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Introduction to Vajrayoga: Summer Immersion

Name: Introduction to Vajrayoga: Summer Immersion
Start: 2024-07-26
End: 2024-07-29
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.5

4.502 reviews

July 26 - 29, 2024

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Robert

Michele

Robert A.F. Thurman

Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as co-founder and President of Tibet House US and it's Menla Retreat & Spa. A world-wide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, translator of Buddhist texts, and writer of popular Buddhist books. He recently has been awarded the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honor for achievement in enriching Indian education and literature. His most recent book is the 300 page graphic novel, Man of Peace: the Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Suggested Books & Audio by Robert A.F. Thurman: Man of Peace: Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama (Book), Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within (Book), Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins (Book), Inner Revolution (Book), Circling the Sacred Mountain : A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas (Book), Essential Tibetan Buddhism (Book), The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between (Book) The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism (Book), The Central Philosophy of Tibet (Book), The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture (Book), Life & Teachings of Tsong Khapa (Book), Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World (Book) & Liberation Upon Hearing in the Between: Living with the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Audio). To Learn More About Robert A.F. Thurman please visit: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Michele Loew is an international yoga teacher and the founder and director of The Yoga Space in Portland, Oregon. She is known as a teacher’s teacher and is respected for her 200 Hr. & 500 Hr. Yoga Schools and her ability to combine Western knowledge of the body (anatomy & physiology and modern kinesiology techniques) with the Eastern tradition of yoga. She has practiced and taught Hatha & Vinyasa yoga since 1998, having studied extensively in the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions as well as the Sri Vidya lineage & since 2014, the Kalachakra Yogas. She is known for her keen observation skills and her ability to guide students toward aligning the physical and energetic body through the use of expert hands-on assists and intelligent verbal cues. She brings to her teaching a warm and engaging style that reflects her own internal understanding of the practice. Michele is an avid student of Eastern & Western Philosophy and continues to study with her principal yoga teacher Richard Freeman with whom she has practiced with since 2000. She has been Richard’s assistant in his teacher trainings and workshops and has a close understanding of his brilliant middle path teaching. She practices Tibetan Buddhist yogas and has received initiation from a number of Tibetan teachers, including several Kalachakra initiations with HH The Dalai Lama. She practices Vajrayana as guided by her beloved teacher in Buddhist inner science, Dr. Robert Thurman. Michele teaches regular classes and trainings in Portland, as well as retreats and workshops internationally. For more information on Michele please also visit www.theyogaspace.com and follow her on instagram @micheleloew Please feel free to email Michele with any questions or to let her know about former injuries or modifications you might be working with in your practice. michele@theyogaspace.com

Details of this retreat

Join us for a weekend of yoga and inspiring meditations and dharma talks with Bob and Michele as we dive into the practices of Vajrayoga. Vajrayoga is Tibet House US’s school of yoga and Indian inner science, teaching the physical and meditative practices common to both Hatha and Buddhist traditions and designed to open your body to ultimate health, vitality, and inner freedom. Vajrayoga sets yogic practices within the context of deep spirituality, the principles of enlightenment, and it deepens an understanding of the scientific basis of being ethical, to be evolutionary skillful, compassionate, wise, and joyous.

In this retreat Michele will explore various practices from Hatha and Tibetan Yoga as a way to open your physical and subtle-body nervous systems in the context of our Vajrayoga school. All levels are welcome, and poses can all be modified to accommodate students with injuries or physical limitations. Bob will teach comparative Buddhist and classical Indian inner science, exploring Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga scriptures, and the sutras and tantras of the Buddha.

Each morning we will enjoy meditation, pranayama, and Tibetan healing yoga, and then a dharma talk with Robert Thurman after breakfast. The afternoons will be alignment-based Hatha Yoga. We will end each day with sleep meditation/yoga nidra for deep rest and healing. This will be a great opportunity to meet Bob and Michele prior to the start of their Fall Yoga School.

This September we are offering a basic level 200hr Yoga Alliance certification course from September 9 - November 11, 2024.

Beginning November 11, 2024 we will start our comprehensive 300hr Yoga Alliance certification course (online/in-person). Students can take both the 200hr & 300hr for a combined 500hrs registered Yoga Alliance certification.

The 300hr course is perfect for those looking to go even deeper into the Buddha’s comprehensive inner science education, study of the Lamrim (stages of the path to enlightenment), meditation, yoga asana, and the comparative non-dual philosophies of India.

If you are looking for a Yoga Teacher Training course that brings in yoga and the meditative sciences from Buddhism and Classical Indian Yoga, this is the perfect course to take. The journey is deeply educational and spiritually transformational, while giving you the practical skills to support other students on their paths.

All levels of experience are welcome!

Schedule

Friday, July 26

3 - 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 Welcome Program

Saturday, July 27

7 - 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 pm Free time for Dewa Spa Healing Treatments or Time in Nature
4 - 6 pm Yoga Asana Practice w/ Michele
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Yoga Nidra w/ Michele

Sunday, July 28

7 - 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 4 pm Free time for Dewa Spa Healing Treatments or Time in Nature
4 - 6 pm Yoga Asana Practice w/ Michele
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm Yoga Nidra w/ Michele

Monday, July 29

7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
7 - 8 am Meditation and Tibetan Yoga w/ Michele
8 - 9 am Breakfast
10 am - 12 pm Philosophy & Dharma Talk w/ Bob
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.

Getting Here

Menla

Accommodation

Deluxe King

Deluxe King Room with King Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This Space is not ADA compliant. Deluxe King Rooms are Available only in Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Deluxe Queen

Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Standard Single - Shared Bath

Menla Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Shared Bathroom Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available This lodging type is not ADA Compliant Private Queen Rooms with Shared Bathroom are Available in Thimpu House, Panther Cottage and Potala House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Standard Double Full - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Beds and Shared Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning This lodging type is not ADA Compliant. Please note that due to the stairs we recommend that guests with mobility issues book other accommodations. Deluxe Double Rooms with Shared Bathrooms are Located in Thimphu * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One.

Standard Double Twin - Shared bath (Shared Room)

Economy Queen

Private Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Public Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Private Queen Rooms are Available in Gangtok Cottage * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor. A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note rates include meals and accommodations.

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor. High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others

Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others.

Camping

Camping Campers Have Access to Bathrooms with Showers in Lower Level of Conference Center. Menla Has Six Wooden Camping Platforms by the Pantherkill Stream (First Come First Serve). If All Platforms are Full or You Prefer Not to Use One, There is Also Camping Space in a Small Field by the Stream. Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. Phone and High Speed Wi-Fi Available in Upstairs of the Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations

Commuter

Commuters Menla Encourages Members of the Community to Participate in Our Wonderful Programs! Includes Meals, Public Phone, Public Computer, and Wi-Fi Internet Available in Lhasa Inn. Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals.

Customer Reviews

4.50 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Oct 03, 2023

4.0

Verified

Weekend retreat stay

The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.

Marie • Apr 18, 2022

5.0

Verified

Lovely

I had a fascinating and enlightening experience during an “Energy squared Reiki,” class at Menlo this past week. The grounds, rooms, facilities amenities and spa at Menla were all beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The food was delicious and nourishing. I can say only good things about both Menla and the program I attended, and would wholeheartedly recommend both.