Hridaya Memorial Day Silent Meditation Retreat

silent retreat

Shift your relationship to life by quieting your mind, rejuvenating your body and opening your heart. The Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat is four days of noble silence, allowing you to drop the everyday acts of doing and sink into just being.  

Is life calling you to slow down?

Are you moving too fast to actually experience your life?

Are you ready for deep transformation but something is holding you back (like not knowing how or being afraid of what will happen?)

Then you’re ready for a meditation retreat – a silent meditation retreat.

Ah! Silent? Like not talking? That’s scary. I can’t imagine being silent for any length of time. I can’t even sit still for a few minutes without finding a distraction.

Right – which is why you feel so wound up. It takes time to slow down and learn how to let go – of your past, of your worries, of what the future might look like if you don’t have it all figured out. Trust me, you’re not alone. You’re one of millions of people Google searching how to let go of their worries and how to be more present and accepting.

A silent retreat is a kickstart to deep transformation, to slowing down and to learning how to enjoy every minute of life.

A silent retreat is for anyone who’s craving time to themselves, an inner transformation, and to experience what meditation can bring to their life. It sets you up for a disciplined personal practice and a road map to letting go.

What’s a silent retreat like?

The Hridaya Silent Meditation Retreat is structured to give you guidance every step of the way. Everyone is invited to practice noble silence throughout the entire retreat, from our opening circle to our closing circle. Retreat leaders will speak during sessions to offer teachings and guidance in the practices but will also be in silence outside of the sessions. You are encouraged to ask written questions about your experience, the teachings or anything you need during our retreat. You’ll always be able to contact a retreat leader for support.

We begin our morning practice at 7am and end the day around 9pm. Fear not! Our meditation sessions start out shorter and build up during the weekend. There is a 3-hour break after lunch for you to explore nearby trails, journal, ,  take a nap or rest. Three nourishing, vegetarian Ayurvedic meals are offered daily by a local chef using seasonal produce that helps you have the best retreat possible, not only in your mind and heart but also in your belly. Purify even more with a sweat in the wood-fired sauna in the evenings.  

A few times a day we practice Hatha Yoga – a gentle but deep meditative physical yoga practice in the style of Hridaya, the Yoga of the Spiritual Heart. Movements and poses are accessible for all bodies and give you even more tools to bring more awareness into your daily life through the body. Hridaya Yoga is distinct from other practices as it engages not only the physical body but the whole being. Postures and practices are performed with a focus on both the physical body and inner experience, turning physical practice into blissful meditation. If flow or vinyasa is your thing, there is also a time before dinner to do your own practice and those things that you know nourish you best.

What should I expect in a silent retreat?

Every silent meditation retreat is different – even if you attend the exact same retreat multiple times. The most important attitude to have in a silent retreat is to let go of expectations. There are moments of challenge and moments of bliss in a meditation retreat, times of discomfort and times of joy. A spirit of openness to what unfolds is essential to welcoming a retreat experience.

Grace and Dianna, your retreat leaders, have a decade of experience leading people through the personal transformation of yoga, meditation and silent retreats. We start with the basics of meditation and concentration techniques and build your understanding and experience throughout the weekend. Practices are accessible for beginning meditators and experienced meditators alike. You’ll learn how to listen to deeper parts of yourself – like that voice that’s been trying to be heard for years – through yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, daily life contemplation, spiritual curiosity, compassion and intentional integration.

You’ll leave with a renewed strength and momentum to develop a daily practice which keeps you more calm, centered and present than you’ve been before.

Our meditation retreat atmosphere is a safe space for you to try out different meditation and concentration practices, have a messy experience, and makes notes of how you want to bring these practices into your life. There’s no expectation that you do anything perfectly or that you can even sit still! We practice together by increasing the length of our meditations day by day and building up our stamina in the practice. Your humanness is welcome – exactly as you are.

You’ll have the space to share your retreat experience on the last day and we highly encourage everyone to witness others’ process and share your experience. This is sometimes the most profound session of the whole weekend after being in silence with fellow seekers for four days.

What do we do in a meditation retreat?

Hridaya Silent Retreats are created to intimately experience what meditation is and to feel the inner transformation it can bring. During our meditation retreat, we offer practices centered on the Spiritual Heart – another name for the essence of our being. Practices come from a variety of traditions, including esoteric Christianity, Sufism, Buddhism, Tantra, Taoism and Yoga. All religious backgrounds, faiths and lifestyles are welcome in the Spiritual Heart! The atmosphere is one of love and strong spiritual support.

 

No previous meditation or yoga experience is necessary as this silent retreat is designed for beginner and advanced meditators alike.

 

Using techniques from these vast, mystical traditions and Hridaya Yoga, we’ll learn how to create the best conditions for meditation including cultivating awareness, mental concentration, meditation techniques based on opening to the Spiritual Heart and how to apply these techniques in daily life. The last day will include practical and concrete integration practices like how to create a home practice and maintain an open heart in the challenging moments of life.

 

Where is the Silent Meditation Retreat?

We are blessed to be hosted by the Yoga Lodge on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The pristine nature sanctuary and retreat center has been hosting deep personal transformation and spiritual growth for decades and you can feel it the moment you arrive. You’ll drop into a quiet space of unwinding and you’ll feel the desire to slow down, breathe more deeply and step into silence. Our home in the woods is surrounded by natural beauty, walking trails, wild deer, and the silence of Whidbey Island. There is little to distract you here.

The Yoga Lodge on Whidbey Island sits on ten acres at the end of a private lane. It offers a place to pause and unplug from the stimulation of day-to-day life and access a quiet, connected presence. The lodge and its grounds are a nature sanctuary available for reflection, writing, marking a major life event, healing, connecting with nature and learning sacred practices such as meditation, yoga and Ayurveda. Your home at the Whidbey Yoga Lodge is simple and understated to support sadhana or practice, to inspire clarity, vision and understanding of the interconnectedness of all life.

What does it mean to be silent?

Silence starts with not talking…but it’s so much more.

We start with the intention to not talk or communicate once we set our container and begin the retreat. You are welcome to write notes to retreat leaders when you have questions or need assistance. Otherwise, we ask there to be no communication between guests, including not looking at other people’s faces, not making eye contact and not touching others. This may seem strict, but it opens the gateway to really focus internally, the whole point of a silent retreat. Once you get into the rhythm, you’ll be grateful for the space away from pleasing people or worrying about how they’ll react to you.

We ask all guests to maintain this noble silence throughout the retreat, which includes: no books, no electronics, no music, no phones or devices or other distractions. Again, this might feel extreme. The point is to not let yourself go to any distraction from what you’re really experiencing in the present moment. If taking a few days away from social media scares you, then you’re very ready for this journey.

We do encourage journaling to assist in the processing of your experience.

If you’ve never experienced the intimacy of silence – especially in today’s fast-paced, notification pinging, constant news driven, social media addicted, instant gratification world – you’ll never forget the spaciousness it brings. You’ll leave with more inner and outer love, tools to calm and center yourself, an understanding of what it means to let go, practices for deeper connection with other people, and the ability to be more present, conscious and to let go.  

We hope you’ll join us for this special weekend dedicated to YOU.

What have people experienced in silent retreats?

We’ll let our guests tell you in their own words what they’ve experienced in a silent meditation retreat.

This was truly one of the most memorable weekends. It left me feeling awake and focused. I am inspired to now have an unplugged time every day.” – Mona, South Korea

Grace creates an accessible, welcoming and safe environment that is both heart-warming and inspiring. Her energy and passion for what she does is infectious, so much so that a room full of strangers at the beginning of a weekend can feel like family by the end. You will be energized, challenged, comforted and much, much more. I cannot recommend this retreat enough.” – Ben, South Korea

This retreat has helped me reframe my expectations of myself and my expectations of others. I have been very judgmental of myself and I feel I have learned to let some of that go.” – Matt, Whidbey Island

After this retreat, I am committed to fear less, love more and to refresh my daily practice.” – Terri, Whidbey Island

I really benefitted from the meditation times that extended a little every day. I’ve been trying meditation on my own and using phone apps, but I’ve never tried more than 10-20 minutes. It showed me I can find a gap in the my thoughts without frustration and I can train my puppy mind. I also feel more connected to what love actually is after this retreat and how to focus on giving love in my life. I know now that if I give love from a selfless, compassionate place, I will also receive love.” – Tracie, Whidbey Island

During this retreat, I realized how distracted I am by my phone and laptop. I have loved being away from both and plan to have a few times daily when I look at them instead of just responding to every notification and sound.” – Jodi, Whidbey Island

This retreat helped me to reframe how I live every day! I’ve been wanting to return to the heart, but I’ve lost my way with the big changes and challenges of 2017. I want my heart to lead instead of the reactivity I have indulged in. The practices we did this weekend help me to connect the spiritual and physical and I’m inspired to keep practicing being in the Spiritual Heart.” Chrysalis, Whidbey Island

This weekend I really got the idea of responding instead of reacting to stress. I’m excited to apply the principles we’ve been using during meditation to my everyday life.” – Janet, Whidbey Island

Ready to know more or register?

If you have more questions, please contact us and ask! We’re happy to chat about your upcoming retreat experience and how you can feel the most comfortable and confident walking into a silent meditation retreat. It’s totally normal to be nervous, fearful or confused about a silent retreat and we’re happy to answer your questions and put your mind at ease.

Need financial assistance or a partial scholarship? Please contact us to talk about options.

 

October Silent Meditation Retreat

meditation retreat

Silent Retreats are a journey intimately understand what meditation is and to feel the amazing inner transformation that it brings. During this three day retreat, we introduce the depth of the Spiritual Heart, that place in you that you’ve been longing to return to since your journey in this human form began. If you’ve ever felt a tugging sensation of “more” or “deeper”, this is the pointer you’ve been craving. Our practices come from a variety of traditions, including esoteric Christianity, Sufism, Buddhism, Taoism, Tantra and Yoga. All religious backgrounds and faiths are very welcome in the Spiritual Heart! The atmosphere will be one of love and strong spiritual support. No previous meditation or yoga experience is necessary as this retreat is designed for beginner and advanced meditators alike.

Using techniques from these vast, mystical traditions and Hridaya Yoga, we’ll learn how to create the best conditions for meditation including cultivating awareness, mental concentration, meditation techniques based on opening to the Heart and how to apply these techniques in daily life. The last day will include practical and concrete integration steps like how to create a home practice and maintain an open heart off the mat. Hridaya Yoga is distinct from other practices as it engages not only the physical body but the entire being. Postures are performed with awareness, turning physical practice into blissful meditation.

This retreat will be held at a beautiful lake front property in Gig Harbor. Guests can enjoy walking meditation on the beach and the quiet atmosphere of nature. We ask all guests to maintain this silence throughout the retreat, including no electronics, music, phones, books or other distractions. If you’ve yet to experience this intimacy of silence, you will never forget what a gateway it is toward living the life you really want and connecting with the peace that constantly surrounds us. The deep intention of this journey is to bring more love, presence and trust into your daily life. I hope you’ll join us for this special weekend dedicated to Hridaya, the Spiritual Heart.

When – Sunday, Oct 21 at 9am to Tuesday, Oct 23 at 3pm. You’re welcome to arrive Saturday night and have a little more time to settle in and slow down in our retreat house.

Where – Gig Harbor, WA. Directions will be provided after registration.

Cost – Sliding Scale $399-499 (as able) includes accommodations, vegetarian food and the full retreat program. Payments can be sent via PayPal to [email protected] or via Venmo @KarissaGrace-Bryant. Payment Plans are welcome. Please contact Grace to arrange other details.

Questions? Contact Grace or check out the FAQ’s of Silent Retreats.

Your Host – Grace has been a whole life educator for the past 13 years, integrating drama, music, movement, meditation and yoga, mindful living, creative play, teamwork, conscious collaboration and leadership. Her Yogic path began in 2005 when her sister dragged her to a Yoga class in Federal Way. She fell in love with savasana and came back just for relaxation.

In 2007, she was inspired to start teaching informally and since then has studied and taught in 6 countries and devoted her entire life to the journey of awakening. Grace recently completed the Hridaya Teacher Training in Mexico and is beyond grateful to have received the teachings of Advaita Tantra and the Spiritual Heart. She believes these teachings can transform the consciousness of anyone who practices them sincerely. Through Yoga, she has found a deep sense of peace and trust, and hopes toshare this in her teachings. More information can be found at her website, www.bewholebehappy.com.

Silence Meets Soma

two women smiling and dancing

Join Jamie and Grace in a 4-day silent retreat in nature to draw into your Self and your Source. This retreat will lead you to quiet your entire system in order to re-awaken your senses. Together we will unravel traumas and contractions as we engage our bodies in practices of drawing in, cleansing and
moving through.

This weekend, let go of what keeps you from your dream; Let go – into the abyss of your Self.

Group sessions include daily guided breath-work and meditation, tools to release stored traumas and contractions, movement, sound and ceremony. You will leave with a blueprint for integrating your daily practice – the foundation for healing. Come prepared to cleanse every dimension, seen and unseen, as we engage all systems in a conscious slowing down and reawaken our intuition to inwardly listen and heal.

Our food will reflect this intention to slow down and dissect our distractions. We will spend a day in digestive silence through fasting and cleansing practices. All other meals will be light, fresh, organic, vegetarian, gluten, dairy and allergen-free. And, of course, made with Love.

Held at the beautiful Sahale Retreat Center on the Washington Peninsula outside Belfair, participants will have ample time to explore the earth and water, take a hot or cold soak, and breathe and dance in the pristine natural surroundings of the rainforest. This is the perfect setting for you to remember your connection to the natural healing rhythms that live within and around you at all times.

The retreat will be held in a sacred container of silence with opening and closing rituals. We ask all attendees to arrive and depart as one group (times below) to honor this container. You will be fully supported as we guide you to re-discover your inner healer in this uniquely created weekend of deep connection.

You are so much more than what you experience, see and know.

Your magnificent body holds all of the wisdom to heal and awaken, to remember the spirit of your soul and let go…