Workshop: Poetry of the Spirit
August 16, 2025 8:30am-7:30pm
Price: $75 plus accommodations when booked with a Yoga Retreat, or $150 as a Day Retreat
Join our peaceful mountain community to spend a day exploring the world of spiritual poetry. We will begin the day by reading and discussing a variety of poems from many spiritual traditions, exposing ourselves to different styles of the soul’s poetic expression. What better way to find the source of joy inside ourselves than by slowing down, relaxing, and marinating in the passionate words of those beings seeking the meaning of life.
No previous poetry reading or writing experience is necessary to enjoy this workshop.
The day includes:
- Reading and discussing a variety of spiritual poems.
- A poetry-in-motion yoga session.
- Brief meditation to begin to quiet the mind and listen to the heart.
- Lighthearted warm-up activities to help you playfully experiment with writing your own poetry of the spirit.
- An easy nature walk to discover where poems hide.
- Writing poems with the option to share our creations.
We look forward to creating together.
Poetry of the Spirit workshop schedule
**This is a sample schedule and is subject to change
Saturday
8:30am Check-in
9:00-12:00pm Workshop
12:00pm Lunch
1:15-3:00pm Workshop
4:00-5:00pm Hatha Yoga (optional)
5:00pm Dinner
6:30-7:30pm Chanting and Meditation in the Main Temple
About the Instructors
Anandi Jaffe
Senior Acharya & Meditation Teacher
Anandi is a senior student of Babaji Shambhavananda who has been studying with Babaji for 54 years (and counting). Over the years, she has been an ashram dwelling yogi as well as a householder yogi living and working as a special needs educator in the Boulder Valley community. She has recently retired from the school district.
“I love diving, heart first, into the ancient yogic scriptures, especially of Kashmir Shaivism, the foundational philosophy of our practice. Moreover, it is a joy to share insights from the scriptures with anyone interested in spiritual growth. I have developed and taught many meditation seminars, courses, programs, and retreats. Meditation, for me, is an exciting inner adventure…even and especially after all these years! I find that new discoveries are possible every time I take a conscious breath. I have been reading and writing poetry for many, many years. I am NOT a professional poet, just someone who loves this form of communication.”
Her free time activities include gardening, reading and writing (especially poetry), taking long walks, dancing to the Doobie Brothers, listening to classical music, and chatting with friends.
YaDevi Shellenberger
Yoga & Meditation Teacher, ERYT 500
YaDevi Shellenberger has done all her yoga teacher trainings at Shambhavananda Yoga’s ashrams and is a member of the school’s spiritual community. Elements of her teaching style are curiosity, enthusiasm and innovative approaches to the yoga asanas. She especially loves inviting students to confidently grow into their own personal between safe movement and trying challenging poses. When she’s not doing what she loves most—yoga—she helps her husband with their beekeeping business, cooks delicious meals for friends, writes poetry and plays with her three cats.
The scenery is gorgeous with hiking all around, staff is excellent, the food is delicious, the temples are beautiful, the yoga is great and relaxing, and the cabins are clean and nice. I always feel so peaceful there and the meditation is wonderful. It’s a very spiritual place and wonderful for decompressing from city life and for getting back to your true self.