Zenyu is excited to offer the 4th Annual Spiritual Wilderness Retreat for People of Color September 19-21, 2014. Yoga, guided meditation, gorgeous hiking opportunities in the world-famous Icicle Creek Canyon and the Enchantments, bonfires under the stars, and delicious food will be offered throughout the weekend, as well as ample time for solitary reflection and exploring. It has been a time of Great Change and there is no better place to seek healing and clarity than in the powerful presence of Nature, and with other like-hearted people. We will be camping and will have no access to cell service, electricity or other distractions, giving us a rare chance to reflect and go inward in healing community with wonderful people. For those who are new to the outdoors, this is a gentle introduction to the wilderness. We expect good weather, fall foliage, and a powerful healing adventure.

WHEN: September 19-21, 2014. Participants should plan to leave Seattle by 9AM on Friday, Sept 19 in order to get the most out of our time away. We will return by 8PM on Sunday, Sept 21.


WHERE: Ida Creek Campground in the Icicle Creek Canyon near Leavenworth, WA. We will be hiking nearby as well as in the world-famous Enchantments region of the North Cascades.

COST: $85-185 sliding scale ($85 covers the basic cost of food, accommodation and organizing costs but no compensation for leaders). Limited work-exchange scholarships available.

REGISTRATION: Spots will fill up quickly so please email Christine Cruz Guiao at christineguiao@gmail.com to receive a registration form. A non-refundable (but transferable if we find someone to take your spot) deposit of $50 is necessary to hold your space. The remaining balance will be due August 31, 2014.

Posted on June 28, 2012
Zenyu is excited to offer the 2nd Annual Spiritual Wilderness Retreat for People of Color September 21-23, 2012. Yoga, guided meditation, sound healing, gorgeous hiking opportunities, bonfires under the stars, and delicious food will be offered throughout the weekend, as well as ample time for solitary reflection and exploring. If 2012 has been a wild ride for you, then there is no better place to seek healing and clarity than in the powerful presence of Nature, and with other like-hearted people. For those who are new to the outdoors, this is a gentle introduction to the wilderness. We expect good weather, fall foliage, a beautiful waxing Harvest moon, and a powerful healing adventure.
WHEN: September 21-23, 2012. Participants should plan to leave Seattle by 12PM on Friday, Sept 21 in order to get the most out of our time away. We will return by 7PM on Sunday, Sept 23.
WHERE: TBD!
COST: $125-225 sliding scale ($125 covers the basic cost of food, accommodation and organizing costs but no compensation for leaders). Limited work-exchange scholarships available.
REGISTRATION: Spots will fill up quickly so please email Christine Cruz Guiao at christineguiao@gmail.com to receive a registration form. A non-refundable (but transferable if we find someone to take your spot) deposit of $50 is necessary to hold your space. The remaining balance will be due September 7, 2012.
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ABOUT US:

 Christine Cruz Guiao is a Brooklyn-born, Northwest-grown Pinay mystic artist and healer, who has explored and worshipped in wildernesses all over the world, including the Canadian Rockies, the Himalayas, Alaska, and her own wild heart. Born into the mystical Catholic tradition of her Philippine ancestors, she has also studied for over 15 years with esteemed teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, yoga, and the Earth-based spiritualities of the Coast Salish, Aleut and Native Hawaiian people. She has led regular meditations for People of Color for 6 years and has guided urban POCs in unforgettable wilderness adventures, believing that true empowerment comes from identification with our Highest and Best Self. She is Founder and Co-Director of Zenyu. For more information, check out: http://www.tawahealingworks.com

Nari Baker grew up on a small organic farm on Vashon Island that included a multitude of animals, family, community, and flowers. As a youth, she backpacked in the Cascade and Olympic mountains and sailed in the Puget Sound waters with her family. In 2009, Nari began a serious yoga practice and started teaching in 2011. As a new teacher, she is humbled and inspired by her teachers at Seattle Yoga Arts and students at POC Yoga and Rainier Health & Fitness. Nari deeply believes in the transformative healing powers of yoga, and embodiment as a radical tool of resistance for people of color.

Originally Posted on October 20, 2011
We’ve decided not to host our monthly hike this Saturday, October 22nd.  As folks may know, there has been much activity this past week by People of Color to heighten racial awareness and decolonize the Occupy Seattle movement.  A Day of Solidarity has been announced for Saturday, October 22nd, with events starting at noon at Westlake Center. To do what we can to support, we will instead host a group meditation to support the People of Color (POC) Caucus in the Peoples Movement Rally (part of Occupy Seattle). We will then take the Light Rail to Westlake together to join in activities.

We feel it is important for people of color to have a voice in mainstream progressive & radical movements.  We also recognize that many POC’s have not felt safe to participate fully in the Occupy Seattle protest. As an organization, Zenyu does not support polarizing and fear-based politics.  Instead, we strive to remember the inherent goodness of all people, including the top 1%, while at the same time holding all people responsible for their actions in creating a just world.   We view these exciting times of Great Earth Change as unique and much-needed opportunities to practice compassion, remember our shared humanity, and join in the creation of a world that actually serves Life.

So join us Saturday.  Let’s bring the glorious light of our Souls to this mofo!!  Any questions? Email us at zenyuseattle@gmail.com!

WHAT: Pre-march Meditation & Centering ceremony

WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 10 AM.

WHERE: Occupy Yummy House & Temple (a.k.a. Hilda, Christine & April’s House)

2828 S. Frontenac, Seattle, WA 98108

across from the Van Asselt Community Center, on Bus route 36, off of Beacon & Myrtle

After the Meditation, we’ll carpool to Othello Station down the hill and Light Rail it to Westlake.

And if you need to borrow a rainjacket (it’s gonna rain), we’ll hook you up!

Details of the march and rally: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=207983679270672

Posted on September 15, 2011
“First, their whole spiritual practice should be enveloped by the principles of metta (lovingkindness). Then they should be taken out into nature, into beautiful forests or mountains. They must stay there long enough to realize that they too are a part of nature. They must rest there until they too can feel harmony with all life and their proper place in the midst of all things.” – Buddhadasa, Thai Buddhist monk and philosopher

In many spiritual traditions all around the world, people journey into the wilderness for contemplation and (re)connection to the Divine.  In honor of the profound healing that we have personally received from the gifts of the Great Mother (Nature, Wilderness, whatever you wanna call Her!) and excited from the success of the first hike this past month, we are thrilled to announce that we will be organizing a monthly hike for People of Color on the 3rd  or 4th Saturday of every month.  The date will depend on organizer schedules and the unique gifts of each season (for instance, the September hike may be the 4th Saturday in order to catch the stunning fall foliage in the sub-alpine ecosystem).

We will be exploring and wandering through the mountains, rivers, and ocean wildernesses of the Pacific Northwest, primarily Washington, but forays and longer wilderness retreats in other states and Canadian provinces will also be dreamt up and then miraculously manifested in the future.

The goal of these wilderness adventures is to bring healing to communities of color through the Original Path: communing with each other and (re)connecting to All Living Beings by being out in nature, feeling the precious gift of your body.  There will be no preaching and no dogma, though we do ask that all who choose to come adopt, at least for the day, an attitude of nonviolence, openness and respect.  This is nonviolence in thought, word and action toward ourselves and others (individuals AND groups of people).  In other words, please don’t talk sh@$ about yourself or anybody else in the presence of the Mother!

COSTS: 1) gas money ($5-12 each time, depending on how many folks come and how far we venture)
2) if you have the means, offering to drive when you can
3) dana/love donation for organizing costs (so I can eat)!