are blessed with and share them with the world.”
—Laurie, Sausalito
Wardrobe: Please wear comfortable clothing and bring layers for the varied weather at Green Gulch. We will be outdoors on the deck or lawn for a few practices. Shoes that are easy to slip on and off are best. Nothing's more fun than being in the Yurt during the rain.
Props: All yoga props, including yoga mats, are supplied. If you prefer to use your own, please bring them. Eye pillows are not included; please bring one if you have one.
Space: We will be in the YURT for this retreat. After lunch, there is time to stroll to Muir Beach.
Diet: A plant-based diet is best for this day, as well as potentially the day before and after. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, oily and sugary foods. The organic lunch served at Green Gulch is vegetarian.
Please bring a snack to share: cookies, nuts, chocolate... These treats will be available for everyone at the tea counter.
Silence: This is a silent retreat, with opportunities to speak during discussion periods. Please maintain Noble Silence during the retreat by refraining from talking to other participants, reading, writing, going online, using cell phones, or communicating with anyone outside of the retreat, except in the event of a medical emergency.
Health: We will be in a wonderfully cozy yurt with a wood-burning stove. Because the space is intimate and we will be engaging in breathing practices, please cancel if you are not feeling well or if your family or friends have been exposed to COVID.
“I wanted to send you a thank you note for yesterday's Deliberate Stillness retreat. Inviting intentional rest and stillness into my home was so very sweet - and so very needed. I find that my "rest" can sometimes take the form of mindless hours on the couch (especially since COVID) and yesterday's practice reminded me how powerful conscious stillness really is. I even feel equipped to make it through (at least) this next week! Natalie – Oakland
"Thank you so much for that amazing retreat! I have never taken Qi Gong or Yin Yoga and they were perfectly booked ends to the meditation and breathing. It was a nice way to not only spend the day, but to go deeper and find the stillness inside of me, and with everyone even if we were all in our own homes. It didn’t feel like we were separated... It was very much like I was on a retreat so it worked and it was great!” Susan—Oakland
“A belated heartfelt thank you, David, for the gift of your time and teaching on Saturday. I loved…the QiGong and Yoga Nidra… both were fantastic! … I did come away from this whole day away (door closed) feeling more grounded, more relaxed, and strangely content in the midst of the turmoil of my life, and had the deepest sleep that night in a long time. You have a wonderfully open and generous heart; it’s a pleasure to spend time in your company.” Karen – Oakland
