Heart of Awareness – Meditation and Yoga retreat

Welcome to this summers’ meditation and yoga retreat, to settle back into your authentic self in the natural beauty of the mountains! This retreat is an invitation to recognize the very essence of yoga practice, your own true nature, and the capacity for an open heart and peaceful mind. With a non-dogmatic approach to the ancient traditions of the East and the discoveries of Western research on well-being, Jonathan will present a path of practice towards greater awakening and freedom from suffering states.

We all need to reconnect with our center and find balance, especially in the hectic everyday of modern life. Retreat is a time-honored method to re-establish that balance and get back to what is essential. In this retreat, we will practice how to establish a calm mind and an open heart through mindfulness and compassion meditations, supported by gentle Mindful yoga.

The Heart of Awareness
The ‘Heart of Awareness’ refers to the opened heart of awakening, which is recognizing the essential nature of our being. It is a direct path of recognizing our true Self, which is already awake, radiant, kind, and whole. Resting in this open heart of awareness, we are naturally peaceful and fearless. We only need to re-discover it, hidden like a gem under our muddled and confused minds. The teachings from the non-dual wisdom traditions will be our guide this week to realize the heart of awareness as our authentic nature and develop a fearless heart.

Effortless Mindfulness
Most mindfulness practices are about cultivating attentional skills through effort and discipline. But equally important is the need to open and let go. This is called ‘effortless mindfulness’ in the Mahamudra/Dzogchen traditions of Tibetan Buddhist yoga. In this way of practicing, we relax into our experience and release expectations and striving. Learning to accept more deeply with open-hearted awareness, we can learn to embrace what is, and allow it to be. Effortless Mindfulness is the way of ease and flow and will be introduced this week through our meditations.

Heart Yoga
The Brahmaviharas, or the Four Immeasurables, are an ancient Vedic practice dating back before Buddhism and yoga and carried into both traditions. They are the practices of altruistic or unconditional love, learning to open the heart and discover a more genuine inner peace. These methods are still alive today, thousands of years later, and we will be practicing them in our yoga this week.

Mindful yoga
We will also explore the modern discoveries in science around the intelligence of the heart and the power of compassion, and practice breathing techniques that facilitate coherence and optimal well-being. These open-hearted and healing techniques will all be supported by a Mindful yoga practice, a gentle and therapeutic approach to moving the body. The yoga sessions are accessible for everyone, even with little or no prior experience in yoga practice

Structure of the retreat
Each day starts with morning meditation and Mindful yoga. The mornings will be held in silence until lunch. There will be personal time after lunch to hike, swim in the river, canoe on the lake, get a massage, sauna, write in your journal, connect with others, or do absolutely nothing. The afternoon sessions will vary from day to day and offer different meditation and yoga practices or group sharing, designed to develop more mindfulness and heartfulness. In the evening, there may be a combination of Dharma talk, questions, chanting/Bhakti yoga, or relaxing Yin and Restorative yoga.

Dharma Mountain
The center has been used as a space for meditation for many years and is ideal for contemplative practice and retreat. Next to a lake and surrounded by peaceful forests with a view of the mountains, it is a serene location in nature, 1.5 hours’ drive from Oslo. There is also a river nearby with a waterfall, and trails for walking in nature. The meditation hall is spacious with a majestic view of the mountains. The cabins are cozy, and give the feel of natural simplicity, without lacking comfort. And the three vegetarian meals served daily are nourishing, healthy, and delicious. There are also friendly staff that offer massage and other healing services. Altogether, it is a perfect space for renewal and a supportive environment for healing and inner work.

Jonathan Weber
Jonathan is a senior teacher of mindfulness and yoga, with over 30 years of experience. Jonathan is a certified Mindful yoga trainer (E-RYT500) and Mindfulness instructor (MBSR/MBCT) and has been guiding retreats for over a decade. He is an international teacher that blends modern, science-based research on well-being with the ancient traditions of Buddhism and yoga. He has practiced in authentic lineages with masters in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of Vajrayana and Dzogchen since 1991. And his first teacher, the celebrated Ram Dass, introduced him to Vipassana and Bhakti yoga in 1987. With a natural warmth, humor, and grounded presence, Jonathan teaches a non-dogmatic, contemporary, and open-hearted approach to awakened well-being.

Prices & Booking

10.555 NOK program, meals, single room (in shared cabin with shared bathroom)
9.095 NOK program, meals, shared room or loft/attic
7.940 NOK for program, meals and tent space

Rent of bedlinen/towels costs 250,- (or you can bring your own).
You can choose to get an invoice to pay a deposit of 1000 NOK or pay everything.

General Schedule*
Tuesday July 30
16:00 – 17:00 Arrive/ Registration
17:30 – 18:30 Introduction & Orientation
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
20:00 – 21:30  Evening session

Wednesday 31 – Saturday 5
07:30 – 08:30 Meditation
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast (silent)
10:00 – 12:30 Mindful yoga
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:30 Personal time
16:30 – 18:30 Afternoon practice
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
20:00 – 21:45 Evening session

Sunday 6
07:30 – 08:30 Meditation
08:30 – 09:30 Breakfast (silent/end silence)
10:00 – 12:30 Closing session
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 –            Depart after lunch
* The schedule is subject to small changes, this is a sample suggestion

How to travel to Dharma Mountain? Read here

If you need to cancel your participation, read here.