SILENT DAY RETREAT

A Vipassana is an extended period of silence in a "compound" where you focus primarily on a specific meditation style for the duration of your stay. There are intense rules like no reading, no writing, no eye contact with others, no yoga, no eating after lunch, no other practices that could "taint" the purity of this meditation, you're even required to sleep on a very "basic" mattress. For the majority of the day you are in seated, still, silent meditation. Oooooffff... it's intense!!

A fter attending a 10 day Vipassana followed up years later by a 3 day Vipassana, I can attest to the immense benefits of being in this practice for an extended period of time. It was life changing... However, I recognize that these very intense immersions can be a bit more than we can realistically commit to given our other life commitments and can be far too restrictive. I no longer plan to attend these traditional Vipassana's as I personally find them to be too restrictive and dogmatic for me at this point in my life, however I still wish to honour the potent benefits of being in intentional, extended silence.

I have created a Silent Day Retreat to honour this silence alongside other intentional practices welcoming a more gentle and digestible approach to this traditional practice. It's an opportunity to attune ourselves to listen more fully to our inner knowing. I hope you choose to join me.

Our time together on this Silent Retreat will look something like this (there may be some slight adjustments):

- 8:30am: Open/Welcome and Intros

- 9:15: Chanting and entering into silence

- 9:30: Gentle Yoga Class

- 10:15: Group Meditation (30 mins)

- 10:45: Free Time (journalling, reading, walking, horses)

- 11:45: Tea Ceremony with Natalia Haffner

- 12:30pm: Lunch (provided)

- 1:00pm: Group Meditation (45 mins)

- 1:45pm: Free Time

- 2:30pm: Yin Yoga to Nidra

- 3:45pm: Group Meditation (60 mins)

- 4:45pm: Early Light Dinner (provided)

- 5:15: Free time

- 5:45: Breathwork Ceremony with Kevin McConnach

- 7:00: Closing Circle Shares - Breaking the Silence

- 8:30-10:00pm Fluid ending time based on Integration Needs

There are pieces that will be guided like the opening and closing ceremony, yoga, the tea ceremony, Nidra and Breathwork...

There will be free time for you to get the sweet alone time to process and listen to your inner whispers, to enjoy tea while gazing at a beautiful view, to go for a walk on The Field of Dreams and witness nature or spend some time with our horses, to journal and reflect on things that come up for you throughout the day... to disconnect from distraction!

During the Guided Meditation time, we will be seated in circle and in silent meditation. You will be taught the Vipassana Meditation technique during the first one to then have the ability to practice it throughout the other group meditations. If you want to use a different technique, you are more than welcome to as long as it is still and silent so it does not disrupt the group.

The opening and closing circle are the only times we will be talking. The closing circle will be a potent time to break the silence and share whatever it is that may be on your heart and slowly integrate your experiences

This is a day to truly nourish the soul, mind and body. It is a unique opportunity to gift yourself this time to be in silence and tune back to your true inner voice. I look forward to sharing it with you at The Yurt.

Marni

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

254121 Towers Trail, 254121 Towers Trail, Cochrane, Canada