A tree blooms when it's nourished with water, sun and soil and has space to grow. Joy is a blossoming of the heart with its roots in the development of awareness, kindness and ethics. We can't snap our fingers and make ourselves feel joy, but we can live in ways which allow it to grow and flourish...
Buddhist moral teachings are not a list of do's and don'ts that we are supposed to follow. They are guidelines and practices that develop inner discernment to help us live with integrity and kindness. At the heart of the matter is a commitment to minimize the harm we cause in the world and to support life. Morality, along with wisdom and meditation is an essential element of the Buddhist Path. To have integrity in our thoughts, speech and actions supports the love, insight and...
The presence of mindfulness infused with the warmth of a kind heart profoundly transforms our own experience of being alive and how we relate with others and with the world. Kindness expresses an attitude of connection with life; the word "kind" has the same root as "kin" or family. When we are truely kind we deeply listen - to ourselves, to others, to life. In this daylong retreat we will explore how we can cultivate and find our home in true kindness, in our moment-by-moment living of our daily lives. The retreat day will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practices and a talk and discussion, with opportunity for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 25 participants. Registration Information Cost: Sliding scale: $40 (students, unemployed, retired) - $50 (regular fee) - $60 (supporter fee). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Free-will donations (dana) to Daryl to support her teaching practice will be invited at the end of the day. Registrations can only be done through this link. It is not possible to register through The Yoga Connection Studio website. What to bring: Cushions and blankets are provided for sitting on the floor and chairs are also available. If you prefer to sit on a bench, please bring your own. Wear comfortable clothing. There will be a 45 minute break for lunch, and we encourage you to bring something simple which does not need to be heated. Tea will be provided. Please arrive at 9:45 am. Getting to the Centre: The entrance to the Yoga Connection...
Save the date! More information to come.
Mindfulness practice wakes us up to recognize the ways that we create suffering for ourselves and others. We come to see the pain and oppression in the world around us with more clarity and compassion as well. How can we respond to social concerns in ways that don't pour more fuel on the flames? Do simple acts of kindness really makes a difference? Are there ways that we can engage with the issues of society that affirm the wisdom of inderdependence - that we're all in this together - rather than perpetuating relationships of power and privilege? We will reflect on Buddhist teachings on social ethics and see what responses to these and other questions ring true for us. The day will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practices and a talk and discussion, with opportunities for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. The teachings will be given in English; questions and comments in French as well as English are welcome. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 32 participants. Registration Information Cost: Sliding scale: $30 (students, unemployed, retired) - $40 (regular rate) - $50 (supporter rate). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Free-will donations (dana) to Daryl to support her teaching practice and to True North Insight will be invited at the end of the day. Registrations can only be done through this link. It is not possible to register through Yoga on the Park Studio website. Cancellation: A full refund will be given if cancellation is made up to 48 hours before the event. After that, no refund will be given, although you...
The presence of mindfulness infused with the warmth of a kind heart profoundly transforms our own experience of being alive and how we relate with others and with the world. Kindness brings an attitude of connection with life; the word "kind" has the same root as "kin" or family. When we are truely kind we deeply listen - to ourselves, to others, to life. In this afternoon retreat we will explore how we can cultivate and find our home in true kindness, in our moment-by-moment living of our daily lives. The day will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practices and a talk and discussion, with opportunities for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. The teachings will be given in English; questions and comments in French as well as English are welcome. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 32 participants. Registration Information Cost: Sliding scale: $30 (students, unemployed, retired) - $40 (regular rate) - $50 (supporter rate). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Free-will donations (dana) to Daryl to support her teaching practice and to True North Insight will be invited at the end of the day. Registrations can only be done through this website. It is not possible to register through Yoga on the Park Studio website. Cancellation: A full refund will be given, minus a $5 administrative fee, if rcancellation is made up to 48 hours before the event. After that, no refund will be given, although you may transfer your registration to someone else. Please inform us as soon as possible if you need to cancel. What to bring: Cushions...
Death is all around us, inextricably woven through life. You might have lost someone close to you, or had a brush with death through illness or an accident. Or maybe death has always seemed kind of distant. Looking with clear and fearless eyes at the truth of death is not something just for those who are aging; no one knows how, when or with whom we will die. We only know that we will. Investigating the reality of death is not a sad or morbid topic; when we look deeply into death we live more fully, authentically, fearlessly and compassionately. In our society we turn away from death - we deny it and hide it from sight. In this afternoon retreat we will open our minds and hearts to what death has to teach us. The day will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practices and a talk and discussion, with opportunities for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. The teachings will be given in English; questions and comments in French as well as English are welcome. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 32 participants. Registration Information Cost: Sliding scale: $30 (students, unemployed, retired) - $40 (regular fee) - $50 (supporter fee). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Free-will donations (dana) to Daryl to support her teaching practice and to True North Insight will be invited at the end of the day. Registrations can only be done through this address (clik here). It is not possible to register through Yoga on the Park Studio website. What to bring: Cushions are provided for...
Doing meditation practice in a quiet room by ourselves or with others gives us a way to ground ourselves, find some inner space and learn to not get so hooked by our habitual reactions. Another important dimension of practice is living with mindfulness and compassion in everyday relationships and activities. As meditation deepens it becomes a way of life: we bring more calm and kindness into our relationships and activities, and the challenging people and moments can be opportunities to see where we are still stuck in old habits.We recognize that everyone and every situation can teach us to become more aware and compassionate. Life itself becomes our practice. The afternoon retreat will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practices and a talk and discussion, with opportunity for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. The teachings will be given in English; questions and comments in French are welcome. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 32 participants. Registration Information: Cost: Sliding scale: $30 (students, unemployed, retired) - $40 (regular fee) - $50 (supporter fee). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Free-will donations (dana) to Daryl and to True North Insight will be invited at the end of the day. What to bring: Cushions and blankets are provided for sitting on the floor and chairs are also available at the studio. If you prefer to sit on a bench, please bring your own. Wear comfortable clothing. There will be a 15 minute tea break, and you are welcome to bring a light snack. Cancellation: You may cancel and receive a reimbursement of your...
Loss is part of life; no one escapes change and loss. Some losses are felt intensely; it may feel difficult to find our way forward in life. We might not know how to continue on when someone we love has died, a relationship ends or if a dream or vision no longer seems possible. Or we may be caught in a tangle of "if only" thoughts. This retreat will explore how to be open to creativity, love and joy in our lives while compassionately accepting the pain and confusion of loss. We will learn practices to be intimately present within ourselves, in wholeness and stability. Contemplation of the universality of loss and cultivation of forgiveness and acceptance will also be a part of our day. The afternoon retreat will include meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, guided practice of compassion, discussion and opportunity for questions in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome: beginners and more experienced practitioners. Space is limited! This event will be limited to 32 participants. The teachings and instructions will be given in English. Questions and comments in French are welcome. Registration Information Cost: Sliding scale: $30 (student/ unemployed/ retired) - $40 (regular rate) - $50 (supporter rate). TNI is dedicated to offering affordable rates to all. Our sliding scale fees allow retreatants to pay according to their financial means. Please contact us if you need to request a further reduction in rate. Donations to Daryl to support her teaching practice will be invited at the end of the day. What to bring: Cushions and blankets are provided for sitting on the floor and chairs are also available. If you prefer to sit on a bench, please bring your own. Wear comfortable clothing. If you wish, you may bring a light snack to have during...