Join Jaya Ashmore for a five-day non-residential deep rest retreat from July 2-6, 2025, in Bellingham, Washington. Immerse yourself in silence and aliveness in an atmosphere of welcome. This retreat is open to everyone, regardless of previous meditation experience. What is Deep Rest Meditation? Resting is an art. We try to relax but don't know how. We often think we should do "more important" things first so that we can later deserve to rest. But somehow, the time for rest never comes. Years of experience have shown that many people need to rest and lie down for meditation. The reclining posture helps lower the "alarm system" of stress and invites openness and receptivity, making it harder for the controlling mind to dominate. From there, the body can be happily still for longer, leaving space for a deeper and more fluid awareness. Beginning with an attitude of ease, meditation through deep rest allows us to experiment with making "reversed effort," or effort based on relaxation rather than tension. Even if you fall asleep, that refreshing rest may be more beneficial than holding yourself in a rigid sitting posture. Through deep rest meditation, we discover the art of resting that can allow a natural awakening to gradually take over. Teachings and the Retreat: Jaya offers embodied, finely-tuned meditation instructions to help connect directly with aliveness beyond ideas. The retreat schedule, silence, supportive atmosphere, and instructions help provide a foundation from which each person can jump into their own rhythm and connect with a quality of living that makes a difference in inner and outer life. For more information on Jaya, please visit jayaashmore.org. Retreat Details: The retreat will take place at Full Bloom Farm 15 minutes outside downtown Bellingham, WA, at 5512 Everson Goshen Rd, and will have a daily schedule from 9 am to 5 pm, with alternating periods of deep rest meditation, walking meditation, and a dharma talk. There will also be an optional evening program of meditative singing for those who would like to join. Snacks and a homemade vegetarian lunch will be provided, but other meals must be arranged individually. A variety of accommodation options are available in Bellingham, including hotels, Airbnbs, and hostels. There is also the option of camping on the property for a fee of $25 per night. Campers will need to bring their own equipment and will share a bathroom and kitchen with others on the property. If you need suggestions for accommodations or would like to camp, please email jaime@opendharma.org. Cost: The retreat fee covers the cost of Jaya's flight from Spain, lunch, and the space rental. Jaya offers her teachings on donation, and there will be an opportunity to give a financial gift to Jaya and the retreat managers at the end of the retreat. Open Dharma can provide partial scholarships. If you need financial support to attend or have any questions about the retreat, please email jaime@opendharma.org. We look forward to being together!
Please note: Any cancellations made before June 1st will be issued a full refund minus a $50 administration fee. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds after June 1st, as this is a small retreat and last-minute cancellations pose a real challenge. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel. We look forward to seeing you in July!