Posts Tagged "Tantra"

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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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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Advanced Yoga Studies – Fall 2013

Posted by AB on Feb 21, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

      I am delighted to announce…

Advanced Yoga Studies & Self-Transformation Program …begins September 2013.

This unique 9-month program is intended for all sincere students and teachers, looking to deepen their experience and understanding of Yoga.  Through personal and group study and practice,  students will be guided on a transformative journey of healing, self-discovery and empowerment.  We will delve into the teachings and practices of Yoga, Tantra & Ayurveda – as a means to awaken our potential for meaning, happiness and freedom and in life.

The structure of the program will include:

 1) Weekly Master Classes: Teaching, discussion and practice ~ Tuesdays 7:15-9:15pm         September 17- December 17, 2013 + January 14 – May 20, 2014 at One Yoga

2) Three Private sessions to receive:

• A personalized Hatha yoga + meditation practice
• Ayurvedic dietary + lifestyle Consultation
• Yogic spiritual guidance to uncover + empower you life’s purpose (dharma)

3) A weekend non-residential retreat in Minneapolis (Spring 2014)

4) Readings, journaling, audio recordings and home practice to support your growth. 

5) Group community building events

 Our in-depth study will include:

   Essential Teachings of Yoga:

• What are Yoga, Tantra & Ayurveda?  Why are they relevant?
• History of Yoga: Periods, Types, traditions and its evolution
• The main branches of yoga:  Raja (Classical), Bhakti (Devotion), Tantra (ritual) + Hatha (Mind + Energy), Karma (Action), Jnana (Knowledge)
• The Three Refuges of practice:  Teacher, teachings + community
• Karma, Reincarnation and Samsara (the wandering of the soul)
• The four aims of life – Dharma (meaning), Artha (the means), Kama (pleasure),  Moksha (freedom)
• Dukkha:  Why do we suffer and how do we overcome suffering?
• Overcoming Limiting Patterns & Conditioning – Samskara + Vasana
• Hatha Yoga –  The spiritual science of awakening Mind + Energy through Asana, Pranayama + Meditation
• Meditation- The essential yogic practice for awakening the Heart and Mind
• Samkhya System- The foundation of Indian philosophy & spirituality
• Essential Texts:  The Yoga Sutra + The Bhagavad Gita
• Training in Essential Practices: Asana (posture), Pranayama (energetic breathwork), Meditation, Mantra (sacred sound), Chanting, Bandha (energy locks), Mudra(gesture), Kriya (visualization), Yoga Nidra, Self-Inquiry, relationship, Ayurvedic diet + lifestyle
• Ayurveda- The Science of Self-Healing
• Basic Sanskrit
• The Koshas:  Layers of Being
• For more thorough information on teachings covered, see below…

Pricing + Payment Options

Full Price – $2250. (Paid in full by Sept. 15)

Early Registration Discount – $2100 (Paid In full by August 15)

Yoga Teacher Discount – $1950                                                                                               (For teachers who have completed a 200-Hour Training and are currently teaching 2 or more classes/week.  Paid in full by September 15)

Payment Plan – $2500. (to be paid monthly over 9 months)

We will order books for the course wholesale as a group.  The cost of books will be about $75 in addition to the cost of tuition

Application and registration are available through One Yoga.  Follow this link to receive a copy of the application: Advanced Yoga Studies Application.  Space is limited and will be allotted in the order which application + deposit ($300, ) are received.  Once accepted, your deposit is non-refundable, and will be applied toward the cost of the program.

More information on teachings + practices to be covered…

The Koshas:  Layers of Being                                                                                                    Humans are multidimensional beings.  The ancient yogis experienced being human as composed of 5 Koshas (layers/sheaths) which encompass the Atman (True-Self).  As part of the Self-Transformation process, we will explore the specific teachings and practices of each of these layers – designed to help us realize our fullest capacities and to minimize and overcome the limitations of each Kosha.

Annamaya Kosha ~ The Physical Body 

• Systems of the Human body (Musculo-skeletal, Nervous, Respiratory, etc.)
• Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology- The Spine, Shoulder + Pelvic Girdles, the Diaphragm(s)
• Asana: Yoga postures – Anatomy, Alignment + Energetic Effects
• Intro to Ayurveda- The Vedic Science of Self-Healing
• Yogic Practices for the Physical Body: Asana, Shatkarma (Cleansing Actions), Ayurveda

Pranamaya Kosha ~ The Energetic Body 

• Ayurveda- The Doshas, your constitution + balanced living through yoga, diet and lifestyle
• Tantra- The path of Cultivating and Liberating our vital Energy
• Prana- The Energy of Life
• Pranayama: Breathing practices to awaken Vital Energy
• The Nervous System
• The Anatomy of The Energetic Body (Doshas, Nadis, Vayus, Chakras, Gunas, Kundalini)
• Yogic Practices for The Energetic Body: Pranayama, Bandha, Mudra, Kriya (visualiztion)
• Brahmana & Langhana – Creating practices that are balancing

Manomaya Kosha ~ The Lower Mind + Ego

• Yogic Psychology + understanding of the Mind
• The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali- Essential Teachings on awakening the Heart-Mind
• The role of the mind in suffering and liberation
• Ego + Memory – Our Subconscious Conditioning
• Emotion- Understanding the energies of desire, memory, perception + reaction
• Karma (Action) -> Samskara (impression) -> Vasana (patterns)- The cycle of conditioned behavior
• Yogic Practices for the mind: Meditation, Karma Yoga, Witness Consciousness/ Self-Observation, Yoga Nidra
• Meditation: Essential Teachings + personal guidance

Vijnanamaya Kosha ~ The Awakened Mind

• Buddhi- The capacity of the mind to awaken
• Awakening the forces of willpower, intuition + discernment
• Overcoming obstacles as the path to Self-Mastery
• The role of desire in spiritual practice
• Yogic Practices for Buddhi:  Vichara (Self-Inquiry), Sankalpa (Resolution of the Higher Self), Mantra (Healing of Sacred Sound), Jnana Yoga
• Mantra- “That which protects + empowers the mind”

Anandamaya Kosha + Atman ~ The Heart + True Self

• The Four Desires process: Creating a life of purpose, prosperity, happiness and freedom
• Dharma- Hearing the call of your life’s purpose
• Cultivating compassion, joy + loving kindness
• Practices for the Heart & True Self: Prayer, Devotion/ Bhakti Yoga, Metta (loving kindness), Chanting, Seva

Pricing + Payment Options

Full Price – $2250.

Early Registration Discount – $2100 (Paid In full by August 15)

Yoga Teacher Discount – $1950                                                                                               (For teachers who have completed a 200-Hour Training and are currently teaching 2 or more classes/week.  Paid in full by September 15)

Payment Plan – $2500. (to be paid monthly over 9 months)

We will order books for the course wholesale as a group.  The cost of books will be about $75 in addition to the cost of tuition

Registration is available through One Yoga.  Follow this link to receive a copy of the application: Advanced Yoga Studies Application.  Space is limited and will be allotted in the order which application + deposit ($300, non-refundable) are received.

 

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