A Rounding Retreat to Reset for the Change of Season
Firstly, What is Rounding?
A "round" is a Vedic Technique comprised of: asana (gentle yoga postures), pranayama (breathing), Vedic meditation and Shavasana.
When done in succession, "rounding" profoundly purifies the mind and body, provides deep rest and promotes exponential release of accumulated stress clogging the body.
With each subsequent round, the physiology settles into stillness so one experiences new levels of unparalleled bliss, clarity and joie de vivre.
It is said that a weekend of rounding is equivalent to about 6 months of regular meditation making rounding on retreat a powerful way to amplify, accelerate and integrate the benefit of one's practice.
We'll retreat in New Hope, PA--an artist hamlet halfway between Manhattan and Philadelphia. Long home to creative spirits such as Pulitzer Prize-winning James Michener, theater giants Oscar Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim and current darlings the Hadids (Yolanda, Gigi and Bella), New Hope is a melange of the artistic, bucolic and spiritual with early influences from the peace-loving Quakers.
We'll reside at Honey Hollow Farm: a quaint, historic national landmark ensconced amidst preserved forest and fruit orchards. We'll embrace the local ethos at the intersection of nature and art visiting a local glass studio and concluding our retreat with a private tour of the Nakashima Foundation which preserves the legacy of famed woodworker, George Nakashima.
A typical retreat day will look like:
* Sunrise sun salutations
* 2-3 morning rounds
* Breakfast
* Nature walk and/or Rest
* Lunch
* Group Knowledge Session and Discussion
* 2-3 Afternoon rounds
* Dinner
* Sama Veda (Vedic chanting for enhanced sleep)
Retreat total depends on room selection with fees between 1600-1900. Retreat fee covers:
For New Students
* 4 Days/3 nights accommodations
* All organic, Aryuvedic, local vegetarian meals
* Rounding instruction, handouts
* The 4-Day Learn to Mediate Course (puja, personalized mantra and technical instruction)
* Knowledge Sessions/Discussion
* Sama Veda for restful sleep
* Complementary Alexander Technique Lesson
* Demonstration by local glass artists (optional)
* Private tour of the Nakashima Foundation (150 dollar value)
For Existing Meditators
* 4 Days/3 nights accommodations* All organic, Aryuvedic, local vegetarian meals
* Rounding instruction, handouts and group rounds (up to 5 daily)
* Knowledge Sessions/Discussion
* Sama Veda for restful sleep
* Complementary Alexander Technique Lesson
* Demonstration by local glass artists (optional)
* Private tour of the Nakashima Foundation (150 dollar value)
Considering myself an artist and mystic, I find it kismet I grew up in a town that celebrates art as much as nature and connection to it.
So I'm thrilled to introduce a few students to the land that shaped not only my personal credo of living life as art, but also provides the perfect backdrop for falling into ourselves--through rounding--so to prepare for the season ahead.
For more on me and my teaching see here.
Hope you'll join me soon!
