Nestled in the heart of nature and conceived for a maximum of eight participants, this retreat invites you to explore your creativity, not from pressure or perfection, but from presence. No experience is required. Just bring your curiosity and your openness to discover yourself.

During this retreat, you will delve into and practice the relationship between meditation and artistic expression. Meditation deepens art. Art deepens meditation. Together, they nurture a mindful, embodied creativity that reveals, heals, and inspires.

Sundari Integral Yoga School invites you to an immersive retreat designed to help you explore the intersection between inner stillness and outward creative expression.

Through guided meditation, a variety of art-making practices, Hatha yoga, and mindful movement such as Qigong, you will be supported in reconnecting with your intuition, slowing down, and unlocking new dimensions of creativity and self-awareness.

Although the instructors will mostly work with visual arts and poetry during the residency, you will be free to contribute with your own artistic skills in any discipline (dance, music, etc.).

Art has long been recognized as a form of meditation. Artist and meditator Frederick Franck, for instance, developed an approach to drawing that blends Zen meditation with creative practice. Art can be a path to your inner self, uncovering potentials that often remain hidden.

Likewise, deep states of meditation can awaken and enhance your inner artist. When you connect with your true essence, your creative potential naturally begins to blossom. Art also offers a powerful means of expressing and sharing meditative states - experiences that often transcend the boundaries of everyday language.

How can you convey what occurs in the deep stillness of Hridaya meditation? Sundari Integral Yoga School believes that art - intuitive, direct, and spontaneous - can beautifully communicate the richness of the meditative journey, making it accessible and relatable to others. Through art, you can express the beauty that you encounter beyond the mind, in the pure presence of “I am.”

The question “Who am I?” - revealed in the stillness of the heart - may find expression in a drawing, a poem. During the retreat, space will be held for those who wish to share their meditation experiences through both art and words, recognizing the shared essence reflected in each unique creation.

Hridaya meditation is rooted in the non-dual Advaita Vedanta philosophy, the core of the Jnana yoga tradition. In Sanskrit, Hridaya means the cave of the heart. The term refers to the essence of your being that is revealed in your heart. Therefore, Hridaya meditation is a direct path to your inner self.

This form of meditation teaches that when understood as the supreme consciousness, the heart is limitless. It is infinite light. It is also the absolute freedom and spontaneity of the light of consciousness that appears to you in various forms of manifestation.

- Learning and experiencing the basics of concentration, yoga, and meditation techniques
- Expressive art sessions: exploring, painting, drawing, inking, and nature art - not for perfection, but for the process
- Daily guided meditations, Hatha yoga, and Tai chi or Qigong practice
- Nature immersions: walks, excursions, and outdoor sketching to awaken the senses and connect with the earth
- Sound and creative flow: a unique experience blending music and spontaneous art-making
- Evening reflection circles: share insights and creations in a supportive space