A typical day: (All activities listed are included in program price)

Morning:

Each day begins with yoga, followed by an optional silent breakfast. You can participate in yoga or choose instead to walk or jog through the woods. If you choose not to participate in the silent breakfast, you can eat in the lovely courtyard area. The early morning is a time for quiet self-reflection and gratitude.

For those interested in self-development writing, we will spend at least an hour following breakfast focusing on life goals and self-assessment writing exercises. During this time you will plan a best-case scenario for the day’s scope of activities, including the territory you will be exploring in further writing, reading and discussion with the coordinators and your peers.

Afternoon:

There will be a delicious lunch, followed by some free time to explore or work on your creative project. Instruction will be given for painting and creative writing, and participants are free to participate in either class. An hour or so before dinner a yoga class will be offered to tone and sculpt your body. There will be time afterward to shower (if you need it) and get dressed for dinner.

Evening:

Dinner will be glorious. Both before and after dinner your coordinators will meet with you one-on-one to discuss and help you with your personal project as well as to discuss strategies and techniques for achieving your goals. After dinner there will be time to read, reflect, relax and enjoy.

Discussion and Personal Instruction: Stephen will guide you through any problems you encounter regarding your personal creative project. He has given successful presentations on breaking through writers block and has consistently helped his students meet their goal of achieving productive and effective writing daily. Stephen is a master of creative writing and breaking through to the “juice” of life. You’ll be in good hands.

Activity Descriptions:

Creative Writing and Goal Setting: Stephen has a remarkable ability to listen and care about each person he meets. He will keep you grounded in the present and looking ahead. He will encourage clear thinking and deep feeling and instill the value of daily mindful practice and warm your heart by truly listening to what you have to say. His expert writing advice is all you need to begin your journey into the world of writing. If you are an experience professional, be prepared to receive advice and critiques that you have never before considered from an artistic mind adept in the fields of writing and art making. His greatest desire is to convince you to do what’s in your best interest and live the life of your dreams, no matter what.

If you are working on a painting or drawing project, Jade is a much-celebrated painter and has the joyful expertise you need to help you through any struggles you may have. Anyone who has worked with Jade in the past can attest to her brilliance and energy; she has an intrinsic knack at identifying the most invigorating parts of a work of art to get you re-centered on that part. Her years of artistic practice have taken her to both representational and abstract work of various media. You’ll quickly come to trust Jade’s ability to “see” where you need to go in your artwork.

Yoga: Each yoga class is taught by Jade who is trained in Pranakriya Tantra Hatha Yoga and a variety of fitness yoga traditions. They will combine pranayama (breath work) and ancient yoga traditions with modern alignment and fitness expertise. The class will accommodate your needs, whether you are brand new to yoga or already skilled. Jade focuses on her participants and gives each of them support and attention. The classes will lengthen and strengthen your muscles, increase your body awareness and tranquility, calm your mind and raise your energy. You will be smiling and expanded at the beginning of each day.