Last weekend a room full of pregnant women, plus Cassi and I, got together at the Noetic Sciences Retreat Center in Petaluma to cultivate tools for the practice of being in present time. It is always beneficial for my personal practice to co-lead this workshop. It gives me a chance to share with others (and myself!!) the concept that at any time we can practice being aware – and the more we practice that awareness, the more we are actually here!! It’s the ‘ol “simple but not easy” program – the opportunity to come into the present is always with me, so when I find myself in auto-pilot, I know that I can take a breath, come to my (physical) senses and relieve myself of the task of spacing out and come back to what is happening right now.

It’s wonderful being in a room with pregnant women, there is so much happening with their physical bodies and ‘lots of changes in their personal lives, what a ripe time to begin the path (or deepen the already established practice) of mindfulness meditation.

Leading hatha yoga for pregnant gals is rewarding – after the second session two moms replied that their hips felt much better having done even a small amount of yoga. It is great to be able to share something, knowing it can give balance and freedom to a body in massive change.

Cassi and I look forward to another opportunity to share our Mindful Motherhood retreat for a one day abbreviated session November 1st at the SF Zen Center…….I hope to see you there.

1 – No cell reception
2- No WiFi
3- No television/cable
4- Yes quiet
5- Yes nature
6- Yes delicious healing waters
7- Yes free yoga on the deck above the baths from May to end of October

There’s not a lot to do and isn’t that the point? Being at Wilbur gives you a chance to practice “non-doing” – and you can do that the whole weekend. I don’t know how many times I’ve taken a bag of books and a bunch of things to keep me busy and not touched them the entire weekend. It’s good for you to do nothing, it’s completely underrated.
Give it a try.

In addition to our already existing retreats, we are thrilled to hand carve just the right program for you and your organization. We take great pleasure in working with you to create custom workshops that can be used for team building, personal growth or wellness awareness. Starting with the foundation of good health, we work with you to design a positive experience tailored to your needs that can be delivered on or off-site. We offer a variety of retreats that you may participate in individually or as team building experience.

Topic items can include:

• Healthy habits around consciousness building
• Hatha yoga & breath awareness
• Mindfulness meditation
• Writing exercises
• Movement exercises

When: Friday, May 28 – Sunday May 30, 2010
Where: Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

Your house is on fire. Your boat is sinking. What do you want take with you? What are you happy to watch sink or go up in flames? Gain a deeper understanding of your life in transition and find out what’s standing in the way of your being your most authentic self. This workshop combines hatha yoga, purposeful writing, deep relaxation and guided meditation for dealing with change and discomfort.

Embrace the dark so you can move into the light. Through creative writing exercises, restorative and rigorous hatha yoga, relaxation and meditation you can wake up into present time. In this clear space you discover your power of choice and can choose what you desire rather than what you think you’re supposed to do or what others want from you. Ah, freedom.

In this weekend workshop we will interweave nature, ritual and a healthy dose of humor into the new fabric of who you are. Iyengar-influenced hatha yoga is appropriate for all levels.

Taught by author and educator Suze Allen and Jnana M. Gowan, Certified Yoga Instructor author and educator.

When: Saturday, October 10 – Sunday, October 11, 2009
Where: Wilbur Hot Springs

No cell reception, no WI-FI… just you, the land and the hot springs. Jnana gratefully brings her Iyengar-influenced yoga instruction to Wilbur Hot Springs. Your weekend stay at the hotel includes three 1.5 hour yoga sessions which are designed with the immediate class and elements of Wilbur in mind.

Wilbur Hot Springs hotel resides on the grounds of an ancient healing site for Native Americans. In the late 1800’s a hotel was built and it was a stagecoach stop for those traveling West or making their destination to the hotel. The water at Wilbur is powerful, most folks, once submerged into the springs are able to release the tension of the modern day world and get a little closer to a quieter place inside. Treat yourself to a delicious retreat and join us for yoga on the deck above the tubs.

When: Saturday September 12 – Sunday September 13, 2009
Where: Wilbur Hot Springs

No cell reception, no WI-FI… just you, the land and the hot springs. Jnana gratefully brings her Iyengar-influenced yoga instruction to Wilbur Hot Springs. Your weekend stay at the hotel includes three 1.5 hour yoga sessions which are designed with the immediate class and elements of Wilbur in mind.

Wilbur Hot Springs hotel resides on the grounds of an ancient healing site for Native Americans. In the late 1800’s a hotel was built and it was a stagecoach stop for those traveling West or making their destination to the hotel. The water at Wilbur is powerful, most folks, once submerged into the springs are able to release the tension of the modern day world and get a little closer to a quieter place inside. Treat yourself to a delicious retreat and join us for yoga on the deck above the tubs.

When: Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 28, 2009
Where: Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

During this retreat you’ll delve into the basic principles of mindfulness meditation. Using hatha yoga as a way of connecting more deeply to the body and breath, you will become more aware of yourself in present time. Whether you are pregnant and just beginning on the road to parenthood or are the mother of a teenager, this retreat embodies the spirit of NOW… and a few ways to get (t)here! We spend time in sitting & in walking meditation and practice yoga as a way of being mindful in action. This workshop covers concepts of mindful parenting and introduces tools featured in the book Mindful Motherhood, (New Harbinger Publications 2009) written by Dr. Cassandra Vieten. Jnana designed and authored the hatha yoga series chapter for the book.

This retreat lead by authors & educators Dr. Cassandra (Cassi) Vieten and Jnana Gowan, Certified Yoga Instructor

For a briefer stay, but just as gratifying an experience, come to Noetic Sciences Retreat Center located in the countryside of Petaluma, in northern California. Celebrate your pregnancy and Indian Summer at the gorgeous retreat center located on 200 acres of beautiful rolling hills. For more information contact Jnana directly or go to: noetic.org to register.

For more information about the book Mindful Motherhood, go to mindfulmotherhood.org