The Wisdom of Aging: A Yoga Retreat

In a youth-obsessed culture, how do we celebrate our aging and become wisdom holders for our communities? As we ripen into the late summer and autumn of our lives, how can we let go of what no longer serves and enjoy the abundance of each precious moment?

As we move through our spiritual awakening, fully inhabiting the Eight Limbs of Yoga, we have the opportunity to broaden our daily embodiment into the true nature of freedom and joy. The experience of living through many years and experiences affords us the opportunity to see life through the lens of compassionate experience. In this workshop we will take advantage of and celebrate this perspective, creating space in our bodies for joy and curiosity about the future.

In this time together we will:

• Build the foundations of a consistent, sustainable, injury-free asana (yoga postures) practice.
• Explore the profound influence of the breath on the autonomic nervous system, and the relationship of breath to the quality of mind.
• Open to the subtleties of the energy body, thus recognizing ourselves and all things as manifestations of life force, prana.
• Develop healthy routines for a daily sitting meditation practice, and consider meditation as intimacy with self.
• Embrace a full sense of gratitude for the ongoing miracle of living in a human body.
• Savor poetry from the wisdom traditions as nourishment from the Divine.
• Play with silence, sound, and laughter as gifts of spirit.

Students aged 50 years and older are welcome. Basic mobility is required, otherwise please come with someone who can assist you. You must be able to lie on the floor and put your legs up the wall for five minutes, and accept your physical limitations without judgment. Three months of a semi-consistent yoga practice is recommended. Please come with a beginner’s mind even if you’re not a beginner.

Recommended Reading: Breath by James Nestor