Fall Immersion: Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation: Oct 21-24, Ely, Mn

Posted by AB on May 11, 2026 in Featured Events, immersion, meditation, retreat, ritual, tantra, Uncategorized, yoga | Comments Off on Fall Immersion: Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation: Oct 21-24, Ely, Mn

Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation

October 21-24 – Ely, Mn ~ Fall Immersion w/ Ben Vincent

Our annual Fall Immersion is intended for those looking for in-depth study and practice of yoga in a communal retreat setting. This immersion will delve experientially into Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation. We will integrate dharma teachings, holistic practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, chanting, kriya, yoga nidra, self-reflection, etc.), meditative ritual, music and devotion. We’ll share laughter, tears, songs, stories, meals and the joy of sangha. We invite you warmly to join us for this sacred time of practice, teachings and ritual – with abundant time for yourself, in nature and community.

Awakening the Mind – Jewel of Creation

The ancient seers (rishis) of the Vedic tradition sought to understand the nature of life through carefully observing and cultivating the inner and outer worlds. According to Vedic Wisdom, life’s two co-eternal principles are Consciousness and Creative Energy/Power. Consciousness is the limitless source and field of knowing, which expresses itself as the universe through creative power. Consciousness endows every-thing with an essential nature (sva-dharma), and weaves them together harmoniously. Creative Energy/power is the dynamic force through which the web of life has evolved, from the subtlest aspects of the human mind to the physical world of the elements. Amidst the abundance, diversity and beauty of life, the rishis came to understand the human mind as a crown jewel of creation. To be born with a human mind, able to perceive, unveil and illuminate the sacredness of life, is a profound blessing. They called the mind Antahkarana – “the inner instrument”, and knew it to be a tool of incredible power – abridge between the seen and unseen, between the individual and universal. When awakened, the mind is a prism which can reflect and transmit the light of consciousness, and transmit four great powers:

• dharma shakti– the power to see and live in harmony with the sacredness of Life
• jnana shakti- the power to know and discern between what is True and untrue
• vairagya shakti- the power to release self-limiting identities and conditionings that cause suffering
• aishvarya shakti– boundless power to be and to become

When un-awakened, the four great powers of the mind can become adharma (ignorance of dharma), ajnana (inability to know what is Real), avairagya (inability to release that which cause suffering) and anaishvarya (inability to exercise the power to be and become). Under the sway of ignorance (avidya), the unawakened mind is the root cause of much of the suffering in life, on the levels of great nature, human culture and within ourselves.

The ancient seers saw clearly the power of the mind – to be an instrument in service of dharma, bringing freedom and fulfillment, or to ben an instrument of avidya, and cause further suffering. The considered an un-awakened human life to be the greatest loss. The science of yoga is intended to understand, cultivate and refine the mind – so we may make the most of the human birth, and be an instrument in service of life.

The Immersion will delve into:

• The Human Mind: Jewel of Creation – a prism between The Absolute and the World
• Awakening Antahkarana: Four Aspects of the Yogic Mind: Buddhi, Manas, Citta, Ahamkara
• Refining and Empowering Buddhi – The Faculty of Intelligence, Discernment, Wisdom
• Evolving and Dissolving Ahamkara – The Faculty of Identification
• Purifying Citta – The Faculty of Memory, Storehouse of Karma
• Calming and Clarifying Manas – The Sensory and Emotional Mind
• Essential Teachings from the Yoga Sutra for Healing, Awakening and Empowering the Mind
• Essential Practices for Awakening the Mind: Meditation, Mantra, Self-Study, Trustful Surrender
• Integrating Breath and Prana – Master Keys for healing and Awakening the Mind
• Restoring harmony in relationship of prana, nervous system and mind
• Yoga as Self-mastery of the fluctuations of the mind
• The importance of Practice and Non-Attachment in awakening the Mind
• Four stages of Vairagya – removing limiting mental conditions through meditation
• Samayama – Awakening power through meditation
• Ahimsa and the Yamas: uprooting and transforming harmful tendencies of the mind
• Brahma Viharas– Cultivating the “divine abodes” of friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity to purify the heart-mind
• Isvara – The Divine as the Supreme Self, source of all knowing, ever free and wise
• Self-Knowledge and Education for making a life
• Personal and Group Rituals for awakening the mind
• So much more…

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 (Early Registration discount/ Full Rate):  

• $675/ $725 – Twin bed in a communal Loft Space
• $795/ $845 – Shared bedroom space (2 people/room, twin beds or queen bed for couples)
• $975 – Private bedroom space (queen bed)

**As of Aug 1, all loft spaces have been reserved – there are shared and private rooms still available. If you are interested in joining immersion, but the shared or private room rates are prohibitive, please email ben@vincentyoga.com, and we’ll do our best to make something work.

Early Registration Discount- Receive $50 off the shared bedroom or loft rates when you register and pay in full by August 7. 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 registration/waiver form + payment at the same time

1. Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver
2. Submit a $350 deposit (per-person, non-refundable)or payment in full. 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 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, there are no refunds unless the retreat gets cancelled. The non-refundable $350 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.

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.”

“I can still feel such an expansive heart, and such a deep feeling of peace. It was like a horizon of peace, so steady and real, and heart all around me. I can still feel how I felt sitting in circle, laughing and crying, and feeling so grateful to be feeling so deeply.I can still feel the love and support of sangha, totally in awe that it’s possible to feel so known. I can still feel you holding us in that space, trusting us and what might be. I trust you too. I’m still totally in awe that the experience we just had is possible. That it’s possible to connect with one another and with life in such a deep way.”

“The fall immersion was powerfully healing for me. Life had crowded out and overwhelmed my sadhana. I needed a reset and I got one. Thank you!”

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Fall Immersion: The Yoga of Darkness and Light – Oct 2-5 2022 Ely, Mn

Posted by AB on May 12, 2022 in Retreats, Travel, Uncategorized | Comments Off on 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

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:

1. Fall Immersion Registration + Waiver
2. 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

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Yoga Nidra – Resting to Awaken: Summer Immersion – Mpls., July 11-14

Posted by AB on Jun 19, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Yoga 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.

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Yoga Nidra: Resting to Awaken March 1-3, Encinitas, CA

Posted by AB on May 11, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

                                                                          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

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Fall Yoga Retreat: Sacred Space to Rest, Reflect and Heal – Oct. 25-28, 2026 Ely, MN

Posted by AB on Apr 6, 2016 in Featured Events, immersion, meditation, Retreats, ritual, tantra, Travel, Uncategorized, yoga | 0 comments

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

1.  Fall Retreat Registration + Waiver  + Submit payment: a $350 deposit (per-person, non-refundable) or payment in full.  
2. Payment are preferred via Venmo to @ben-vincent-9 (last 4 digits 4485)
3. To pay via cash, check, CC or paypal, contact email Ben: ben@vincentyoga.com   
4. 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.

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