Dharma Retreat: “Social Dharma”

5–7 August 2022

Join our compassionate community to practice being more & doing less!

This retreat will be an opportunity to take time for yourself, learn to be supported in interaction and silence with others, to be gounded in the wisdom of the body, and center your attention with heartful qualities of care, compassion & joy.

NeuroSystemics Dharma

NeuroSystemics is an integrative methodology building resiliency and empowerment internally and in relationships. The Dharma program focuses specifically on building a compassionate community and grounding one’s attention and awareness in highly regulated nervous system states to experience ease, calm and joy. These conditions offer deep possibilities of insight and wisdom to then arise.

Retreat Description

We are relational beings, and for most of our evolution we have learned that safety and ease come through being with others we can trust. This “Social Dharma” retreat will explore the central importance of being in a safe and compassionate environment. Specifically, we will practice

“insight”: understanding and deep connexion with one’s internal experience, and
“midsight”: having a supportive and enjoyable felt sense experience of being in a space with others

So much of our days are spent in connexion with others, in person, on the phone or online, and these moments offer many opportunities to feel safe, be more grounded and bring meaning in one’s life. With practices both in silence and in communication, in this this retreat you will:

Practice social meditation and enjoy the support of being with others
Explore the links between community-building & Buddhist spirituality
Practice a range of nervous system regulation tools
Offer you a personal session to deepen embodiment by a trained somatic facilitator (limited spaces, see below)
Be supported by the wider holding of a team of compassionate facilitators
Find ways to integrate the practices in daily life

Schedule

The retreat starts on Friday August 5th at 6pm CEST for a welcoming and presentation of the coordination elements of the retreat, until Sunday August 7th 1pm CEST

While continuity of attendance and commtiment to the retreat will help you go deeper, you do not have to come to every session – we understand that you may have issues with some of the sessions, including timezone differences or other commitments you must maintain. It is fine to join for whichever sessions you can come to!

Small group practices

The focus of this retreat is to explore how we can support one another in meditation, which we can social meditation. You will be invited to join a small group of practitioners with a Soma (Somatic facilitator) and experience silent and communication practices to deepen your relationship with yourself and others.

Private somatic regulation sessions

One of the unique features and contributions of NeuroSystemics to meditation and dharma practice, is to combine nervous system science with Buddhist practices. As part of this retreat you will have the opportunity to receive a 20-30 minute session with a trained professional supporting you to

better regulate your nervous system
strengthen your capacity to be in the here-and-now
ground your awareness further in your experience and your body with ease, gentleness & pleasure

Fee

Admin fee of €20 (this admin fee does not include teachings, which are freely offered on donation).

Dharma Teacher(s)

Boaz B. Feldman, Founder of NeuroSystemics Dharma

Boaz is a practical visionary, an experienced psychologist, Dharma teacher and clinical trainer acting for worldwide positive change. He has trained in Mindfulness as a monk and at university in MBSR/MBCT in Oxford/Bangor and graduated from the Bodhi College with Stephen & Martine Batchelor as mentors. Boaz now teaches Dharma in the Western Insight Meditation Tradition and feels passionate about re-enchanting and sacralizing our lives and societies through science-informed psycho-spiritual practice.

Robin Craig, Visiting Dharma Teacher

Robin Craig has degrees in Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering, and Counseling Psychology and studied Neuroscience at the Vollum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research. She brings her understanding of the physiology of resilience to her meditation and counseling practices and supports a joyful exploration of the deep spirituality and interconnection that is ours by nature. She is a Certified Meditation Teacher, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and on the Faculty of Organic Intelligence®.

Somatic Facilitator(s)

Buğu Türkoğul, Senior Mentor (NSP)

Buğu is a Biology graduate, a Mindfulness instructor, and a certified coach giving NeuroSystemics, Organic Intelligence and Mindfulness-based life coaching sessions. Buğu’s 14-year journey through yoga, education and therapy groups inspired her to facilitate Resilience Through Community groups based on creating safe social circles that values spontaneity, authenticity and openness.

Fulya Nanba

Fulya is an experienced yoga and meditation teacher, and offers individual and group sessions for therapy and meditation, as well as retreats in Turkey. She has completed trainings in Family Constellation, Working with People, Leading Groups and Organic Intelligence, and attends long term meditation retreats annually in Buddhist Centers in Asia.

Pauline Baudon

Pauline is a mental health counselor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner specialized in trauma. Their therapeutic work with individuals and groups reflects lessons and practices found through many years of meditation practice and retreats, travel through intentional communities, queerness, a commitment to intersectionality, and a healthy dose of humor for the road.

Silke Foegele, Mentor (NSP)

Silke is a certified complementary therapist and has been trained both as a CranioSacral therapist and as a physiotherapist. Her further training comprises prenatal and birth therapy, mediation, Organic Intelligence, yoga and qigong. She lives in Basel with her family. She focuses on increasing her clients’ resources and joy.

Upasaka Upali

Upasaka Upali (aka Paul) is a Dharma teacher based in Tennessee, USA. He received transmission in a lineage that can be traced back to the Buddha, and he took his Upasaka vows in 2015. He has a degree from St Olaf College and has studied Dharma with Tucker Peck, Ph.D., and Upasaka Culadasa. As a teacher, he aims to demystify meditation, making the practice approachable and its benefits tangible.

Yelina Tayfur

Yelina is a lawyer, a Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator, and a dedicated yoga & meditation practitioner. She leads 200-hour yoga teacher trainings and provides courses on yoga and somatic awareness as well as yoga and ecology, all based on Organic Intelligence and Trauma Sensitive Yoga principles. She focuses on creating a trauma-safe approach while teaching and practicing yoga & meditation.

Date: 5–7 August 2022
Language(s): English
Time: 6 pm CET (12pm EST)
Cost: Teachings are freely offered by donation, €20 admin fee
Contact: dharma@neurosystemics.org