Relaxation, Exploration, Contemplation and Brotherhood deep in the arms of Mother Nature!
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, to discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau, Walden.
Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
If Nature calls to you, here is a rare opportunity to dive into one of the most beautifully serene environments I have ever encountered. This retreat will take place on 500 acres of private forest near the source of the St. Croix River in northern Wisconsin, miles from any traffic jam, telephone or office meeting.
Our Yoga Hikes will lead us deep into the unspoiled forest to reconnect with Mother Nature and with ourselves, using the tool of Mindfulness: a non-judgmental, present-moment awareness.
You can visit www.YogaHikes.org to read more about Yoga Hikes.
Perfect for beginners to more advanced students.
Mindfulness provides a new framework for exploring your established yoga practice, or a means for observing your experience as you begin a practice. The focus is on waking up to your body and to its connection to Nature. Mother Nature doesn't mind if you can't strike the perfect pose. Learn to lighten up and have fun with yoga.
Don't Miss This Retreat
Sign up today!
WHEN:
Accommodations will be availble starting Wednesday August 6th. Airport pick-up at Minneapolis-St.Paul International (MSP) will be available on Wednesday, August 6th at 7:30 am. Bay area travelers are encouraged to book the direct Northwest flight (#362) from San Francisco (SFO) departing at 12:35 am and arriving in Minneapolis at 6:03 am. We will get an early start in order to take full advantage of our time in the forest.
We will leave the retreat site on Sunday, August 10th. For Bay Area travelers, the suggested direct Northwest flight back to San Francisco (#355) leaves at 9:15 pm and arrives at SFO at 11:35pm. Our airport shuttle will depart the retreat site to accommodate outbound flights as early as 7pm, if needed.
WHERE:
The retreat will take place on 500 acres of private forest near Gordon, Wisconsin.
WHO:
Well, you, of course...and Dr. Domonick Wegesin. Domonick combines his experience in yoga, massage, mindfulness meditation, dance and psychology with his love of Nature to create unique, heart-opening outdoor yoga experiences. Domonick developed Yoga Hikes in Oakland's Redwood Regional Park, over 1,800 acres of mountainous redwood forest, where Yoga Hikes are offered weekly (outside of the rainy season). You can read more about Domonick by clicking HERE.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Accommodations are basic, no-frills. If you’re looking for The Hyatt with 500 channels of satellite television to surf, this isn’t for you. We will be staying in beautiful log cabins, equipped with gas, hot water and solar-powered electricity. No noise of passing traffic nor bleeping computers sullies the place. This is once-in-a-lifetime chance to move into deep communion with Nature and with Yourself in a most amazing natural settings. I feel very fortunate to have an opportunity to share this place with you.
MEALS:
All meals are included. Our own private chef will be plying us with delicious treats morning, noon and night. If you have special dietary restrictions, please let us know ahead of time, so we can help accommodate your needs.
SCHEDULE:
This is a vacation retreat, and I encourage you to go with the flow of your experience, settling into cultivating a relationship with your body and spirit, and knowing that however that manifests at the time is perfect. All of the group practices are optional.
We'll begin our days with a sitting meditation at 8:00 am, followed by breakfast at 8:30. After breakfast we'll break until 10am, and then set off on our daily Yoga Hike. This will be a 2-hour adventure with plenty of stops to enjoy Nature along the way. Lunch will follow.
Afternoons will be yours to enjoy canoeing and swimming in our own slice of the crystal-clear headwaters of the St. Croix River, one of the cleanest rivers in the US. You can also rejuvenate in the wood-burning sauna, meander the trails by the old Mill Pond, or just laze on the cabin’s front porch and listen to the whispers of Nature around you.
We will have a group dinner in the early evening, around 6pm. An optional mindfulness meditation will be offered as an evening practice (sitting, walking or body scan). If you are new to these practices, that is fine. Easy-to-follow guidance will be provided.
COSTS:
The $575 all-inclusive rate includes your room (based on shared-occupancy), all meals and snacks, daily Yoga Hikes and meditation sessions, and ground transportation to and from the airport.
Not included is your airfare to MSP airport.
REGISTRATION:
The Forest Refuge Retreat will be limited to only 10 students. Please sign up early to ensure your space. To register, download the Registration Form (pdf document - give it a second to load), complete it and return via snail mail with your payment to Domonick. A $300 deposit will reserve your space in the retreat, but full payment is welcome with your registration. The deposit is refundable until July 1st, less a 15% processing fee.
The full balance is due by July 1st. No refunds can be made after this time.
WHY NAKED YOGA?
Yoga allows us to come into communion with our bodies, and to observe mindfully the issues that we have around body consciousness. Most of us are not runway models, yet we hold that image as a standard for ourselves. This often leads us into self-criticism and judgment, or to a place of wishing things were different than they actually are. Naked Yoga provides a means of cultivating acceptance of ourselves, our whole selves, just as we are. Practicing Naked Yoga is liberating both mentally and physically. Practicing out in Nature enhances our awareness of the natural world and cultivates our appreciation of the Beauty within us and all around us.
OTHER QUESTIONS:
Please contact Domonick with questions by emailing: Domonick@TheOpener.com or calling 510-219-1851.
Listen to your heart. This is an opening to your intuitive knowing. The mind can make excuses. The body can worry if it's in good enough shape. The heart knows. Follow your heart.
Domonick's photo courtesy of Chuck Smith Photography
