A Life Worth Grieving: March 10-13, Devanadi Yoga – Minneapolis w/ Ben
A Life Worth Grieving
How Living Through Challenging Times Can Open the Heart
March 10-13, Devanadi Yoga, Minneapolis
The last two years have been a time of profound challenge and change in our lives, community and world. We are living through collective crises of: climate, global health pandemic, structural racism, vast social inequities, and eroding civic institutions. Our strained familial, social and cultural connections are ill prepared to navigate the ongoing desecration of life. If reading this paragraph is stressful or unsettling, know that you are not alone – you are human.
This time has been stressful and traumatic for many. The stress response evolved to allow us to endure challenging situations. However, if chronic stress prevents painful experiences from being fully processed, grieved and integrated. Grief is part of love in a changing world – a natural and healthy response to significant loss and change. Grieving allows us to feel, process, learn from and grow through painful emotions and experiences – so we are shaped but not defined by suffering. It is an opening to what is wounded within, to allow for healing and re-integration. Grief can lessen the bonds of karma, re-open our hearts to the sacredness of life, and allow us to live more fully. In these times of sea change, if we are to truly transform so new life may come forth, it is imperative that we honor our need for one another and collective space to grieve.
The immersion will explore in-depth teachings and practices individually and collectively through teachings, holistic practice (asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, chanting, yoga nidra, self-reflection, etc.), meditative ritual discussion and time in community. We will delve into:
- Processing what has unfolded in our inner and outer worlds in the last two years
- Learning to work skillfully with the stress response: Experiential understanding of regulating the limbic and autonomic nervous systems
- Exploring the relationship of stress, emotions, trauma, grief and karma through eastern wisdom traditions and modern science
- Cultivating presence and (self) compassion amidst painful emotions and experiences
- Learning to re-integrate our shadow: the parts of us which are wounded or exiled
- How life’s rewoundings can be a catalyst for deeper healing: Grief as the ripening of painful emotions to awaken the spiritual heart
- Sangha: Sacred community as a refuge in dark times
- Ritual: The healing power of holding collective sacred space
- Yogic practices unwinding chronic stress and wading though grief
- Yogic practices for remembering the part of us that is untouched by sorrow
Daily Schedule: Morning and afternoon sessions each day which include teaching + practice, individual and collective processing. The will be a 90 min. lunch break daily. March 10-12: 9:00-5:00 March 13: 9:00-4:00
Covid Safety Protocols
The immersion will be hosted by Devanadi Yoga, in the Fellowship Hall of the Lake Harriet Spiritual center in south Minneapolis. The space is very large, with PLENTY of room for social distancing. Masks will be mandatory when not on your mat. Additional safety measures may be instituted depending upon conditions of the pandemic locally.
Testimonials:
“I have to tell you, Ben, the immersion was really powerful. Quite honestly, I feel like I learned more over those three days about grief, how to create space for and contain all the emotions to corresponding with grief, and how to honor the myriad of emotions that I feel surrounding grief, then I have learned in 15 years of therapy training. It was really phenomenal. And I don’t want it to end!” Bridget M. MS, LMFT, YTS-500
” This retreat really broke that illusion for me, and broke open this kernel of separation from the whole that I have been carrying for such a long time. Now I look around and see: of course! We are all grieving, or worse, not grieving, and just frozen or frantically striving or shut down and angry and despairing and alone. I can see this because for those precious days up at DuNord you made use of a Sacred place; beautiful practices; and a fusion of yoga and traditional grief practices; and you harnessed the energy of a beautiful group of individuals and helped us become in a very short period of time a beloved community. In that short period of time, I touched right into an aliveness that I had forgotten I could access. ” Katrin C. LCSW, EYT-500
Your Investment: $575
Once you register, you will receive preparatory practices and materials to make the most of the immersion.
Early Registration Discount- receive $50 off when you register before + pay in full before Feb 10.
Devanadi TT Graduates receive $50 off – only one discount per participant
To register, please visit devanadiyoga.com
Read MorePortal To You: February 14 – March 24 A 6 Week Online Course with Angela
Portal To You
Enlivening + Nurturing Your Connection to Self ~
February 14 – March 24, 2023
I see tremendous potential in our world right now for consciously embracing our strengths, healing + creativity. An invitation to take all that we have learned over the past years to live a more present + luminous existence.
I hear so many people feeling stuck, lost and yearning to reconnect to SELF! Now is the time! Intentionally make time in your calendar to reflect + pivot accordingly. Give yourself the space to REMEMBER all that you know.
Portal to YOU is inspired by my own inner work and study as a human, yogi and mom aspiring to thrive! It will include tools and practices that will lead you again and again into deeper relationship with YOU. Tend that relationship, it is calling for connection + greater alignment. Leading you back to Self, your inner radiance + vitality.
Yoga has touched every part of who I am, allowing me to open gradually and courageously to the fullness of life. This course was born from my heartfelt desire to share what I have learned through my experiences. To provide tools, teachings and support for growth, self-awareness and meaningful connection in these unique times. In this spirit, I invite you to join me for:
PORTAL TO YOU : Returning to Your True Self
This 6 module course includes:
6 – 60 minute – LIVE sessions : Tuesdays 8-9PM CST via Zoom will include: teaching, self-reflection, group discussion and yoga practice (movement, breath work, meditation)
6 – 20 minute – Livestream meditation sessions : Fridays 6:45-7:05AM CST via Zoom
Video recordings of each of the live the sessions
Weekly pre-recorded yoga practices to support the inner work and process
Journaling prompts and self reflection practices
Community connection and support
1 – Community check-in Zoom call, date TBA
__________________________________________
February 14 : ENVISION : take stock of your current situation + inner relationship, look to the horizon to what you aspire that relationship to look + feel like
February 21 : INTUIT : familiarize yourself with intuition, gut, spirit, heart connection (whatever language resonates) to lean into an inner source of support to reveal insight + ease in decision-making
February 28 : INQUIRE : explore self-inquiry + curiosity as a regular practice
March 7 : NOURISH : tending your self care rituals + rhythms, building your reservoir
February 14 : IGNITE : take action, ignite + initiate a plan for moving forward, your unique next steps
February 21 : INTEGRATE : process + embody the learnings of this time, both to weave + digest
In this course you will:
Expand your tools and skills to serve you well through all life’s passages of grit, dullness, inspiration, tenderness, grace and all that resides in between.
Learn to integrate tools including: yoga postures, breath work, meditation, guided relaxation, morning and evening self care rituals, self-reflection, journaling and more.
Learn to transform patterns of distraction, avoidance, self-sacrificing and numbing to make room for clarity and inspiration.
(Re) Establish sustainable and nourishing self care rituals in your life.
Learn to acknowledge and honor your Self in relationship.
This is for YOU, if:
You believe there isn’t time for you.
Choosing you feels like a radical act.
You desire coming back to YOU – a life of greater clarity and authenticity!
You are ready to cut through overwhelm and distraction and claim your time for YOU.
You are ready to invest in your well-being and (re)commit to self-care.
You are inspired to ignite a personal practice tailored to your uniqueness.
Testimonials from Portal Participants:
“This course is an opportunity to explore what makes us vibrant, and how to live into that. Angela’s authentic presence and willingness to be vulnerable to speak what is in her heart invites me to seek and live into what is in my heart. Though the course was only six weeks, it addressed coming to center with offerings that included discussion, journaling, embodiment through yoga, healthy lifestyle, meditation, and connecting with other people drawn to seek. Each weekly topic dovetailed with the previous week’s. I loved the invitation to hold and live into her weekly questions. If you want to find what is true for your own self, don’t miss this course!” ~ Kristin
“Coming out of 2021, I had really lost my yoga practice. My ability to sit and be with myself was rusty at best, and I felt so afraid of “doing things wrong” or “failing” that I found myself avoiding my mat and my practice. This course from Angela was such a timely gift. Through this course I found myself dusting off my toolbox, reconnecting with my intuition, and stepping back onto my mat ready to greet whatever was there to meet me each day. Angela is such an insightful, gentle, and inspiring teacher. I felt so seen during our weekly meetings with the group, and each practice and meditation were perfectly curated to build upon the themes we were discussing. I feel so much more connected to myself and so elated to have begun my journey back to my yoga practice.” ~ Ingrid
“This course gave me the opportunity and space to powerfully pause and reflect. I really appreciated the structure and wisdom that Angela provided during the course. I highly recommend it!” ~ Amy
“Angela offers an up-beat, centered approach to re-connecting with yourself through teachings, yoga, and meditation practices. I highly recommend the program.” ~ Elizabeth
Your investment:
$495 (6 week course)
$645 (6 week course + 2 one-to-one sessions) If you want additional guidance and support to zero in on your unique journey, add 2 – 45 minute one-to-one Zoom calls with me.
To claim YOUR spot:
- email angela@vincentyoga.com, this is the email I will use to send course information and Zoom links
- Venmo payment to @vincent-yoga or contact angela@vincentyoga.com for other payment options
Early Registration : Receive $50 off when paid in full by December 31, 2022.
Friend Discount: Register with a friend and you each receive $50 off.
* Only one $50 discount available per registration.
Refund policy – 50% back if you cancel before 1/3/2023.
Read MoreThe Yoga of Emotions – Fall Immersion: Oct 6-9, Ely, MN
The Yoga of Emotions – Nava Rasa Sadhana
October 6-9, Ely, MN
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: The Yoga of Emotions and Nava Rasa Sadhana.
Yoga sees humans as multidimensional beings, composed of physical body, prana, mind, emotions, intelligence (all subject to change) and the Eternal Self. How we experience life is based largely on the fluctuations of our bodies, minds, energies and emotions. These are interwoven and powerful – yet emotions (“that which moves outward”) hold a unique role in shaping our experience of well-being and suffering, of ourselves and life. Our culture teaches us little about how to navigate and channel the emotions of life. This immersion will be based on traditional yogic and tantric teachings about Nava Rasa Sadhana: The Spiritual Practice of Nine Emotions. They are: Courage, Fear, Love, Anger, Joy, Sadness, Wonder, Disgust and Peace. From a dualistic view, each of these emotions come in pairs of complimentary opposites, each with pleasant and unpleasant aspects. From a non-dual perspective, each of them is sacred and may be channeled skillfully for the fulfillment of our dharma. As a defining aspect of human life, how we feel, witness, process, understand and channel our emotions profoundly shapes us. We will explore teachings and practices for relating to and using our emotional energies to awaken, including:
- Understanding the Nine Emotions/ Nava Rasas experientially and conceptually
- How and why do emotions arise? What is their purpose?
- Yogic Science of Emotion, mind and their karmic roots
- Western Science of Emotion, Brain and Nervous system
- Cultivating Witness Consciousness, emotional equanimity and peace
- Learning to feel and process emotion skillfully
- Yogic Practices for Emotional Healing and Transformation: Asana, pranayama, ayurveda, mantra, meditation, kriya, chanting, yoga nidra, self-reflection, relationship and more
Daily Session Schedule: The immersion will begin Sunday Oct. 6 and conclude Weds. Oct 9
Sunday Oct 6: 6-9 pm Monday Oct 7: 8:30-11:30 am, 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday Oct 10: 8:30-11:30 am, 2:30-5 pm, 7-9 pm Wednesday Oct 11: 7:30-10am
Optional Chanting and Silent Meditation M-W from 6-7 am
Your Investment:
- $535 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
- $575 – Shared bedroom space (2 people/room, twin beds or queen bed for couples)
- $675 – Private bedroom space (queen bed)
Early Registration Discount- Receive $25 off the above rates when you register and pay in full by August 6. Yoga Studies grads receive additional $20 off.
Rates are inclusive of
- Room
- 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. For more information on the accommodations, visit the fall retreat page.
All payments are due in full September 15, with a fee of $45 for late payments, payment plans & registrations received thereafter.
To reserve your space, please send your Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver copy and $150 deposit per-person (non-refundable) Payable via Venmo (@Ben-Vincent-9), Cash or Check. Checks are payable to:
Ben Vincent (not Vincent Yoga)
5354 40th Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN, 55417
Please contact us with any questions or inquiries
Read MoreSpring Renewal – Day Long Retreat: April 20, Minneapolis
Spring Renewal Retreat
April 20, Minneapolis
Spring is a time of cleansing, renewal and rebirth. As the days get longer and warmer, the dregs of winter melt away, the Earth thaws, and the flowers and animal life begin to stir! Human life is no different. Many observe the transition to spring through time-tested rituals: Spring cleaning, Lent, tending and planting the garden and tuning-up bicycles. Yet how many of make a conscious effort to cleanse and rejuvenate our bodies, minds and energy? The changing of the seasons is an auspicious time for reflection, honoring the cycles of life and transformation. This day long retreat is an opportunity to do just that – a guided process integrating tools, teachings and practices for cleansing, revitalization, and bringing new life forth. The retreat will include:
- Practices appropriate for Spring (Asana, Pranayama, Meditation)
- Dharma Talk, Q + A
- Receive Guidelines + Resources for Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse
- Journaling and Self-Reflection
- Yoga Nidra
- Recordings of the practices and teachings to support your Home Practice
Location + Schedule: 9:00-5:00 with a 75 minute lunch break. The Retreat will be held at River’s Way Meditation Center in the Ivy building for the Arts- 2637 27th Ave S, Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN
Your Investment: Full Rate – $135, Early Reg- $108 (registered and paid by 4/1). Yoga Studies Grads – $10 off the above rates
To Register: Pay online via PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com), Venmo (@Ben-Vincent-9) or bring cash or check to ben in person. The retreat will be limited to 20 people in the order in which registration + payment is received.
Email ben@vincentyoga.com if you have any questions.
Read MoreYoga Nidra: Resting To Awaken ~ Saturday, Dec. 1, 1-4 pm
YOGA NIDRA: RESTING TO AWAKEN
Saturday, Dec. 01, 1– 4pm at One Yoga
Often translated as “Yogic Sleep”, Yoga Nidra is a tool, a practice, a process, and a state of transcendent awareness. The journey of Yoga Nidra integrates practices for balancing the physical and energetic bodies, deep relaxation, sankalpa (sacred intention), and 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 workshop 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
- Foundational Practices of Yoga Nidra
- Yoga Nidra as a tool for relaxation, healing, freeing the mind or manifestation
- How to integrate yoga nidra into your life and practices
Learn more or register here
