2009 Winter Retreat
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Winter Tai Chi and Meditation Retreat
Join Senior Universal Tao Instructors, Marie Favorito and Sharon Smith for a Special Weekend Retreat of Taoist Meditation and Chi Kung. Explore the mystery and healing power of chi, build a more intimate relationship with your energy, immerse yourself in the Tao practice and return to your life refreshed and renewed!with Marie Favorito and Sharon Smith   February 13-16, 2009 Angels’ Rest in Leyden, Massachusetts (2 hours west of Boston & 3.5 hrs from New York City See Registration and Payment Options Below Take advantage of this rare opportunity to study with Marie and Sharon who together have over 50 years of experience in the Taoist arts! We guarantee that you will come away with a solid base for your practice of the Tao. *This weekend retreat is also important training for those Healing Tao students interested in becoming Associate or Full Instructors. If your intention is to train for HTIA Certification at any time in the future, this workshop is a MUST as it includes the important Fusion of the 5 Elements Meditation that is a prerequisite for attending instructor training. This weekend will include review of the Microcosmic Orbit and The Inner Smile as well as the first two levels of the Fusion of the 5 Elements Meditation. Our Chi Kung practice will focus on the Six Healing Sounds and Tai Chi Chi Kung - the 13 movement form from Master Mantak Chia's Universal Tao system.  The Inner Smile will calm and strengthen you by bringing the energy and essence of a smile and healing light into your body. This is the first step in harmonizing your emotions, enabling your body to rejuvenate itself with light, relaxation and the power of your mind. Using this focus and mindfulness, you guide the smiling essence through your major organs, the digestive tract, the brain and spine, enlivening and strengthening the central nervous system. The Inner Smile meditation is a great tool to help you handle life's everyday challenges, allowing you to stay centered in the most trying of situations. The Microcosmic Orbit is the meditation practice that focuses on circulating your life force through two of the most important energy channels in your body. These two channels, the Functional (Ren Mai), and the Governor, (Du Mai), connect in a flowing circle going up the spine, over the head, and down the front center of the body. The front and back channel are joined to form a circuit of continuous energy flow -- The Microcosmic Orbit. This process is further enhanced by blending and supplementing your body's own energy with the energies of Nature, the Universal, Cosmic, and Earth Forces which surround us. This not only raises your 'vibration', but greatly increases resistance to stress and illness. The Fusion of the 5 Elements Meditation carries the process further by taking the next step. This is where one begins the process of inner alchemy by transforming negative emotions and organic energy into a neutral force. Crystallized into a "pearl", you circulate this internally, attracting energy from external sources, nourishing your higher spirit. We then further refine the pearl and cultivate our natural virtues and compassion as well as open up two other major energy channels in the body - the thrusting channels and the belt channels.. Learning effective Fusion techniques brings harmony to your emotions, transforming the negative and affirming the positive virtues - the heart of spiritual work. Creating a harmonious internal environment encourages the spirit to grow and thrive. The Six Healing Sounds combines specific sounds with specialized movements. This special form of qigong serves to balance and regulate the temperature of your body by releasing trapped cold or heat, creating perfect 'weather' inside. Based on Chinese medicinal principles, this sitting qigong involves simple arm movements synchronized with the breath and meditation to relieve stress, cool the inner organs, and cultivate tranquility, energizing the body with regular practice. Useful for anyone in any stage of health or healing. Tai Chi Chi Kung - The supreme ultimate in movement meditation, Tai Chi is a graceful series of movements performed in slow motion. Easy on the joints, it is a powerful stress reliever for a busy life. This simple 13 movement Yang style form for beginners incorporates all the Tai Chi principles - relaxation, grounding, energy flow and alignment. Because it is a short form, it is easy to experience the inner structure, relaxation, alignment and energy of the longer Yang style Tai Chi forms. Learn to move freely and naturally without stiffness or tension. The more quiet you become externally, the more energy can move internally. Tai Chi is both an expression of the Tao through movement and a personal practice for understanding and realizing the essence of the Tao. Explore the deep internal work necessary for effective Tai Chi practice. Tai Chi can brings many spiritual benefits as well. Learning the inner structure will improve posture and reveal the principles of absorption of the 3 natural forces, the Cosmic force, Earth force and Universal force.  Your retreat fee of $575.00 includes all teaching, accommodations on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and nine high quality organic meals. Arrival is on Friday between 12noon and 2 PM with our first session beginning at 2:30 PM, (no lunch will be served on Friday although snacks will be available). Departure will be Monday after lunch. Please click here for directions. Payment Options:
Pay By Check Please fill out our registration form by clicking here and enclose it with your check for $575.00 made payable to Marie Favorito and send it to her at: 70 Hemingway Street Winchester, MA 01890
Refunds prior to January 23, 2009 will incur a $100 cancellation fee. After that, refunds will be made only if a replacement can be found. Full payment required by 1/23/09. This policy is firm. Accommodations are elegant dormitory style with 2 to 5 per room (because of space limitations, there are no single rooms). Each guest will enjoy the beautiful facility, high-quality linens and towels, and restful sleep on a Posturpedic mattress. You may want to bring your own towel for the hot tubs and comfortable shoes for exploring the surroundings. The retreat is limited to a small number of participants. QUESTIONS?? Please contact Marie: marie@BostonHealingTao.com 781-570-9694 or Sharon: taosharon@earthlink.net 212-243-6771 |