Taiji, Qigong, & Sitting,
Long Retreat
JOIN US FOR 40 DAYS of retreat, FROM mid JanUARY, Tuscany, IN 2022 & 2023
40 days living and practicing together
Join us for 40 days of daily training and communal living, in a charming house in Tuscany surrounded by nature. (Joining for less time is also a possibility.)
The house has a spacious & cozy practice room, big dining room/kitchen, all heated with a fire stove in each room, the house is solar powered and off the grid.
We’ll be cooking and eating together, practicing Taiji (Taichi) and Qigong, Sitting Meditation, studying teachings, getting to know each other, following videos from Master Waysun Liao, making bad jokes, and all that jazz. : )
Prices
Minimum contribution:
That price includes:
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Base rent for the house (but I’d like to give more : )
-
Fire wood (the whole house is heated with fire, and the hot water for the showers too) wood for the 40 days will cost us: 400 euro.
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Gasoline for the generator (anything from USB chargers can be charged on solar power, but for laptops/projector to follow sessions by Master Liao, we will need some electricity from the generator.)
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Room and food for Sarah/Fong Yi (who will be facilitating and guiding the sessions.)
- Transport of Sarah, to and from Tuscany.
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Learning material from Master Liao (videos and books)
If you can give more,
that would be wonderful.
: )
If all goes well, those prices should cover expenses. They don’t cover my time leading the sessions, or admin/organizational, or website work.
I tried to keep the prices as low as possible to make it as accessible as possible. So that all kinds of pockets can participate.
If this is still too much for you, and you sincerely want to come and train, write to: sarah@taijitao.net
Schedule
14th Jan – ARRIVAL DAY, 24th Feb – DEPARTURE DAY
(Schedule below can be adjusted and elastic as we pass time together)
8:30-9:30 Sitting Meditation
9:30-10:40 Breakfast
10:40-12:40 Taiji&Qigong
12:40-13:00 Self practice
14:30 Lunch (Silence ends, except for Tuesday – silent all day)
18:00-19:30 Taiji&Qigong
20:00 Dinner
Silent sitting before sleeping, either alone or in group
Photo Credits: Eli Gordon and Ingrid Otepka. Of the pictures above as well.
Silence
Except for during weekends, we will be in silence till lunch each day.
Tuesdays will be silent all day.
Weekends
During the weekends we only do 2 hours or so of guided practice.
Saturday we can sleep in a bit more, and enjoy some togetherness the previous evening if we feel : ).
We can also go for trips to the sea, mountains, and/or hot springs.
Sunday is arrival and departure day.
Sharing
We will have times for talking in a circle together about twice a week.
We found these very helpful.
Can be about our processes, learnings, passages from the Tao Te Ching, welcoming the new arrivals, saying goodbye… whatever comes : )
FAQ
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS: sarah@taijitao.net
What about participating for less than the 5 weeks?
Will we be sharing rooms?
Yes. It is also possible for people to stay in their camper next to the house and river. To have a look at the rooms you can check their website.
What if the retreat is canceled
due to Covid 19?
If the retreat has to be canceled, all payments will be refunded, minus the rent, since the house was booked, and any expense that already happened.
And in the case you get tested positive just before the retreat, we will refund you as much as we can as long as the costs are been covered.
Do we need a negative Covid test to participate?
Yes, PCR would be best. Whether you have a vaccine or not.
How do I get there?
The next bigger city is Siena. There is a bus going from there to near to the house. Not on Sundays though, we can send you the bus schedule. Or pick you up if we have a car. You can fin directions HERE.
The nearest airport to Siena is Florence (FLR). You can also take a bus from Rome or a train from Bologna to Siena…
I also am organizing cars to pick people up from Siena. Sergiu, our beekeper grappa-maker Taiji Taxi driver, is at your service.
Is it for all levels?
Yes! We are all always beginners in this infinite practice. 🙂
Whether you have never practiced before or you are an experienced practitioner we can all benefit from a period of intensive practice and togetherness.
How can I reserve my place?
Send in the minimum contribution suggested above for the period you wish to book, (5 weeks: 500 euro, 1 week: 200 euro). I will send you the bank details via email. Just fill in the form below!
Is there internet?
What Should I Bring?
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste etc. all with natural bio/organic ingredients)
• Cash in Euro
• Loose, comfortable clothes, slippers for inside, hot water bottle for the night
• There are plenty pillows there, but if you have a pillow for sitting meditation that works for you, bring it. And yoga mat if it’s easy for you to bring. There are a few there already.
• Foods for those with special dietary needs
• Flashlight
• USB cables to charge what you need to charge on the solar powered hubs. (To charge the computer and things like that we would need to turn on the generator)
• Notebook and pen
• Instruments : )
Book Now
Retreat with:
Sarah Tulivu
Sarah Tulivu / Fong Yi has been training in Taiji & Qigong and sitting meditation on a daily basis for 11 years. During that time about 6 years were passed in a Tao Temple and monastery, living a full-time monastic lifestyle.
She was then advised by her main teacher, Master Waysun Laio, and Master Chang to leave the Tao Temple and carry the practice into life in the world – as her Temple, sharing the practice with those who cross her path.
“Carrying the practice in a life in the world has been a wonderful journey, filled with lessons, beauty, challenge, friendship and heart. It’s been a joy and honor to share the practice with some of the most incredible individuals, and I look forward to delving deeper into the mystery together.”