Allow about 2 hours for driving time from Austin, or 1 1/2 hours from downtown Houston. Please try to arrive between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday evening so that you will have time to fill out necessary paperwork, unpack and settle in. If you know you will be arriving later that 8 p.m. please let us know.

We will share a light Dinner at 8 p.m. We will start our first workshop on Mind Mapping at 8:30 p.m. and follow up with a 'get acquainted' activity.

The retreat will officially last until 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, and facilities must be vacated by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening. In case of an emergency you can be reached at (800) 836-4757, but try to avoid unnecessary calls to this number as it disturbs any classes in progress.

Center: The buildings at the Margaret Austin Center are grouped near the center of a 40-acre tract that includes along its western border a creek and 8 acres of woods. The building site was chosen for its sheltering cluster of tall native pecan trees and its view of gently rolling hills to the east. The first building constructed (1969) was a delightful experiment in architectural form that served as a weekend house for Margaret Austin. As buildings were added - a small barn, a meditation hall, a second farmhouse, a community kitchen and dining hall - oaks and other trees were planted, creating today a sizable grove surrounded by meadows.

Food: 6 meals will be provided starting with a light meal Friday night, through lunch on Sunday. The meals will be vegetarian, but should more than satisfy most appetites. In the spirit of healthy pleasures I do not wish to deprive any one, so if there is anything you would like to bring, like coffee or snacks, please do. If you have special dietary needs please let me know in advance so we can make arrangements.

Format of Retreat: I have set up a 3 day schedule of Yoga Classes, Lectures, Workshops, Meditation Sessions, meals and Free Time which will be included in your hand out packet when you arrive. Please feel free to participate or pass on any or all of the events as your interest, energy and mood dictates. Some times a massage, a nap, or a walk might seem more appropriate than a yoga class or a workshop. We will also encourage group discussion. Often the best insights come from the participants themselves.

Massage Therapy: We will have two registered massage therapists joining us for the weekend who will offer therapeutic massage for $60/hr.

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What to Bring

You will need to bring the following -

Comfortable clothing for Yoga Classes;
Yoga 'sticky mat' if you have one;
out door clothing for walking;
sheets, warm blankets (or sleeping bag) & pillows for single bed;
towels and toiletries (including soap).

Optional items are:

pen and paper for taking notes;
camera;
musical instruments;
insect repellant;
umbrella (just in case);
recreational equipment (frisbee, binoculars etc.);
hammock;
floor pillows for main meeting room;
your own meditation stool or blanket;
books that you would like to share with others.

Books: We will set up a table with a wide range of books and magazines relating to yoga, spirituality, meditation, philosophy, fiction etc. Participants will be free to borrow any of these books, but must return them to the table when not in use. If you have a favorite book or books you would like to share for the duration of the retreat, please write your name on the inside cover and bring them with you to add to the collection.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or requests please call me at (512) 459-2267, or email at charles@yogateacher.com I look forward to seeing you at the retreat soon. Namaste'