RENEWAL: A Day-long Retreat for Mothers, May 10 ~ 10:30-4pm

Posted by AB on May 1, 2025 in Postpartum, Retreats, ritual, sacred, Self-Care, Women's Retreat, yoga, Yoga Studio | Comments Off on RENEWAL: A Day-long Retreat for Mothers, May 10 ~ 10:30-4pm

RENEWAL: A Day-long Retreat for Mothers

Saturday, May 10th | 10:30am–4:00pm // Guided by Angela Vincent

Shakti Shala — Ivy Arts Building 2637 27th Ave S, Suite 201, Minneapolis

Take time for you this Mother’s Day weekend with a day-long retreat designed to nourish, uplift, and replenish.

Join us for a sacred pause—space to reflect, restore, and honor the full spectrum of your motherhood journey.

Through a blend of:

✨ Movement

✨ Meditation

✨ Guided Relaxation

✨ Self-Inquiry

✨ Song

✨ Ritual

✨ Community

You’ll be invited to reconnect with your essence and replenish your inner well. Let this be a day of intentional renewal—a gift of space and presence for yourself.

A nourishing vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Investment: $175

Space is limited. No refunds will be offered.

Meal Helper / Greeter Opportunity: Receive a $25 discount for assisting with lunch setup and welcoming guests. Two positions available.

Email angela@vincentyoga.com to inquire.

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Taking Refuge Apr 2025 – Jan 2026: Living Yoga in the Kali Yuga

Posted by AB on Jan 9, 2025 in immersion, meditation, Retreats, ritual, sacred, tantra, Travel, Uncategorized, yoga | Comments Off on Taking Refuge Apr 2025 – Jan 2026: Living Yoga in the Kali Yuga

 

Taking Refuge 2025

Living Yoga in the Kali Yuga

April 2025 – January 2026 w/ Ben Vincent

Taking refuge is a vow to a life of dharma – living in alignment with the ultimate reality and our true nature – on all levels of life. It is a ritual of returning to sanctuary, to what truly nourishes and sustains us, especially during troubled times. Taking Refuge is rooted in the teaching of the three jewels in the yogic wisdom traditions:

• Teacher (inner and outer)
• Teachings + Practice (dharma)
• Sacred community (sangha)

Living Yoga in the Kali Yuga – The Long Dark

We are living through dark times. 

This is a time of radical disturbance and dis-integration in great nature and human culture.  A time when humanity has lost its way – when fear, vitriol, suffering, and greed consume our consciousness, and we live in discord with ourselves, one another and the living world.  A time when our deep wounds are surfacing individually and collectively, and the webs of self, family, community, country and world are fraying.  A time when our collective actions and inaction violate and desecrate the sacredness of life.  The ancient seers of the yoga foretold of this time as “The Kali Yuga” or “The Long Dark” – a prolonged period of darkness, dissolution and a-dharma.  

Yet even in these times, life is Sacred.  

Kali also refers to the power of time to destroy and re-create.  In the cycles of life, creation and dissolution are ongoing and deeply connected.  Humanity has been through dark times before.  Just as the fallow times of winter precede the rebirth of Spring, so too times of darkness may be both a tomb and a womb.  The Kali Yuga carries the hidden potential for life to renew through individual and collective healing, awakening and transformation.  This will not come from the top down, but from re-awakening to the Sacred, remembering our interconnectedness, reimagining the way we live and bringing forth of the dharmic gifts each of us carries.  

Your dharmic gifts are the medicine needed in these times.

The three refuges of dharma, sangha and teacher each play an essential role in sustaining us.  When interwoven, they form the fabric of our spiritual lives: supporting our healing journeys, helping us return to the Sacred, and empowering us to bringing forth our unique dharma for the healing and awakening of ourselves and the world. Living Yoga in the Kali Yuga will be rooted in the three refuges. We’ll share the depth and beauty of holistic yoga practices, in-depth study of the Bhagavad Gita, sacred rituals, meals, stories, songs, tears, laughter, time in community, solitude and nature.

Will you to join us in Taking Refuge + answer the call of these times?!?

Program Structure

1. Seasonal Retreats: Retreat is a sacred space from which to see ourselves and life clearly. A time to re-commune with the Sacred through Self, community, practice, nature, ritual, creative expression. Retreat is a ritual of honoring our inner call: to slow down, find rest, reflect upon, reconnect with and recommit to what is most important in life.

• Spring: May 16-18 at the House of Prayer (EHoP) in Collegeville, Mn
• Summer: August 8-10 at the House of Prayer
• Fall: October 5-8 at Camp du Nord near Ely, Mn
• Winter: January 23-23, 2026 – at the House of Prayer

Spring, Summer and Winter Retreats will be small group (16 people) immersive weekend retreats (Friday 5:30 pm – 2 pm Sunday) at the House of Prayer in Collegeville, MN. Fall Retreat for Taking Refuge will be at our annual Fall Immersion, Oct 5-8 at beloved Camp du Nord! Retreats will consist of:

• 1-3 sessions of yoga practice + spiritual teachings daily
• Morning / Evening chanting + meditation
• Time in solitude, community + nature
• Study of the Bhagavad Gita – Living Yoga in times of crisis
• Sacred rituals for individual and collective healing, awakening and transformation
• Creative expression (music, poetry, art, etc.)
• Myths, Stories and Songs
• Shared meals, laughter and tears

2. Monthly Satsangs : A combination of practice, teachings + study of the Bhagavad Gita, ritual and community time in Minneapolis.

• Weds. April 16, 6-8:45 pm
• Sat. June 21, 10:30a-1:30p (Summer Solstice Ritual)
• Weds. July 9, 6-8:45 pm
• Sat. Sept. 13, 10:30a-1:30p (Autumnal Equinox Ritual)
• Weds. Nov. 5, 6-8:45p
• Sat. Dec. 13, 5-8p (Winter Solstice Ritual)

Audio recordings of satsangs and retreats will be shared after each session. In person attendance is highly recommended for Satsangs., with livestream options available for those unable to attend in person. Retreats will only be offered in-person.

3. Guided Home Study and Practice: Readings, journaling, audio recordings and home practice to support your learning and embodiment of the teachings. 

4. Optional Private Sessions – For those interested in more personalized guidance and support, you may add quarterly individual sessions with Ben. See “your investment” below for more info.

Our Study + Practice will include:

• What is the Kali Yuga – aka the Long Dark? What is the nature of this time?
• What is living Yoga? How do we do it in times of darkness?
• Darkness as womb and tomb
• Darkness and rites of passage, individually and collectively
• Facing fear and cultivating courage
• Healing, Awakening and transformation in times of darkness
• The living refuges of dharma, sangha and teacher
• Awakening + Empowering Dharma – As refuge, medicine and offering
• Holistic Yoga Practices: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Kriya, Mantra, Yoga Nidra and more!
• In depth study of the Bhagavad Gita: India’s timeless wisdom for living yoga in times of Crisis
• Seasonal Rituals for alignment with the cycles of Life, healing and transformation
• Finding stability, balance and peace in turbulent times
• Tantra and reclaiming the Sacred in the Kali Yuga
• Kindling the Sacred Fire of Transformation + Alchemy
• The Lotus of the Heart
• Caring for the Heart of the world through grief + gratitude
• Caring for the Heart of the world through compassion, devotion and dharmic action

Retreat Locations, Accommodations and Meals

Spring, Summer and Winter Retreats will be at the Episcopal House of Prayer (EHoP) in Collegeville, MN – 75 miles NW of Mpls. For 30+ years, they’ve been welcoming groups for retreat and spiritual practice. Renowned for its potent sacred space, natural + architectural beauty, EHoP is a sanctuary designed to support deep connection.

The House of Prayer is nestled on the edge of Saint John’s Abbey and University – amidst the remarkable beauty and sanctuary of 2,700 acres of extensive forest, wetlands, lakes, oak savanna, restored prairie, and hiking trails.  Its been a place of learning and spiritual refuge for over 165 years.

Fall retreat of Taking Refuge will be the annual fall immersion at beloved Camp du Nord. Nestled in the northwoods on pristine Burntside Lake, near the Boundary Waters, this area has been a place of sanctuary for generations. 3 days of in-depth study + practice. Free time for hiking, paddling, sauna, massage and deep connection.

EHoP is designed to support both community and solitude. There are single and double rooms with twin beds, individual sinks, desks, chairs and reading lamps. The larger living/ dining spaces and restrooms are shared. The oratory and prayer room are available as quiet, contemplative spaces. In the spirit of community, we will eat meals communally. Each person will be assigned to a group responsible for planning and bringing/ preparing one meal per retreat. Meals will be vegetarian and we’ll do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions. We’ve done meals this way for years on fall immersion, and they are always wonderful! Accommodation on the fall retreat at Camp du Nord are in comfortable modern cabins.

Participant Testimonials

“Taking Refuge has been such a source of nourishment and support – a powerful way to be held by sangha and live in closer alignment with what is true for me. It is a gift of practices, teachings, song, story, ritual, and opportunities to be in community in a way that is real, unique and sacred. I haven’t experienced anything like it in my life. I have felt supported and inspired by the group, by our teacher, and by the beautiful space in which we have gathered. It has allowed me to see myself and my relationships more clearly, to feel more alive and connected, and more devoted to caring for myself and others. Gathering throughout the year has been the support I need to grow closer to myself and life. I feel so grateful for this program and for the way Ben weaves it all together. ”

“The Taking Refuge program is a great gift and an opportunity to connect more deeply with community, with dharma, and spirit. Ben has cultivated a sangha community so supportive of one another, that shares and encourages a commitment to living dharmicly in these times. I appreciated having this throughout the year and to find ways to offer service and more fully expand my practice into all areas of my life. The opportunity to take refuge in teachings, teacher, and sangha during times of darkness in our outer world, and to practice in the sacred Oratory at EHoP, is truly special.”

“This program truly embodies the three jewels in a way that held me and allowed me the grounding and resources to continue to work deeply with life. The power of a sacred community cannot be underestimated in its ability to contradict the feelings of aloneness or fear that are ever creeping in the times we live in. The retreats and were empowering and re-vitalizing… giving me practices, community, and guidance that kept me oriented toward dharma and supported in daily life.” 

“This will be my third year taking part in this unique program and I can’t recommend it enough. Ben thoughtfully cultivates the experience of learning, retreating, and connecting in a powerful and supportive space, complete with community meals and time in nature. The three gems of Taking Refuge have become increasingly important pillars in my life and practice. Come join us, you’ll be glad you did!”

“Taking Refuge has been a profound and transformative part of my yoga journey, offering me invaluable tools to deepen my practice and nurture my soul. It has provided a compassionate and supportive community—a space where I can share, grow, and connect with others on a meaningful level.  I am deeply grateful to Ben for his guidance and the sacred space he has cultivated, allowing us all to find refuge in our practice.”

Your Investment

Space is limited in this small group program to 16 people – There are currently 8 spaces still available. Spaces + accommodation preferences will be allotted in the order in which payment and registration are received. Rates are inclusive of program tuition and lodging – including accommodation in private or shared rooms at EHoP, and in communal loft spaces at Camp du Nord. You can upgrade to shared or private rooms for the fall retreat.

Private Room – $3650                                                                                                    Shared Room – $3250

Early Registration Discount – $150 off the above rates when paid in full by Feb 15. Payment Plans: $3850/$3450 – $1000 due by March 25, then $500/monthly beginning May 1 until PIF.

Optional Add-ons

Quarterly Private Session w/ Ben: $450 for four sessions, 1/ quarter throughout the year.

To reserve your space:

1. Please email the completed the registration form to Ben@vincentyoga.com
2. Submit a $500 deposit (non-refundable) through Venmo (@vincent-yoga). Payment can also be made through cash, check, PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com). There is a 3.5% fee for paypal or if “paying for a service” via venmo to cover costs. Please contact Ben directly to pay via cash, check.

All payments are due in full by April 1. There will be a $150 fee for late payments and payment plans. All payments are final and non-refundable, unless your reserved space in the program is filled. If you choose to withdraw from the program, your payment will be forfeited. Other discounts and scholarships are not available.

Please contact ben@vincentyoga.com with any inquiries about the program, registration or payment plans.

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A Life Worth Grieving – Weekend Retreat w/ Ben + Angela Nov. 21-23, Collegeville, MN

Posted by AB on May 28, 2024 in immersion, meditation, Retreats, ritual, sacred, travel, Uncategorized, yoga, Yoga Therapy | Comments Off on A Life Worth Grieving – Weekend Retreat w/ Ben + Angela Nov. 21-23, Collegeville, MN

A Life Worth Grieving

Tending the Sacred Ground of Grief to Heal the Heart November 21-23 – at the House of Prayer in Collegeville, MN Hosted By Ben + Angela Vincent

In a world of change, grief is a natural part of love. Grief is the pain sentient beings feel when we lose what we love – someone, something, some part of ourselves, life or the world. Who among us has not suffered the loss of what we love over the past years?

Grief is a complex set of feelings and emotions (including sorrow, anger, fear, shame, guilt) that comes when we are wounded. Its powerful force moves through us in waves – each visitation carries the painfully important message that we are hurting and in need of care.  Grief is not only a symptom of being wounded – it’s also an essential part of its healing. Grief allows emotions to move through us, so we may learn to hold life and loss with greater love.  From time immemorial, enduring cultures have honored and tended grief collectively.  Allowing it space and expression through ritual, song/music, creative expression, spiritual practice, movement, time in solitude, community and nature makes life sustainable.  When grief is tended, we can survive, and in time, process loss. Though painful, grief can deepen and mature us, bringing the possibility of healing and learning from life, individually and collectively.  

  In our hyper individualized and grief phobic culture, we have largely forgotten deep community and forsaken healing rituals.  Absent their web of support, we tend to hold our grief privately.  There is a survival wisdom to burying deep within that which we cannot process on our own, but it has a long shadow.  When we do not recognize or honor the presence of grief collectively, we tend to personalize and pathologize the pain of our unprocessed losses.  This feeling is who I am and it’s what’s wrong with me.  Untended grief often becomes grievance – hardening our hearts against ourselves, one another, life and the world. This is one of the root causes of much of the pain, dis-ease and conflict we see in ourselves and the world today.  While initially protective, these ways of coping/not coping with loss are ultimately corrosive to the lives of freedom and fulfillment we long for.

  Thankfully, there is another way of being with what is wounded.  When grief is held and tended collectively, it reconnects us with a deep part of our humanity and our place in the web of life. Allowing ourselves to touch the vulnerable places within, invites us into authenticity,  intimacy, heartfelt connection and belonging, and even joy.  These are foundational to healing and bringing forth lives of inspiration.  In these times, the re-creation of modern healing rituals is an essential part of healing ourselves, one another, human culture and the living Earth.

We invite you to join us for A Life Worth Grieving ~ A soulful retreat of deep connection and healing.

Our weekend retreat will explore and tend the sacred ground of the five gates of grief:

1. Everything you love, you will lose
2. The parts of you which have never known love
3. The sorrows of the world
4. What we expected and did not receive
5. Ancestral grief

You’ll be supported + guided through a process of grief tending, rooted in time tempered practices:

• Teachings, tools and resources for processing and healing
• Learning to work skillfully and compassionately with grief, painful feelings and emotions
• Grief as a catalyst for deeper healing and a threshold for awakening
• Time in solitude, community and nature
• Journaling and Self-Reflection
• Shared song, music and creative expression
• Holistic + Accessible Yoga Practice (Movement, breath-work, stillness, meditation, mantra, etc) 
• Sacred Ritual
• Shared Stories and Meals                                                  

Retreat Schedule

Our retreat will begin Friday Nov 21 at 2 pm, and conclude Nov 23 at 4 pm.   Our time together will consist of guided sessions as a group, shared meals, time to yourself and in nature.                

Location

Participant Testimonials

“Attending this grief retreat was one of the best decisions I’ve made in the last decade. While I believed that I wasn’t grieving anything particular at the time, through the thoughtful practices, meditations and teachings, I discovered deep layers of grief in many areas of my life. We were guided through sacred rituals to behold, release, and even heal some of that grief. It was so powerful! As a therapist, I’ve received countless hours of training, and nothing has better prepared me to hold the sacred space of grief for others or myself than this grief immersion. I use what I learned in the immersion everyday of my life, in my loved one’s lives and with my clients. Thank you for sharing this amazing work!”

“Without a doubt, this weekend was a highlight of my life. My wish for all is that everyone could experience the love, care and courage I experienced and witnessed within myself and other participants as we explored and tended to our grief, individually and collectively. My heart is stretched wide and receptive to continue to make space for our grief and gratitude.”

“I am in awe of what is possible when a group gathers with the intention of opening to grief and truth and supporting and holding each other through that process. I am so grateful to Angela and Ben for their courage and trust in offering a space for us to explore grief and healing together, and in leading us gently through a touching weekend. I came away from the weekend feeling more connected to who I am, feeling supported and held by community, and with a greater sense of trust, patience, acceptance, interconnectedness, and courage. I connected deeply to individuals I had never met before, and was touched by what we all share. I am in awe of our common humanity and capacity to hold one another in this way. I am so grateful.”

“Participating in this retreat has allowed me to come into a new relationship with and understanding of my grief. For so long I have feared that my grief would be too deep, too encompassing and there would be no escape from the pain it brought. I have learned there is a more soul sustaining way to hold my grief and that grief is ultimately the gateway to living a more engaged and vibrant life. I am so grateful to go forward with these new revelations that resonate as true for me. To be able to practice this new way of being with my grief. I am so deeply grateful for the teachings and Ben and Angela’s ability to offer a safe container to explore what is possible.”

Rates are inclusive of:

• Lodging
• Food (All meals, Dinner Friday – Lunch on Sunday)
• Tuition for retreat
• Access to Saint Johns University Facilities (lake, forest, hiking trails, abbey church, etc,)

Vegetarian meals will be provided through Eat for Equity. We will plan to eat communally, with everyone taking turns helping in the kitchen and cleaning up after meals.

Your Investment: 

• $ 675 – Shared bedroom space
• $ 795 – Private bedroom space
• Early Registration Discount: $30 less when you register and paid in full by August 31
• Kitchen Helpers discount: We are looking for two lead kitchen helpers for light meal prep and assistance at all meals. You’ll will receive an additional $50 discount on your retreat. Email ben@vincentyoga.com if you’re interested.

This small group retreat is limited to 14 people. Spaces will be allotted in the order in which deposits and registrations are received. To reserve your space: please submit all registration materials + deposit at the same time, via email to ben@vincentyoga.com, with a copy of:

1. Retreat Registration + Waiver
2. Submit a $300 deposit per-person (non-refundable). Payment are preferred through Venmo (@vincent-yoga), and can also be made through PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com), check (see directions below), or CC. There is a 3.5% fee for paypal or CC to cover costs.  Contact us directly to pay via CC or paypal.

All payments are due by November 10. There will be a $75 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after that date.  For those unable to pay-in-full before October 31, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final.  Other discounts and scholarships are not available.

Please email ben@vincentyoga.com any questions. Thank you for considering joining us and may you find the healing you seek.

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Fall Immersion: Tantra + the Sacred Power of Life – Chakras, Kundalini and Shakti – w/ Ben Oct. 6-9, 2024 Ely, Mn

Posted by AB on Apr 18, 2024 in immersion, meditation, Retreats, ritual, sacred, tantra, Travel, Uncategorized, yoga | Comments Off on Fall Immersion: Tantra + the Sacred Power of Life – Chakras, Kundalini and Shakti – w/ Ben Oct. 6-9, 2024 Ely, Mn

Tantra + the Sacred Power of Life:

Chakras, Kundalini and Shakti

October 6-9 – Ely, Mn

Our annual Fall Immersion is intended for yogis looking for deeper study and practice of yoga in a communal retreat setting.  This year we will be delving into:

Tantra + the Sacred Power of Life: Chakras, Kundalini and Shakti.

Tantra is an ancient branch of yogic science, which views whole of life as sacred. Tantrics see and experience the universe as an expression of two co-eternal forces: Consciousness (shiva) and Creative Power (shakti). Consciousness is the transcendent yet immanent field of intelligence which endows all things with an essential nature (dharma), the inner knowing of how to fulfill dharma, and interweaves the dharma of all things. Shakti is the creative power or force, of which everything that comes into being is an expression. In this understanding, human beings are microcosms of the larger whole – we are living temples of shiva and shakti. To be born human is a gift and an opportunity. Just as there are concentrated sacred spaces in the outer world, so to there are sacred sites within the human being. These are known as the chakras – concentrated centers of consciousness and energy, linked by the sushumna nadi, or “sacred river of energy” at the core of our being. Tantric Yoga aims to awaken these through practice, to realize our true nature and the sacred essence of life known as kundalini shakti.

This immersion will delve experientially into Tantra and the sacred power of life. We will integrate dharma teachings, holistic practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, chanting, kriya, yoga nidra, self-reflection, etc.), meditative ritual and time in nature and community. Our in-depth exploration will include:

• What is Tantra?
• The Living Temple of Being Human
• Prana – balancing and awakening through the life force
• Chakras: Exploring the sacred centers and their powers
• Kundalini Shakti: Awakening to and embodying the power of the infinite
• Granthis – the psychic knots which block our awakening
• Shakti: Tantric practices to awaken power, bring forth dharma and transform karma
• Practices for awakening (to) kundalini skillfully:
• Hatha Yoga to prepare for Awakening
• Mantra – The power of sacred sound
• Kriya – Active tantric meditation for transformation
• Yantra – Sacred geometry of of the subtle body
• The Yoga of Ritual

The Place:  Camp du Nord, near Ely, MN.  A stones throw from the Boudary Waters, Camp du Nord is set amongst the pine, maple and birch forest alongside Lake Burntside.  It has been a natural place of sanctuary, retreat, reconnection for more than 50 years.

Your Investment: 

• $675 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
• $795 – Shared bedroom space (2 people/room, twin beds or queen bed for couples)
• $925 – Private bedroom space (queen bed)

As of August 7, all private rooms are booked. There are a few shared and loft spaces still available. If you are hoping to join us, best to send in your registration and deposit soon to reserve your space.

Early Registration Discount- Receive $30 off the shared bedroom or loft rates when you register and pay in full by July 31.  Yoga Studies grads receive $50 off with early registration. Early registration discount does not apply to private rooms or cabins.

All rates are per person. This is a small group immersion and space will be allotted in the order in which registrations are received.

Rates are inclusive of:

• Lodging: For more information on accommodations and activities, visit the fall retreat page.
• Immersion Tuition
• Use of Camp du Nord facilities (sauna, hiking trails, canoes + kayaks, etc.)

Massage will be available during breaks.  Please note meals are not provided. Each cabin has a fully equipped kitchen for all your cooking needs. We will plan to eat dinners communally, with groups taking turns preparing food if the group size accommodates eating/cooking together.  

To reserve your space: please submit all registrations materials + deposit at the same time, via email to ben@vincentyoga.com, with a copy of:

1. Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver
2. Submit a $300 deposit per-person (non-refundable). Payment are preferred through Venmo (@vincent-yoga), and can also be made through PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com), check (see directions below), or CC. Venmo is free when paying as a friend.. There is a 3.5% fee for paypal, CC or when paying for “goods and services” through Venmo to cover costs.  Contact us directly to pay via CC or paypal.

All payments are due by Sept 13. There will be a $50 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after Sept 10.  For those unable to pay-in-full before Sept 13, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final, there are no refunds unless the retreat gets cancelled. The non-refundable $300 deposit covers the costs to camp du Nord in the event that the retreat should have to be cancelled for unforeseen reasons.  Other discounts and scholarships are not available.

Ben Vincent (not Vincent Yoga)

5354 40th Ave S.

Minneapolis, MN, 55417

Please contact us with any questions or inquiries

Testimonials:

“I have attended several fall immerisons. Each one has been an enriching, nourishing, and powerful experience through Ben’s thoughtful, insightful, and poetic teachings. The most profound aspect of this sacred time is shedding the noise of the outer everyday world of tasks, to-do lists, and responsibilities to focus on the quietness of the inner self and life for a few days. I leave with a deeper understanding of my practice that I have carried forth in my everyday life and that continues to unfold. Every fall I look forward to reuniting with the astounding beauty of the north woods (especially Burntside Lake!) and the warm, welcoming community.”

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Four Desires Immersion: March 7-9 in Minneapolis w/ Ben

Posted by AB on Jan 9, 2024 in immersion, meditation, Retreats, tantra, Uncategorized, yoga | Comments Off on Four Desires Immersion: March 7-9 in Minneapolis w/ Ben

 

The Four Desires 

Cultivating a Life of Purpose, Prosperity, Freedom + Joy    

March 7-9, 2025 – Minneapolis

According to ancient understanding, each of us is genius – “born with spirit.” We come into life with an essential way of being (dharma), endowed with unique talents and gifts. Each of longs for the fulfillment of knowing who we are and bringing these forth – for these are the gifts and medicine we are here to offer to the life of the world. We will also inevitably face hardship, challenge and suffering. These painful rites of passage return us to eternal questions: : “Who am I?”, “Why am I here?”, “Why is there pain in life and what can i do about it?”, “What am I called to?”, “How can I best serve life?”. When lived into, these inquiries initiate us into deeper ways of seeing and being. They stir the essential longings of the soul to realize the greater purpose and potential of our lives.

Yoga identifies four universal aims of human life. Collectively, they are known as the pursharthas or “the means of the soul”. They are:                       

•  Dharma: To realize who we are and fulfill the greater purpose of our lives  
•  Artha: What we need materially and non-materially to realize our dharma
•  Kama: Joy and Happiness
• Moksha: Freedom from suffering, healing and freedom the to live the lives we are called to

When we understand how we relate to each of them uniquely, they form a blueprint for a life of balance, empowerment and fulfillment

Unfortunately, most in our modern world tend to misdirect the power of these desires. Those inclined toward material thriving tend to seek fleeting pleasures, rather than investing in the life’s work of Self-Realization. Only to end up unfulfilled, stressed and left wanting more. Those inclined toward spiritual thriving tend to reject desire as narcissistic, lessening its capacity to bring forth healing, awakening and inspired living.  The ancient seers understood that worldly and spiritual thriving are expressions of a life well lived. When awakened, dharmic desire aligns us with the ultimate reality, and empowers us to bring forth our essential genius in service of life!

Realizing your life’s potential requires conscious attention and dedication –  you must walk the path of your destiny!

  The key to desire empowering us is to see clearly what we really want, to stay open to learning from life, and to work skillfully and selflessly toward its realization.

  In this immersion, Ben will guide and support you through the Four Desires – a profound and transformative introspective process, as laid out by Rod Stryker in his book “The Four Desires.”  We will use yogic teachings + practices, self-reflection, and journaling to:

• Uncover your soul’s purpose for being in this life
• Rediscover how each of the four desires resonates uniquely in your life
• Re-cognize self-limiting patterns which keep you from fulfilling your potential
• Learn to use these “obstacles” as a means to self-transformation
• Create a vow of tangible action toward the realization of our calling
• Learn techniques and practices for personal empowerment and self-mastery
• Explore the power of right desire to transform your life and the world

Immersion Schedule:                                                                                                         

• March 7 – 9:30-5
• March 8 – 10-5
• March 9 – 10-5

There will be a 75 minuted break in the middle of each day.                                                      

Your Investment:                                                                                                                   Full Rate – $435.                                                                                                                       Early Registration- $385, when you register and pay in full by Feb 7                             Yoga Studies Grads- $25 off the above listed rates

Space is limited, and will be allotted in the order in which deposits and registrations are received.  To register, email ben@vincentyoga.com and submit a $150 deposit (non-refundable) through venmo (@vincent-yoga), cash or check. Payment is due in full by March 4.

Location:  The River’s Way Mediation Center in the Ivy Building for the Arts – 2637 27th Ave S, Suite 201, Minneapolis

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Yogic Meditation Immersion + Optional Teacher Training – Begins January 2026

Posted by AB on Oct 23, 2023 in community, immersion, meditation, Retreats, sacred, Stress Releif, tantra, teacher training, yoga | Comments Off on Yogic Meditation Immersion + Optional Teacher Training – Begins January 2026

Yogic Meditation Immersion +

Optional Teacher Training

w/ Ben Vincent and Tanya Boigenzahn
Begins January 2026

This immersive program is for all sincere seekers and students of Yoga looking to (re)commit to, deepen, and refine their practice of meditation. It begins with a year-long immersion to learn the essential purpose, preparations, processes, and practices of Yogic meditation – all with the support of experienced teachers and a sacred community.  Tanya and Ben will guide you to becoming firmly established in your meditation practice so that you may embody its peace and power in all aspects of your life.

About the Program

Yoga is a sacred science (vidya) of Self-Realization – a holistic system of teachings and practices to know our true Selves, commune with the Ultimate Reality (brahman), and bring forth the greater potential and purpose of life. For thousands of years, meditation has been at the heart of the Yoga tradition. The process of Yogic meditation is unique in that it mirrors the journey of human life. It helps us to sustainably unfold and bring healing and awakening to all the layers of our being. As we continue the journey of practice we realize freedom, fulfillment, joy, and connection with the whole of life.

The timeless teachings and practices of Yogic meditation are as relevant today as ever. Amidst the busy-ness, stress, and turbulence of our modern lives, the postures, breathwork, and relaxation of Hatha Yoga have become very popular.  However, without meditation it is an incomplete science.  Meditation allows us to experience our unchanging essence, True Self or Soul, allowing us to live skillfully and gracefully in a world of change.

This immersive program is for all sincere seekers and students of Yoga looking to (re)commit to, deepen, and refine their practice of meditation. It begins with a year-long immersion to learn the essential purpose, preparations, processes, and practices of Yogic meditation – all with the support of experienced teachers and a sacred community.  Tanya and Ben will guide you to becoming firmly established in your meditation practice so that you may embody its peace and power in all aspects of your life.

Following the year-long immersion, graduates will then have the opportunity to enroll in our 3-4 month teacher training module to learn how to transmit and share Yogic meditation as a teacher.

Tanya and Ben have created this program based on more than 50 years of combined study, personal practice, study and teaching.

The Program Consists of 3 or 4 Parts

1) Essentials of Yogic Meditation (Begins Jan 2026, exact dates below)
2) Deepening the Well of Practice/Sadhana 
3) Steep + Embody: The Sankalpa of Sadhana 
4) Meditation Teacher Training (Optional): Learn to Transmit + Share (Begins January 2027 )
(Part 4 is an optional additional module, for those interested in learning to teach)

CEs – Immersion Only: 108 with Yoga Alliance for RYTs
CEs – Immersion + Teacher Training: 150 with Yoga Alliance for RYTs

DATES & TIMES

LOCATION: LIVE in Minneapolis + LIVESTREAM – ZOOM (recorded for easy makeups)

TIMES (US Central): 1 Sunday/month: 1-5pm & 2 Mondays/month: 6-8pm Central US Time

DATES – 2026 Meditation Immersion:
2026: Jan 11, 12, 26 | Feb 8, 9, 23 | Mar 1, 9, 23 | Apr 6, 12, 20 | May 4, 17, 18 | Jun 1, 22 | Jul 13, 19, 27 | Aug 2, 3, 17 | Sept 13, 14, 28 | Oct 5, 26 |  Nov 9, 23 | Dec 6 (9-5pm), 14
+ Group Meditation Retreat November 6-8, 2026 – (In Person or Virtual) at TBD. There will be an additional ~$200-400 fee for lodging for those attending in person. Single and double rooms available. Room preference given by order of sign up.

DATES – OPTIONAL Meditation Teacher Training 2027
2027: Jan 11, 25 | Feb 8, 22 | March and April Dates coming soon
+ Day-Long Retreat on Sunday, 9-5pm: Dec 6

More Info and Registration Here

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