Local Retreats
NEW! Sutra Retreat:
Self-exploration with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
1.5 days
May 31 - June 1, 2025
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Join us for a short weekend retreat.
Sutra 1. 1 Atha yoga anusasanam=Now is the time to start yoga!
Experience the beautiful setting of the Episcopal House of Prayer, nestled in the woods on the campus of SJU, providing sacred space to nourish body and soul through chanting, pranayama, meditation, asana, discussion, conversation, quiet time, nature walks, nourishing mealtimes, laughter and more...See virtual tour: https://ehouseofprayer.org/host/
PARINAMA (i.e., transformation) and Yoga Sutras
We can all agree that change is natural and inescapable, right? But what if we had special tools to help us change in intelligent ways? We DO have these, according to Patanjali. Only problem is, we forget where we put them as they get covered up with our habitual ways of being (samskara) and our perceived suffering (kleshas). The Yoga Sutras (tools, or literally, threads) give us bite-sized nuggets of deep wisdom to begin to open our spiritual eyes, that is, transform our heart-mind in humility (parinama=pari-around+nama-bow down) , thereby building the truest version of our Self! What better way to begin this transformation than spending time in a setting meant for spiritual awakening with like-minded folks! Through community sharing and common practice, this retreat will afford us the opportunity to change intelligently, with deep purpose. You will sharpen your Sanskrit to boot!
About The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: The 196 known Yoga Sutras, divided into four Books or Padas are: Samadhi/contemplation, Sadhana/Practice, Vibhuti/Spiritual Achievements and Kaivalia/Spiritual Emancipation. They come to us as a wisdom scripture, stemming from an oral tradition dating back more than 2 millenia. Sri Patanjali is credited with devising these sutras (threads) terse aphorisms, nuggets of deep wisdom, as a mnemonic device for his students around which discussion and practice could evolve. Translations from the original Sanskrit fill many, many books today., to help us learn by listening, conversing, weaving ever-evolving meaning around these simple, yet dense threads of truth. The Sutras are not meant to be studied alone, at least not entirely. Our "fire" of inquiry can be managed and adjusted by each of us together.
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Saturday, May 31, 9 AM--Sunday, June 1, 2:00PM 2025.
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Episcopal House of Prayer in Collegeville, MN.
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Cost: $175
Tuition covers: private bedroom (including bedclothes, towels); Breakfast; Four yoga/pranayama sessions in the sublime oratory; Four study sessions in the Hearth Room; use of the beautiful venue inside and out, including a full service kitchen and hiking trails.~Sunday breakfast and coffee/tea included
~Saturday lunch and dinner, snacks, drinks are potluck~
INternational Retreats
Santorini & Crete
8 day TOUR
May 29 - June 5, 2025
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Welcome to Greece where you will experience two of the most vibrant islands in the Mediterranean. This 8-day journey will start in Santorini, one of the most famous islands in the Mediterranean and end in Crete, Greece’s largest island with over 160 miles of beaches! Enjoy a cooking lesson that will showcase some of the most authentic meze dishes while you take in these remarkable coastlines. In addition to scenic hikes on both islands, you will have a chance to learn about the history in Greece while visiting the archeological site of Knossos.
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May 29 - June 5, 2025
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Welcome to Greece! Your journey will start in Crete, the largest island in Greece and fifth largest island in the Mediterranean! The beautiful coastline and majestic shades of blue waters will leave you awestruck as you take in the cool ocean breeze.
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$3,149 per person based on double occupancy
$4,149 per person based on single occupancy
Deposit amount of $500 per person is due no later than November 29, 2024
Final payment is due no later than March 1, 2025
Crete & Santorini
8 day TOUR
June 06 – June 13, 2025
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Welcome to Greece where you will experience two of the most vibrant islands in the Mediterranean. This 8-day journey visits Crete, Greece’s largest island with over 160 miles of beaches and Santorini, one of the most famous islands in the Mediterranean! Enjoy a cooking lesson that will showcase some of the most authentic meze dishes while you take in these remarkable coastlines. In addition to scenic hikes on both islands, you will have a chance to learn about the history in Greece while visiting the archeological site of Knossos.
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June 06 – June 13, 2025
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Welcome to Greece! Your journey will start in Crete, the largest island in Greece and fifth largest island in the Mediterranean! The beautiful coastline and majestic shades of blue waters will leave you awestruck as you take in the cool ocean breeze.
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$3,049 per person based on double occupancy
$3,949 per person based on single occupancy
Book by August 6, 2024 and save $200 per person
Deposit amount of $500 per person is due no later than December 6, 2024
Final payment is due no later than March 6, 2025
Past Retreats
House of Prayer, Collegeville, MN, April 2024
Algarve Coast, Portugal, June 2023
Wild Rice Retreat, Bayfield, WI, Sept. 2023
Baja, Mexico, November 2021
Baja, Mexico
“This was my first experience on a yoga retreat, and my sense is that the bar has now been set so high, that it will be difficult to surpass it. First, the design, aesthetics, and service from the facilities at Prana del Mar lent itself to an environment of peacefulness and relaxation. The resort was sustainable and luxurious without being ornate, and married a mixture of a desert yet oceanside climate. The mostly vegetarian food was unbelievably delicious, nourishing and imaginative. I really enjoyed that the location felt remote and immersed in nature, with the Pacific Ocean and mountainous desert terrain, daily whale sightings, jumping manta rays and baby turtle releases to the sea.
Our three experienced and devoted teachers (Jessie, Laura and Joanna) did an incredible job combining yoga philosophy and opportunities for a solitary spiritual experience, with a physical yoga practice and a warm, friendly community. The other retreat participants were each so welcoming that the sense of safety and community was near-immediate. I have not stopped raving about this experience to all who would listen since I returned. I hope to return again, and to bring some of my loved ones to invite them to enjoy the sense of renewal, gratitude, peace and learning that suffused this experience for me. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough.”
PORTUGAL
“My trip with Shanti Yoga to Portugal in June of 2023 came to me in what I call, “my quarter-life crisis”. I was beginning to feel STUCK in life at home, depressed in my lack of emotional connections with others and oh yeah I was becoming very vitamin D deficient in that MN climate... My best friend and I signed up for this yoga retreat as soon as we heard it was happening with the intention of refocusing our energy and mindset.
Before arriving, I never expected that I would find such a wonderful balance of adventure, captivation, calmness and graceful progress. The best part of all was how interconnected our group became over such a short period of time. We saw an outstanding amount of natural wordly beauty that left me in AWE of the world we live in. On the coast while hiking Fisherman’s trail, in the lagoon on an old sailboat, and on the peak of Monchique. But I also witnessed such love and genuineness from all the other lovely ladies who signed up to be a part of this once in a lifetime adventure. This retreat helped me reconnect with myself. It allowed me time to give grace and appreciation for my body, mind and eclectic personality. I felt accepted and supported in getting more out of this trip than just a lot of sun and a lot of fun!
Our lives at work and at home can become repetitive, exhausting and leave us feeling dull, and under appreciative. I re-learned that there is so much love and good to experience. The yoga and mantra practices we focused on daily helped me start learning to love and cherish myself again. The excursions we participated in helped me appreciate the wonder and wholeness in being present and not overthinking. Insightful conversations and openness with others during dinners, hikes, bus rides and pool days allowed me to see that we as humans may all be challenged with fatigue, insecurities and lack peace day to day. I went to Portugal unknowing of what I would gain. I gained steadiness, confidence, vulnerability, connectedness and the discipline that I am now more mindful about prioritizing back home. Oh and I should no longer be vitamin D deficient! ”