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Parallax
USA
347 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 30 2013 : 8:43:52 PM
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Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to report back from the AYP retreat held at Kripalu over this past weekend. Once again, the whole experience was fantastic! Maha (Shanti) did an amazing job leading the retreat sessions, Doug (Kirtanman) was fabulous leading the kirtans on both Friday and Saturday night, and Rohini was masterful in guiding us through the asana routines. There was a great mix of experienced AYP practitioners as well as some who got their first taste of AYP at the retreat.
The schedule was pretty full with practices, with a Friday evening session, 3 practice sets on Saturday, one on Sunday and 2 evening kirtans. So the effects of the retreat were pretty powerful. But the long walks outside helped to ground the energy and keep things in balance.
For me each retreat experience has been very different, and this time was no exception. I went into the retreat with the bhakti and energy already running pretty high, but interestingly even with the all the practices, this was probably the most grounded I've felt after any retreat I've done. I had to go right back into the work grind first thing this morning which was a bit of a shock to the system, but even so, the transition has been fairly smooth so far.
Thank you to Maha, Doug and Ro for leading the journey and to everyone who shared their Presence on the retreat 
Love to you all!!  
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 08:40:19 AM
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Thanks Parallax!!!
Your presence and your sharing was a big part of the retreat. It's wonderful when we can all share our wealth of experiences with everyone... every moment is that of learning and growth... and I feel I grew (not taller tho  ) so much over this retreat.
The retreat had a very different feel to it, like Parallax said. I am still enjoying the love and presence felt during the retreat. Will write more if it comes up, but overall, it was an amazing experience in being present and going with the flow and guidance of the inner guru.
Thanks to all who were at the retreat and shared their presence so openly.
And thank you to the Skype meditation group... the entire group felt an expansion in that session, and later we realized, it may have been the presence of all of you that helped with it. Thank you Liz for organizing it and thank you everyone who joined in.
Much Love!!! |
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Mykal K
Germany
266 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 08:55:33 AM
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All I can say is that it was a magickal experience. Wish I've been for the whole of it.
quote:
thank you everyone who joined in.
Same here indeed. Both on our side and the other.
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 08:58:38 AM
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| Thank you Mykal! |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 08:58:59 AM
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| Thank you Mykal! |
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mr_anderson
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 11:23:41 AM
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It was a wonderful retreat!
I'm a little tired of trying to express experience with words, they never do it justice.
So I'll just say... love you all. Thank you Doug, Shweta and Rohini so much for organizing and everything you did for us.
Love,
Josh
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Kirtanman
USA
1651 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 1:00:33 PM
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Hi All,
I just wanted to chime in thank everyone for another awesome AYP retreat, as well. It was fun, profound, and filled with powerful practice sessions, heart connections and great conversations with AYPers, both "old and new"
It's all always mutual, and everyone involved contributed to the overall success and beauty of the event - and so, love and gratitude, to all.
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kami
USA
920 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 6:48:18 PM
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Too bad I couldn't make it to this retreat - you were all in my heart.
On short notice, I flew to NY to learn a new meditation, spending treasured time with my Rohini and a dear friend that hosted us. Rohini came despite some health issues in her family, wanting to spend time with me. And... Shanti and K'man drove 5 hours to come and meet me (and others), being stuck in NY traffic for the most part.. Although we got to spend just over an hour together, my heart exploded with gratitude to receive such unconditional, deep love. Simply incredulous - who does that?? My husband's response to hearing about this was, "Gosh, they love you that much? Must be something!" 
Yep, it is something. Thank you my dearest Shanti, for being my light and guide, for your unceasing love and friendship, for the laughter and sweetness you infuse me with. Not a day goes by without me thanking my lucky stars to have found you. You too, K'man - love you beyond words. Rohini - no words for you sista.
What a community this is!!
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Downward Frog
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 01 2013 : 10:03:39 PM
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This was my first AYP retreat and it was wonderful indeed! Thanks so much to all those involved and I hope to be seeing you and meeting new AYP-ers in the future :)
-Paul |
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Kirtanman
USA
1651 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2013 : 08:12:00 AM
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Dearest Kami,
quote:
Originally posted by kami
Shanti and K'man drove 5 hours to come and meet me (and others), being stuck in NY traffic for the most part.. Although we got to spend just over an hour together, my heart exploded with gratitude to receive such unconditional, deep love. Simply incredulous - who does that?? My husband's response to hearing about this was, "Gosh, they love you that much? Must be something!"
Oh, it's something, alright!
You and I hadn't spoken in months, but from the moment I heard that oh-so-Kami first sentence over the phone, prior to our arrival ...
"What? You don't remember how to answer your phone?!"
(Per my bluetooth-seatbelt related technical difficulties  )
... I knew that seeing you would be as beyond-awesome as it always is -- and it was!
quote:
Yep, it is something. Thank you my dearest Shanti, for being my light and guide, for your unceasing love and friendship, for the laughter and sweetness you infuse me with. Not a day goes by without me thanking my lucky stars to have found you. You too, K'man - love you beyond words. Rohini - no words for you sista.
Beyond-words ... infinitely so, indeed -- all the way here, into the Real, in fact.
And, same for me -- ever-present gratitude for the beauty of the connection we all share, and for the place you each and all have in my heart and my life -- and for which, it feels only right to mention we have AYP (i.e. Yogani) to thank.
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2013 : 08:40:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by kami
Yep, it is something. Thank you my dearest Shanti, for being my light and guide, for your unceasing love and friendship, for the laughter and sweetness you infuse me with. Not a day goes by without me thanking my lucky stars to have found you.
...Always...
and....
The feelings are completely mutual... thank you for all you have done/do for me and given/give me (including the recent tips on darkest brown)
Love you!!!!
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2013 : 08:44:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Downward Frog
This was my first AYP retreat and it was wonderful indeed! Thanks so much to all those involved and I hope to be seeing you and meeting new AYP-ers in the future :)
-Paul
It was great having you with us Paul!
And thanks for bring this to our attention ...
http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic....PIC_ID=13478
Hopefully we will share many more retreats together!
Much love! |
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American Baba
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2013 : 11:36:26 PM
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| I just want to express my belated gratitude for the opportunity to share in the Kripalu retreat last weekend. Shanti’s eloquent guidance and attention to task both kept us organized and focused. Kirtanman’s in-depth analysis of issues, as always, proved quite clarifying for me. Rohini’s sassy presentation kept asana practice engaging. It was great to connect with ”old” friends as well as to meet some new ones. I look forward to seeing you all (as well as others who didn’t make this one) again! Despite their always seeming to pass far too quickly, I believe I benefit greatly from these retreats -- and I look very much forward to the next one! |
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fenshui
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2013 : 06:37:57 AM
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I enjoyed very much my first retreat. Thanks to all. Shanti's warmness to everyone became the team's spirit. The personal experiences we shared gave inspiration to all of us. Thank you.
Before I came I was anxious to experience "blissfulness" in meditation. During yoga time, Rohini created smooth flow of asanas touching thoroughly every joints into each segment of fingers and all the muscles even armpits. Our six senses were completely submerged in stillness of the flow. Mind no longer wandered but calmly went along without thought. Not only were we in asanas but also in Pratyahara; controlling mind by detaching senses. One week after the retreat, it just dawned on me that had to be my first blissful experience. Thank to Rohini. |
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Pheel
China
318 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2013 : 02:38:54 AM
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Even though I wasn't physically there.
I connected with you guys before meditation during that period. And I could just felt the blissful presence....
Thanks so much for sharing!
Phil |
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Manipura
USA
870 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2013 : 09:57:12 AM
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I've been meditating AYP style for a few years, and needed a refresher course to help me sink back into my practice. The retreat at Kripalu was phenomenal. I got so much more out of it than I expected. Shanti and Kirtanman are a great team, not only in explaining the AYP method, but in keeping the focus on the the Love that's behind it all. I left feeling not like "now I've mastered the art of meditation", but that I'd reconnected with the love at my core.
Many thanks to Shanti, K'man, Rohini, and all the wonderful people who attended the retreat. I look forward to reconnecting at the next retreat!
xo |
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AYP Kripalu Retreat 2013
