Vajra Yoga & The Subtle Body: How subtle body awareness can enhance your yoga practice and daily life

Join us for a very special Vajra Yoga Summer Retreat at Menla Mountain July 18-22, 2022.  

In conjunction with the July 22-24th exploration of the Vajra Rosary Tantra, we will gather to practice yoga and study teachings from the Buddha such as the Panchen Lama’s Guru Yoga, known as Lama Choepa, the unexcelled yoga tantric traditions Esoteric Community, the Death-Exterminator-Yamantaka, and the Superbliss Machine-Kalachakra, which all have strong connections with the Vajra Rosary Tantra. 

Maintaining a daily practice thread focused on rejuvenation and longevity coming from the Yogas associated with Sīta Tārā, we will explore essential perspectives drawn from these sources, so that we can incorporate in daily life a sense of how to enhance regular health and livelihood and interpersonal relationships by deepening and broadening awareness of the subtle inner processes of the central nervous system.

For those who like to be super-prepared, we recommend studying the following primary textual resources:

• Komodo Kittay’s translation of The Vajra Rosary Tantra (Wisdom/AIBS PUbs)
• The Lama Choepa from Bob Thurman’s Essential Tibetan Buddhism
• John Campbell and Bob Thurman’s translation of The Esoteric Community Tantra (also Wisdom/AIBS)
• Elizabeth Callahan’s translation of The Third Karmapa’s Profound Inner Principles. 

*For us yogis with less time or textual orientation,  we will provide on site, The Sita Tārā Sadhana, along with brief excerpts read in classes from the texts.

David Kittay and Robert Thurman will provide expert instruction in the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of Buddhist Yoga, while yogini Michele Loew will offer practical instruction and daily yoga and meditations.  This course is designed for those wanting a comprehensive introduction to the subject matter, though the course is useful for people at all levels and familiarity with Buddhism and Yoga. 

Although this course ideally could be combined with the Vajra Rosary course following it on the weekend of July 22-24, the courses may be taken separately.

Click Register Now above if you wish to register to attend in person at Menla. If you are unable to attend in person and wish to attend online-only, CLICK HERE to register for our online option.

Schedule

Monday, July 18th

• 3 – 6 pm Arrival & Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 pm Opening Discussion

Tuesday, July 19th – Thursday, July 21st

• 7 – 8:45 am Vajra Yoga Practice
• 9 – 10 am Breakfast
• 10:15 am – 12:15 pm Morning Teaching
• 12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch
• 1:30 – 4 pm Free Time for Spa Appointments, Relaxation, or Self-Study
• 4 – 6 pm Teaching
• 6 – 7 pm Dinner
• 7:30 pm Discussion

Friday, July 22nd

• 7 – 11 am Check-out of Rooms
• 7 – 8:45 am Vajra Yoga Practice
• 9 – 10 am Breakfast
• 10:30 – 12:30 pm Closing Discussion
• 12:30-1:30pm Lunch & Departure for guests not joining weekend event
• Guest check-in for weekend program

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