Inner Stillness Retreat

Annual winter meditation retreat with Tina Shettigara

12 to 14 June 2020

at Lokananda Retreat Centre 9 Main Street Point Pass South Australia

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

The beauty of retreat is that it promotes in us a gentle unraveling of the accumulated tensions that develop with the pressures of regular life. The peace and tranquility of a country location combined with inward practices and nurturing food, cooked for us with love, help us to let go and open up. On retreat we can experience a soft awakening to something fresh, free and relaxing as we touch the depth of Presence that is always here. Retreat experiences can be very valuable and help to move us in ways that would take much longer through weekly classes and home practice.

"Go deeply into the urge to be silent and not the mental interference of how, where and when. If you follow silence to its source you can be taken by it in a moment." Jean Klein

We will go deeply into silence, maintaining long periods of silence, to follow silence to its source. This retreat is in the traditional style of ashram life, away from gadgets and distractions. It is strongly suggested that you undertake a device free retreat, turning off your phone and leaving other devices at home.

What to expect

We will nurture our spirit with meditation, practiced seated, as yoga nidra, as movement (e.g. yoga, body sensing, walking meditation) and interactively, to take us deeper into who we truly are, discovering the peace of deep Presence and inner stillness. Movement practices will be gentle, mindful and restoring. You do not need to be practising advanced yogasana to attend and fully participate in this retreat.

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Modalities practiced

This retreat is informed by iRest® and Non-dual Saiva Tantra (NST). Please note that this is primarily a meditation retreat, but there will be gentle body sensing movement practices.

iRest

iRest is a simple and accessible form of meditation designed for modern day living. Backed by extensive research, iRest can help people navigate all of life's challenges and enhance one's sense of well being and peace

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is a process of meditative self-inquiry derived from the teachings of Tantrik Yoga, which comprises a vast array of techniques designed to bring about first-hand knowing of who and what you actually are when you are free of psychological, cultural and philosophical conditioning.

iRest is a contemporary adaptation of Yoga Nidra. It shares many basic principles and techniques with other forms of Yoga Nidra, but differs in various ways. For example, in many classical variations of Yoga Nidra, you are told what to see, feel, hear, sense, taste, smell, or think while practicing. In contrast, iRest provides techniques to help you inquire into your current, unique experience of seeing, feeling, hearing, sensing, tasting, smelling and thinking.

Non-dual Saiva Tantra

Scholars of Sanskrit and Indian history agree that Tantra developed as a pan-Indian movement in the early centuries of the Common Era. It was a spiritual movement in its own right with a different attitude to spiritual life to the ascetic and monastic traditions that prevailed in earlier traditions. There are different flavours of Tantra. Non-dual Saiva Tantra (NST) is a branch that is separate to, but very closely aligned with, Tibetan Buddhist Tantra. Then even within NST there are different flavours. NST offers us sublime insights and meditations that orient us to our True Nature. iRest is also grounded in NST.

Meditation

Yoga Nidra is a technique of meditation. Traditionally yoga nidra is practised lying down and meditation in a seated position. On this retreat we will spend time in seated meditation as well as offering the traditional lying yoga nidra. Meditation will draw on techniques of NST, including iRest, and will include breathing, connections to the energy body, and to ourselves as Awareness.

Body Sensing Movement

Body Sensing Movement is a somatic practice of meditation in movement that uses the body as an entry point for coming to know who we are at the deepest level of our Being. It is a beautiful way to incorporate the deeper principles of iRest and the non-dual Tantrik teachings into your personal practice or yoga teaching.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Lokananda Retreat Centre is mostly in dorm rooms. At this retreat the maximum number of participants is 15, to be divided over the possible 20 beds in 5 rooms. Participants will make use of three shared bathrooms and an additional loo.

Bedrooms

Room 1: 2 single beds, Room 2: Single, Room 3: 6 beds, Room 4: 5 or 6 beds, Room 5: 5 beds

Rooms 1 and 2 are offered at premium prices (see below). Please contact the office regarding availablity.

What you will need to bring

• warm clothes that are easy to move in, layers are best, if rain is expected wet weather gear, sturdy outdoor shoes to walk around the property
• yoga mat and equipment, suggested are at least one bolster and 2 yoga blankets, meditation stool or cushion might also be enjoyed
• what you need to be comfortable in sitting practice - you are welcome to sometimes do meditation lying down, or to use a chair, which we will make available but bring your favourite meditation stool or cushion as well - there are some cushions at the venue
• pillow, single bed top sheet, doona/blankets or sleeping bag , bath towel, (linen can be hired for $25 direct from the retreat centre)
• notebook and pen to journal your experience
• any medications and special foods you require

Leave behind

• your work
• your worries
• it is strongly suggested that you leave all electronic devices switched off for the duration of retreat

Fees

Fees quoted are inclusive of GST and cover meals, accommodation and tuition.

$415 for dorm rooms $375 Early bird

$430/head for Room 1 with 2 people $390 Early bird

$450 for Room 2 single room and to book Room 1 as a single $410 Early bird

Live nearby and wish to attend non-residential?

Please plan to come to all sessions and take your meals with us.

Fee for attending but not sleeping at the retreat centre:

$325 or $285 Early Bird

Please email or phone to request Rooms 1 or 2, first request will be met, others will be wait listed.

Early bird discount of $40 applies when paying in full by 15 May

Please note

This retreat is priced to be affordable, as well as being convenient to Adelaide residents. The bulk of the cost is the actual expense of accommodation, meals and on costs. Your tuition fee is kept to a minimum.

Help enrolling

Need help? Please call us on +61 8 8352 7823 or email info@yogaspirit.com.au. Office hours are part time: 2 to 5pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Leave a message outside of those hours.

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Retreat leader - Tina Shettigara

Tina Shettigara has been practising yoga and meditation for over forty years and has been a teacher of yoga since 2009. She is an IRI Certified teacher of iRest Yoga Nidra meditation, registered Senior (level 3) yoga teacher with Yoga Australia, Level 2 Somatic Exercise Coach and a Member of Meditation Australia. Retreat with Tina is an immersive experience of transformation.

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