Santa Cruz Mountains, April 21 - 23rd, 2023
2023/04/21 16:00:00
Join us for a transformational and invigorating retreat experience centering connection with the heart.
Rest and reconnect with your heart, nature, and beloved community for two nights and three days in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. On unceded Ohlone & Awaswas land, Mount Madonna Retreat Center is a refuge for rest, transformation, and building community. Mount Madonna is a community-managed space known as a school for Ayurveda and Yoga with temple grounds, a retreat center, and community dining residing on 380 acres of redwoods and grasslands. It welcomes persons of all faiths.
All human beings are born with a purpose and with their own unique medicine. Our unique medicine activates us on our path of life and wants to be expressed. The medicine of the heart is a very important aspect of each human that yearns to be awakened and activated.In these times when life is moving fast, I ask the question, “How is your heart?” The heart has its own unique intelligence in the body. Many ancient traditions have taught us that the heart can be a compass for our emotional health and for where we are being guided to next on our life journey. This weekend retreat is open to all humans who want to connect with their heart and be able to hear the wisdom and guidance of their heart through Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, Movement, Sound Healing and self-inquiry.This weekend will be rooted in movement to support participants in connecting with their bodies and hearts and practice listening and feeling what they hear and sense. Through slowing down, connecting with the land, dance, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, and sound healing, we will set the atmosphere for the medicine of our hearts to be activated and expressed. As we activate our hearts, we may find grief, joy, fear and sorrow, and many other treasures. This weekend will be a practice time to trust all that we encounter on this journey and to bring it out to the world.Arrival: Friday, April 21st 4 pmDeparture: Sunday, April 23rd 2 pmThis retreat is open to all levels of experience including beginners! Must be 16+ years of age (under 18 accompanied by an adult) People of all religions, ethnicities, races, abilities, genders, immigration statuses, sizes, and sexual orientation are welcome.
Shirley Johnson, LMFT
Healer, Licensed Therapist, Ritualist, Yoga Instructor
Radical authenticity and self-acceptance as a philosophy, life ideology, and a healing practice — this is what licensed psychotherapist and healing practitioner Shirley Johnson lives by. Based in Oakland, CA by way of The Bronx, NY, Shirley has alchemized over fifteen years experience of exploration of self and specialized training in energy work, movement, psychology and yoga into a passionate profession: restoring intimacy and vulnerability in the collective consciousness through community building and ancient healing arts. Shirley holds a BA in Modern Culture and Media & Ethnic Studies from Brown University and completed her graduate studies in clinical psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies.
Mornings
Each morning will include the practice of Sadhana with Yoga & Meditation.
Afternoons
Afternoons will include free time and organized excursions such as hiking.
Evenings
Evenings will include sound healing, community conversations, dance, and gentle movement.