30 January-7 February 2010

Teachers: Sue Pendlebury & Emil Wendel

Cost: 575 Euros

This ntensive one week retreat is for exploring the different aspects of yoga. Working intensely on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level the retreat aims to assist the practitioner in the transformative experience of observing, accepting and letting go.

Its full and varied programme allows participants the experience of recognising the power of yoga beyond the asana, moving towards a more authentic relationship with themselves and others.

A deep, FUN, empowering and heart-opening time.

Each day will start with early morning pranayama and meditation and continue with a combination of asana, mantra, bhajans (spiritual songs) talks on yoga and various creative workshops including dance, voice and theatre. There will be three full days of mouna (the powerful practise of silence) which although some people initially feel nervous about, ultimately, everyone enjoys this experience immensely and more often than not want to stay silent for longer!

The creative workshops can also for some feel quite daunting, but Sue has a unique way of unleashing the inate creativity which lies within everyone without making anyone feel threatened, embarrased or pressurised. There is a lot of fun and laughter during the time as well as deeper emotional, spiritual and sometimes difficult transformational processes.

The retreat is open to everyone who has some experience of asana. Both Sue and Emil teach the asana, a mixture of a vinyasa flow/dynamic hatha, with some sessions looking at the more subtle aspects of the asana practise. Although the asanas are not considered to be the main focus of the retreat there is a daily two hour dynamic asana class and much more on offer.

Pranayama is an essential part of the retreat. It will entail a bouquet of breath work, in the Indian tradition. Ujjayi, Sama Vritti, Viloma, Nadi Shodhana to start with, then work with stonger retentions, mantras and Kriyas . Within these Pranayamas there is a deeper experience for all participants and lots of opportunity to progress for even the more advanced yogi.

Sue is a musician, dancer and theatre practioner; she brings to the retreat a wonderful creativity with a unique exploration of movement and often the opportunity for an ecstatic letting-go. Sue teaches most, but not all of the asanas, the Kirtan (devotional singing)and all the afternoon creative workshops.

Whilst Sue brings us out of ourselves, to connect with each other and our creative/spiritual energy, Emil takes us inward, using the the classical more ascetically-oriented instruments of yoga - Pranayama, Mantras, Mudras, kriyas - as tools to still our minds and find deeper meditation. Emil will also dedicate time to yoga philosophy - where questions can be asked and group discussions can arise out of our enquiry into the deeper questions of life and our practice.

Although we will spend many hours of the day working together there will be the opportunity for you to explore Goa and enjoy some free time. Many people enjoy the quiet and relaxing nature of the retreat centre and spend their free time hanging out by the pool, lying in hammocks etc but for those of you with a need for adventure there is plenty of things to do in Goa.

You can visit the bustling colourful market of Anjuna with hundreds of stalls, selling everything from clothes to statues, jewellery to cd's. The Saturday Night Bizarre (one of the largest in Asia) with it's live music, good food and high quality, interesting stalls makes for one of Goa's best nights out.

Enjoy eating out in Goa's fabulous restaurants (although most meals are provided at the retreat centre), dance under the stars to the sounds of local live music or relax, swim, read, sunbathe on spectacular beaches with fresh coconut milk, watermelons, papaya, pineapples and a good book. It's best to hire a scooter to get around (drive slowly and safely!!) which can be organised at Satsanga.

All rooms at the Satsanga Retreat Centre are all twinned with bathrooms attached. Beds are of good quality, the water flows readily, electricity is almost always there...so...this is India with most mod cons!

The Satsanga Retreat is situated in Verla Canca, a small village located between Anjuna Beach and Mapusa. It really is a little paradise and we are blessed to be able to retreat in such a beautiful place!! The centre features an exquisite yoga shala (gorgeous soft wooden floor), a beautiful swimming pool with jacuzzi, shady terraces, hanging chairs and hammocks and a sunny courtyard for hanging out and eating fabulous vegetarian food. Many guests say it feels like a "home-away-from-home" offering a relaxed community feel, one of the best yoga shala's in Goa and in close proximity to fabulous beaches and markets (5 - 10 mins on a scooter).

Due to the unique nature of this retreat it is only possible to do the full time and to be resident at Satsanga Retreat. There are however a few non-residential places available for couples, families or those who feel they could only do the retreat if they had single accomodation.