Equinox retreat 19-23 September 2024
Meditation, philosophical dialogue and gentle hiking in the Alps
An in-depth investigation of the age-old question, Who Am I?
Why does this question hold such transformative power in your spiritual process?
Using the tools of meditation, contemplation, pranayama and dialogue, we will delve deeply into this topic over the autumn equinox . Weather allowing, we will also be going on some gentle, silent mountain hikes to balance time spent together in the seminar room.
The group will be small and intimate, with 11 participants in total.
The retreat is for anyone with an open heart, an inquiring mind and a genuine interest in deepening their understanding of who they are and how that knowledge shapes their spiritual seeking.
Teacher: Vijay Shyam draws from all traditions of wisdom. He has visited India frequently over the last 30 plus years, studying Buddhism and Hinduism. Living in Egypt, he studied Sufism. Recently he spent time in Assisi, Italy, drawn by the message of peace and simplicity by St Francis.
Vijay Shyam studied meditation, self-enquiry, and Non-Dual (Adwait) philosophy intensely for 5 years with a yogic master in the Indian Himalayas.
He is an IMI-certified and experienced meditation and philosophy teacher and has 20 years experience as a therapist.
i-evolve@hotmail.com or call him on +4550481936
Courses, events, and way of teaching
Interview about my spiritual path by Bobbi Paidel for the podcast, A Curious Yogi
(also available on Apple and Goggle)
Co-organiser and spaceholder: Richenda Gillespie.
Richenda is a homeopath, naturopath and translator, with long links to the Prättigau valley of Graubünden, Switzerland, where this three-day seminar is being held. She is happy to help you with any information about travelling to and in Switzerland, and what to expect from the hamlet of Stels and the seminar hotel itself. She looks forward to supporting Vijay during the seminar days.
hello@snughomeopathy.com or +41 78 255 29 46
Video of Stelserhof and suroundings
Seminarhotel Stelserhof
Hof 13 | Stelserstrasse 157
7226 Stels | Schweiz
Program
Thursday 19th September
Arrival day
From 3pm: Check in, snack and juice.
16.30-18: Welcome talk and landing meditation.
18-19.00: 3-course dinner with salad buffet, main course, and dessert.
19-19.30: Break.
19.30-21.00: Evening program. TRE, physical release exercise for deep tension followed by pranayama, meditation, and dialogue. We will start reading excerpts of spiritual classics from different traditions, aloud in class.
Friday 20th September.
Day one
Who Am I? Investigating Body, Senses & Breath
8-9.30: Morning meditation with box-breathing & talk introducing the topic of the day. A reading of spiritual classics .
9.30-10.30: Rich breakfast buffet.
10.30-11: Break.
11-13.30: Midday program. Meditative body observation, Movement meditation, Box-breathing pranayama, Listening to stillness. Talk and Dialogue. A reading of spiritual classics .
1.30pm-2.30pm: Soup & salad with bread.
2.30-3.30: Break.
3.30-5.30: Silent walking meditation and outdoor session (if weather permits).
5.30-6: Break
6-7: 3-course dinner with salad buffet, main course, and dessert
7-7.30: Break.
7.30-9: Evening program. Five senses awareness meditation. Talk and dialogue about what we fear. A reading of spiritual classics .
Saturday 21st September
Day two:
Who Am I? Investigating Intellect, Mind, Ego
8-9-30: Morning meditation & talk introducing the topic of the day. Reading spiritual classics .
9.30-10.30: Rich breakfast buffet
10.30-11: Break
11-13.30: Midday program. Meditative investigation of the role of the intellect and the mind. Talk and Dialogue. Reading spiritual classics .
1.30pm-2.30pm: Soup & salad with bread
2.30-3.30: Break
3.30-5.30 Silent walking meditation and outdoor session (if weather permits)
5.30-6: Break
6-7: 3-course dinner with salad buffet, main course, and dessert
7-7.30: Break
7.30-9: Evening program. Meditative investigation of the sense of personal consciousness, of personal mind/ individuality and of ego/otherness. Talk and Dialogue. Reading spiritual classics .
Sunday 22nd September. Equinox.
Day three: Who Am I?
Investigating what is beyond the sense personal consciousness.
8-9-30: Morning meditation & talk introducing the topic of the day. Reading spiritual classics .
9.30-10.30: Rich breakfast buffet
10.30-11: Break
11-13.30: Midday program. Meditative investigation of the power of pure awareness, pure being, self, emptiness. Talk and Dialogue. Reading spiritual classics .
1.30pm-2.30pm: Soup & salad with bread
2.30-3.30: Break
3.30-5.30: Silent walking meditation and outdoor session (if weather permits)
5.30-16: Break
6-7: 3-course dinner with salad buffet, main course, and dessert
7-7.30: Break
7.30-9: Evening program. Celebrating equinox with a Havan fire ritual using mantras to surrender, let go and making space for a new beginning. Talk and Dialogue. Reading spiritual classics .
Monday 23rd September
Last day
8-10: Morning program. Meditation and concluding session. Last reading of spiritual classics .
10-11: Brunch buffet
12: Check out.
Spaceholder and co-organiser Richenda Gillespie with Vijay Shyam in Stels, September 2023.
Practical information:
Hikes & Fitness
The hikes will be short (max 2 hrs.) relatively gentle hikes with medium elevation. Most people should be able to participate. If you have knee/leg/heart problems, please talk to us about before registering.
Clothing & Gear:
For indoor sessions: Comfortable clothing you can relax in.
Outdoor: September is normally a mild sunny month, but showers can happen. Bring rain gear, hat, outdoor wear, and good hiking footwear. Bring hiking poles if needed.
How to get to Stelserhof:
You can fly or train to Zurich or Basel.
Train planner via link.
Take the train to Landquart: (1 hr from Zurich /2.5 hr from Basel).
Change in Landquart to the mountain railway, direction Davos, St. Moritz or Scuol-Tarasp, get off in Schiers (after 11 mins).
In Schiers, take bus 212 from the station up to Stels, Hof de Planis (15 min).
The bus stops in front of our venue.
Stels & Shopping:
Stels is a tiny mountain hamlet with amazing views and hikes, at 1200m altitude. There are no shops in Stels, so if you think you might need anything during the retreat, we recommend shopping before you arrive as you won’t have time to go down to Schiers during the day. The Stelserhof seminar hotel has a little coffee shop where you can buy snacks, chocolate, drinks and coffee during breaks. The nearest town Schiers has a large Coop supermarket for all other supplies.
Registration & Questions about the seminar teaching: Vijay Shyam on i-evolve@hotmail.com or +45 50 48 19 36 (phone only after 19.Feb as I am in India)
Travel help & local knowledge: Richenda Gillespie on hello@snughomeopathy.com or +41 78 255 29 46
Prices
Fees listed below are for the full seminar with 4 nights stay at the Stelserhof seminar hotel, including 3 vegetarian meals a day, organic herbal tea, snacks of fruit and dried fruits.
Registration & Questions : Mail Vijay Shyam on i-evolve@hotmail.com or call him on +4550481936
The majority of our rooms will be in the charming old wooden part of Stelserhof
Accommodation types*
Single Room with private bathroom: 1043CHF (incl. food and course)
Early bird price if paid in full before 1.8.24: 999CHF
Single room with washbasin: 963 CHF (incl. food and course).
Early bird price if paid in full before 1.8.24: 919 CHF
A bed in a double Room with private bathroom: 971 CHF (Incl. food and course).
Early bird price if paid in full before 1.8.24: 927 CHF.
A bed in a double Room with washbasin: 851 CHF (incl. food and course).
Early bird price if paid in full before 1.8.24: 807 CHF.
*All beds are single beds.
*The teaching fee is included (315 CHF)
Special diets
Stelserhof offers the following special diets on request:
Vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, other intolerances.
Due to the higher purchase price, the hotel charges extra for the special diet, per day, per person. Fee 3 CHF
We kindly ask you to register for special diet 2 weeks before arrival.
The retreat is vegetarian, alcohol and drug free.
Payment: Details will be sent on request for registration.
Cancellation policy
By cancellation 10 days or less before arrival date: 50% of the total fee is reimbursed.
By cancellation 5 days or less before arrival date: No fee is reimbursed.
The hotel recommends cancellation insurance for all participants. Learn More
What Does It Mean To Surrender Ones Ego?
(also available on Apple and Goggle)