Cultivating awareness, embodying change

This four day yoga and meditation course is designed for serious students (from keen beginners to experienced practitioners) who wish to explore the connection between mindfulness (sati in the ancient language of the Buddha) and the classical eight limb system of yoga.
The practice of mindfulness in meditation can be readily applied to the practice of physical asana, using classical hatha yoga postures. This course explores how to practice with awareness, to bring our mind back to its essential embodiedness, to connect and stay with our breath, to recognize emotions and thoughts as they arise, how they distract us, how they pass away. Within this approach, meditation, relaxation and breath training form an important part of the practice. The principles of mindfulness then inform the practice of yoga asana and lead to a deeper integration. We learn to cultivate both active and receptive attention, gaining insights into how this integrated practice can be applied to other aspects of our lives as a tool for transformation.

The day starts with a 30 minute meditation session, followed by a 2 and a half hour yoga session. Attention will be paid to developing and refining our breath awareness  and to applying this awareness in our asana practice. Initially working with simple postures, we learn to create a sense of spaciousness in our bodies while also working with gravity to establish strength and stability at the base of each asana. Over the course of the retreat, we explore sun salutations, various types of postures  and will play with the relationships between simple, foundation postures and more advanced asanas.
A delicious brunch follows the morning yoga session. At 5 pm, we meet again for an afternoon yoga class which will include a more restorative practice and some yogic breathing.  A delicious and creative vegetarian three course dinner follows. We finish the day with a 30 minute sitting meditation session.

This course would be of interest to keen beginners as well as experienced practitioners, and especially to anyone who has done an 8 week MBSR course. Yoga teachers are also welcome.