This workshop is both a training and a retreat, creating ample balance between experiential periods of connection and expression, with reflective time for relaxing, writing, and integration. By drawing from ancient meditation and devotion practices we come to understand right relationship, and life itself as our greatest work. Explore and experience the foundations of Bhakti and Hatha Yoga, as well as Buddhist and Taoist influences, and how they relate to nature’s processes, creative practice, and mindful living in this immersive workshop setting.
MORE INFORMATION
EACH DAY WILL INCLUDE:
– Beginning the day with a morning ritual (puja), inviting nature and the elements
– Daily instruction and practice of sitting meditation
– Morning Yoga classes
– Tea ceremonies, communing with presence with local plants and flowers.
– Vocal toning and the exploration of voice as our fundamental source of communication and power.
– Wisdom and Philosophy from ancient traditions to inspire personal reflection and practice
– Mandala ceremonies
– Listening to and sharing ecstatic poetry interwoven with music and movement
– Kirtan and chanting ancient mantras
– Explorations of body-centered awareness
– Hands-on experience crafting offerings of nature
DAILY SCHEDULE
(*Subject to changes)
Tuesday
16:00 arrival / orientation
18:00 Introduction circle
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Kirtan
22:00 Rest
Wednesday – Saturday
Sunday
6:00 Puja / mantra meditation
7:00 yoga
9:00 Breakfast
10:30 closing ceremony
13:00 Lunch
meet the team
Prema Mayi
Eric Archer
Eric Archer is a multi-instrumentalist (fingerstyle guitar, charango/ronroco, tabla, bansuri and native-style flutes), visual artist, and poet drawing inspiration from nature and its bounty. Exploring collaborations as diverse as americana, trip-hop, kirtan, folk, meditative, celtic, ambient, and Indian-classical, Eric aims to continually expand his own sounds and tastes to offer a unique feel to the universal language. Eric continues to collaborate with Prema Mayi and Radharani on their mantra music fusion, and accompany Biff Mithoefer in his Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings — pairing music with these deeply meditative and educational settings. Eric is a tabla student of Sri Suryaksha Desphande of the Farrukhabad Gharana, and a bansuri flute student of Grammy-Award winner Steve Gorn. Eric synthesizes these eclectic musical threads into a sound that is at once both traditional and modern. Eric has taught and played music at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies as the Bard/Musician-in-Residence, and as a staff-instructor. He was also one of the Innkeepers of the historic Sunnybank Inn in Hot Springs, NC — a focal point within the tradition of Southern balladry, Appalachian roots music, and Scotch-Irish folk songs.
Eric has been core faculty at the Omega Institute teaching meditation since 2016, and has piloted programs in mindfulness and music at the Millbrook School and the Finger Lakes School of Massage. He has also co-produced and hosted the lecture and storytelling series Everyday Expert, a platform for localized education and community enrichment in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Eric’s visual art is a hybrid of natural, found, and recycled materials channeled into wall sculpture through the human touch. His woodcarved-paintings allow natural and organic shapes and processes to guide his work, where these patterns speak first, drawing the viewer into a sense of curiosity and wonder.
Eric’s spoken word poetry is a linguistic expression of his musical and artistic passions, and has flowered from his love of teaching meditation, exploring the question, “Where does guided meditation end, and spoken word poetry begin?” Through the use of imagery, self-inquiry, visualization, and metaphor, Eric guides listeners through an experience of collective in-sights, heartbeats, and felt breaths.
For more information, please visit: EricArcherArts.com
MORE at Shambala
“”This is where the magic happens – together, with open hearts in beautiful nature.”
GALLERY
How to get here
Shambala Gatherings
Borntorpet 1
Skinnskatteberg
Sweden
Located just two hours away from Stockholm in Skinnskatteberg, Sweden, the area is easily accessible by air, train and car, making a great option for a short break wildlife destination.
- Coming by air: The nearest airport to Shambala is Stockholm Vasteras. The second nearest airport is Arlanda airport, the main airport in Sweden. You can easily take a train all the way to Skinnskatteberg from both of them.
- Coming by train / bus: We are fortunate to have a train / bus station at Skinnskatteberg only 5 minutes ride from the center. We offer free pick up services from this station in summer.
- Coming by car: Simply open this Google map on your navigator and follow directions to Borntorpet 1 in Skinnskatteberg, Sweden.