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This retreat is designed for experienced students of Ashtanga yoga who desire to enrich their practice through expanding and deepening the embodiment of yoga into their life. We title this retreat enrichment, for at this stage, there is no need to push oneself further, but to be guided into the heart of Ashtanga yoga through more skillful means—bringing greater awareness and intention into the daily practice. Hence, it is not only about how far you go, but how deep you integrate each asana with attention. Cultivating discipline will be a major theme; however, at no cost, but to become more focused on what is truly essential. This is liberation. Time will be given to fine tune the technical development of the method, while allowing the energetic, subtle aspects to take front and center in our conscious awareness. There has to be meaning behind everything for peace and well being to arise. It is our goal that everyone who participates feels more empowered and skilled in the practice and within themselves. Where we no longer shy away from discomfort, but have the skills to navigate challenge, and let go of what no longer serves our potential.

The Experience

Each morning will begin with morning Mysore practice and led classes on designated days, beginning with seated meditation and silence. After asana practice, there will be pranayama sessions on days there is Mysore practice, four times in the week. Afternoons will be focused on fine tuning the practice on every level—physically, mentally and energetically. We will learn to merge technique with awareness and refined focus through understanding the proper vinyasa and alignment. It won’t only be about doing more, but about doing things well, and knowing what to do after the retreat to move forward and inward in the practice.

Requirements & Prerequisites

Appropriate participants for this retreat need to have finished the Ashtanga Yoga Primary series (all memorized) and have started working on drop-backs in back-bending.

Veda Recitation with Sophie French

The Vedas are a vast collection of spiritual texts that originated in ancient India and contain prayers, hymns and mantras in the form of mystical poetry in Vedic Sanskrit. These mantras are considered sacred without authorship as Ṛṣi-s or sages did not say that they composed them, but rather that they were ‘heard’ in deep states of meditation. The Vedas, meaning ‘knowledge,’ are considered the source texts for Yoga, Vedānta, the Bhagavad Gīta and several other important practices and philosophies from India. The Vedas have been preserved for millennia through oral tradition by teachers passing on knowledge to students through recitation. This process of learning by repeating after a teacher is called Adhyayanam.

Materials

  • Have a notebook or journal and writing utensil on hand for classes to take notes and follow through on writing/journal prompts.
  • Pack a white outfit for the closing ceremony.

Suggested Reading

Inside the Yoga Sutras
Jaganath Carrera

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Chip Hartranft

The Art of Possibility
Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander

Beyond Illusion
Dr. David R. Hawkins, M.D., P.h.D

Program Schedule

Please note: Some aspects of the schedule may be subject to change. However, that will be communicated ahead of time if adjustments need to be made.

Time Table

7:00 – 9:00         Meditation & Mysore Practice
9:15 – 9:45           Pranayama Practice
10:30 – 12:00     Veda Recitation
16:00 – 18:00     Workshops

Week One

Saturday 16 January
Check-in
Welcome Meeting

Sunday 17 January
Morning Practice: Led Primary Series
Workshop
– Ashtanga Yoga Elevated: It’s not only what you are doing, but how you are doing it that matters. With one breath, one movement awareness, we will explore the moving meditative action of the practice.

Monday 18 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Veda Recitation
Workshop
– Strength and Fluidity in Transitions: Aligning to strength and grace in the practice, we will find where we need to be strong and where we need to soften. Understanding how they are essentially important.

Tuesday 19 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice

Wednesday 20 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Workshop
– Intermediate Series Details and How it Progresses into Advanced A (Part One)

Thursday 21 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Veda Recitation
Workshop
– Intermediate Series Details and How it Progresses into Advanced A (Part Two)

Friday 22 January
Morning Practice: Led Intermediate Series
Veda Recitation

Saturday 23 January
OFF (Take Rest)

Week Two

Sunday 24 January
Morning Practice: Led Intermediate Series
Workshop
– Core Integrity: Learn how the breathe and bandhas work in conjunction with each other as we align to our center of gravity.

Monday 25 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Workshop
– Arm Balance Progressions and Strength Awareness

Tuesday 26 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Veda Recitation

Wednesday 27 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Workshop
– Backbend Progressions and Understanding Spinal Extension

Thursday 28 January
Morning Practice: Mysore Class
Pranayama Practice
Workshop
– Hip Opening Asanas and Understanding Spinal Flexion

Friday 29 January
Morning Practice: Led Primary Series
Veda Recitation
*CLOSING CEREMONY*

Saturday 30 January
Check-out & Goodbyes

  

About The Teacher

Laruga Glaser has been practicing Ashtanga yoga continuously for over 30 years.  Starting at the beginning of her 20s, she was immediately drawn to the practice after working with other forms of yoga years prior.  After establishing a committed practice she then deepened her studies traveling to Mysore, India annually to practice at KPJAYI where the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois taught and his grandson, R. Sharath Jois taught before his untimely passing in 2024.  Laruga has made more than 20 trips to Mysore and is on a mission to continue to learn and grow as a student as well as a teacher.  She is one of the few in the world who have been given the distinction of being certified to teach up to Advanced B, directly from R. Sharath Jois himself, which is not easily given and takes many years to earn.  In this regard, she honors where the source of the practice comes from, continuing to respect and give high regard to the lineage we are blessed to experience from this transformative method.  Through it all, Laruga teaches as an act of deep sharing and love for what yoga develops in each individual, facilitating space to open, challenge, and inspire those to realize their inherent potential, and has been personally invited all over the world to do so.

Booking Information

Please read the Terms & Conditions before booking a retreat.

Accommodation Options

Take a look at our accommodation options: