Michael Morphis and I are excited to be co-teaching a very special Iyengar Yoga/Mindfulness Meditation Retreat on the beautiful Island of Møn, Denmark, August 3-10, 2024!
Both Eve and Michael ((https://www.instagram.com/_mindful_yoga_/?hl=en) have been studying and practicing Iyengar yoga for close to 25 years. Eve has been teaching for 15 years and Michael for close to 20 years. Both are Certified Iyengar instructors that have visited and studied at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India on multiple occasions. Michael is also a long time dedicated meditator and a qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Instructor who trained at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where the program was created in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD.
What makes this retreat so special is that these two remarkable, highly complementary practices have rarely, if ever, been offered together. Iyengar Yoga facilitates a 'meditation in movement’ though proper alignment and breath awareness as we enter into, stay and exit the poses, woven together with the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras. Mindfulness meditation expands that journey to all our senses as well as the workings of the mind. Both practices aim to heighten 'present moment awareness' and reveal new levels of clarity and self-comprehension. Similar to the calming, centering effect of a good yoga practice, those who engage in a consistent Mindfulness practice often report a greater sense of well being and the ability to cope with life's challenges with more grace and ease.
There will be two daily extended yoga classes suitable for all levels from relative beginners to experienced practitioners -- an active asana practice in the morning and a restorative and pranayama practice in the late afternoon. As the week progresses, we will build upon a steady foundation of fundamental principles towards a deeper, more refined practice that addresses individual needs and develops each student’s skills and abilities. If you have any physical issues or injuries, we will help you modify for them.
Michael will lead early morning guided meditations (20-30 min.), optional afternoon sit and/or walking meditations, and evening Dhamma talks, sits and Q&A time (45-60 min.). Both raw beginners as well as those with an established meditation practice will have plenty of material to work with.
All this will happen at Møn Retreat Center in the Askeby area of West Møn. Surrounded by serene fields and meadows, it is just a 20-30 minute walk from the beach (Baltic Sea) and a wonderfully peaceful, soulful place to relax, reconnect and develop your yoga and meditation practice. There is a large, lovely garden and terrace, and a pit for bonfires under the stars. Originally built in the 1930s, the center has been renovated with love and a sense of aesthetics, with tastefully appointed bedrooms, and a spacious yoga hall.
Between sessions, there will be plenty of time to savor the afterglow of your practice in the unspoiled island setting- relaxing at the farm, taking a swim, a walk along the Baltic sea, or amongst Møn’s gorgeous woodlands and meadows. A bit further afield is the historic town of Stege, the quaint village of Nyord, and the stunning Møns Klint (White Cliff’s of Møn).
PRICING
$1,700 - shared room
$1,850 - standard single
You can view more images of Møn Retreat Center here:
https://gracetours.com/moen-retreat-center/galleri-moen-retreat-center/
And Early Bird Discount of $100 is available until January 15, 2024. The price includes all yoga classes, three lovingly-prepared, organic vegetarian meals per day, seven nights accommodations, and use of the center’s grounds. It does not include airfare and ground transportation. Please note, there are no en suite bathrooms; there are four separate bathrooms to be shared by the group.
Please note, wifi is available only in the common spaces (not in bedrooms).
TO REGISTER:
Please fill out and submit this registration form, noting your room preference, and we will confirm availability and send payment instructions. A $500 deposit is required to hold your space in our retreat at Møn Retreat Center. Full payment is due on May 3, 2024.
*An Early Bird Discount of $100 is available through January 15, 2024.
Since space is limited to 13 participants, we expect it to fill fairly quickly, so we recommend reserving your space soon.
Please note that the travel days are August 3 and 10. On August 3, the retreat will begin with an orientation at 6:30, followed by dinner, Dhamma Talk, and Sit. Please arrange to arrive in time to join us for these. On August 10, there will be a morning sit, followed by breakfast from 8:00-9:00 before departure. I have included the schedule for August 4-9 below, as well as directions to the farm from Copenhagen.
We are very excited about this retreat and we hope you will join us!!!
Daily Schedule
7-7:30 am - Morning Mindfulness Meditation Sit *
7:30-8 am - Tea, Coffee, Light Snack
8-10 am - Asana
10 am - Breakfast/Brunch
10:30 - 2 pm - Free Time with an optional Sit and/or Walking Meditation from 1:30-2 pm *
2 pm - Light Lunch
4:30-6 pm - Restorative & Pranayama
6:30-7:30 pm - Dinner
8 pm - Dhamma Talk, Sit*, Q&A
*As the Retreat progresses there will be less guidance and more silence during the Meditations. We will explore all the fundamentals of establishing, building and /or restarting your own practice, whether you're a beginner or have experience with meditation.
Directions via train/bus from Copenhagen’s airport (CPH):
1. Take the train to Copenhagen’s Central Train Station (15 minute ride)
2. Transfer to the train to Vordingborg (1 hour and 15 minute ride)
3. At Vordingborg station, walk about 20 yards to the bus stop where you transfer to the bus to Stege (45 minute ride)
4. Get off the bus and take a taxi from Stege to Møn Retreat Center (15 minute ride).
*Møn is a relatively large island (84 sq mi), so if you plan to do sightseeing beyond the area of Møn Retreat Center (Askeby), please consider renting a car. If you are interested in sharing a rental car with other participants, please indicate so on the registration form so we can put you in touch with each other.
To learn more about Møn, you can check out the links below. Some of the Danish sites have English versions (look for the American or English flag icon), and if not, you can always paste the danish text into Google Translate to see the english translation 🤓:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Møn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Møns_Klint
https://www.visitmoensklint.dk/danmark/download-brochure-fra-moen-og-sydsjaelland
http://www.moensklint.dk/geocentermoensklintuk.aspx
http://www.moen-atlas.dk/index.php?id=97
http://www.harbollehuset.dk
http://www.moen-ishest.dk
