Namaste!

Another season has come and gone at Asturias Yoga. For me, it has been a season of fulfilling many dreams as a Yoga teacher, a season of full immersion in teaching like never before, and of encounters with beautiful and authentic souls. I end the season feeling that nothing we could do could be more fulfilling, and I am deeply grateful for those of you who were here this year, for making it happen.

2022 saw the first Saoirse Yoga retreats, a style born right here in Asturias Yoga. The practice has evolved from years of teaching practice and observation of what is truly effective and inspiring given the powerful natural environment we live in. The Saoirse retreats on focussed guiding participants in developing their own most effective practice and included more meditation time in nature. Given the natural paradise we live in, I personally consider this to be the best we as teachers can offer. Saoirse is an evolution of our retreat offerings and a future direction and inspiration for Asturias Yoga. It was a great honour to have people travel from afar to participate. Both the Easter and September editions were high energy gatherings, amidst the natural elements and interpersonal sharing on a deep level occurred naturally.

As in previous years, there were two month-long Ashtanga teacher trainings. The August training saw a coming together of perhaps the most dedicated trainees we have ever had. Most mornings when I arrived in the shala at 6:45 a.m. to do my personal practice over an hour before teaching, I found it already populated with people meditating, studying or preparing for the upcoming Ashtanga session. By the end of the month, some of them were giving classes as though they had taught for years, classes that I would be happy to attend. Beyond this, the group was clearly deeply unified and caring for each other and lifelong bonds were formed. What was learned by the participants went beyond what I am capable of teaching; we simply felt blessed to host the experience.

Another highlight was running a retreat on the volcanic island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, the first ever Ashtanga retreat to be held there. The welcome and hospitality I received were more than I could have hoped for. The retreat was organized by Tania Sa (a past Asturias Yoga retreat participant) and her husband Miguel, the police chief of the island. Amazingly, Miguel took time off work to cook for us — he had recently taken a vegan cooking course in order to do so! In the afternoons he showed us the volcanic wonders of the island. Each afternoon we bathed in different thermal pools –  deep in the forest, at the edge of the ocean and the foot of spectacular waterfalls. We visited active craters where people cook and prepare tea directly in the volcanoes. A spectacular and well organized event that I hope to repreat.

Since the birth of our son Surendra last summer, Aly has not participated as much in teaching as in previous years,  dedicating her time instead to the “Seventh Series” (parenthood) and the study of Sāṃkhya and Āyurvedic philosophy, in which she has recently completed a Masters by Research degree. Next year she plans to teach more and to share her deeper knowledge of these subjects, which compliment and inform the philosophies of classical  yoga.

Manuel made a welcomed full time addition to our team,  guiding many afternoon excursions in nature whilst sharing his wealth of environmental knowledge. His attentiveness and care for the needs of every participant is felt and appreciated by all. People are often surprised that we have only known him for a year and a half. Asa, who has been with us for a number of seasons now, continued to delight everyone with her kitchen wonders and magic massage hands.

We were also very happy this year to have more returning students than ever before, as retreat participants and as volunteers. Evan Trower, who completed a teacher training three years ago, returned to participate in the inaugural Saoirse Yoga retreat in April. He then returned to volunteer for the month of August, cycling from his native England to Asturias in order to do so. Among others, Italian physiotherapist Laura Pani and young  German doctor, Nele Merten (both now competent Ashtanga teachers) also exemplified the essence of Karma Yoga, giving selflessly and bringing grace to the retreats through their presence.

Karma Yoga is how we plan to begin next season – a non commercial month long retreat of Yoga on the mat and in the kitchen and garden :), an opportunity to share day to day life at Asturias Yoga. Maybe I will see you then!

Namaste

Simon