Shambhala Mountain Center Blog

At Shambhala Mountain Center, we are pleased to offer a new program with Alberto Villoldo, founder of the Four Winds Society and teacher of shamanic healing.

As a young clinical professor at San Francisco State University, Villoldo studied the use of energy healing to increase the production of endorphins, the natural brain chemicals responsible for reducing pain and for creating ecstatic states. At the time, his primary tool for research was the microscope. But it did not take long for Villoldo to realize that there were people around the globe obtaining the same results without of the use of Western science. With this realization, Villoldo hung up his lab coat, put on a pair of hiking boots and bought a ticket to the Amazon to meet the Inca in Peru.

While with the Inca, Villoldo studied shamanism, a five-thousand year-old energy medicine that heals through spirit and light. For more than ten years he traveled the Amazon and trained with jungle medicine people. What he discovered was a set of sacred technologies that transform the body, heal the soul and change the way we live and die. The medicine people explained to Villoldo that we are surrounded by a Luminous Energy Field whose source is located in infinity. The Luminous Energy Field is a matrix that maintains the health and vibrancy of the physical body.

Today, Villoldo teaches us through seminars, retreats and books that the experience of infinity can heal and transform us and that is can free us from feeling trapped by illness, old age and disease. By understanding that you are more than flesh and bone but more spirit and light, Villoldo believes you can change the way you heal and age.

Come experience the wisdom and power of Alberto Villoldo’s teaching at Shambhala Mountain Center’s upcoming course, The Shaman’s Way of Healing: An Introduction to Healing the Luminous Body. Contact us today to learn more.

Do you experience pain in any part of your body? Have you considered meditating to relieve that pain? There are simple and easy meditation techniques that you can do to help get rid of body pain. Meditation for pain relief has been used for ages the world over. While meditation has the reputation for spiritual and religious purposes, it can also be used for relaxation and making the mind calm.

To relax your body and mind and ultimately reduce your pain, find a place where you won’t be interrupted and focus your concentration on an object, the posture itself, or even the rhythm of your breathing. Once in a comfortable position and in focus you can move into a detached state.

Recent studies have proved that even twenty minutes of meditation can help to reduce your blood pressure, your breathing and heart rate, slow the metabolism and reduce muscle tension. Entering into the deeper states sometimes brings on colorful swirls and pictures as well as voices inside of you. Additional studies have shown that meditation can also help to relieve anxiety and stress, migraines, headaches, depression, fatigue, chronic pain, and insomnia.

The good news is that with better self awareness, comes a better state of health and well-being in mind as well as body. Soon you will find yourself functioning much better than you thought possible. Though traditional use of meditation was to be seen in spiritual well being, recent popularity is due to its ability to relieve stress and achieve a relaxed tranquil state of mind in the midst of the rat-race.

Want to learn how to meditate? How about deepening your practice? Shambhala Mountain Center has meditation classes and retreats for all levels. Contact us today to learn more.

Spiritual retreats, like those held at Shambhala Mountain Center, are more popular than ever. People are flocking to these retreats because as their world becomes more stressful, they seek an outlet to find peace, meaning and inner strength. The concept of a retreat is flexible. It can be part of a formal program or it can be an independent retreat and renewal time. Your retreat can be a personal journey or done with a friend. And rather than being about religion, retreats are more focused on spirituality and thus open to people of all faiths. If you are searching for your personal freedom and happiness and a loving and supportive environment, a spiritual retreat is for you.

After a spiritual retreat you will no doubt be restored in heart and soul and feel refreshed. So, in today’s often chaotic world, it is no wonder spiritual retreats have become so popular. This type of retreat is a powerful and transforming experience for all who attend. Many people repeat this experience time after time and make it a yearly event.

There are many spiritual programs and retreats to choose from. But because of their popularity, they are often booked months in advance. So even if you are just considering attending one, it doesn’t hurt to start looking now and requesting information. Offered throughout the year, spiritual retreats can be as short as one day to a weekend to a full month. Shambhala Mountain Center, for example offers weeklong and weekend retreats.

Once you’ve completed your retreat, you will cherish the  inner growth you have experienced during the retreat. You will feel renewed and ready to re-enter your everyday life, while perhaps pining to leave again and participate in yet another spiritual retreat.

Explore all of the spiritual retreats Shambhala Mountain Center has to offer. We offer a selection of programs year round in our pristine, natural setting. Contact us today to learn more.