New Year sati yoga retreat
27/12/2023 - 01/01/2024
Sati Yoga New Year Retreat
Opening the Heart: Exploring the Brahmaviharas
On this five day Sati Yoga and Meditation retreat, we will explore the four qualities of the enlightened heart ( the brahmaviharas) through a balanced practice of meditation, breathwork, embodied asana practice and mindful movement.
27th December – 1st January
A very special intensive yoga and meditation retreat exploring the four qualities of the heart: friendliness, compassion, joy and balance, to enable us to transition smoothly from the old year to the new
What better way to reflect on the year that has passed and welcome new beginnings than by retreating to an island, to Macalla Farm, where you will be warmly welcomed to share in some quiet time of exploration and integration. In addition to discussion and interactive sessions, there will also be periods of extended silence.
A different way to spend this time of year – amongst good company, enjoying delicious food and shared explorations of embodied practice.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This unique course integrates a key Early Buddhist teaching with our contemporary approach to yoga – exploring how to cultivate the four qualities of the heart (Brahmaviharas) through meditation, embodied posture practice and breathwork. Using traditional teaching methods alongside innovative and interactive approaches, we aim to create a supportive environment in which we can explore our practice qualitatively, enabling us to bring these practices off the mat and into our daily lives.
Relevant to our mindsets at this particular time of year will be explorations of intention as well as wise effort. When cultivating an ‘open heart’, what is the role of intention? How can we understand in our bodies the concept of ‘wise effort’ especially in relationship to the Brahmaviharas? The classical formulations of stability and ease, effort and relaxation become guiding principles as we meditate, breathe, move, become still again.
On the 31st December, there will be a day of silence culminating in a late evening meditation after which we welcome in the new year – and talk again!
This retreat is suitable for anyone who has done any form of yoga and has some experience of meditation. We welcome those who are experienced yogis/teachers who wish to further explore their present practice. And while keen beginners are also welcome -please get in touch to discuss as this is an intensive course with considerable time spent in the yoga room.
Please note that this course involves periods of silence, including the entirety of the last full day, so please get in touch if you have questions as to whether it is suitable for you. To truly gain the benefits of being on retreat, we will also ask students to turn off phones and any other electronic devices while you are here on the farm.
No alcoholic beverages are served or consumed during this course, so please respect others by not bringing alcohol with you.
TRAVELLING TO THE ISLAND IN WINTER
When planning your travel, please note that this is winter! Getting out to the island can be an adventure in itself, but we are here to help you navigate your way!
Weather permitting, count on a late afternoon boat around 5pm leaving Roonagh on the first day, and a morning boat returning on the 2nd. We’ll be in touch on the 27th to give a full update on the travel arrangements.
We’ve run these courses the last two decades and things have always worked out though sometimes with alterations to the original plan. So it is important to state that weather conditions sometimes dictate changes to the arrangements. There may be only one boat per day for example, with the sailing time changed and/or frequently, a different harbour used. In worst case scenarios, sailings may even be cancelled in extremely bad weather.
It is best to have the first day of the course free, should travel times change. We’ll be able to give you a heads up to the possibility of any need for changes about a week in advance.
Also note:
If you are travelling from abroad, you will need to arrive in Ireland the day before the course begins, spending a night either in Dublin or (preferably) Westport with your return home the day after the last day of the retreat – so allowing a day on either side.
Get in touch with us if you have any questions about your travel plans, especially if you are coming from abroad.
ACCOMMODATION
Price is based on shared accommodation. Single rooms available on a limited, first come first serve basis at an additional cost of €150. Click here to view our Accommodation Page
PRICE
In line with our three tier pricing policy:
- Standard cost of this retreat is €890, please pay this price if you can
- Supported rate is €750 for those who can’t afford the full fee
- Supporter rate of €1030 is available for those who would like to support our work and encourage us to continue offering a supported rate on our courses.
Please note that single rooms are only available to those paying the Standard or Supporter rate
A 50% deposit, payable online by Paypal or by bank transfer, is required at the time of booking.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
These prices include:
- Five nights in shared accommodation. Single rooms are available on a limited, first come first served basis with an extra charge of €150.
- All meals (delicious organic vegetarian food, all vegetables grown on our farm)
- 10 yoga and 6 meditation sessions, equivalent to over 25 hours of tuition
RETREAT TIMETABLE
27th
5.00 pm Leave Roonagh pier**
around 6.00 pm Arrive at the farm, settle in
6:30 pm Dinner followed by introductions and course outline
8.00 pm Introduction to meditation
28th,29th and 30th
8.00 am Morning session
11.00 am Brunch then free time for hill walking, reading, relaxing in front of the fire
4.30 pm Afternoon session
7.00 pm Dinner
8.30 pm Evening meditation / yoga nidra
31st – Silent day
8.00 am Morning session
11.00 am Brunch then free time for hill walking, reading, relaxing in front of the fire
4.30 pm Afternoon session
7.00 pm Dinner
11.30 pm – Silent meditation to the New Year
1st
9,00 am Morning session & closing
11.30 am Brunch
12.30 pm Depart farm for 1pm ferry*
*times and details of schedule subject to change
**times for arrival and departure on the ferry subject to change due to weather conditions