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SunDo is a practice that brings balance to the body, mind and spirit through Taoist postures, breathwork and meditation.
SunDo emphasizes breathing to engage the whole body, especially the lower abdominal area or navel chakra. A practitioner begins by lying down to learn breath technique and then advances to maintain various SunDo postures while breathing remains deeply rooted in the belly. Eventually, as the breath becomes stronger, one can guide Qi energy along the meridian pathways of the body to move stagnant energy, enliven the body and clear the mind.
Practice begins with a series of stretching exercises that loosen and relax the body, and concludes with a series of cool-down stretching exercises that circulate energy and promote healthy functioning of the internal organs. Lower abdominal breathing performed in a slower rhythm activates the parasympathetic nervous system which induces a more relaxed state of mind. This type of breathing meditation over time may also change how a person thinks, feels, reasons and reacts.
Physical health may improve along with a greater sense of creativity, self-awareness and joy!
In 1967, Taoist hermit Be-Kyung descended from the mountain practice and began teaching SunDo in Seoul, South Korea. Twelve years later in 1979 his protege, Master Hyunmoon Kim, brought SunDo-Taoist practice to the West. Since his arrival, Master Kim has been teaching SunDo across the US, Canada and Europe. As a PhD graduate of Philosophy in Human Science, Master Kim integrates contemporary western psychology with ancient eastern wisdom to teach the principles of SunDo and Taoism.
Website: Sundo.org
We utilize the following teachings and modalities, addressing both psyche and soma:
SunDo - lower belly breathing and spiritual energy work
Empowered Living Teaching Series
Alixir Embodiment - movement inquiry for self discovery
Cocrea - holistic relational dance
Alixir Dance - freeform DJ'd dance
Galaxy Creativity - energy painting
Bow Training - surrender and sincerity training
Practice Culture - integration in daily life
These practices are woven together so you can capture a new set point of inner freedom and empowerment.
CEO Embodied Recovery & SunDo Teacher
Greg Vorst is the CEO and cofounder of Embodied Recovery, a treatment center in Los Gatos supporting individuals to transform the suffering of addiction and mental health challenges into soul growth and embodied living. He and cofounder Michael Nolan are creators of the Empowered Living series—12 core teachings that facilitate psychological maturation and spiritual fulfillment. As a therapist, Greg supports clients to discover and undo the blocks to the awareness of love's presence so their inner light can be set free. His work with psyche is complimented by SunDo; a Korean Taoist form of embodied breathwork. In teaching SunDo, Greg assists clients in regulating their nervous system and developing greater capacity to be present to their feelings. With steady practice, people can recover from trauma and develop a profound sense of wellbeing.
Website
COO Embodied Recovery
Michael is the COO and cofounder of Embodied Recovery. Michael completed Bethany University’s Addiction Studies program in 2010, and became a certified addiction counselor level II in 2012. Michael’s work with clients is inspired by pioneers in the addiction treatment field including Dr. Barry Rosen, as well as by the works of John Bradshaw, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Pia Mellody, Brené Brown, Charles Whitfield, and Eckhart Tolle. In Michael's words, "In recovery I have been blessed with marriage, three beautiful children, a stable career, the ability to pay bills on time, and an experience of self-love that eluded me for years. I wholeheartedly believe that a life of recovery and service creates a greater sense of life-fulfillment, purpose, gratitude and inner peace."
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Korean Artist & Dancer
Seo Yujeong is a Korean artist and dancer. When she works on her paintings, she uses the energy of love, peace, and happiness that she has received through prayer and meditation. Seo works with her hands unconsciously, without being tied to anything. She is noted for her abstract techniques with unique colors and textures. She said “You can look at my paintings comfortably from multiple angles. The energy is different in the east, west, north, and south. The energy painting works are divided into black holes in the galaxy in the sky, earth, and people. The reason why I specifically dot the energy picture is because I feel that nature, the universe, and human beings all start from a single point. It’s about expressing your gratitude with all your heart for that one thing.”
Website
ALIXIR EMBODIMENT
Donna Carroll is a movement facilitator, training at Tamalpa Institute to become a registered Somatic Movement Therapist with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA). As a counselor and certified trauma-sensitive HeartMath practitioner, Donna works with adults facing addiction and mental health challenges. In the course of the last two decades, Donna has designed and produced thousands of conscious ecstatic dance events and training programs as founder of Alixir Dance. As a group leader, Donna utilizes movement, mindfulness, and music to bring about becoming, belonging and a relationship with the beyond for her clients. Her method, Alixir Dance, is informed by her work with her teachers Andrea Juhan of Open Floor International, Daria Halpbern of Tamalpa Institute, and Jenny Sauer Klein of AcroYoga.
Website
Movement Facilitator
Wren is celebrating his 24th year dancing! Teaching partner dance internationally as a practice for mindful, authentic living by facilitating his signature modality, Cocréa, is his joyful service. Using movement, he guides people towards right-relationship through listening and responding to, as well as inviting, allowing and embracing change. He is a celebrated TEDx speaker, featured author in “ReInhabiting the Village” and proponent of pioneering a new renaissance through connection and consensual touch. He is a Danyasa trained facilitator, former Awake at Work program facilitator, certified Attunement Therapy practitioner, Do Good Things with Power program graduate, Trauma-Sensitive HeartMath graduate and holds a BA in Drama and Dance from the University of Washington. Wren is as an addiction recovery counselor at Embodied Recovery.
WebsiteLocation
Green Mountain Retreat
19480 Bear Creek Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95033
Located about 25 minutes from the San Jose Airport in the Santa Cruz Mountains on 66 acres of majestic redwood and oak woodlands.
3:00 pm Arrival and Check-in
4:30 - 6:00 pm SunDo Practice
6:30 pm Embodied Recovery Five Year Anniversary Dinner Celebration
5:00 - 7:00 am SunDo Double Practice
7:00 - 8:00 am Silent Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 am Break
8:30 - 10:30 am Bow Practice & SunDo Clinic
10:30 - 11:30 Free Time
11:30 - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 3:30 pm Empowered Living Teaching - Farmer and The Cow
3:30 - 4:30 pm Free Time
4:30 - 5:45 pm SunDo Practice
6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9:00 pm Movement & Embodiment Practice
5:00 - 7:00 am SunDo Double Practice
7:00 - 8:00 am Silent Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 am Break
8:30 - 10:30 am Bow Practice & SunDo Clinic
10:30 - 11:30 Free Time
11:30 - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 3:30 pm Empowered Living Teaching - The Disease of the Lost Sense of Self
3:30 - 4:30 pm Free Time
4:30 - 5:45 pm SunDo Practice
6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9:00 pm Movement & Embodiment Practice
5:00 - 7:00 am SunDo Double Practice
7:00 - 8:00 am Silent Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 am Break
8:30 - 10:30 am Galaxy Creativity Workshop
10:30 - 11:30 Free Time
11:30 - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 3:30 pm Empowered Living Teaching - Radiant Being
3:30 - 4:30 pm Free Time
4:30 - 5:45 pm SunDo Practice
6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner
7:30 - 9:00 pm Alixir Dance Celebration
5:00 - 7:00 am SunDo Double Practice
7:00 - 8:00 am Silent Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am Break
9:00 - 10:30 am Promotion Ceremony and Closure
