April Leffler holds an MA in clinical psychology and has a private practice in Media, PA that focuses on alternative therapies. She is an accredited instructor of T’ai Chi Chih. April believes strongly in the power of the human spirit and offers workshops and presentations on stress reduction techniques, mindfulness, and the mind-body-spirit connection. For more on April, check out her website: www.Seek-Peace.com.
Details of this retreat
“When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself to the world." Eckhart Tolle
Come and learn techniques for keeping yourself grounded and balanced. Learn how to catch yourself before you begin stressing out or soon after you begin feeling stressed and apply those tools to help you return to a state of inner balance.
You are invited to participate in T’ai Chi Chih and experience for yourself the soft, gentle moves of this very "user friendly" and easy to learn moving meditation. We will combine the moves of T’ai Chi Chih with a variety of experiential activities to enhance inner stillness and cultivate heightened awareness, being mindful of the present moment … moment to moment to moment.
Schedule
There will be morning and afternoon sessions of T'ai Chi Chih with lunch in the dining room at 11:30 A.M.
*exit at the Market Street Exit, Route 452 North toward Aston. At the 5th light (5-Point intersection) make a left onto Concord Road. At the next traffic light, turn right onto Convent Road. The convent is ahead on your right. (It is a large building with a large red dome.)
From North or South on Route 1,
** turn onto 452 South. Follow 452 South to Glendale Boulevard (at Barnaby’s Restaurant). Turn right and at the stop sign, cross Legion Road. Continue through the next stop sign when Legion Road becomes S. Convent Road. The convent is ahead on the left.
Coming East on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, exit at Downingtown (exit 23). Turn left at the end of the ramp and follow signs to 202 South (Route 100 merges into 202 South). Follow 202 South to Route 1 North. Take Route 1 North **
Coming West on the Pennsylvania Turnpike exit at Mid-County (exit 25A). Follow 476 South to the Lima/Springfield exit (Route 1 South). Take Route 1 South.**
Coming from the New Jersey Turnpike or I-295 – take exit 2 from the Turnpike or take the Commonodore Barry Bridge Exit if on 295, follow 322 West and cross the Commodore Barry Bridge Continue on 322 West to 452 North. Continue with directions * above
Accommodation
(includes lunch)
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
What's Included
T'ai Chi Chih for anyone, from the beginner to the experienced practitioner.
Lunch
Coffee, tea, water and fruit
What's Not Included
Lodging; if you want to make this into a personal retreat, please reserve a hermitage at https://retreat.guru/events/7392-8/hermitages-of-the-franciscan-spiritual-center
Customer Reviews
5.00 out of 5.0 average rating
5.0
Verified
Review of My Retreat at the Franciscan Spirituality Hermitages in Aston, PA
I had a lovely week in the stillness of the forest which surrounded my beautiful hermitage. The space was very clean, adequately appointed with whatever appliances or accommodation you might need for a time of solitary prayer. The Chester Creek Trail is five minutes away by car if you like to walk. Daily Mass is available at the Assisi House. I would highly recommend this spot for a spiritual get away.
5.0
Verified
restful retreat
As part of my discernment to the diaconate, my COM (commission of ministry) encouraged me to follow a silent retreat. I chose the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, PA and stayed in the Hermitages. The unit was clean and efficient, having all the needed necessities for a weekend stay. Big windows, a comfortable bed, workable kitchenette, and an outside porch space made for a delight to recess for the weekend. I plan on visiting them again during a different season for a new experience. My stay was late July/early August. I would like to stay sometime during the winter.
5.0
Verified
No Words Suffice
No words are enough to express my gratitude for the Hermitages and for my fifteen-day retreat just concluded. Having enjoyed a five-day stay a year ago, this longer submersion into silence and solitude provided everything for which my soul and spirit hungered. I hope to carry that refreshment into daily life and to build slowly and carefully a version of the inner solidity I experienced for those fifteen days. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
5.0
Verified
Hermitage D
Excellent experience! I try very hard to take time daily for prayer and conversation with God, but in my line of work , it is sometimes difficult to concentrate. This long weekend was absolutely the very thing I needed to just " be". I was able to be with the Lord in my silence and when walking around the beautiful grounds. The cabin was very clean and had everything you need. Just a beautiful place to encounter God and fill your "love" cup. I definitely will return!!
5.0
Verified
Beautiful Retreat
I stayed two nights in Hermitage D, and it made for a perfect retreat. Clean, comfortable, simple -- and yet with everything you need. I especially loved the individual porch that faces the woods. I also liked the option to join the sisters for mass and for meals. They were super sweet, and the food was very good. This was just the retreat that my spirit needed.