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Ben Hildebrand Shares Experiences From 14, 56 and 7 Day Darkness Retreats A long darkness retreat — typically thirty days or more in total isolation from light — produces changes in consciousness that shorter retreats cannot. Ben Hildebrand spent 56 days in total darkness at Hridaya Family, our darkness retreat facility in Chiapas, Mexico. What follows is what he found, and what actually shifts at each stage. When the door opened after 56 days, our retreat host came to speak

I was invited to start teaching meditation and yoga retreats when I was 23. I had been practising for several years, I knew the postures, some philosophy, I could cue a class competently. I didn't feel competent, but I did feel well armed with my teachers words and was ready to regurgitate them on command. I loved the philosophy and exploring the presentation of the teachings that underpin any serious yoga practice. Quickly it became clear that yoga as a stretching routine wa

This post is dedicated to the memory of Alix Angelelli—a beloved friend and a truly beautiful soul.

A couple of months back, I wrote about an opportunity we received to share a retreat in a prison in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. We were super excited about this amazing opportunity to share what we have to offer with people who really need it, but it didn’t work out. But! The woman who organized it kept in touch, and last Thursday, Sasha and Kirill went to a women’s prison in Mexico City to lead a retreat there! (I had to stay home because of a very non-committal Karma Yoga t

A potent dream that catalyzed a process of transformation that eventually lead to this project.

Some insights on practice and progress from half a lifetime of practice and 10 years of teaching

“Love is not for the faint of heart.”― Terrence Real An aspect of commitment that I find both challenging and inspiring is taking full...