Let’s start off the New Year with silent practice and reflection together. Our retreat will be in Indianapolis indoors at the Jameson Center. We’ll practice qi gong, seated meditation, and walking meditation, write our collective poem and notes to ourselves, and share reflections by the fire. We provide breakfast, lunch, and good coffee. 

Registration Required. Maximum of 40 participants. 

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
1:00pm Seated and Walking Meditation (5 x 25 min seated/5 min walking)
3:30pm Silent Practice Ends. Writing: a note to your future self, reflections for the fire, and a collaborative poem
4:00pm Closing Circle
5:30pm Depart

Have general questions about the retreat? Consult our Retreat Guidance page.

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. You may learn a thing or two about your impulses, habits, reactions, and 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, delicious lunch. All food will conform to the collective dietary requirements of the group. You’ll get to tell us yours in the registration. We’ll have coffee, tea, and water, too.

Costs

We estimate that the cost of facility rental, food, and supplies to be about $45 per person. If you’d like to contribute, please donate using either our secure donation page or by bringing cash or a check to the retreat. That said, you don’t have to pay anything to practice with us. Really! 

Note: the amount of your donation, or whether you donate at all, does not affect your position on the waitlist. Donating does not guarantee you a spot in the retreat. 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 look forward to practicing together with you! Please reach out with any questions.

Tony and the Indy Community Yoga Team
hello@indycommunityyoga.org