10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat

Yes, students and participants are in Mauna (noble silence) for the full retreat days. Some participants will already be in silence upon arrival but technically we are still speaking until we begin our first opening consecration together at 7.15am on day one. We come out of silence together before dinner on the last evening during the sharing circle to close.

There are many deep and beautiful benefits to undivided silence. When you speak you are bringing the communication part of the brain back online and potentially jeopardizing some of those benefits. Please also respect the silence of the other participants by not engaging with them. You can communicate with the retreat leaders/monitors via written notes. In the case of emergency, or deep trauma resurfacing, you can determine together with the retreat leader if it will be more beneficial to speak directly.

Sure! For many who want to start on the path of yoga and meditation, an immersion that gives you a deeper experience of meditation is the most direct way. More than experience, a retreat like this requires determination, openness and humility. At Samyama we are less strict than at some more traditional centers and so this might be just right for you if you want to start somewhere.

You will find detailed guidelines for this retreat in the email you receive upon booking. The guidelines are very important for you to receive the full benefits of the retreat and to respect the others in the group. We seek to replicate a solitary cave experience with very limited communication – through written notes only when necessary. There are no devices, no outside reading, no music, etc. We do encourage keeping a journal, but not as a means of distraction. We want to avoid external distractions as much as possible in order to focus more clearly on our inner world.

We have limited accommodation onsite available on a first come first serve basis. Please reach out to [email protected] to inquire about accommodation. It is not necessary to stay onsite in order to feel fully immersed in the retreat and there are many resorts, hotels and homestays within walking distance, and they are aware of our Silent retreats and will respect your space.

Please come to the retreat with enough fresh clothes for all days. In case of emergency, we can send your clothes out to be laundered, but there’s no guarantee of next-day service. We do not have our own laundry facilities on site so we must send out to neighboring laundries.

Please arrive at least 30 minutes early on the opening morning (7 a.m.) so that you have time to register and choose your spot (the mats and cushions will already be set up). There will be a brief spoken Q&A at 7:30 a.m. and then we will enter into silence together guided by the retreat leader. You will be guided out of silence before dinner on the last day, followed by an optional sharing circle to close. You are welcome to join us for a shared dinner once out of silence. You may also choose to stay in silence and or leave Samyama premises as soon as we come out of silence.

Yes, there is a 75 minute guided meditative hatha yoga session in the morning, and an additional 30 minutes of self-guided movement practice to end the day. The guided practice will include mostly static poses that you are invited to hold as long as you feel comfortable. There may be some faster sun salutation series taught in an accessible manner. Remember that this is a chance to move, stretch and feel good in your body. Please be responsible for yourself by not attempting to push anything that may cause or exacerbate injury.

Journaling is acceptable and encouraged if you find yourself cornered by thoughts. You may have a burst of creativity and want to write a poem or song. We suggest that you notice when writing is activating the mind instead of calming it, or distracting you from simply being present with thoughts.

We may have a few shared books in the lounge that you can read during breaks. These are specifically selected to highlight and complement the specific teachings presented during the retreat. Please do not read other than what we share.

Our silent retreat is based on the methods of Hridaya Yoga / Meditation, inspired by Ramana Maharshi’s self-inquiry method, classical tantra, and Dzogchen Buddhism. 

We include gentle yoga asana practice, various sitting options, including chairs and standing, inspiring lectures, poetry and stories from mystical traditions around the world, and a Q&A with written notes to the teacher. 

The Hridaya (spiritual heart/heart-centered) approach focuses on the method of self-inquiry, centering in the heart and the open attention on stillness founded by Sahajananda (Claudiu Trandafir). Vipassana is more strict, no movement, no chairs, and the method includes more focused breath and body awareness. In our retreats there is no verbal communication or eye contact allowed and no devices to be used. We’re recreating a setting of solitude. All meditation sessions are semi-guided by a teacher. Self-practice (asana, pranayama or meditation) is happening at the end of every day.

To summarize basically it contains the 3 main principles: 

• The shift from the mind into Heart 
• The pauses after inhalation and exhalation 
• Self inquiry through the question, “Who Am I”

• If you place your phone in airplane mode for the entire duration of the retreat, it can be used as an alarm clock in the morning, or for afternoon naps. If you feel that you will be too tempted to use your phone, we suggest bringing a clock or renting one of ours. 
• We rent digital clocks for 150k for onsite and offsite accommodation. If you would like a clock, then you can rent one at 7 a.m. at registration. Request one from the silent Student Coordinator onsite; please bring cash. Please return the clock on the last day of the silent retreat.

• Comfortable clothes for seated meditation and gentle yoga asana. It can be cool in the mornings so you may want a light scarf or sarong. 
• Eye mask and ear plugs for deeper interiorization 
• Personal items, feminine hygiene, supplements and anything else you might need that normally you would be able to buy in town, but not during the retreat. We have a first aid kit onsite. 
• Snacks. We serve three meals per day but you are not encouraged to make any transactions at the cafe during the retreat. For this reason you may want to have some extra treats available. We do not serve coffee during the retreat as we recommend against it. If you rely on caffeine in the morning, bring your own tea. Caffeine is not helpful for meditation so ideally you can wean yourself off of it before your retreat.