Up
in the mountains above Boulder... between Nederland and Black Hawk awaits
a very special place. It is a true and real and serene place. Its name
means "shining mountain". It is Shoshoni Yoga Retreat.
Shoshoni has been around since 1930 when it was originally
founded as a children's summer camp. It opened its doors for spiritual
retreats in 1988. Through most of the facilities are as they were when
they opened, the retreat has added the Shoshoni Temple within the last
5 years. Shoshoni is an Ashram, a hermitage of yogis, in a retreat environment.
The staff who work here, also live here. They are a warm and loving Sangha,
or spiritual family. Shoshoni's focus is and always has been love, kindness,
and respect for each other. Their emphasis is on self-nurturing through
Yoga, meditation, and Prananyama (breathing).
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Shoshoni is many things. It is a place for everyone to
enjoy. It is a spiritual community under the guidance of Shambhavananda
Yogi. It's classes in hatha yoga, meditation, and pranayama are based
on the Indian yogic tradition. It is a place abundant in shakti, or meditative
energy. It is an important resource for the Hindu community due to the
recent addition of Shoshoni Temple. It is a world-class retreat center;
people come form all over the US, as well as different countries to visit.
It is a place to visit when you are looking for clarity. It is a place
of clean air and water.
The retreat caters to newcomers so beginners are
very much welcome. Seasoned practitioners are encouraged to use their
depth to go to a new level of awareness in posture and breath, to go
deeper into those elements of the practice. Shoshoni invites you to come
and be nourished. More >>
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There
are a few things that Shoshoni is not. It is not a place which adheres
itself to a specific religious orientation. It is for persons of any
and all religions. It is not a place in which to bring airs, labels,
or judgments. It is not a place that allows drugs, alcohol, smoking,
or television.
The Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is open for private retreats
year-round. It offers day retreats (9am-5pm), as well as 3-, 5-, and
7- day Cleanse and Renewal retreats. Typically, Colorado guests stay
2-3 days; while out of town guests stay an average of 1-4 weeks. There
is no specific length of time you have to stay. Guests are welcome to
visit just for the hatha yoga, meditation classes, or health therapies
Shoshoni can accommodate up to 25 guests per day. There are three healthy
and delicious daily meals- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All are served
vegetarian. Shoshoni offers a sweet, nurturing atmosphere that encourages
you to connect to your inner self.
A typical day at Shoshoni begins at 5:30am and ends at
9:00pm. The day starts with a pre-dawn Sanskrit chant by resident yogis,
followed by morning pujas in the Ma Shrine. A bell signals breakfast
and guests join together in the communal dining area that is in the lodge.
Prananyama (yogic breathing), hatha yoga, and chanting are done in the
Yoga Cabin during the late morning hours. The noon bell signals lunch.
After lunch, guests enjoy one of the retreats wonderful health therapies,
followed by a few hours of private time. Another hath yoga session, followed
by chanting and meditation in the temple leads guests into the dinner
hour. After dinner, one may choose to attend a deep relaxation session
or mantra class, or relax in the outdoor hot tub. At the end of the day,
guests retreat back to either their private cabin or their dorm cabin.
Guests design their own day. There is nothing one has to do; it is solely
up to the guest as to what they would like to participate in.
Speaking of health therapies, Shoshoni offers some of the
most relaxing and cleansing treatments you will ever experience. Each
therapy follows the Ayurvedic tradition of healing the body and relaxing
the mind. Guests can relax into the traditional full body massage or
opt for a 30-minute foot or head, neck, and shoulder massage. The herbal
body wrap stimulates your lymph system while exfoliating your skin and
purifying mind, body, and spirit. Ela kirhi is a hot oil treatment for
your body; this deeply relaxing treatment will yield super smooth and
soft skin. Private hatha yoga, meditation, or lifestyle consultation
sessions are available for those wishing one-on-one guidance. |
For the guest who just can't get
enough of the great Colorado outdoors, the retreat has designated hiking
trails. The short Forest Loop offers a quick jaunt through the brush.
Long Forest Loop is, clearly, a longer jaunt. This wonderful excursion
takes one through the forest and meadow areas. The Wild Flower Trail
parallels Shoshoni valley through peaceful and beautiful woods. The Buddha
Rocks trail takes you to a very special place where you can see paintings
of Buddha on rocks on the side of the mountain. The Rollins Peak trail
presents spectacular views as you make your way to Rollins Peak.
Directions from Black Hawk; take route #119 north. Make
a right just before Kelly Dahl campground. A wooden Shoshoni sign clearly
marks the entrance. Travel the 1-mile dirt road (snow covered in winter)
as it leads into the retreat center. Park at the second gate and register
at the office.
Visit the website at www.shoshoni.org or send an email
to info@shoshoni.org. You can also call Sita, Mira or Bhairava at
303-642-0116. The mailing address is Shoshoni Yoga Retreat, P.O. Box 400, Rollinsville, CO 80479.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to make the
scenic journey to this spa for your soul. Whether for a day, a weekend,
or a week, you are sure to come away feeling spiritually mentally and
physically rejuvenated, relaxed, land renewed. This is a well-deserved
gift for the mind, body, and soul. It is a place of healing repose,
a place to renew and relax when you are weary of the world. Purity of
self
and life, awareness of self and life, love and depth - this is what
exists within the invisible confines of Shoshoni. Go alone or go with
a group.
Just go.
--by Shelly Raber
Copyright © 2003 by
Shelly Raber
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