Friday 6:00–9:00pm EST

Lecture, Meditation & Yoga Nidra: “Grounding Practice in the Heart” [all presenters]

Saturday 9:30–11am EST 

Vinyasa-based Yoga for Heart Opening [Campbell and Bonelli]

11:15–12:30pm EST

Lecture and Meditation: Reinforcing the Ground [urman & Campbell]

2:00–4:00pm EST

Lecture and Meditation: Reinforcing the Ground pt. II [urman & Campbell]

4:00–6:30pm EST

Tibetan Healing Yoga (Nejang) and Yoga Nidra [Campbell and Bonelli]

Sunday 9:00–11:30am EST

Tibetan and Hatha Yoga with Pranayama [Campbell and Bonelli]

The Vajra Yoga Urban Retreat Series presents 5 weekend-long yoga and meditation workshops for the study and application of the transformational interventions of the Buddhist and Hatha Yoga traditions. Inspired by insights of the great yogic civilization of India and Tibet, the 2025 Vajra Yoga Urban Retreat Series offers practitioners at all levels of experience the opportunity to experience the Buddhist and Classical Indian inner sciences and yogic arts under the guidance of expert teachers, John Campbell and Jamie Bonelli, led by world-renowned scholar of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism Robert Thurman.

The uniting theme of the Retreat Series is the Vajra YogaTM signature focus on the Haṭhayoga- Rājayoga entanglement (stated in the HaṭhayogaPradīpikā first verse), where positive mind vision of reality empowers life-purpose intention and energizes living immersed in joyful and easygoing sensitive yoga practice with rough practice and lecture sessions over the course of the weekends, presenters guide the group in the practices of analytic insight, energizing movement, and clarifying breathing grounded in compassionate concern for others. Students who have the time can fortify their transformative process by also joining the morning in person yoga practice sessions with Campbell and Bonelli at THUS during the weekdays

In the process, yoga students find that the simple act of cultivating realism in worldview, intensifies natural motivation, and yokes realistic determination to practice. Such shis not only bring relief from the suffering of self-preoccupation, with its “you can’t get no ... satisfaction” refrain, but also connects each of us with our authentic, joyful nature with its compassionate creativity. How totally cool, the yogic surge—intellectual and visceral—of the easy-going immersion in open-heartedness and spontaneous concern in response to our interconnectedness with all beings! Such a realistic attitude transforms our experience of and impact on the world.

Climbing up to Heaven: Four Immense Emotions, & e Four Element Goddesses Bob Thurman, John Campbell, and Jamie Bonelli

The  “Four Immense Emotions,” immense love, empathy, joy, and universal compassion are also known as the “four contemplations” (jhāna or dhyāna) “pure abodes” (brahma- viharas) and the “four immeasurables” (chatvaryapramānani) are summarized in a short prayer recited by virtually all traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Despite its apparent simplicity, recitation of and meditation on its verses remains a cherished expression of the essence of spiritual life. With reference to key teachings of the Indo- Tibetan inner science and the Raja Yoga traditions, in this retreat we will explore together the transformational power of altruistically-oriented, bliss-energized emotions. ese states attained by Indian and Tibetan yogis reach up into the realm of pure form/matter (rūpadhātu) which in Indian inner science cosmology are occupied by the 16 heaven level dwellings of “brahma-bodied deities” (brahmakāyikadeva), which the adept yogi meets in these meditative states. We will deliberate on the systematic methods of internally climbing up into these contemplative realms as do the various brands of critical insight (vipashyana/vipassana) meditation. We will also touch on the divinization of the primary elements as living enlightened goddesses.

Chairs are provided as needed for the Friday night lecture and Yoganidra meditation. Saturday’s yoga practice session involves active movement, so please dress accordingly. All practices can be adapted for students with physical limitations. Yoga mats are provided.