Commuting to San Francisco, chauffeuring the kids to games and practice sessions, trying to prepare daily organic meals from scratch, staying up to date on the latest in social media and technology…between real jobs and day jobs, families and social lives, folks in Marin are busy. Schedules and appointments fill iPhone and Blackberry calendars. Fortunately, when it’s time to unwind or just unplug, there are many options here in the North Bay.

For the ultimate in mindful living, there’s Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre. Tucked away on 400-acres in San Geronimo Valley, Spirit Rock is dedicated to the Buddha’s teachings in the vipassana tradition and programs range from individual classes to weeklong retreats. Renowned for its courses and programs, Spirit Rock has drawn the likes of the Dalai Lama, Alice Walker and Vietnamese leader Thich Nhat Hahn who have all taught or spoken there over the years. You may even run into Giants pitching ace Tim Lincecum.

 
 Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Photo by everydaybalance		Spirit Rock Meditation Hall
Photo by everydaybalance

 If you’re interested in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition of Buddhism, there’s Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, located near Muir Beach. Green Gulch inhabits over one-hundred acres and offers meditation retreats and zen studies, as well as tea gatherings and classes on the Way of Tea in the Green Gulch tea house, built in the traditional Japanese style, and hands-on work experience and instruction in organic farming and gardening.

If you don’t have a full day or week to dedicate but still want to sneak away for an hour or so of inner-peace, Marin has several yoga studios. Some of our favorites include Yoga Toes in Pt. Reyes Station, Yoga Works in Larkspur and Mill Valley, The Yoga Garden in San Anselmo, and Yoga Center of Marin in Corte Madera.

After releasing toxins through yoga, you can further cleanse your body with tea. As taught at Green Gulch, tea offers many benefits in healing and spirituality; even the ceremony of preparing, serving and enjoying tea can have benefits. In addition to the many tea and coffee shops, we are actually home to local purveyors Mighty Leaf and Republic of Tea, as well as Tea Fountain in Mill Valley. Our picks: Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean, Republic of Tea Mango Ceylon and Tea Fountain Coconut Cream. 

 
 Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
Photo by Günter Waibel		 

Not surprisingly, because this is Marin and we’re early adopters of social media, almost all of these tea and yoga businesses can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

If you prefer less structure and no fees, remember where you live: just head out the door and enjoy a secluded hike on Mt. Tam amongst the Redwoods, find a viewpoint on a bluff overlooking the ocean, relish the bay views from any bench in Tiburon or Sausalito, or simply let the sand massage your feet as you stroll on the beach. Breathe in the fresh air and relax.

Namasté.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors