Click link for

Christmas yoga retreat

Pre 2005 information on this page.



Please click link above for up to date information

1 Week Astanga Vinyasa Yoga Course with Granville Cousins 27th Dec 2004 - Jan 3rd 2005


Also Granville will repeat this week's course from Jan 3rd - 10th 2005

End the year of 2004 with a celebration of Yoga giving you an ideal way to begin the year 2005






Its possible for your partner to stay at the centre while you attend the course. See New flexible pricing structure

New air route from Manchester direct to galway Manchester to Galway flight

To see some more photos of Granville More Yoga with Granville photos


This course is suitable for beginners as well as advanced people.


Beginners will be gradually taken through the different asanas and vinyasas (breathing).


More advanced practitioners who know the series will practice at their own pace getting adjustments and being led further into the practice.


This course is for people who wish to work intensively  through the Astanga practice.


There will be plenty of outdoor activites in the Burren and surrounding areas.
To see a report of a 1 week astanga course June 2003 click
Report Richard Spahn Astanga 2003

Cost for this 7 day course is 630 EURO and includes accommodation and vegetarian meals.


Course Description


What is Astanga Vinyasa Yoga


Astanga Yoga is a strong dynamic form of Yoga and which is ideal for increasing flexibility, toning and making the body more supply, while strengthening the muscles and massaging the internal organs producing optimal healthy functioning of the body.


The primary teacher of Astanga Yoga is Pattabhi Jois who is based in Mysore, India. He in turn was taught this practice by Krishnamacharya who is widely accepted to be one of the most advanced Yogis of the 20th century.


It is practiced as a series of flowing Yoga postures which begin with the Sun Salutations. These heat up the body and prepare the body for the stronger postures which one gradually introduces and builds into one’s own daily practice of the sequence. These stronger stretching and strengthening postures are also practiced within the flowing sequence which follows the Sun Salutations.


One’s breath is controlled and regulated by a practice known as Ujjay breathing. This produces a slight hissing sound in the throat and has an effect of lowering the blood pressure. Thus although one is physically working the body quite strenuously, one feels quite calm and centred which is quite unlike any other aerobic exercises. This allows one maintain an inward focus and a meditative awareness while practicing the sequence.







One’s eyes and attention are also directed towards drishtes (points on which to focus the eyes and attention).


There are also internal locks applied (uddiyana and moola bandha) and these regulate the flow of energy within the nadis (energy channels). They also increase the internal heat of the body.




The internal heat within the body allows one’s body to become more supple and to practice postures which one could not normally practice with a cold unprepared body.


How Astanga Vinyasa Yoga is taught


Astanga Vinyasa Yoga is introduced to beginners with the Sun Salutations first. One practices these sequences initially until one is familiar enough to complete these oneself. If one has previous experience of other Yoga (either Satyananda or Iyengar) then it can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours before one is comfortable enough to practice this sequence by oneself.


Then the rest of the sequence is gradually introduced. Each posture is practiced to one’s own ability and the instructor gives posture corrections and verbal directions to help one learn each posture and also how to flow from one posture to the next.


There is always a closing sequence which consists of a number of back bends and forward bends and a slowing down of the postures and a final relaxation period while one lies in Shavasana.


Self-Practice


On some of the more advanced courses, the classes are given in the style of self practice. It is assumed that each participant knows the sequence and is able to practice by themselves. Usually the instructor goes from each participant to the next and makes appropriate adjustments to one’s postures and encourages one to improve one’s practice beyond what one has attained so far.


Granville's 7 day workshop



Granville will be teaching this Week with the emphasis on Yoga and Mediation as a daily practice. To understand the real reason for introspection and how Yoga Practice is a development towards helping the practitioner to good health and bodily flexibility in order to further their knowledge of Self or Universal Consciousness. If the body is ill at ease, then sitting still is most difficult. Yoga is stilling the fluctuations of the mind in order to allow the Light of Consciousness to manifest.

Each individual participant will be encouraged to practice to their own limits and the week will expand those limits and improve the quality of one’s practice.


Who it is suitable for




It is recommended that one already has experience with some other forms of Yoga.

This may not be necessary for younger beginners and those who are already quite fit from other forms of exercise.




You are always encouraged to practice at the level which is suitable for your body. You will gain more benefit and also enjoy the exercises more when you perform at a comfortable level rather than pushing yourself too hard.


When you practice at home after the course, you can gradually increase the duration and the number of postures which one includes in the sequence, as your body gradually improved with regular practice.




This course is for people who wish to work intensively through Astanga Yoga practice.


Timetable for the week




The timetable for the weekend is as follows;


Monday (Dec 27th 2004)

• 18:00 – 19:00 Arrive and settle in
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:30 - 22:00 Introduction to Meditation

Tuesday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation (will start with an introduction for beginners)
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanaga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:30 Brunch
• 12:00 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. )
• 17:00 - 18:30 Yoga class. Improve postures which were practiced this morning.
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Wednesday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation (will start with an introduction for beginners)
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. Some walks will include visits to ancient sites.)
• 16:30 - 18:00 Free time. Can be used to explore the Burren Hills, Cliffs of Moher, Ailawee caves or simply to rest tired bones ;-)
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Thursday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation (will start with an introduction for beginners)
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. Some walks will include visits to ancient sites.)
• 17:00 - 18:30 Yoga class. Improve postures which were practiced this morning.
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Friday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation (will start with an introduction for beginners)
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. Some walks will include visits to ancient sites.)
• 17:00 - 18:30 Yoga class. Improve postures which were practiced this morning.
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Saturday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. Some walks will include visits to ancient sites.)
• 16:30 - 18:00 Free time
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Sunday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 Outdoors in the Burren (This will vary from sea walk to a walk through the hills. Some walks will include visits to ancient sites.)
• 16:30 - 18:00 Yoga class. This class can also be used to bring up questions about any of the postures and to help improve the postures without havin to keep up with the sequence of the Astanga series.
• 18:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 21:30 Meditation

Monday

• 7:00 - 8:00 Meditation
• 8:30 – 10:30 Astanga Vinyasa Yoga class
• 10:45 Breakfast
• 11:30 - 13:00 Pack bags, help tidy up.
• 13:00 Lunch
• 13:30 Depart

Accommodation
The accommodation at the centre is in rooms of 2, 4 or 6 people sharing. There are also local B&B's and a hotel. More details Accommodation at the centre

Cost of the course

The cost of the course is 630 Euro and includes accommodation and the best of vegetarian meals.


If you choose not to stay at the centre and would prefer to stay in a B&B, the cost of the course is 580 Euro. A list of B&B’s is provided below;


091-637206 091-637483 091-637593 091-637425 091-637127


Booking a place on the course
Click below for on-line booking and information on how to book.
Booking on a course



Directions to the centre

The centre is 5 miles from Kinvara at the foot of the Burren Hills. There are no road signs and you will need detailed directions in order to find the centre for your first visit. There are detailed directions on the website www.burrenyoga.com under ‘How to find the centre’ and then under ‘detailed directions’.


You should print these out and bring them with you.


How to get to the centre


If you are travelling to the centre it is easiest to get here by car. The directions on the website include directions from Dublin, Galway and Limerick.


If you have room and would like to offer someone a lift then please let the centre know.


The closest bus is to Gort. There are buses from Galway city to Gort each hour. A local hackney from Gort will cost approx 10 Euro. Phone 086-8337786, 087-2684062, 086-8248851


If you would like a lift, then please let us know and we will try to link you up with someone travelling by car.


What you should bring with you

For a list of essential things to bring please click What to bring with you

Bed linen is supplied, but you will need to bring your own towels.


We do not wear shoes inside the house so you may like to bring slippers or thick socks. However, the underfloor heating makes bare feet quite comfortable all year round.


We do not let the weather stop our hill or sea walks, so it is always a good idea to bring good walking shoes, raingear and also swimming gear if you would like to swim in the lake which is near the centre.


Other courses at the centre


There are other courses which are held at the centre throughout the year.


These include Yoga courses some of which are Satyananda yoga which emphasises inner awareness, breath awareness, relaxation and is suitable for all ages, fit or unfit.


There is also Astanga Yoga which is quite strong and dynamic and requires a good level of fitness. And there is Iyengar Yoga which requires a medium degree of fitness.


There are also Yoga-Dance workshops, Shiatsu courses, Vegetarian cooking, Detox courses, Stress Management courses and also Relaxation breaks.


More information


There will be plenty of outdoor activites in the Burren and surrounding areas. Last year we visited the Aran Islands with Richard on one of our day trips.

To see some photos of a previous Granville weekend workshop Photos from Astanga Yoga with Granville weekend

More Yoga with Granville photos

If you would like to receive monthly updates of new courses planned at the centre, you may add your e-mail address to the mailing list on the website.


If you do not have an e-mail address, and would like to receive monthly updates then please send your name and address to the centre.


Alternatively you may phone the centre for more information on 091-637680



To see a report of a 1 week astanga course June 2003 click
Report Richard Spahn Astanga 2003

Best Wishes, Dave