a retreat to take residence in the divine abodes
dwelling spaces for the heart
Healing the Heart | June 5-8, 2025
-a summer practice series-
Crestone Mountain Zen Center, Colorado
Explore the Heart’s Innate Wisdom
A retreat where the timeless teachings of the Divine Abodes—loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and forgiveness—
are woven into the calming, meditative practice of yin yoga.
This immersion will focus on recovering from interpersonal trauma and loss, grief and sorrow-
and the cultivation of deep joy and radical equanimity.
We’ll immerse into the great heart of the Dharma teachings and the living art of asana in the zendo sanctuary.
Daily meditation and the monastic atmosphere with the Buddhist Monks who reside at this center creates a unique container that enhances our awakening
What to Expect:
Daily Asana: Yin Yoga & Vinyasa Yoga to both soften into stillness and strengthen the heart meridian.
Meditation Instruction: Guided practices to cultivate and embody the divine abodes, and zazen practice with the resident monks.
Community Connection: Heart-centered interpersonal practices & dyads in a supportive environment.
Time in Nature & Hot Springs Nearby: Crestone is home to many hot springs & famous hikes
Delicious, Nourishing Meals: Mindfully prepared food grown & on-site gardens to ground and energize your practice.
Awaken the HeartMind through Yin Yoga & Dharma Methods
REGISTER HERE
PRICE IS PER PERSON: INCLUDES TUITION, 3 MEALS PER DAY & ACCOMMODATIONS
LOCATION & ACCOMODATIONS
Crestone Mountain Zen Center is located on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. Nestled against rugged 14,000-foot peaks and surrounded by 240 acres piñon pine and juniper forest, the beauty and seclusion of our Center is a unique environment for contemplation and inquiry.
Residing in guest houses, cabins, or huts, we will be practicing in the traditional zen mediation halls, private tea houses, and world renowned interfaith Practice Dome.
*Please arrange your own transportation to and from Crestone Mountain Zen Center. We can assist it arranging carpooling for those who are interested.
DINING
The kitchen is the heart of Crestone Mountain Zen Center. Delicious vegetarian meals are home made by the Zen monks known for their fresh garden and creative cooking, prepared three times a day from fresh ingredients, expressing their commitment to care and nourishment.
Our food culture is based in the Zen tradition known as “oryoki,” which refers to the ritual like a Japanese tea ceremony, a gestural enactment of a set of principles that include simplicity, attention to detail, interdependence, generosity, and utmost respect for each person, ingredient, and utensils.
SCHEDULE
Daily Schedule
Please note the schedule may be slightly refined upon arrival.
June 5
3-5pm check in
5pm ARRIVAL | Awakening the HeartMind, Introduction to TCM & the Heart Channel/Fire Meridian & Evening Practice Session: Shunyayta the open sky of the heart
6pm dinner
8:15 Zazen
June 6
mornings in noble silence
8:30 breakfast
10-12pm Session I: METTA | Morning Cacao Ceremony & Vinyasa Flow, Therapeutic Asana for Shoulder Health & Backbend Workshop. Loving-Kindness Practice & Dyads.
12:30pm lunch
3:30-5:30 Session II: KARUNA | Yin Yoga for the Heart & Lung Channels, Central Channel Cultivation & Yoga Nidra
6pm dinner
June 7
mornings in noble silence
8:30am breakfast
10-12pm Session I: MUDDITA | More Cacao & Flow, Interpersonal Relating & Partner Practices
12:30pm lunch
3:30-5:30 Session II: KSHAMA | Forgiveness Practice, Restorative Yoga, Contemplation
6pm dinner
June 8
mornings in noble silence
8:30am breakfast
10-11:30am Closing Session: Integrating HARA: The Belly Based Intelligence
12pm checkout
OPTIONAL: MONASTERY PRACTICE
OPTIONAL: MONASTERY PRACTICE
morning rhythm
4:30 Wake-up Bell
4:45 Han*
5:00 Zazen*
5:40 Kinhin*
evening rhythm
8:00 Han
8:15 Zazen
Han: In Zen monasteries, a wooden board that is struck with a mallet to summon monastics to the zendo or other practice hall, as well as serving as a time-keeping signal during the monastic day.
Zazen: Seated still meditation. Unlike meditation done in some other spiritual traditions, zazen usually does not involve concentrating one’s mind on a subject, nor is the aim to blank out one’s mind completely. Rather, being aware of one’s breath is recommended. Most zen teachers maintain that zazen is essential to practicing zen.
Kinhin: Walking meditation. Although its meditative aspect is of prime importance, kinhin also serves the purpose of exercising the legs after periods of zazen, helping to establish a useful rhythm of stillness and motion. In Soto practice, the pace is quite slow.
KALI DURGA YOGA
see you on the path
Questions? Contact us here or at info@durgaexcursions.com