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Join David Robson & Jelena Vesić for two inspiring and transformative weeks of Ashtanga Yoga with daily morning practice and afternoon workshops.

Take this opportunity to grow and explore your practice as you study with Ashtanga teachers who are committed to helping you understand the power of this practice. Explore the benefits the practice has on your body, mind, and soul.

All students are welcome, including total beginners. Classes and workshops will be accessible for all levels of experience.

The retreat will be focused on deepening your Sadhana, the moving meditation of Ashtanga’s vinyasa system. Come prepared to immerse yourself in this beautiful practice and its many details.

David and Jelena are committed to making the Ashtanga practice accessible to more people. They have taught workshops around the world and enthusiastically share the knowledge they’ve gained about the practice over the years. Each week will offer 4 afternoon workshops with techniques and exercises that will deepen and transform your approach to the practice.

Course description

Sunday to Thursday mornings will begin with Mysore-style practice. Mysore is the traditional format for learning Ashtanga, and absolute beginners to more experienced students will be supported in the class. On Friday mornings there will be a Led Primary class, set to the traditional Sanskrit vinyasa count.
The time of the workshops is  11.30am  to 1.30pm. Afternoon are off.

Below is an example of a weekly schedule. Please note that the timings of classes may be changed and adjusted to best nourish the teaching environment and the student. Additional activities not mentioned on the schedule may be added. 

Saturday 2 March
Arrival to the retreat. Rooms are available after 2pm.
6pm Introduction meeting followed by dinner. The participants should aim to attend the meeting.

Sunday 3 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Breathing Moving System
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Monday 4 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Sun Salutations
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Tuesday 5 March
7am Morning Mysore
10am Brunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Wednesday 6 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Perfecting the Fundamental Postures
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Thursday 7  March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Hips, Knees, & Forward Bends
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Friday 8 March
7am Morning Mysore
10am Brunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Saturday 9 March
Sleep in!! Day Off!
10am Special Saturday Brunch
6pm Dinner

Sunday 10 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Meditation and Asana Clinic
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Monday 11 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Jump Backs, Jump Throughs & Transitions
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Tuesday 12 March
7am Morning Mysore
10am Brunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Wednesday 13 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Backbending
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Thursday 14 March
7am Morning Mysore
9am Breakfast
11.30am Workshop: Inversions & Arm-Balances
1.30pm Lunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Friday 15 March
7am Morning Mysore
10am Brunch
Afternoon off
6pm Dinner

Saturday 16 March
9am Check out from rooms
10am Breakfast

About the teachers

David Robson

David Robson is a practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, in the tradition of Sharath Yoga Centre (SYC). David is the director of the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto, where he leads one of the world’s largest Mysore programs outside of India.

David began a daily practice in 1998 while at university studying Comparative Religion. After graduating, David made his first trip to Mysore, India in 2002, where he initiated studies with his teacher Sharath Jois. Since then he has returned to Mysore annually to deepen and enrich his practice and teaching.

In 2007, David was Authorized to teach Ashtanga and now holds a level 2 authorization.

David has become well-known on social media for his educational and entertaining yes/no tutorials. Through these videos he’s become one of the most recognized and respected Ashtanga Yoga teachers worldwide.

David teaches the morning mysore program at Ashtanga Toronto, and leads workshops and retreats around the world with his wife Jelena.

Jelena Vesić

After four years of doing her PhD (Political Science, York University, Toronto), Jelena decided to walk away and dedicate herself to teaching Ashtanga Yoga full time. She’s been teaching since 2014, and is now leading the evening Mysore program at AYCT. Alongside her husband, David Robson, Jelena teaches workshops and retreats in Toronto and around the world.

Jelena first came to yoga through dance. As a former ballet dancer of 16 years, the structure and rigour of the Ashtanga Yoga practice felt like home. Drawn to the discipline, mindfulness of the movement and emphasis on the breath, Jelena made the Ashtanga practice her sole focus in 2009.

Jelena has maintained a daily Ashtanga practice for over a decade. She’s made two trips to Mysore, India to study with her teacher, Sharath Jois. In addition, Jelena also considers herself to be a student of Jack Kornfield, a Buddhist teacher and clinical psychologist. She’s completed his and Tara Brach’s “The Power of Awareness” course, and is now enrolled in their two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program.

Lastly, Jelena’s true passion lies in promoting rescue and adoption of (street) dogs. You can often find her sharing her love for #adoptdontshop on her IG, and sharing the joys of living with her two fur-babies, Boksoon and Khani, both celebrities in their own right.

Booking information

Please read the booking information before booking a retreat.

Accommodation Options

Take a look at our 3 accommodation options: