Sunday, December 15, 2024 at Center Street Retreat, Altamonte Springs, FL
Winter Solstice is a time for reflection and quietude, when the natural world is in hibernation. We will experience the last full moon of the year, called the Cold Moon. This is an auspicious time to tap into the healing power of nature and into a deeper connection with the Earth and the Moon.
Join us for a special Winter Solstice gathering on the beautiful grounds of Center Street Retreat, led by certified forest therapy guide, Lady Eve of Singing Pines Forest Bathing and yoga teacher, Sara Spangler of Slow Down With Sara. On this 3 hour experience you will peel the layers of stress away and be supported in a self-care experience using yoga, meditation, and the medicine of the forest. We’ll do a series of relaxing and engaging activities to tap into our senses, deepen our cosmic connection, hone intuition and connect with each other in a profound way.
4-7pm
* Welcome – Calling the directions
* Forest bathing invitation by Singing Pines
* Yoga session with Slow Down With Sara themed around the force of Mother Earth. We’ll begin with a guided breathing technique while we find a deep connection to the earth with each breath. All are encouraged to set an intention for the practice. Through the yoga movements we will be stretching through our roots and up to a sky, just as a tree roots down and reaches up. At other moments we will focus on stability and grounding and swaying with the wind. At the end, we will be guided through a visualization meditation, encouraging us to imagine laying on a warm, soft patch of grass, feeling supported by the earth beneath. To finish this session, we will be reminded to carry this sense of grounding throughout the rest of the day and return to it to feel supported and nourished by the earth.
Forest bathing invitation by Singing Pines
*Yoga session with Slow Down With Sara – themed around the winter solstice, the connection of the sun and the moon, and the full moon. We will be guided through breathwork that will align with the lunar energy and set an intention that honors the balance between the longest night and the return of the sun and the illumination and clarity of the full moon—embracing both the darkness and the light, and using the full moon’s energy to reflect on our own inner light and intentions for the coming season. As we flow through yoga poses we will balance the body and the mind while embodying the connection between the sun and the moon, the energy of the winter, and feeling the strength of the sun’s energy as it returns after the solstice. Finishing out this session, we will be guided through a meditation where they will feel the balance between the darkness of the night and the light of the moon, representing the connection between the sun and moon and the cyclical nature of the seasons. We will imagine the warmth of the returning sun, slowly growing stronger after the solstice, bringing light to the darkness. With each inhale breathing in the moon’s light, filling our bodies with clarity, renewal, and intention. With each exhale, we release any tension, embracing the balance of lunar and solar energies. We end by carrying this sense of balance, peace, and clarity with us, using the full moon’s light as a guide as we move forward into the next cycle, knowing that our inner light shines brightly, even during the darkest times.
*Forest bathing invitation by Singing Pines
*Moonrise
*Forest bathing invitation and Ceremonial Tea by Singing Pines
*Reflection and Gratitude – Closing
