I am happy to announce I’ll be leading a retreat to the Crestone Mountain Zen Center located in Colorado from August 22-28, 2022. The Zen Center is located on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains overlooking the San Luis Valley – one of the most remote and dramatically beautiful areas in North America. Nestled against the rugged 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Center is surrounded by 240 acres of Piñon Pine and Juniper forest. The beauty and seclusion of the Center provide a unique environment for yoga practice, contemplation, inquiry and transformation.
In addition to two yoga classes most days, retreat-goers will have the option (at no extra fee) of learning and practicing Zen meditation at the Center with the resident practitioners each morning or evening.
Mid to late summer in the Rockies is a spectacular time to visit, the weather is sunny and warm during the day, and cool, and clear in the evening – perfect for hiking during the daytime, and stargazing at night.
We’ll arrive Monday, August 22th, and have our first practice at 5pm. We’ll have a nice relaxed post-travel, pre-dinner practice then dinner together at 6pm (the meals are vegetarian, but the chef can accommodate any dietary needs including vegan, gluten-free, etc). The schedule then continues as follows:
| Tuesday & Thursday | 5:00-5:45am | Zen Meditation (optional) 7:00-8:25am | Morning Yoga Practice 8:30-9:30am | Breakfast 9:30-12:30pm | Relax, enjoy Nature, reading, journaling, visiting Sacred Sites in Crestone or take a nap. 12:30-1:30pm | Lunch 1:45-4:00pm | Local hike or relaxation time. 4:30-5:45pm | Evening Yoga Practice 6:00-7:00pm | Dinner 8:00-8:45pm | Zen Meditation or Stargazing |
| Wednesday | 5:00-5:45am | Zen Meditation (optional) 7:30-8:30am | Breakfast 9:00am-3:30pm | Trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park for some hiking and sightseeing. You may also stay behind at the Zen Center and relax. (feel free to go horseback riding at a local stable, or arrange a massage in town, take a drive, etc., just be back for the evening Yoga practice. 4:45-5:55pm | Evening Yoga Practice 6:00-7:00pm | Dinner 8:00-8:45pm | Zen Meditation or Stargazing |
| Friday | 5:00-5:45am | Zen Meditation (optional) 7:30-8:30am | Breakfast 9:00am-3:30pm | You pick: A long hike in the local mountains with the group, or stay at the Zen Center and relax. (feel free to go horseback riding at a local stable, or arrange a massage in town, take a drive, etc., just be back for the evening Yoga practice. 4:30-5:40pm | Evening Yoga Practice 5:45-6:45pm | Dinner After Dinner | Dharma Talk or Stargazing |
| Saturday | 5:00-5:45am | Zen Meditation (optional) 7:00-8:25am | Morning Yoga Practice 8:30-9:30am | Breakfast 9:30-12:30pm | Relax, enjoy Nature, reading, journaling, visiting Sacred Sites in Crestone or take a nap. 12:30-1:30pm | Lunch 1:45-4:00pm | Local hike or relaxation time. 4:30-5:45pm | Evening Yoga Practice 6:00-7:00pm | Dinner 8:00-8:45pm | Zen Meditation or Stargazing |
| Sunday | Dependent on scheduled flight times 5:00-5:45am | Zen Meditation (optional) 7:00-8:25am | Morning Yoga Practice 8:30am-9:30am | Breakfast 9:30am | End of Retreat, Departure and hugs! |
If you’re longing for some time to truly un-plug, center yourself, connect with nature, and dive deep into your yoga practice, this is it. I look forward to this time with you. This retreat will return you to your inner power, happiness and freedom. I can’t express enough how excited I am to offer you this experience.
Peace & Stillness,
Charlie
Accommodations
I am familiar with all of the rooms. Please feel free to contact me and ask any questions. I have been there a number of times, and would be more than happy to help.
| The Guest House | The Guest House is a spacious building with a quiet atmosphere. It is located in the center of campus. It includes 5 private rooms. These rooms are the largest accommodations offered. The upstairs loft has either a double or a queen sized bed, dresser and two windows for star gazing. Downstairs there is a single bed, desk, sink and tea station, as well as a dresser and closet. There are separate shared men’s and women’s bathrooms at the end of the hallway. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. The price for 3 people is $1295.00 per person. The price for 2 people per room is $1695.00 per person. To reserve the Guest House room all to yourself is $2395.00. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Guest House in the subject of the email. |
| Skylight Room SOLD OUT | The Skylight Room is a simple yet spacious room located in the middle of the Zen center. The private entrance opens into a mudroom that has a closet and large window overlooking the Zen center. In the main room there is a large skylight that has a handmade shoji screen, a queen bed, desk, closet and tea station. The Skylight room includes a small refrigerator and microwave. It can accomodate 1 to 2 people and has a private bathroom with shower. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. The price for 2 people is $1995.00 per person. The price for 1 person to reserve the Skylight Room is $3395.00. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Skylight Room in the subject of the email. |
| Studio Room | The Studio used to be the work space for a resident potter. It was recently remodeled and partitioned into three single rooms. Each room has a view of the local 14ers, Kit Carson and Challenger Peak. Each room is furnished with a desk, wardrobe and tea station. Shared bathrooms are 100 yards away in the Guest House, however, two single-person bathrooms are scheduled to be added at the end of the hallway in the Spring of 2020. The rooms are singles but can be shared, in which case the desk will be replaced with a second bed. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. The single rooms are $1795.00 per person, and the double room is $1295.00 per person. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Studio Room in the subject of the email. |
| Young Pine Hut | The Young Pine Hut is a cozy rustic two-story log cabin. Upstairs there is a sitting area with a low desk, dresser, small refrigerator and a tea station. A ladder leads down to the lower floor where there is a single lofted bed with shelving below. This heated cabin can accommodate one person. There is no running water in the cabin. The Guest House bathrooms are about 100 feet away. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. Young Pine Hut is $1995.00, one person only. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Young Pine Hut in the subject of the email. |
| Yurt | Located on the outskirts of our campus with views of the nearby 14ers, the Yurt has a deck, bookshelves, skylight and can accommodate two people. The Guest House bathrooms and showers are a 3 minute walk from the Yurt. There is also a composting toilet a few hundred yards from the site. The Yurt does not have electricity or heat. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. The price for 2 people per room is $995.00 per person. To reserve it for 1 person it is $1595. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Yurt, in the subject of the email. |
| Camping | The campground is a beautiful flat sandy area on the outskirts of our campus with a view of Kit Carson and Challanger Point. The Guest House bathrooms and showers are a 3 minute walk away. Campers should bring their own tent, bedding and towels. Due to high fire danger, camp fires and camp stoves are not permitted. Prices include three vegetarian meals, all the yoga classes and optional meditation classes. The price per person is $795.00. Please put Crestone Zen Center, Camping, in the subject of the email. |
$400.00 non-refundable deposit reserves your space. Balance must be paid by August 15, 2022.
To send Check or Money orders, email me at peacethruyoga@yahoo.com for payment information. Please include ALL relevant contact information (e.g. Name(s), email address and phone number). Refund Policy All monies received except for $400.00 non-refundable deposit will be refunded if cancellation is made by July 1, 2022. If cancellation is made after August 8, 2021, no refund is available. Meals Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in your registration fees. All meals served on this retreat are vegetarian. We are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions such as dairy-free and gluten-free. Please make sure to indicate if you have any dietary restrictions. What to Bring Bring your yoga clothes and yoga mat (it will not be provided). I suggest you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, layered comfortable clothing, hiking shoes, water bottle and day-pack for hiking. Also bring a jacket for cool evenings of stargazing, a journal/pen, a flashlight or headlamp and slippers (required for Main, Guest, and Meditation rooms). Travel Notes You are responsible for securing your travel to and from the Crestone Mountain Zen Center. However, if you have a rental car and have space and want to share the cost, let us know and we will try and match you up. By Plane I have traveled to Crestone, CO numerous times. Check the distances before purchasing a ticket to one of the cities listed. I fly to Colorado Springs (COS). The main reason is the size of the airport. It is small, making it easy and fast to get in and out of. Denver (DEN) is much bigger, and therefore slower and further. Albuquerque (ABQ) is also small – I have not actually been there, but the drive up is suppose to be spectacular. Alamosa (ALS) is extremely small and close, but more expensive. Alamosa is also subject to changes and delays. Fly into Colorado Springs Airport, which is 165 miles or about 3 hours 15 minutes drive from Crestone. The drive is beautiful, so you may want to plan a stop or two. You will need to arrange ground transport (car rental, or bus). Most people will arrive on Monday and car pooling will be possible. If you want to share a car, contact me and I will try to arrange it. You can also fly to Alamosa, which is about 1 hour south of Crestone. You will need to arrange ground transportation (car rental or taxi/shuttle service) to get from Alamosa to Crestone. There are also airports in Denver (3 hours and 45 minutes) and Albuquerque (4.5 hours). There is a daily bus service between Denver and Alamosa, which stops in Moffat. You can use the local taxi/shuttle services to get from Moffat to Crestone (25 minutes)). Local Taxis and Shuttle Service Windhorse Transportation & Tours: call (719) 256-4091 Little Stinkers Taxi, Alamosa: call (719) 589-2500 Daily Bus Service: Denver-Moffat-Alamosa For the journey down to Crestone, a great option is to take the bus. Arrow/Black Hills Stage Lines runs a bus that travels daily from Denver to Moffat – call (877) 779-2999 or purchase tickets online. Bus departs Denver at 1:40pm and arrives Moffat at 6pm and departs Mofffat at 7:00am arriving in Denver at 11:15am. To get from Moffat to Crestone, you can contact Windhorse Taxi Service at (719) 256-4091 directly; Proprietor: Keith Conway.