Bodhi Yoga and Meditation Retreat 2016

In Buddhism, a Bodhi is one who is on the path to “awakening to the nature of things,” or, “enlightenment.” The Yoga Bodhi retreat is designed for the experienced yogi to awaken or deepen his or her meditation and yoga practice in a quiet and secluded setting, utilizing the techniques of Vipassana meditation.

Vipassan, or “Clear Seeing” is part of the ancient Buddhist practice of embodied awareness. Through the focused attention and tranquillity cultivated in meditation, we investigate the ever-changing experiences of body and heart that bring us both joy and suffering. The practices of vipassan and mindfulness on retreat weave together all our activities as meditation, and become a powerful inquiry into the causes of distress and the path to freedom.

Each day of the Bodhi retreat will begin with meditation in the sacred Gompa room (Buddhist prayer hall), followed by a rigorous Forrest Yoga practice (Vinyasa Flow) designed to deepen physical and mental awareness and awaken the spirit. In the afternoon, a walking meditation will be offered, and we will gather again for a calming Yin and Restorative flow. Each day will end with a meditation designed to calm the mind and prepare the body for a deeply restful sleep.

In between gatherings, participants are invited to explore the gorgeous Santa Cruz Mountain trails accessible from Vajrapani, or simply sit in quiet contemplation amongst the redwoods or in the Vajrapani library. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided; all meals are nutritionally balanced, vegetarian, and prepared by Vajrapani’s trained chefs.

To help eradicate the mental impurities of the mind and body, we must first eliminate the many things that distract us from seeing ourselves as we really are. As such, we ask that you plan to spend the retreat in silence (with the exception of our nightly check-ins). Once the retreat begins on Wednesday night, we will turn off our cell phones and computers and put away books and journals. We will awaken, eat, move, sit, and restore our bodies, with silence.

At times, the silence may feel deeply intense and difficult. However, you will feel supported by your yoga and meditation practice, as well as by our nightly Dharma talks. By the end of the retreat, each Yoga Bodhi participant will have learned new ways in which to continue to “awaken to the nature of things,” and will feel more comfortable applying the essentials of Vipassana meditation to their daily life.

Location: Vajrapani Institute Boulder Creek, CA

Cost: (per person):
Single cabin - $1,200 
Double cabin - $1,000
Private Room/Single - $1,000
Private Room/Double occupancy - $900
Dorm: Quad - $800
Dorm: (8) - $750
Camping - $650

*cost includes yoga, meditation instruction, lodging and meals*
**$50 inc. after October 16, 2016**

$50 discount for LTP-TT Alumni and previous Pete G Yoga Retreatants - Use the PETEGYOGA code/coupon when registering

Please see a general schedule below:
6am              Meditation
7am              Breakfast
8:30-11am    Forrest Yoga (Vinyasa Flow)
11-11:30am  Meditation
12pm             Lunch
2-2:45pm       Walking Meditation (Optional)
3-4:30pm       Yin/Restorative Yoga Practice
4:30-5:30pm  Meditation             
6pm               Dinner
7pm               Evening Meditation
8pm               Dharma Talk & Questions

About the Teachers

Pete Guinosso -  (E-RYT 500) helps students connect with their hearts. His gentle guidance and intuitive assists allow students of all levels to step out of their comfort zones and find their own authentic path in the practice. Pete’s classes offer strong, vigorous sequencing grounded in the breath and intention, and always leave room for playfulness and fun.

Drawing from his years as a scientist, Pete approaches his practice with a sense of curiosity and wonder. He also draws from what initially brought him to the yoga mat: over twenty five years of running, cycling, and competitive sports.  His light-hearted exploration of going deeper on a path that is both physical and spiritual has created a thriving community of yogis in the San Francisco Bay area and around the world.

Inspired by his love of travel and the outdoors, Pete offers a wide range of yoga adventures each year, around the world and close to home. His passion to guide students into their role as skilled, authentic yoga teachers and healers led him to create his signature Lighting the Path teacher training. Pete tours internationally for workshops, festivals, trainings and retreats.

Sean Feit - (SEP, E-RYT500) teaches Buddhism, Hatha Yoga, and Organic Intelligence with a focus on the integration of meditation, philosophy, and self-inquiry with trauma resolution and social justice. He has studied in Zen, Tibetan, and Theravda Buddhist lineages, including time as a monk in Burma, and is authorized to teach by Jack Kornfield. Other primary teachers include Anam Thubten, Sayadaw U Janaka (vipassan), Eugene Cash and Sylvia Boorstein (Insight Meditation), Alice Joanou (yoga), and Steven Hoskinson (Somatic Experiencing/Organic Intelligence).

Sean teaches at Spirit Rock, East Bay Meditation Center, and Yoga Tree SF, and is core Teacher Training faculty for Piedmont Yoga and Yoga Garden SF. He also works with teens through Inward Bound Mindfulness Education. At Spirit Rock he completed the Dedicated Practitioner’s Program and the Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training, and is a member of the Community Dharma Leader program. Sean is a PhD candidate at UC Davis, writing on Buddhist contemplative practice and experimental dance, and lives in Oakland with a beautiful family and community.