Pūrņam-idam: A Yogawood Jivamukti Retreat to Vietnam

Pūrņam-idam: A Yogawood Jivamukti Retreat to Vietnam

In Sanskrit, purnamidam refers to “this fullness”-- of the moon, of this moment, of life. What better way to encapsulate the dynamism of 12 days in Hoi An, Vietnam. Jivamukti yoga is the perfect practice to facilitate full immersion into this environment as well as within your own skin. To learn more about the Jivamukti method visit here: http://jivamuktiyoga.com/about/class. As Jivamukti is a practice rooted within yogic source texts, it facilitates a deep connection to place as well. One of your Jivamukti yoga teachers, Maiga, has previously traveled throughout Vietnam and fell in love in particular with Hoi An.

While in Vietnam, enjoy a full week in Old Town Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its well-preserved architecture. While there, wander the cobblestoned streets, visit temples and shrines, watch painted boats float on the river, or rent a bike to cycle through the surrounding rice paddies. Hoi An is known for incredible cuisine, so you’ll be free at lunchtime to sample, take a cooking class, or visit markets. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to commission custom made clothing from one of Hoi An’s many affordable tailors.  Vietnam is known for incredible body work. Be sure to make time for some massages!

We’ll be in Hoi An during the Full Moon, when all motorized traffic is prohibited so that all can wander the streets enjoying folk performances under swaying lanterns. Light a candle and set it to float down the river.

From Hoi An, we’ll be transported only 3 km away to stay in An Bang’s beach side bungalows on the South China Sea for the remaining 4 nights. Weather permitting, we’ll practice yoga on the private beach outside of our accommodations. Here we’ll enjoy three catered vegan meals daily-- no need to sacrifice beach time to cycling or taxi rides back to town’s restaurants!

Throughout the entirety of our stay, enjoy twice daily yoga practices, meditation sits, daily vegan meals (in town, breakfast and dinner; at the beach, all three meals), all internal transport, aid with simple visas, and accommodations. The world is rich and lush. Immerse yourself in its fullness.

DATES

The retreat is held from Jan 17-29, 2016.

It takes at least 22 hours to fly from the east coast of the US to Vietnam. Plan your travel from Jan 16-30 to include travel days.

FACILITATORS

Julie Kirkpatrick was granted an advanced Jivamukti Yoga teacher certification in 2005 by her teachers and founders of the method, Sri Sharon Gannon and Sri David Life. David Life ji is Julie's brother, so he brought her into the method when he and Sharon Gannon ji started teaching yoga in 1986. Julie has been and continues to be a student of the method since that time. Her association with Jivamukti Yoga has allowed her to teach abroad in Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, and Turkey, as well as in the United States in New York, Virginia, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Julie has taught open, basics, prenatal, and children’s yoga classes at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City. She assisted and taught at the August classes held at the Wild Woodstock Jivamukti Forest Sanctuary in Woodstock NY for 5 years. She has assisted Sri Sharon Gannon and Sri David Life at various times serving both as house sitter and cat caretaker to classroom assistant while they teach.

Before focusing full time on teaching yoga, Julie worked in public education, visual arts, and community gardening. She was an activist for fair housing on the Lower East Side of New York City, where she has lived with her children Jules and Alex Febre since 1981.

Maiga Milbourne is passionate about healthy bodies, relationships, and communities. Maiga is an E-RYT vinyasa yoga teacher, and she loves nothing more than offering amazing hands-on assists in yoga practice. As of March 2015 she is also an accredited Jivamukti teacher, after completing her training at Radhanath Swami’s EcoVillage outside of Mumbai, India, under the tutelage of Sharon Gannon, David Life, Jules Febre, Ruth Laurer-Manenti, and Yogeswari. She teaches yoga, officiates ceremonies, and makes people's travel dreams come true. Maiga has traveled in Vietnam previously, making her well-equipped to shepherd you through this adventure! Learn more at maigamilbourne.com.

INVESTMENT

To make this retreat affordable, we need a critical mass of 15 participants. We can accommodate up to 25 participants. Tell your friends to embark on this adventure!

As we’re in four separate accommodations in two locations, to simplify rooms, all are shared. The first 6 registrants are guaranteed optimal rooms, meaning La Tonnelle in Hoi An, and beach side in An Bang. You must make a deposit of $500 for your spot to be held.

Deposit $500

Remaining Tuition $2,235

We hope to make this experience accessible. Receive a discount of $200 if you pay in full by Aug 1, 2015. All tuition is due by Nov 1, 2015.

ENROLL!

Visit “Special Events” on www.yogawood.com

CANCELLATIONS

We realize that things happen. Until Oct 1, 2015, we will refund $100 of your deposit, the balance held for administrative fees. There will be no refunds after Oct 1, 2015. You can transfer your spot to another participant and deal with the tuition independently.

ACCOMMODATIONS

All are shared. All bathrooms are shared with your roommate. If you’re traveling with your preferred roommate, please let us know. Otherwise, we will work to pair you with a roommate of the same gender.

Examples of rooms in Hoi An:

For the first 6 participants to enroll, rooms at La Tonnelle http://latonnellehoian.com/

The remaining rooms are located nearby at Hotel Vinh Hung I http://www.vinhhungheritagehotel.com/

Examples of rooms in An Bang:

The first 6 participants to enroll will stay in Hoi An Beach Bunagalows http://www.hoianbeachbungalows.com

The rest of the participants will stay in An Bang Beach Hideaway http://anbangbeachhideaway.com

INCLUSIONS

All accommodations

Transport from and to Da Nang Airport and between accommodations in Hoi An and An Bang

Twice daily yoga classes

In Hoi An, vegan breakfasts and dinners

In An Bang, three vegan meals daily

$35 Visa on Arrival processing fee

EXCLUSIONS

Alcoholic beverages

Personal expenses

$45 USD Visa fee paid to Vietnamese customs upon arrival

Tips for tour guide & driver: 3 usd/pax/day is recommended

TRAVEL

We suggest you book your flight into Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll go through customs and receive your visa on arrival there. From Ho Chi Minh City, book a domestic flight through Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. Da Nang is the nearest airport to Hoi An, about a half hour drive. When we have your flight itinerary, we can coordinate your ride from the Da Nang airport to your accommodations in Hoi An.

Plan to arrive at Da Nang airport on Jan 17. Know that it takes at least 22 hours of travel from the east coast of the US so search for flights leaving your home airport on Jan 16.

Plan the return trip the same: a separate domestic flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, then connecting to your outbound international flight.

If you’d like to break up your travel with nights in other cities, feel free to do so. Feel free to check in with Maiga about suggestions for staying a night in Ho Chi Minh City or elsewhere.

Your visas will be good for 30 days. If you’d like to do on-going travel after the 12 day retreat, you should! Feel free to check in with Maiga about ideas or travel planning.

The retreat ends on Jan 30. If you travel home directly, you’ll be home on Jan 31.

We planned this so that participants could request two weeks off work and make the most of their time abroad. You will be traveling from Jan 16-31, on retreat from Jan 17-30.

STUFF TO DO

There is an absurd amount to do, should you wish to, in and around Hoi An. Remember, this is a retreat, so offer yourself ample time to just be. If you want to explore, here’s some of what you can expect to find:

Religious houses (Temples & Shrines)

Traditional architecture

Walking tours

Markets

Body Work. There are affordable massages and therapies all over the place. Take advantage!

Cooking classes

Renting bicycles or motorbikes

Going to the beach (the furthest we’ll ever be is 3 km)

Taking tours of villages, rice paddies, or surrounding area

Visiting sites of historical significance, like My Lai

The Cham Islands are off the coast. You can independently arrange to visit if you desire. These islands are known for scuba diving if you’re certified.

Commissioning hand-made clothing tailored to your body

Shopping. Expect to find lanterns, hand-made clothes and shoes, and intricate house wares

And so much more…

SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE

7-8 am Vegan buffet breakfast at accommodations

8:30-9 am Meditation sit in our studio space

9-10:30 Jivamukti Yoga Practice in studio

12-1 pm Vegan lunch catered at An Bang accommodations

5-6 pm Sunset Yin Practice in the studio or on the beach

6:30-8 pm Catered Vegan dinner at accommodations or at a nearby restaurant

DO I NEED VACCINATIONS?

Consult your doctor. For more information, check here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/vietnam

I’M REALLY INTERESTED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WAR?

Many US citizens wonder about interactions with Vietnamese given the war between the US and Vietnam. There’s no hard and fast response to this. Maiga has personally traveled throughout Vietnam and was impressed by the friendliness of the Vietnamese people. Maiga also became aware that while the US and Vietnam were at war, Vietnam has had longer conflicts with France and China. The war between the US and Vietnam weighs differently in US and Vietnamese collective memories. This isn’t to minimize the war and it’s excessive impact-- you can visit My Lai outside of Hoi An or museums dedicated to the topic in Ho Chi Minh City. However, it’s unlikely to impact day to day interactions.

Also, bear in mind that the US has been in conflict with much of the world at one point or another. Only short decades before the war with Vietnam, the US was at war with Germany. Interestingly, this doesn’t enter many consciousnesses similarly. The US fought fierce wars with Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. Most citizens of the world are good at differentiating foreign policy from people.