Deliberate Stillness Day-long Meditation & Yoga Retreat

Muir Beach, CA, United States

DM
David Moreno
  • Email address verified
23 reviews
Oct 26, 2025
Group size: 1 - 24
Deliberate Stillness Day-long Meditation & Yoga Retreat
Muir Beach, CA, United States

David Moreno
  • Email address verified
23 reviews

Oct 26, 2025
Group size: 1 - 24

About this trip

A Day-long Meditation & Somatic Movement Retreat

Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center 1601 Shoreline Hwy, Muir Beach, CA 94965

9:00 am – 5:00 pm 


Enter the green silence of redwoods. Slip into the quite subtle experience of kriya, pranayama, and mindful meditation practices. Delve into Deep Flow Yoga and guided Yoga Nidra periods for a replenished you.  During free time, take a peaceful walk to Muir Beach or through the  fertile organic farm of Green Gulch Zen Center. Lunch will come from  their lush gardens. This full-day retreat is a gift to yourself, a  chance to stretch both body and mind–a silent holiday.


This silent day-long retreat will move between asana practice and  sitting or “abiding.” Asana portions will not only be designed to take us deeply into profound states of consciousness but will also be  designed to enable us to sit more effortlessly once hips and legs have  been opened systematically.  Lunch and free time will also be done as a  silent practice.


"THE DELIBERATE STILLNESS: MEDITATION & YOGA DAY-LONG DELIVERED ME FROM CHRONIC HIGH ANGST ABOUT THE WILDFIRES ENCIRCLING NORTHERN CA AT THIS TIME TO A SPACIOUS INNER CALM AND EXPANSIVENESS THAT FEELS LIKE I AM LIVING BEYOND THE EGO MIND.  AND IN THIS STATE, I FEEL ALERT BUT NOT HYPER-VIGILANT, PHYSICALLY WORKED BUT RESTORED AND LIGHTER IN SPIRIT AKIN TO JOY.  IT WAS A NOTEWORTHY OBSERVATION TO EXPERIENCE THIS EXPANSIVE FREEDOM IN OUR LAST MEDITATION FOLLOWING THE YIN PRACTICE.  THESE TWO PRACTICES TOGETHER HAVE A POWER I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED.  I HOPE TO DO MORE OF THIS WITH YOU IN YOUR CLASSES AND RETREATS AS WE MOVE INTO THE MYSTERY TOGETHER"  MANY MANY HUGS OF GRATITUDE FROM MY SEQUESTERED LIFE IN OAKLAND"

–MICHELLE

What’s included

The retreat includes all instruction, a vegetarian lunch, tea service, all props, time for hiking or walking through the farm and gardens, or a stroll on Muir Beach.


RETREAT SCHEDULE

This schedule is subjected to inspirations & impulses...

9:00 – Opening Circle

9:30-11: Qi Gong & Asana Practice
11:00-11:30 Pranayama & Meditation
11:30-12:30 Lunch Break
12:30-1:00 Yoga Nidra
1:00-2:00 Pranayama & Restorative Yoga
2:00-2:15 Break
2:30-3:30 Yin Yoga Practice
3:30-4:00 Abiding Meditation
4:00-4:15 Break
4:15-5:15 Deliberate Stillness

5:15-5:30 Closing Circle


Props: All yoga props, including yoga mats, are supplied. If you prefer to use your own, please bring them. Eye pillows are not included and easy to bring if you have one.


Space: We will be in the studio for this retreat. After lunch, there is time to stroll to Muir Beach.


Diet: A plant-based diet is best for this day, potentially the day before and after. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, oily and sugary foods. The organic lunch served at Green Gulch is vegetarian.


Silence: This is a silent retreat, with opportunities to talk during discussion periods. Maintain Noble Silence during the retreat, i.e., refrain from speaking to other participants, reading, writing, going online, using cell phones, or communicating with anyone outside of the retreat except for medical emergencies.


"Look between the thoughts, rather than at the thoughts. When you happen to walk in a crowd, you do not fight every person you meet - you just find your way between them." ~ Nisargadatta

Not included

Overnight accommodations before or after the retreat can be arranged separately through Green Gulch Farm (415.383.3134).

For more details, contact David at: [email protected]


Cancellations: 50% of your registration fee is non-refundable. Reservations canceled less than 30 days prior to the retreat date are 100% non-refundable.

What to Bring

Dress comfortably in layers. The yurt has an iron stove fire in it to  keep us warm should we need. Fog can roll in even on the warmest days,  or it might be sunny and warm throughout. 


Props are available on site but it is uncertain at this time of availability due to the pandemic. I'll know closer to our date. If not, please consider having the following props or prop alternative: Block, Bolster (cushion or blankets), Yoga Strap, Blankets, Eye Pillow.

Car Pool

Carpool options will be recommended for those of coming from the east bay or San Francisco. That will be arranged closer to the retreat date, once registration is completed.

Available Packages

Trip Price
Available until October 24, 2025
$185

Your Organizer


DM
David Moreno
23 reviews
David Moreno, ERYT 500, YACEP, SFT, has taught at international yoga conferences, festivals, universities, and teacher trainings worldwide. He has worked privately with students in the fashion and entertainment industries as well as professional athletes. Among those athletes taught include the U.S. Olympic Men’s Swim team coaches for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has worked as a product advisor and ambassador for the Canadian Athletica Company, Lululemon, is a certified Pilates instructor, Somatic Fitness Trainer and, an ordained minister. His yoga commentaries have been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International, LA Yoga Magazine, and Common Ground. His dance criticism and reviews are featured Culture Vulture. David is also the creator and producer for Yoga DVDs, electronic books, Yoga Nidra downloads, and subscription yoga classes for Yoga Vibes. He is known for his keen sense of humor, making his teachings fun and informative. David lives in San Francisco, CA.

Reviews

JR
Profound weekend of meditation, yoga, and community!
By John R for Deliberate Stillness Weekend Retreat 2024 on Jun 25, 2024
Incredible transformative experience!
By Ned M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 20, 2024
JM
i had a great time every day and evening on the stunning property. My treehouse #18 was just gorgeous, and amazing with our attached full bathroom perched up off the ground, and falling asleep every evening to the sound of the breaking waves was so serene. Delicious food was offered at every meal, and i adored helping out at the neighboring turtle sanctuary to bury harvested turtle eggs, and witness the newly-hatched baby turtles enter the sea. Everything was so thoughtfully laid out and executed so well, and the staff is so happy and pleasant. The outreach to the farm production and water conservation for the greater watershed is SO impressive and transformative to the local communities. What you all are doing is a game changer for your greater ecosystem, given the recent & disturbing shifts in the local climate. You are doing more with less, and empowering the local peoples to learn and teach these practices to others. Outstanding work. It was a privilege to stay at Playa Viva. Profound Thank you.
By James M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 17, 2024
David's humor and wisdom shone through, as always. Lovely people in an amazing setting. Thank you!
By Ted O for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2023 on Feb 10, 2023
It was an incredible day of self-reflection and growth. David is a wonderful leader, full of wisdom, humor and warmth. He made meditation very approachable and I found myself falling into my medidations much more easily by the end of the day and with subsequent meditations at home. I could eat the food at Green Gulch all day long, and it was so fullfilling to nourish both my body and soul at the same time. I can't wait to go back for another journey beyond the self with David.
By Lesley Z for Deliberate Stillness Day-long Retreat 2023 on Nov 22, 2022
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References

Abhimanyu (David,) I’m glad I waited to tell you about my experience in New Mexico, because I wasn’t aware of how much it would affect me now that I’ve returned to my “normal life.” There was a sadness that I think we all felt when we had to say goodbye to our magical alternate reality we shared, and you helped create for us, in those mountains full of deep wisdom. But since I left the retreat I’ve felt a return to something that I forgot, or missed within me. I’ve taken so many tools for my own spiritual practice from this that I honestly did not expect, I’m so grateful. And like Wolf said, “so inspired by you!” I feel a deep connection with everyone who shared this experience with me, and I think they would agree that this was a transformative experience, to say the least. I would sincerely encourage anyone to do something like this. Going into this I was in a particularly worn down place, emotionally, but yoga has allowed me to transcend that and be in the moment, and cultivate a practice, both spiritually and physically that is nothing short of amazing. Like my mom said, this is a turning point for me, and I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my practice is bolstered by, and draws upon the truly transformative experience I’ve had at the Jemez retreat. I am eternally grateful! THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, much love.
By Marlowe K on 08 Nov, 2016
David's trip "Journey to Petra" was an unforgettable trip that was so much more than Petra. The community, the yoga, the food, the sights, the time spent walking the roads of ancient civilizations put so much of my daily life into better perspective. This was some combination of retreat and adventure in a land that holds history of mythic proportion. Seeing this part of the world was also a humbling experience that brought me compassion and understanding for past and present political, religious and social events. I am changed and I would do this Journey again in a heartbeat.
By Ceri, D on 12 Oct, 2016
My personal highlight of the trip was the famed Wadi Rum desert stay with an early morning camel ride with the Bedouins and an exquisite "glamping" private tent stay. Every moment was like a dream, steeped in age old history and beauty beyond explanation...
By Kevin, S on 12 Oct, 2016
Show More References