1st - 6th of October
Bela nad Svitavou Retreat Centre, Czech Republic
Set in a peaceful retreat centre in rural Czech Republic, the goal of this retreat is to disconnect from the endless distraction of a digital world with its attendant sensation of never having time, and reconnect to the timeless. You will bring the benefits of yoga and meditation into your body and mind. This retreat intends to calm your mind, energize your body and remind you of what is truly important.
Our mornings will be spent practicing Saoirse Yoga and Vipassana Meditation. Saoirse is a holistic approach to yoga practice, designed to provide a strong base from which to practice subtler forms of meditation. It makes use of challenging asanas and breathing techniques that bring us to awareness of our core being. During the 6 days, Simon will guide you in developing your own personalized sequence containing the fundamental elements of a holistic yoga practice.
Vipassana is a form of meditation which involves directly observing our own nature. Vipassana is not esoteric, we simply observe the state of our being in the present moment with no sense of attachment. It is at once a simple yet profound practice. In this retreat the yoga sessions aim to prepare us for this powerful and insightful form of meditation.
This retreat is for adventurous souls who wish to connect to the Earth, fellow beings and themselves in meaningful ways.
Time Table
Arrival on the first may be anytime after 16:00. The program begins with dinner at 18:30, and finishes the last day after lunch on the 6th around 14:00h.
- 8:00 Saoirse Yoga
- 9:30 Breakfast
- 11:30 Yoga Nidra / Flute Meditation
- 12:30 Viapssana
- 13:00 Lunch
- 17:00 Yoga Workshop
- 18:30 Evening Meal
- 20:00 Meditation
Workshops
1: Balance, Twisting and Bringing Lightness to Movement
In this workshop we will learn the fundamentals that apply to ALL twisting and balance postures, and explain how these develop our concentration and improve spinal mobility and digestion.
We will also use Samasthiti, a simple standing pose, to contemplate the force of Prana as it exists within our own body, and learn how it can be cultivated in order to bring lightness into our practice and life
2 : Removing Blockages
In this workshop, we will learn how to work towards deeper backward bending and see how this can improve our breathing and clear our nerve pathways.
3: Inversion and Hand Balance
In this workshop, we will experiment with inverted postures and understand how they help move our awareness into subtler planes.
We will also experiment with the exciting world of hand balance, thus developing strength and concentration
4: Pranayama
The practice of Pranayama is based on using the breath to invoke positive physical and psychological effects effects. It is recommended to be practiced after significant experience of asana. The effects of Pranayama are similar to Asana, but it is more subtle. It is a gateway to meditation.
In this workshop we will look at some of the most important Pranayamas and how to incorporate them in your practice.
5: Vipassana Meditation
In this workshop we will delve into the Vipassana meditation technique that comes at the end of the practice. This technique provides insight into the workings of our own mind and helps us break out of deeply ingrained reaction patterns and conditioning. By recognizing and removing reaction patterns the practice of meditation can free us from conditioning, and enable direct perception.
Saoirse Yoga: Origen and Significance
Saoirse is a Gaelic word meaning freedom, the ultimate goal of any true Yoga practice. The practice grew out of Simon’s goals to focus on certain challenging aspects of Ashtanga and to include the most inspiring and effective elements of the practices he has studied and practiced extensively over the last 20 years (Vipassana meditation, Trika Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Pranayama).
If you already practice Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, you will find Saoirse Yoga a powerful support. If your interest is in accessing deeper mediation, you may find this practice opens unexpected doorways.
This retreat will be hosted by Czech Yogini Katerina Rojkova who has dedicated most of her life to Yoga. Her big heart and magic for bringing Yogic wisdom into simple day to day life will leave your feeling nourished. Simon met her in Rishikesh when he started practicing Ashtanga Yoga 15 years ago. Her project and understanding of Yoga has inspired his own.
Included:
- Daily Pranayama, Saoirse Yoga Classes, Asana Workshop and Yoga Philosophy Discourse
- 2/day Vegetarian & Vegan Meals
- Dormitory Accomodation or Camping
- Price: 495 Euros
How to Arrive:
Address: Bělá nad Svitavou 11, 569 05, Czech Republic
By car:
From Brno City drive in the direction of Svitavy, it is 52 km to the north. In the town Brněnec-Moravska Chrastova you turn left to Polička. The village is only 3 km from this turn. When you reach Bělá nad Svitavou you come towards the village office where you turn right and park your vehicle there. The road to the house is steep and not very suitable for city cars. An off-road car can drive up and park in the parking space (parking for up to 8 cars available).
From Prague – the best way is to take the northern motorway – D11 in the direction of Hradec Králové, then direction to Pardubice (road 37), Chrudim and Polička. The journey is 204 km.
By train:
To Březová nad Svitavou train station : There are trains from Prague, Prague Airport, from Brno and other also international destinations (Austria – Wien, Slovakia – Bratislava, Hungary – Budapest, Germany etc.) operate reliably. The train stop is Březová nad Svitavou (or Svitavy, Česká Třebová). It is approximately 3 km from the centre and we always pick our guests up from the railway station. You can also take a walk through the forest if you like adventure or if you enjoy a bit of walking mediation. It takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the destination.
Contact Us.
If you have any further questions, or are ready to reserve your place, get in touch today!