This intensive retreat
is a joint collaboration between Emil
and Sue, a Vinyâsa yoga teacher
and dance/ theatre artist. Sue is also
a musician (violonist), and brings to
our retreat a wonderful creativity,
a movement and an ecstatic letting-go.
Sue teaches most, but not all of the
Âsanas, and of course the Kirtan
and creative afternoon workshops. It
leaves Emil with the classic, more ascetically-oriented
instruments of yoga: Prânâyâma,
Mantras and Mudrâs, as tools for
a still meditation. We will also have
quite some exposure to yoga philosophy
- dedicated to the understanding of
India in general, and of what we are
doing every day on the mat or the meditation
cushion (in ordinary life, I am an instructor
in yoga teacher trainings).
This particular workshop, however, is
not addressed to teachers only. The
Âsana section is a vinyâsa
flow - Hatha Yoga background - with
inspiring twists and tempi, and quite
some depth. Both Sue and me, though,
are not considering Âsanas our
main focus - so perhaps you won’t
reach new heights if you have perfected
the physical as a master of Ashtanga
Vinyâsa, or Hatha. We both feel
that there are so many good Âsana
teachers out there, and then a considerable
lack of instructors in the deeper practices
- filling part of those gaps is where
we feel home.
Prânâyâma is an essential
part of the retreat. It'll entail a
bouquet of breath work, in the Indian
tradition. Ujjayi, Sama Vritti, Viloma,
Nadi Shodhana, etc to start with in
the first week, then work with stonger
retentions, and Mantras and Kriyâs,
in the second. I am confident that within
these Prânâyâmas introduced
there is a deeper experience for all
the participants and lots to progress
for the intermediate to advanced yogin.
The accommodation at the Satsanga Retreat
Center (www.satsangaretreat.com) is more than decent. Bathrooms
attached, water flowing, beds of good
quality….. not too noisy, still
only 15 minutes by scooter from the
beaches of Baga, Anjuna or Vagator.
The food is prepared by a chef flown
in from Europe, and her wonderful local
team. The yoga practice space is superb,
with wooden flooring. The owners might
even have the swimming pool with the
jacuzzi ready…. it doesn’t
like the demanding Indian Ashram venture,
does it …. But then we are still
in India, and that means that things
can (or do I say: must) go wrong. OM
Namah Shivâya!
The cost is English Pounds 675 on a
double occupancy basis. That includes
accommodation, all food on site, all
tuition. Not included are the flights
and the transfers from airport or train
station, and, if desired, the rent for
a motorcycle or scooter. You can see
some pictures and some more information
on Sue’s website
www.yogaonashoestring.com
Sue's site will also have the details
of the advance amount (English Pounds
75) to be paid, to secure your seat
in this retreat.
The retreat hotel only accommodates
20 persons, so all the rooms are booked
on double basis. According to our experience,
these slots fill around mid-November,
so I suggest to make the final decision
early.
For those that come a bit late, or wish
for a single room, or bring their families,
we help to find accommodation nearby
about - 10 minutes by scooter. Don’t
worry too much, it has worked out perfectly
during all other years.
Participants who have registered with
the advance amount will receive a letter
with more details around the beginning
of December.
I am looking forward to seeing you in
India! |
