Meditations in Movement
Schedule of Events (Sample)
Friday
Arrival by 5:00pm
5:00-5:30pm Registration, check-in, settle into rooms
5:30 Welcome/Introductions/Vespers
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Session 1 “Stillness in Motion: Types of Meditative Movement”
8:00 Compline with movement
9:00 beginning of Great Silence
Saturday
8:00am Morning meditation/prayer/Yoga or other exercise
8:30 Mindful breakfast
9:30 Session 2: “Why Yogis Move”
10:30 Yoga followed by absolute stillness
12:00pm Lunch, free time with options offered
1:30 Session 3: “Emotions, Motivation, and Subtle Movements”
2:30 Reflection/Break
4:00 Community Dialogue followed by Group Yoga (optional: Hike, Martial arts)
5:30 Vespers with stillness
6:30 Dinner
7:00 Session 4: “Health Effects of Meditative Movement”
8:00 Silent reflection (Ignation Examen, Centering Prayer, Lection Divinia)
8:45 Community Dialogue
9:00 Compline with movement
10:00 beginning of Great Silence
–Holistic Medical Evaluations to be done throughout the day
Sunday
8:00am Morning meditation/prayer/exercise/Yoga (Lauds)
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Session 5: “From Philosophy to Sacred Habit: How to do it” followed by Question and Answer session
10:30 Moving reflection
11:15 Closing Prayers, Gathering
12:00 Lunch
Departure after 1:00pm
This is a sample schedule: Lecture titles and event times subject to change.
Activities: Yoga, Hiking, Games (during Break), Martial Arts (when available)
Rhythm: Monastic- Lauds, Vespers, Compline, Ignation Examen, Lectio Divinia, Great Silence
Wisdom: Ancient and modern scientific teachings plus experience
Personal Care: Lifestyle Evaluations to be done by energetic, yoga, or holistic medical practitioners
What to bring: personal toiletries, warm jacket, rain gear, gloves, hat, hiking attire, yoga clothes, casual, loose fitting clothes
Recommended reading: Meditation and Medicine by Dharma Singh Khalsa, Whereever You Go, There You Are by John Cabot-Zinn, Prayer and Our Bodies by Flora Wuellner, and Praying with Body and Soul by Jane Vennard
Glossary:
Contemplative Practices on the retreat:
Ignatian Examen-Ignatius of Loyola created the Examen in the 16th century as a way of offering the monks of his order a daily practice for reflection upon God’s presence and absence in their lives. This prayer involves asking oneself a series of questions with ample time for silence and listening in between.
Lectio Divina-Known as ‘sacred reading’ this prayer practice involves a four-fold reading and listening to scripture. In the silence between each reading practitioners listen for God’s Word to them out of the words of the sacred text. The prayer ends with a deepening time of contemplation.
Centering Prayer-A contemplative prayer taught by Thomas Keating, centering prayer is a contemplative practice that involves sitting for a designated period of time (usually 20 minutes) in silence. One word, such as peace, love, or hope, is used to center the person when the mind drifts.
Anusara-inspired yoga-Anusara means “to flow with grace” in the ancient Sanskrit language, and it describes a style of open-hearted yoga pioneered by John Friend. Anusara yoga utilizes sound biodynamic and anatomic principles combined with a spiritual focus for a yogic practice that is safe and transformative of mind, body, and spirit.
Lauds-prayer service that greets the daybreak
Vespers-prayer service which honors the shifting of day into night just before sunset
Compline-prayer service which allows time for reflection before committing oneself to the divine care in sle
Most of the practices of Sacred Habit are rooted in ancient Christian tradition. We welcome people of all backgrounds to participate with us in the wisdom of this liturgy.