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Dates
April 23rd – 25th
Title
Meditation, Pranayama, and the Psychology of Yoga
An Introduction to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
About the retreat
For yoga students of all backgrounds, this retreat aims to integrate study, discussion, meditation, pranayama, and mindfulness exercises, in order to explore the Yoga-Sutra attributed to Patanjali, a second century C.E. text that defines and outlines the practice of yoga, from a psychological perspective.
This will be an in-depth investigation of yoga using both intellectual and meditative tools of inquiry. Canadian Yoga teacher and psychotherapist Michael Stone, will facilitate this engagement with yogic practices and ideas. Some key issue we will explore include:
- Patanjali’s concept of the mind and the causes of suffering.
- What is the ego (Eastern and Western definitions)?
- Meditation and psychological transformation
- Samskaras: the relationship between physical and psychological holding patterns
- Kaivalya: Mature yoga practice as engagement with the world
- The concepts of Self, No-self and Emptiness: psychological definitions within Yoga, Buddhism, and Western psychology.
- What is meant by "enlightenment" in this practice?
- Working with difficult mental and physical states
- How are Patanjali’s aphorisms relevant to Hatha Yoga?
- Is yoga a system distinct from Hinduism and Buddhism?
- What does the healthy personality look like in Patanjali’s model?
Michael Stone
Michael Stone, M.A. is a yoga teacher and psychotherapist in private practice in Toronto. He is currently involved in research of the integration of Yoga Psychology, Buddhist Thought and Western Medicine. He is a student at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (Mass.) and a long-time student of Richard Freeman (Boulder, Colorado). Integrating humour, focus, clinical experience and academic understanding, Michael’s teaching is clear and accessible. Michael is the editor of a forthcoming book of interviews with leading scholars and teachers including Wendy Doniger, Luce Irigaray, Chip Hartranft, Christopher Chapple, Ian Whicher, and Richard Freeman.
TimetableFri
- 18:00 – 19:00 Arrive and settle in
- 19:00 dinner
- 21:00 – 22:00 meditation & introductory talk
Sat
- 7:00 - 8:00 meditation
- 8:15 - 9:00 breakfast
- Short walk/Fresh air
- 10:00 – 12:30 class with Michael
- 12:45 - 13:45 lunch
- 13:45 – 15:30 walks in the burren or by the sea or free time
- 15:30 – 18:00 class with Michael
- 18:30 dinner
Sun
- 7:00 - 8:00 meditation
- 8:15 - 9:00 breakfast
- Short walk/Fresh air
- 10:00 – 12:30 class with Michael
- 12:45 - 13:30 lunch
- 13:30 Depart
Accommodation
The accommodation at the centre is in rooms of 2, 4 or 6 people sharing.
There are also 2 single rooms which work out at €30 extra for a weekend or €70 extra for a week.
There are also local B&B's and a hotel.
More details
Accommodation at the centreYour partner or family may also stay at the centre
New flexible pricing structureCost of the course
The cost of the course is 280 Euro and includes accommodation and vegetarian meals.
The food is cooked by Paddi the gourmet vegetarian chef who ran Seventh Heaven the well known restuarant in Galway city.
If you choose not to stay at the centre and would prefer to stay in a B&B, the cost of the course is 260 Euro
Do people come on their own or with someone else ?
Most people come on the own from all different parts of the country and also some from abroad who fly into Shannon.
The atmosphere is quite easy going and friendly and warm, so its the type of centre where you arrive and before you know you feel at home.
Sometimes people do come in pairs if they also happen to have a friend who enjoys yoga weekends too.
Is it cold in Winter ?
The centre has underfloor heating throughout the building. So even if the weather gets cold outside, it is nice and cosy inside. This includes the Yoga room and the dorms at night.
Staying an additional night
This may enable you to get a cheaper flight. You need to check this with the centre and it depends on availability.
Booking a place on the course
Click below for on-line booking and information on how to book by phone.
Booking on a course
How to get to the centre
Getting to the centre
For information on
- Public transport
- Reduced taxi fares
- Car pooling and getting a lift
- Airport information and cheap flights
- Detailed road directions which you will need to find the centre
What you should bring with you
Bed linen is supplied, but you will need to bring your own towels.
Good walking shoes or walking boots, and outdoor clothes a very good idea.
For a list of essential things to bring please click
What to bring with you
Other courses at the centreWe have approx 3 weekend courses each month all year round
and about
10 week long courses mainly in the Summer, Christmas and Easter.
- Satyananda (Gentle, suitable for complete beginners, all ages and you do not have to be fit)
- Astanga (Strong, dynamic. You need reasonable fitness)
- Iyengar (Precise physical postures, medium in strength)
- Bikram (Hot sweaty workout, great fun)
- Kundalini (Internal energies, visualizations, gentle yoga)
- Pilates course (Flatten your tummy, strengthen your back, improve flexibility)
- Detox and Holistic Health (Learn about cleansing, raw juices, full body massage, gentle yoga)
- And many more courses
For a complete list of courses for the next few months
Courses for the next few months
More courses
Please note that there will be more courses planned over the coming weeks. If you wish to be kept up to date with the latest list of courses, then click
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kept up to date by e-mail about any new courses
Sample newsletter
Newsletter AprilMore information
Comments from people
Comments from previous coursesPhotos from the year 2002.
Outdoors in the Burren, swimming, walking, horse riding, sailing
or simply contact the centre on 091-637680
From overseas 00-353-91-637680
All enquiries welcome!
