FREE Meditation Pop-Up: Dec. 30, 12-1 pm w/ Ben and Tanya Boigenzahn
FREE Virtual Meditation Pop-Up – Dec 30, 12-1 pm with Ben & Tanya
Join Ben and Tanya in a short and sweet FREE workshop to get you ready for the shift to the new year including:
- Meditation on remembrance, learning and healing from the last year
- Gentle movement practice
- Meditation on visioning the New Year
- personal reflection
This is offered only on ZOOM.
ALL are welcome, and please invite others!
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you have to miss class, you will receive a link to the recording valid for 1 week.
REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WhGjhjuuRjqWEFkggeVoXA
Read MoreFall 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 ben@vincentyoga.com, 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 (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 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: Summer Immersion – Mpls., July 11-14
Yoga Nidra – Resting to Awaken
Summer Immersion – July 11-14, Minneapolis
The Summer Immersion is a special opportunity for immersive study and practice of yoga in the City. 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 conscious relaxation, 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
We will explore the teachings and practices of through dharma teachings, yoga nidra, meditation, asana, pranayama, mantra, kriya, chanting, self-inquiry and group discussion .
Immersion Schedule + Location:
Thursday 7/11 – Sunday 7/14, 8:30-4:00 pm, with a 90 minute break for lunch. The immersion will be held at the River’s Way Meditation Center in the Ivy Building for the Arts, 2637 27th Ave S. Suite 201, Minneapolis.
Your Investment:
$475 – Regular Price $445 – Yoga Studies graduates and active teachers (currently teaching 3 or more classes/ week) Early Registration discount – $45 off above prices when registered + paid in full by May 31.
To register email ben@vincentyoga.com and submit a $150 deposit will reserve your spot. Payment can be made through: Venmo (@ben-vincent-9) PayPal (bvrocksteady@gmail.com) Check to Ben Vincent (5354 40th Ave s, Minneapolis, Mn 55417).
Space is limited, all payments are final.
Read MoreFall Yoga Retreat: Sacred Space to Rest, Reflect and Heal – Oct. 25-28, 2026 Ely, MN
Join us for our 20th Annual Fall Yoga Retreat
Sacred Space to Rest, Reflect and Heal
October 25-28, 2026 w/ Ben Vincent
We invite you to join us for our 20th 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 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 healing, meaning, freedom and joy within life.
More information on the content of the retreat coming soon!
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. Preference for lodging requests is in the order in which registrations are received. To view one of the cabins, please click here.
Meals:
- Breakfast and lunch will be done on your own or with other cabin mates in your cabins.
- Dinners will be communal prepared and shared. Each person will be part of a cooking group for 1 evening during your stay. Your group will be responsible for planning, purchasing and preparing the meal for that evening. This is how we do fall immersion…it’s great for community building and the food is always excellent!
- ***please note we will not be doing any meals in the dining hall or as part of the cost of the retreat this year. We chose this due to the size of the group, and to help offset Camp du Nord’s price increases, while keeping retreat rates reasonable and affordable.
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 Sunday Oct. 25 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. We will conclude Wednesday Oct. 28 at 12pm. 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
- Lodging in accommodation of your choice
- Use of canoes, kayaks and sauna.
- All the fun you can have, with new and old friends!
Testimonials from Retreat Participants
Your Investment (Early Registration discount/ Full Rate :
- $675/ $725 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
- $825/ $775 – Shared Bedroom Space (Two Twin Beds or Queen for couples)
- $950 – Private Bedroom w/ Queen Bed
All rates are per person. There are a few private cabins which can be specially arranged for families or those desiring more privacy. Email ben@vincentyoga.com directly for more info or to reserve a private cabin.
Early Registration Discount – $50 off when you register + pay in full by August 7. Early registration discount does not apply to private rooms or cabins.
To reserve your space: Please submit registration/waiver form + payment at the same time
- Fall Retreat Registration + Waiver + Submit payment: a $350 deposit (per-person, non-refundable) or payment in full.
- Payment are preferred via Venmo to @ben-vincent-9 (last 4 digits 4485)
- To pay via cash, check, CC or paypal, contact email Ben: ben@vincentyoga.com
- Payments are free via venmo as “friends”. Please add a 3.5% if paying via venmo for “goods or services”, paypal or CC to cover costs.
All payments are due by Sept 20. There will be a $50 fee for payments, payment plans and registrations received after Sept 20. For those unable to pay-in-full before Sept 20, payment plans are available through paypal credit. All payments are final, non-transferable and non-refundable. The non-refundable $350 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. 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 ben@vincentyoga.com with any questions.
Read MoreYoga Philosophy + Meditation Classes
Yoga Dharma + Meditation Classes w/ Ben
Beyond the postures of modern Yoga is a timeless tradition of teachings regarding the innate order and harmony (dharma) of the universe. The original intention of yoga was to guide us to live in alignment with these natural laws- helping humanity to realize our full potential for freedom and fulfillment. In these on-going classes, we will explore these teachings through dharma talks (lectures), discussion and meditation.
Classes will be presented in series pertaining to topics, and may also include gentle movement, chanting, breath-work, meditation and other yoga practices. Students may register for the full series (and receive recordings of the talks + practices) or drop-in to individual classes. There is a suggested $15 donation, please bring cash – everyone is welcome. Please bring a yoga mat, comfortable clothing, and a journal to write in.
The first series of will be: Essential Principals of the Vedic Tradition Feb 15 – Mar 28
Day + Time: Mondays, 7:30-9 pm
Location: Modus Locus – 3500 Bloomington Ave. S., Mpls.
Your Investment: $15 Suggested Donation (cash or check), everyone is welcome
Read More
