Practice Weekend
With Neva and Raffles
January 17-19
Start your New Year in meditation, movement and song with Neva and Raffles!
This will be a silent weekend interwoven with sitting and walking meditation, yoga, singing, and ceremony. All the spaces will be lightly guided and held, though some experience in each of these practices will be helpful. We will meditate alternating sessions of 30 minutes of seated meditation with 10 minutes of walking meditation. There will sometimes be light guidance during meditation and other periods will be fully in silence.
In order to connect with the winter season, we will do some walking and sitting meditation outside! So please bring appropriate clothes and shoes to be comfortable being outside for periods of practice (snow gear).
We will go into silence on Friday evening at the opening ceremony and come out of silence on Sunday morning after the closing ceremony. There will be time to connect and socialize on Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.
We will prepare, eat, and clean together dinner on Friday before going into silence, and again together for lunch on Sunday after the closing ceremony. Please bring your own food for Saturday breakfast / lunch / dinner and Sunday breakfast.
“WildHeart is the most loving, supportive place I’ve yet encountered.”
“Neva’s class gave me hope and courage as I’m facing a lot of unknowns in my life right now. She helped me remember that my body has wisdom and can heal… and that it’s good to listen.”
“[Neva and Raffles] facilitated a space that felt inclusive, liberating and autonomous. I felt that I belonged and I was able to arrive as myself.”
The retreat will include:
- Sitting meditation – sometimes guided, sometimes in silence
- Walking meditation
- Guided somatic movement and yoga practice
- Group songs
- Opening and closing ceremony
- Shared meals
- Personal time to be creative, rest, walk in the woods, do as you like!
Retreat Size: This retreat will have a maximum of 10 people, plus WildHeart residents.
Prerequisites: Some experience with meditation and silence will be helpful. If you don’t have this, and would like to participate, please reach out to us to see if it will be a good fit.
Refund Policy: The first $100 of payment is a nonrefundable deposit. The fee minus the deposit is refundable up to 2 weeks before the first day of the workshop, after which time no refund will be given. Full refunds will be given if the workshop is canceled by the host.
Meditation and Yoga Props: We have a variety of yoga mats, yoga blankets, blocks and cushions. If you have your own, please bring it! This will help ensure that each person has what they need to be comfortable during practice.
Covid and Illness: Please also do not come if you are having cold / flu symptoms.
Sample Schedule:
Friday January 12th
1-3 Arrivals*
3-4 Orientation and Tour
4-5 Dinner Prep
5-6 Dinner
6-7 Dinner Clean
7-9 Opening Ceremony
*Because of the silent nature of the weekend, if you have never been to WildHeart you must arrive by 3pm, if you have already been to WildHeart you must arrive by 5pm to participate in the weekend.
Saturday January 13th
10-1 Morning Practice
1-3 Lunch and Rest
3-5 Afternoon Practice
5-7 Dinner and Rest
7-9 Evening Practice
Sunday January 14th
10-12 Morning Practice
12-1 Closing Ceremony
1-2 Lunch Prep
2-3 Lunch
3-4 Lunch Clean
4-6 Socialize and Departures
A note on food
We are able to accommodate most diets. We serve meat daily and dairy daily, and always have vegetarian / vegan options available, as well as gluten-free. If you send us your dietary preferences in advance, we will do our best to make sure there is good food for you at each meal! All living accommodations have access to a full kitchen (this is in addition to the commercial kitchen). We will prepare, eat, and clean together dinner on Friday and lunch on Sunday. Please bring your own food for Saturday breakfast / lunch / dinner and Sunday breakfast.
Retreat Location
WildHeart is located on 46+ beautiful acres in the Hudson Valley. Retreatants will have the option to stay in a single room, double room, dorm, or camping in either our main retreat center or in private two-bedroom cabins. All options have access to shared kitchens and bathrooms. Daily events will take place in the studio, shared common spaces, and outdoors. Retreatants are welcome to enjoy the lawns, walk in the forest, and swim and boat in the lake during their stay! More info about directions and transportation options HERE.
If you have any questions, concerns about pricing, or need assistance attending, please do not hesitate to reach out personally.
Retreat Costs
(Program Fee + Accommodations Free) WildHeart is body-positive, anti-racist, queer magic. By offering a variety of housing options, a sliding scale program fee, and two free BIPOC spots, we hope to make this retreat accessible to all. If you have any questions or concerns about pricing, or need help registering, please do not hesitate to reach out.Program Fee
Sliding Scale: $120-$350* for the entire weekend which includes all retreat offerings including:- Food / Beverages for Friday dinner and Sunday lunch
- All retreat sessions, including guided meditation, movement, singing and ceremony
- Access to WildHeart’s 45 acres of forest and fields Campfires
- Boating and cold plunging in the private lake
Housing Fee
Single room in a two-bedroom cabin = $200Double room (shared with 1 other person) in the Guest House = $120
Spacious 5 person dorm in the Guest House = $60
Commuter rate = $30
*Paying at the higher end of the Program Fee sliding scale MAKES IT POSSIBLE for us to offer a sliding scale and scholarship spots. Please pay at the highest level that you are able.
