Fall Immersion: The Yoga of Darkness and Light – Oct 2-5 2022 Ely, Mn
The Yoga of Darkness and Light
Holding the Whole of of Life with Reverence
October 2-5, 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 “The Yoga of Light and Darkness: Holding the Whole of Life with Reverence.” The immersion will explore in-depth teachings and practices individually and collectively through dharma teachings, holistic practice (asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, chanting, yoga nidra, self-reflection, etc.), meditative ritual and time in nature and community.
Let me share with you a story, or rather weave together a few into an origin myth that brings perspective to these times. Various traditions speak of a primordial essence or void before the universe emerged. At the dawn of existence, the universe burst forth from its mysterious origins, composed of complimentary opposites (dvandvas): chaos and cosmos, creation and dissolution, darkness and light, form and formless, energy and consciousness, finding form as the five great elements. This dynamic interplay of the dvandvas has been referred to as yin and yang, and the gunas in the Taoist and Yogic traditions respectively. These opposing forces both form one another and also allow for balance amidst constant change. If this story doesn’t seem relevant yet, stay with me and it will.
Our earthly life is governed by the dance of the dvandvas: birth and death, persistence and evolution, nature and culture, masculine and feminine, joy and sorrow, etc. These unfold amidst cycles of time and causation: day and night, seasons, years, generations and eras. According to the ancient seers (rishis), the era we are living in is the Kali Yuga or “long dark”. In this time, human consciousness has become darkened, fragmented, lacking understanding of its own essence, interconnectedness and place in the cosmos. This is not end times – rather a time of endings. A time in which our shadows are becoming more clear, our deep wounds are surfacing, and the ways we are living that violate our interconnectedness and desecrate the web of life are becoming unavoidable. In the karmic realms, the pain we are experiencing is deeply connected to the essence that brought us into life. This incredibly challenging and painful time also holds the potential to be a rite of passage to profound healing, awakening and transformation – individually and collectively. How we face this darkness will influence whether it deepens our divides, or allows a new, life affirming human culture to emerge, honoring our place in the order of things. If humanity is to survive these times and not irreparably damage the web of life on Earth, we must learn how to hold both darkness and light with reverence.
In this immersion, we will delve into:
- Learning to be in the dark, understanding the nature of these times
- Exploring the shadow individually and collectively with compassion
- The shadow as “pure gold” – how facing darkness can reveal our dharma/ genius
- Self-Compassion: Holding shame from a place of love, belonging and acceptance
- Holistic Yogic practices for living fully in the Kali Yuga
- Meditative rituals for healing, awakening and transformation
- Myth as wisdom stories for greater perspective in the cycles of light and dark
Daily Session Schedule:
Sunday Oct 2: 6:30-9 pm Monday Oct 3: 8:30-11:30 am, 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday Oct 4: 8:30-11:30 am, 2:30-5 pm, 7-9 pm Wednesday Oct 5: 8-11am
Optional Chanting and Silent Meditation M-W from 6-7 am
Covid Safety Protocols
Your safety and enjoyment of the retreat is our highest priority. We will continue to monitor the conditions of Covid and adjust safety precautions accordingly. As of now, we will be requiring proof of a negative PCR test, or 2 negative antigen home tests taken within 72 hours of the beginning of retreat. We will have air purifiers as an additional layer of protection for the practice space. We will re-assess all safety precautions based on CDC guidelines and the state of the pandemic in MN at that time.
Your Investment:
- $595 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
- $675 – Shared bedroom space (2 people/room, twin beds or queen bed for couples)
- $775 – Private bedroom space (queen bed)
Early Registration Discount- Receive $25 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 [email protected], with a copy of:
- Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver
- Submit a $250 deposit per-person (non-refundable). Payment are preferred through Venmo (@vincent-yoga), and can also be made through PayPal ([email protected]), 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 Sept 3. There will be a $50 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after Sept 3. For those unable to pay-in-full before Sept 3, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final. The non-refundable $250 deposit covers the costs to camp du Nord in the event that the retreat should have to be cancelled for unforeseen reasons If you’re unable to attend the retreat due to covid exposure, you may receive a 50% credit to future Vincent Yoga events good for 1 year. 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
Read MoreYoga Nidra: Resting to Awaken March 1-3, Encinitas, CA
Yoga Nidra: Resting to Awaken
Mar 1-3, Encinitas, CA 
Our annual Fall Immersion is intended for yogis looking for deeper study and practice of yoga in a retreat setting. We will explore the in-depth teachings and practices of through dharma, meditation, asana, pranayama, mantra, kriya, chanting, yoga nidra and self-inquiry. This year we will be delving into Yoga Nidra.
Yoga Nidra is simultaneously a tool, a practice, a process, and a state of transcendent awareness. Often translated as “Yogic Sleep”, it is a process of bringing awareness progressively through the layers of our being from conscious to subconscious to super-conscious. The journey of Yoga Nidra integrates practices for balancing the physical and energetic bodies, deep relaxation, sankalpa (sacred intention), and using guided imagery and kriya to work with the subtle body and subconscious mind. In working with with the deeper layers of our being, it is unparalleled in its capacity for relaxation, healing, transformation and empowerment. On its deepest level, yoga nidra is dissolution of all limited consciousness into the infinite.
Whether your goal is stress relief, rejuvenation, physical / emotional healing, removing karmic patterns, unlocking creativity or empowering yourself to manifest a dharmic desire, yoga nidra has something profound to offer you. This immersion will explore:
- What is Yoga Nidra? What is its purpose?
- The traditional stages and progression of practice
- Awakening Sankalpa Shakti: The Power of Sacred Intention
- Yoga Nidra as a tool for relaxation, healing, freeing the mind or manifestation
- How to integrate yoga nidra into your life and practice
- Guiding yourself through Yoga Nidra
Daily Session Schedule:
Friday Mar 1: 6-9 pm Saturday Mar 2: 1-7 pm Sunday Mar 3: 1-7 pm
Your Investment:
$250, or $215 if registered and paid by 2/10
To register, please visit Gather Encinitas
Read MoreFall Retreat: Northwoods Sacredness ~ Oct. 12-15, 2023 Ely, MN
Join us for our 17th Annual Fall Yoga Retreat:
October 12-15, 2023
We invite you to join us for our 17th annual Fall Retreat:) The retreat will be held at the pristine Camp du Nord, 20 minutes outside of Ely, MN, a stones throw from the Boundary Waters. The retreat will feature two yoga sessions and two delicious vegetarian meals each day. There will be plenty of free time for hiking, canoeing, sauna, massage, reading and relaxing lakeside and fireside, and enjoying quiet reflective time or the company of friends. Our intention is that this retreat is not just time away. Retreat is sacred space from which to view yourself and your life clearly. We will explore the practices and wisdom teachings of yoga, as a means to realizing your innate capacity for meaning, freedom and joy within life.
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 retreat, relaxation and reflection for more than 50 years.
The Yoga: We will practice each morning and afternoon. Morning sessions will consist of an invigorating asana, pranayama and meditation practice. Afternoon sessions will focus on the subtler aspects of yoga, including: restorative postures, pranayama, meditation, self-reflection, yoga philosohpy and dharma.
Lodging & Meals: Our lodging will be communal in modern wooden cabins, beautiful and simple. Each cabin features a full kitchen, indoor bathroom, central air & heat, fireplace, living & dining room, bedrooms and sleeping loft. No T.V.’s, no phones, no distractions- essentially everything you’ll want, nothing you won’t. We will share two delicious vegetarian meals for breakfast and dinner, in the camp dining hall- a beautiful 15 minute hike through the trails of the forest. We can accommodate special dietary needs, and we may be able to arrange private cabins for families. Preference for lodging requests will be given in the order in which registrations are received. To view one of the cabins, please click here
Activities:
Hiking, Canoeing + Kayaking, Sauna + Lake Plunge, Massage, Relaxing lakeside and fireside and the occasional hootenanny singalong ( *massage not included in the price of the retreat)
Transportation, Arrival & Departure
The retreat will begin Thursday Oct. 6 at 2 pm with our welcoming, opening practice and ceremony. It is about a 4.5 hour drive from the Twin Cities. You are responsible for your own transportation. We encourage carpooling, and will assist in finding you a carpool if you like. For Directions, click here.
Rates & Registration:
Based on past years, we expect the retreat will fill up this year. If you are planning to attend, please send registration and deposit as soon as possible to reserve your space. Thanks!
The cost of the retreat includes:
- All yoga classes
- Recordings from all our sessions for home practice
- Vegetarian Breakfast and Dinner (Thursday evening through Sunday Morning)
- Lodging in accommodation of your choice
- Use of canoes, kayaks and sauna.
- All the fun you can have, with new and old friends!
Accommodation Options + Rates:
Shared Loft Space (Twin Beds): $650 Shared Bedroom Space (Two Twin Beds or Queen for couples) : $775 Private Bedroom w/ Queen Bed: $900
All rates are per person. There are a few private cabins which can be specially arranged for families or those desiring more privacy. Email [email protected] directly for more info or to reserve a private cabin.
Early Registration Discount – $50 off when you register + pay in full by July 31. Early registration discount does not apply to private rooms or cabins.
To reserve your space: please email your Fall Retreat Registration + Waiver to [email protected] and submit a $250 deposit per-person (non-refundable). Payment can be made by: Venmo (@vincent-yoga), PayPal ([email protected]), check (see directions below), or CC. Payments are free via venmo to “friends”. Please add a 3.5% if paying via venmo for “goods or services”, paypal or CC to cover costs. Contact us directly to pay via CC or paypal.
Checks are payable to:
Angela or Ben Vincent (not Vincent Yoga) 5354 40th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN, 55417
All payments are due by Sept 2. There will be a $50 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after Sept 2. For those unable to pay-in-full before Sept 2, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final. The non-refundable $250 deposit covers the costs for room and board to camp du Nord in the event that the retreat should have to be cancelled for unforeseen reasons. If you’re unable to attend the retreat due to emergency or severe illness, you may receive a 50% credit to future Vincent Yoga events good for 1 year. Other discounts, scholarships and refunds are not available.
We would love to have you join us for the sacredness of fall retreat in the northwoods:) Please email [email protected] with any questions.
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