Ashtanga Yoga & Deepening Sadhana retreat with Claire Saunders

Crete Ashtanga 

Ashtanga Yoga & Deepening Sadhana RETREAT

Claire Saunders

Claire is a dedicated student of the traditional Ashtanga Yoga method.  She has travelled almost yearly since 1999 to study yoga, Indian music (with a focus on the bansuri), Ayurveda, mantra, meditation, and Vedic philosophy.

Claire was a direct student of Pattabhi Jois and continues now to study from his grandson Sharath Jois.  She practices Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A Ashtanga Yoga asanas and has the blessing of the KPJAYI to teach both the Primary and full Intermediate Series.

While in Mysore, Claire has also been an apprentice to Sharath with both his morning western classes and his afternoon Indian classes.

In addition to her Ashtanga yoga studies, Claire has spent many years under the direct guidance of Swami Niranjanananda and his teachers learning Bhakti and Tantra yoga.

As well as teaching Mysore-style Ashtanga guided self-practice, led classes and workshops, Claire also leads guest workshops and retreats at studios throughout Europe, India, and Australia.

Claire is Australian born, and established Ashtanga Yoga Shala Provence in the south of France in 2012 where she teaches in both French and English to a mix of local students and international visitors.

Claire balances her passion for Ashtanga Yoga to being a mum to her young daughter Ananda.  Claire also holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, a master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Sydney, Australia and a Post Graduate qualification in English Language Teaching from Cambridge University, England and she worked for over a decade as a University Professor. With such a solid foundation as an adult educator, Claire excels at meeting her students (of both yoga and linguistics) at where they are and extending them comfortably beyond where they can take themselves.

ASHTANGA YOGA & PRANAYAMA PRACTICE IMMERSION

(Limited to 16 students!  All levels welcome – even complete beginners)

Join Claire for a week of yoga in a small intimate group, offering space for abundant individual guidance and support to deepen your personal practice.

Claire’s approach to sharing yoga asana (from beginners to more seasoned practitioners), is one that contains a balance of both strength and gentleness. She has a deep awareness of the biological function of the asana at the same time she can relate the physical to the emotional, mental, and devotional elements of this rich yoga practice.

Course Content

8h00 – 10h30 Asana Classes

Mornings start with Ashtanga yoga classes (either Mysore or led Sanskrit classes) where students are guided and adjusted individually within a group setting.

10h30 – 11h00 Mantra Chanting and Pranayama Classes

- Following the morning asana classes, we will come together again for a pranayama and gentle chanting session.

16h00

The afternoon sessions will be dedicated to a combination of asana relaxation, yoga nidra, mediation, yoga philosophy and music (bansuri or harmonium). It will also be a time for question and answers

Sunday 14th May: Check in afternoon

Dinner in a local tavern 19:00

Daily Schedule:

· 6.30 to 8.00am light breakfast (coffee, tea, nuts and dried fruits, cookies, some fruit…)

· 8.00am Morning Asana Practice

10.30am Chanting and Pranayama Practice

· 11.00am Brunch

· Free time

· 4.00pm Afternoon Class (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)

· 6.30pm Dinner

Friday 19th May

17h30 Healing Mantra

18h00 Kirtan

Saturday 20th May Check out after brunch

Accommodation

In tune with nature. We have created an opportunity for you to experience living close to the elements while being completely comfortable!

We have four large and beautiful cotton canvas tents. Each can accommodate two people comfortably. These beautiful structures include a mesh wall that zips onto the groundsheet and canopy, allowing you to roll up the canvas walls for maximum ventilation and view while being totally protected and bug free.

All of our tents are fully furnished including comfortable mattresses, bedding and towels.     Fall asleep to the smell of wild Cretan herbs! .

There are outdoor showers and toilets which are shared by the tents in the camping area. Each tent sleeps two people. Couples can arrange to have their own tent.

Right under the yoga shala and overlooking the lush sub-tropical valley of Tertsa and the sea, is our boho style guest accommodation. With 32 m2 of living space, for up to four people can stay here very comfortably. It is ideal for a family or group of friends!

This space has an outdoor hot shower and toilet.

Food

Organic vegetarian cooking, fresh from farm to table!

Mediterranean cuisine at it’s best. Our meals are catered by a local chef who sources almost all ingredients directly from local farmers.

Traditional Mediterranean dishes with a vegetarian twist, a variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits, fresh bread, fresh fruits an array of traditional Greek and of course an abundance of Cretan olive oil.

Registration and Information

https://www.ashtangaysp.com/

email:  AshtangaYogaShalaProvence@hotmail.com