The practice of mindfulness in meditation can be readily applied to the practice of physical asana, using classical hatha yoga postures. Within this approach, meditation, relaxation and breath training are integral elements. Working with a variety of asana, this course explores how we can practice with an embodied awareness, observing emotions and thoughts as they arise, connecting and staying with our breath. By cultivating both active and receptive awareness, our yoga practice becomes both deeper and lighter: a sense of spaciousness and ease in our bodies develops while strength and stability results from a groundedness through gravity.

This course also introduces a unique approach to breath work, drawing from both classical yoga (pranayama) and Buddhist teachings on mindfulness of breathing, and shows how this approach can be applied in everyday life to manage our emotions, leading to happier, more fruitful life.

By the end of the retreat, students will have developed an understanding of how this integrated approach can become a tool of transformation within their own yoga practice as well as how it can be applied to other aspects of their lives.

The day starts with a 30 minute meditation session, followed by a 2 and a half hour yoga session. Over the course of the retreat, we explore sun salutations, a variety of hatha postures and will play with the relationships between simple, foundational postures and more complex asanas.

Brunch follows the morning yoga. There is free time until we meet again for an afternoon session, based around a more detailed exploration of yogic breathing.  The three-course  vegetarian dinner is prepared from vegetables that are grown on the farm. We finish the day with a 30-minute silent sitting meditation.

This course would be of interest to keen beginners as well as experienced practitioners, and especially to anyone who has an interest in meditation. (Those who have done an 8 week MBSR course may be particularly interested). Yoga teachers are also welcome.