Let’s practice together on the soft grass under the shade of big trees as the Earth turns the corner and Summer becomes Fall. Registration Required. We’ll practice qi gong, seated meditation, and walking meditation at our old friend the Cherry Tree Shelter at Ft. Harrison State Park in Indianapolis. We provide breakfast, lunch, and good coffee. Come as you are. Just be yourself. Every Body Welcome!
Schedule
7:30am Arrive, help set up, enjoy breakfast, coffee, tea, and friendship
8:45am Retreat orientation
9:00am Qi Gong: Quiet Mindful Movement and Breathing (All standing. No mats required)
9:30am Silent practice begins. Seated and Walking Meditation (5 x 25 min seated/5 min walking)
12:00pm Lunch and Sound Bath by Kataushia
1:30pm Seated and Walking Meditation (4 x 25 min seated/5 min walking)
3:30pm Silent Practice Ends. Writing and Drawing
4:00pm Closing Circle
5:30pm Depart
36 people max attendance. Practice will be 100% outdoors.
Silent Practice
When you practice with sincerity and care and consideration for the rest of the group, even in silence, it lifts everyone else up. This has big effects both inward and outward.
For the six hours from the start of the first meditation period to the end of the last meditation period, we practice silence: no speaking, no eye contact, no reading, no writing, no phones, even during lunch and bathroom breaks. Disengaging from language and concept-forming this way gives you a chance to easing towards what you are sensing and feeling. Practicing this way reveals your impulses, habits, reactions, how you relate to others, your surroundings, and even yourself. After the final meditation period of the day, we’ll ease back into words with a reading, quiet writing and drawing, and then return to verbal communication in the closing circle.
You are responsible for your own practice. Please remember that how you practice and conduct yourself has a big effect on others. When you practice sincerely and diligently, you inspire and support others to practice sincerely and diligently. In the same way, when one breaks practice form or silence during a silent period, it erodes the community spirit and makes practicing more difficult for everyone else. Your sincerity in practice is a great gift to everyone. Please keep this in mind and do your best.
Meals
We’ll enjoy a light breakfast from community members and a hot lunch catered from Phaya Thai. All food will be free of animal products (vegan). We’ll have coffee, tea, and water, too.
Costs
We estimate that the cost of facility rental, food, and supplies to be about $30 per person. If you’d like to contribute, please donate using our secure donation page. You may also contribute by cash or check at the retreat. That said, you don’t have to pay anything to practice with us. Really!
We look forward to practicing together with you! Please reach out with any questions.
Tony and the Indy Community Yoga Team
hello@indycommunityyoga.org
Registration and Waitlist
Our maximum capacity is 36 people. If you wish to attend, please add yourself to the waitlist. We move people from the waitlist to the attendee list periodically. People who practice regularly at our free Indy Community Yoga daily and weekly practices and participate in our community care projects are admitted first. People who practice regularly at the Indianapolis Zen Center are also given elevated priority. We do generally admit a few people each retreat who don’t get to practice with us regularly for one reason or another.
The more you practice in community, the better your chances of being part of our retreat.