Jay DeMaio and Kirby Moore are leading a summer retreat in June. See below for more info, please scroll down and read through the Agreements at the bottom before registering. We will ask you to sign a waiver before participating. You can download these here:
| retreat_waiver.docx |
| tgw_retreat_welcome_sheet.docx |
June 13–15, 2025
Charlottesville, VA (private garden location)
Step away from the busy world and into a peaceful garden. Join us for three days of calming practices, nourishing food, and quiet connection—with nature, community, and yourself.
Retreat Highlights
✨ Morning Qi Gong to awaken and energize the body
✨ Guided group meditations
✨ Walking meditation through garden pathways
✨ Zapchen somatics to calm and regulate the nervous system
✨ Traditional Buddhist smoke offering
✨ Fresh organic meals prepared with care and garden ingredients
Location:
A peaceful, private garden property 25 minutes from downtown Charlottesville, address provided upon registration
🛶 Tent camping spots included
🚗 Commuters welcome
Cost: $333 (Venmo, Zelle, check or cash payments)
($345 for credit card or PayPal payments)
Includes all meals, practices, and two nights’ stay (camping)
Schedule Overview
Friday: Arrival 3–5 PM · Tent Setup · Orientation · Dinner · Opening Circle · Evening Meditation
Saturday: Qi Gong · Walking Meditation · Zapchen Somatics · Buddhist Smoke Offering · Group Meditation · Free time to rest · Optional Tarot Readings
Sunday: Qi Gong · Connection with Nature · Zapchen · Lunch · Depart by 1 PM
To Register or Ask Questions
📧 [email protected] | [email protected]
📞 (434) 882-1437
*Space is limited to keep the group small and grounded.*
Charlottesville, VA (private garden location)
Step away from the busy world and into a peaceful garden. Join us for three days of calming practices, nourishing food, and quiet connection—with nature, community, and yourself.
Retreat Highlights
✨ Morning Qi Gong to awaken and energize the body
✨ Guided group meditations
✨ Walking meditation through garden pathways
✨ Zapchen somatics to calm and regulate the nervous system
✨ Traditional Buddhist smoke offering
✨ Fresh organic meals prepared with care and garden ingredients
Location:
A peaceful, private garden property 25 minutes from downtown Charlottesville, address provided upon registration
🛶 Tent camping spots included
🚗 Commuters welcome
Cost: $333 (Venmo, Zelle, check or cash payments)
($345 for credit card or PayPal payments)
Includes all meals, practices, and two nights’ stay (camping)
Schedule Overview
Friday: Arrival 3–5 PM · Tent Setup · Orientation · Dinner · Opening Circle · Evening Meditation
Saturday: Qi Gong · Walking Meditation · Zapchen Somatics · Buddhist Smoke Offering · Group Meditation · Free time to rest · Optional Tarot Readings
Sunday: Qi Gong · Connection with Nature · Zapchen · Lunch · Depart by 1 PM
To Register or Ask Questions
📧 [email protected] | [email protected]
📞 (434) 882-1437
*Space is limited to keep the group small and grounded.*
Your Facilitators
Jay DeMaio is a Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapist and dedicated practitioner of Internal Martial Arts based in Charlottesville, VA. At The Garden Within, Jay will lead morning Qi Gong and group check-ins, offering these practices as gentle, empowering ways to reconnect with the body’s innate wisdom and inner medicine. With over 15 years of training under Qigong Master Zhongxian Wu, Jay holds a five-year certification in Qigong, Qi Healing, and Internal Alchemy. His therapeutic approach is rooted in deep presence and compassion, drawing from extensive experience in Polyvagal Bodywork, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and his own transformative healing journey as a cancer survivor.
Kirby Moore is a longtime student of Tibetan Buddhism, with over 20 years of dedicated practice. Since 2012, he has offered workshops and retreats that weave together spirituality and embodied healing. In his private work, Kirby supports clients through Somatic Experiencing®, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, energy work, and Western Astrology. He is the founder of Trauma Informed Astrology, where he has been teaching since 2021. Deeply influenced by the guidance of heart-centered teachers and revered Tibetan Lamas, Kirby brings warmth, presence, and depth to all he offers—inviting others into a grounded path of resilience, insight, and inner awakening.
🌸 Turn inward. Root in presence. Bloom from within. 🌸
Jay DeMaio is a Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapist and dedicated practitioner of Internal Martial Arts based in Charlottesville, VA. At The Garden Within, Jay will lead morning Qi Gong and group check-ins, offering these practices as gentle, empowering ways to reconnect with the body’s innate wisdom and inner medicine. With over 15 years of training under Qigong Master Zhongxian Wu, Jay holds a five-year certification in Qigong, Qi Healing, and Internal Alchemy. His therapeutic approach is rooted in deep presence and compassion, drawing from extensive experience in Polyvagal Bodywork, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and his own transformative healing journey as a cancer survivor.
Kirby Moore is a longtime student of Tibetan Buddhism, with over 20 years of dedicated practice. Since 2012, he has offered workshops and retreats that weave together spirituality and embodied healing. In his private work, Kirby supports clients through Somatic Experiencing®, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, energy work, and Western Astrology. He is the founder of Trauma Informed Astrology, where he has been teaching since 2021. Deeply influenced by the guidance of heart-centered teachers and revered Tibetan Lamas, Kirby brings warmth, presence, and depth to all he offers—inviting others into a grounded path of resilience, insight, and inner awakening.
🌸 Turn inward. Root in presence. Bloom from within. 🌸
Agreements: before you register, please read through these agreements and let us know if you have any questions about them:
🌿 Welcome to The Garden Within
A Meditation & Somatic Retreat | June 13–15, 2025
Dear Friend,
We are so grateful to welcome you to this shared time of stillness, movement, breath, and inner tending. You’ve carved out space for yourself, and that is no small thing.
As we gather in community and step into this weekend of practice and reflection, we ask that you honor the following intentions and boundaries. These are in place to support the safety, harmony, and well-being of everyone present—including you.
🌼 Retreat Boundaries & Agreements
🌀 A Space for Inner Nourishment
This retreat is centered on self-care, nervous system restoration, and quiet reconnection with the body and breath. We invite you to soften expectations, rest deeply, and honor your own rhythm.
🌿 No Substances
To support clear awareness and gentle embodiment, we ask all participants to refrain from alcohol and recreational drug use for the duration of the retreat.
💗 A Sacred Pause from Sexual Activity
To create a unified field of introspection and healing, we ask that you abstain from sexual activity during the 48-hour retreat, whether solo or partnered. This includes romantic interactions between participants.
🌊 Emotional Safety & Readiness
If you are currently in the midst of intense emotional process work, crisis, or destabilization, this may not be the right container for you at this time. We lovingly encourage you to reach out to us about 1:1 or alternative support, which may be more appropriate and helpful.
🧘♀️ Your Presence Matters
This is a co-created, sacred space. Your respectful presence, willingness to listen, and care for yourself and others contribute to the depth and richness of what we will share together.
Thank you for joining us at The Garden Within. We look forward to practicing with you and tending the quiet places together.
Please let us know if you have any questions about or issues with the above agreements.
With gratitude,
Your Retreat Hosts
Jay, Kirby, Jess & Kathy
A Meditation & Somatic Retreat | June 13–15, 2025
Dear Friend,
We are so grateful to welcome you to this shared time of stillness, movement, breath, and inner tending. You’ve carved out space for yourself, and that is no small thing.
As we gather in community and step into this weekend of practice and reflection, we ask that you honor the following intentions and boundaries. These are in place to support the safety, harmony, and well-being of everyone present—including you.
🌼 Retreat Boundaries & Agreements
🌀 A Space for Inner Nourishment
This retreat is centered on self-care, nervous system restoration, and quiet reconnection with the body and breath. We invite you to soften expectations, rest deeply, and honor your own rhythm.
🌿 No Substances
To support clear awareness and gentle embodiment, we ask all participants to refrain from alcohol and recreational drug use for the duration of the retreat.
💗 A Sacred Pause from Sexual Activity
To create a unified field of introspection and healing, we ask that you abstain from sexual activity during the 48-hour retreat, whether solo or partnered. This includes romantic interactions between participants.
🌊 Emotional Safety & Readiness
If you are currently in the midst of intense emotional process work, crisis, or destabilization, this may not be the right container for you at this time. We lovingly encourage you to reach out to us about 1:1 or alternative support, which may be more appropriate and helpful.
🧘♀️ Your Presence Matters
This is a co-created, sacred space. Your respectful presence, willingness to listen, and care for yourself and others contribute to the depth and richness of what we will share together.
Thank you for joining us at The Garden Within. We look forward to practicing with you and tending the quiet places together.
Please let us know if you have any questions about or issues with the above agreements.
With gratitude,
Your Retreat Hosts
Jay, Kirby, Jess & Kathy