Omaha Yoga Path Post
Mindfulness Retreat in the Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
The Honey Locust Sangha Spring Retreat
Learn to Love Again
Throughout the weekend we will practice:
Supported by the peace of the natural surroundings
and the strength of our sangha.
Registration is now open!
REGISTER FOR THE RETREATSpace is limited. Please register by April 18.
Please note that a donation to Zeffy on the registration form is optional–opt out if you choose to pay for registration only.
about the Teacher: Joe Reilly (he/him)
Joe Reilly is a singer, songwriter, social worker, and Dharma teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Joe was ordained into the Order of Interbeing by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village Community in 2011, receiving the Dharma name True Ocean of Grace. In 2021, Joe received Transmission of the Lamp at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California, becoming an ordained Dharma teacher.
Joe was raised Catholic and currently studies and practices progressive Catholicism, Native American spirituality, and engaged Buddhism. He has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh since 2004 and is often found singing and writing songs on spiritual retreats, weaving music and mindfulness together in deeply moving ways.
Joe lives in Waawiyatanong/Detroit, where he co-leads the Building Beloved Community Sangha. He is of Cherokee, Choctaw, Italian, and Irish descent and identifies as Native American.
Joe is part of the teaching community at the Lotus Institute alongside his Dharma mentors Dr. Larry Ward, Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, and Kaira Jewel Lingo. He is also mentored by Barbara Newell.
Held in the tranquil setting of the
Held in the tranquil setting of the
Creighton University Retreat Center
It is a quiet place in nature, near Griswold Iowa, about 45 minutes from Omaha. CURC is a full-service retreat center with excellent meeting/conference rooms, overnight facilities, dining hall, and chapel.
The comfortable facilities and hospitable environment are set in 157 acres of wooded area, with ambling trails along a river teeming with wildlife, song birds, and a sublime night sky.
Retreat Format
This residential retreat is designed for both beginning and experienced practitioners. It will center on periods of sitting and walking meditation and Dharma talks by our teacher. There will be small-group Dharma discussions, meal meditations, and active, mindful work practice. Periods of silence will deepen and enrich the experience by allowing time for personal reflection.
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Feb 28, 2026, 12:23 PM
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Learn to Love Again
Throughout the weekend we will practice:
Supported by the peace of the natural surroundings
and the strength of our sangha.
Registration is now open!
Space is limited. Please register by April 18.
Please note that a donation to Zeffy on the registration form is optional–opt out if you choose to pay for registration only.
Our Dharma Teacher: Joe Reilly (he/him)
Joe Reilly is a singer, songwriter, social worker, and Dharma teacher in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Joe was ordained into the Order of Interbeing by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village Community in 2011, receiving the Dharma name True Ocean of Grace. In 2021, Joe received Transmission of the Lamp at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California, becoming an ordained Dharma teacher.
Joe was raised Catholic and currently studies and practices progressive Catholicism, Native American spirituality, and engaged Buddhism. He has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh since 2004 and is often found singing and writing songs on spiritual retreats, weaving music and mindfulness together in deeply moving ways.
Joe lives in Waawiyatanong/Detroit, where he co-leads the Building Beloved Community Sangha. He is of Cherokee, Choctaw, Italian, and Irish descent and identifies as Native American.
Joe is part of the teaching community at the Lotus Institute alongside his Dharma mentors Dr. Larry Ward, Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, and Kaira Jewel Lingo. He is also mentored by Barbara Newell.
We are deeply honored to welcome Joe to Honey Locust Sangha this spring.
Retreat Location
The retreat center offers peaceful wooded grounds, walking trails, comfortable lodging, and nourishing meals — an ideal setting for mindful practice and community connection.
Retreat Details
Begins: Thursday evening, May 14
Ends: Sunday afternoon, May 17
Retreat Cost (Same as Last Year!)
Thursday–Sunday Options
• Double Occupancy — $355
• Single Occupancy — $420
Friday–Sunday Options Also Available
The fee includes lodging, meals, retreat center costs,
and support for our teacher.
If cost is a concern, please reach out confidentially;
limited financial assistance may be available.
The Honey Locust Sangha / Omaha Community of Mindful Living is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Deep Relaxation
Deep Relaxation Practice
At the Yoga Path we are practicing being with the body. One of the ways to best do this to take time to rest and intentionally making a time to rest, and totally relax. Here are three links to help you do this. Please set aside a time to lie down and devote yourself to this practice. Turn off everything and make certain you give you time to taking care of yourself
- This is a 46 minute total relaxation narrated by Sr. Chau Nghiem
- This is a 35 minute total relaxation narrated by Sr. Dan Nghiem
- This is an 11 minute total relaxation narrated by Sr. Chan Khong
They are from the Plum Village tradition. Enjoy!
Why do this?
Resting is a precondition for healing. When animals in the forest get wounded, they find a place to lie down, and they rest completely for many days. They don’t think about food or anything else. They just rest and they get the healing they need. When we humans become overcome with stress, we may go to the pharmacy and get drugs, but we don’t stop. We don’t know how to help ourselves.
Stress accumulates in our body. The way we eat, drink, and live takes its toll on our well-being. The practice of deep relaxation provides an opportunity for our body to rest, to heal, and to be restored. We relax our body, give our attention to each part in turn, and send our love and care to every cell.
If you have trouble sleeping enough, the deep relaxation practice can compensate. Lying awake on your bred, you may like to practice total relaxation and follow your breathing in and breathing out. Sometimes it can help you to get some sleep. But even if you don’t sleep, the deep relaxation practice can help because it can nourish you and allow you to rest.
Mindful breathing, total relaxation of the body can be done at home at least once a day. It may last twenty minutes or longer. We can practice it either with a group, with our family or alone. When we do deep relaxation in a group, one person can guide the exercise using the guide below or some variation of it. When you do deep relaxation on your own, you may like to record an exercise to follow as you practice. One member of the family can lead the session for the whole family, perhaps in the living room.