LOTUS OF THE HEART RETREAT:: Asana+ Meditation + Connection+Sound Healing

"Bright but hidden, the self dwells in the heart.  Everything that moves, breathes, opens and closes lives in the self-the source of Love.  Realize the self hidden in the heart and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now."  The Uphanishads (Translated by Eknath Easwaran, Nilgiri Press, 1987)

I humbly invite you open the sacred gate to your heart.  The garden of your heart holds within it a flourishing existence of life itself.  Like a spring meadow, blooming with frangrant flowers, your true heart is an open and welcoming place to reside in... with its lingering frangrances of loving memories and blessed hope lightly whispering on the wind and offering a nuturing comfort for you, if you surrender there.  

May you find Comfort and Joy within your heart, despite old wounds or your current suffering.  As the Dalai Lama once wisely stated, "The purpose of life is to be happy."  May we explore the ways we can be happy, feel love and compassion, together, through both nurturing and invigorating practices to awaken joy within our hearts.  We will come together for a full-day immersion including Yoga asana, Pranayama, Meditation practices, Journaling, Group Discussion and Deep Connection, Sound Healing and Yoga Nidrā.  Lunch will be included in this experience.*

Join me for this Full Day Immersion during which I will:

~ Introduce the sumbolism of the Lotus of the Heart from the Uphanishads, the ancient Yogic Texts and lead us into             meditation to emody this sacred symbol of awakening.

~ Guide you through unique movement (yoga asana, somatics, restorative sensory awareness techniques)  and pranayama practices to draw Prana (energy) into the heart and lungs by creating space and easeful movement in the chest, shoulders and upper back as well as to developing strength and support in abdomen and lumbar spine.

~Offer Guided Meditations to access deep awareness and clarity into the heartspace, a delicate and often tender area , that we can begin to open into our potential to for healing areas of the heart that may be suffering, stuck or wounded or may need nurturing, self-love, in order to open into a more loving connection with ourselves or with others.

~Share "Compassion in Action" Leading small group discussions and excercises to cultivate deep inquiry into where individually and collectively we need more loving awareness and lovingkindness inside and out in our relationships with others.

~Offer journaling prompts and personal practices to nuture further investigation of our relationship with our hearts.

~Lead us in ceremony to honor what we cultivate together during this FULL Day Immersive Experience, as we take action to continue cultivating heart-centered awareness and lovingkindness embodiment in our lives and in our world.

~ Include a Sound Healing Bath from friend and colleague, Melissa Kelly.  Melissa is a trained Sound Healing Practicioner who I have worked with and hosted events with and her Sound Healing Vibrations will deeply resonate with all of our heart- awakening practices over the course of the day.

~Offer the practice of Yoga Nidrā or Yogic Sleep  so that we can allow our hearts and minds to emmerse in the experience of rest and soak in the days experiences.

~ Provide snacks during break periods and a vegetarian or vegan lunch at midday. You are welcome to bring your own specific dietary needs if necessary. Please share this with me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been studying and practicing Yoga since 2006 and teaching Yoga and Meditation since 2009.  My most profound healing and evolution has come from my heart-focused practices and studies, especially within my meditation practice.  I share experiences in Yoga, Meditation and Connection that begin with the physcial body and mind connection and move toward the more subtle and intimate inner realms of our being.  I am honored to share what I have most recently learned in a deeply profound 2 year Meditation Teacher Certification Program taught by beloved mentors, Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and a host of their amazing colleagues.    I graduate from this program in January 2023.   I am honored also to share from my yoga teachers, especially Tias Little and Surya Little, with whom I am currently studying SATYA or (Sensory Awareness Training), as well as a blend of lineages of Yoga teachers and meditation mentors I have learned worked closely with all deriving from the deep and sacred roots of the great ancestors of India's Yoga heritage and Buddhist Dharma.   May I share to the best of my ability, with a humble heart, and to honor all of the teachers and masters who came before me.  My hope is that you will join me in this experience together and learn from each other in so many many ways.

My two hands together in Gratitude, 

Heather

* Details and a chance to share your personal nutritional and comfort needs will be provided before the event.