Mysore Ashtanga long weekend retreat
May 28th - 31st 2010
Granville Cousins will teach an excellent challenging yoga retreat. Details at
yogAsana and Meditation Granville Cousins 1Description of the course
This course is for those who wish to learn how to practice Ashtanga Yoga in it’s pure traditional style as it is taught at the source in the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India.
This course is suitable for both complete beginners and experienced practitioners, focusing on the in-depth learning of the traditional Ashtanga Yoga system appropriate to each student's ability.
Gillian Mooney is one of a small number of Ashtanga yoga teachers worldwide to have received the official Authorisation to teach from the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India.
During the first two days of this 6 day retreat, Gillian will introduce the Ashtanga practice and teach a ‘led class’ where she will call out and explain each posture as she leads complete beginners and more advanced ashtanga practitioners through the primary series.
The morning classes will focus on hands on adjustments and guidance for students of all levels ensuring that everyone has a solid foundation of the basics before moving on through the series. Beginners will be taught slowly, posture by posture and the more advanced practitioners will be taught how to move more fluidly through the practice focusing on the bandhas and breath that form the essence of the practice.
After the first day, Gillian will asses each course participant, and encourage each person (as they are ready) to begin to practice "Mysore style" as she moves around the class and offering adjustments to each person in the postures where she feels they need adjustment at that time.
For those who are complete beginners, Gillian will continue to lead and prompt those who are new to the practice as to what comes next in the sequence, appropriate to each student’s ability.
After breakfast we will go out into the Burren hills and by the sea, on an organised outing led by Dave who runs the centre.
To get a good idea of what the weekend will be like, it is a good idea to see the 6 minute video on the home page
6 minute Video on our Summer Yoga holiday retreatsIn June there are many wilds flowers including wild orchids, bloody cransbill, mountain avins and many other flowers. Some days we may go surfing on Fanore beach, other days climbing the hills, canoeing in Kinvara bay, other days visiting such places as the Burren Perfumery, Ballyvaughan tea gardens, Saint Coleman’s cave, Linnane’s lobster bar and many other beautiful places hidden from the usual tourist routes.
And the usual
amazing vegetarian meals with Paddi the chef.
All the classes and activities are optional.
Every second afternoon we have an extra afternoon class with Gillian.
The afternoon classes will provide students with concrete information and tools as to how to flow through their practice moving from one posture to another working with the correct vinyasa (co-ordinated breath with movement) count.
"This weekend is the ideal chance to get away from it all, learn or deepen your ashtanga practice with the view to continuing with your own practice each day at home after the course."Cost of the course
The cost of the long weekend course has been reduced €440 and includes accommodation and vegetarian meals.
€340 cost when leaving on Sunday.
Further reduced to €400 for unwaged.
For unwaged, please read
Unwaged further discountsThe food is cooked by Paddi the gourmet vegetarian chef who ran Seventh Heaven the well known restaurant in Galway city.
A single room costs €80 extra.
We eat lunch out locally and you will need to pay for this yourself.
Prices to attend part of a courseAdditional nights stay at the centre
To avail of a cheaper flight you may like to stay an extra night or two. Cost is €35 per night. No meals included.
Availability of staying an extra night will only be known 1 week before the course start date, and will depend on the numbers attending the previous weeks course.
If the centre is full, you could always stay that night in Kinvara village with one of the many b&b’s.
Who is the course suitable for
This course is suitable for both
complete beginners and
experienced practitioners, focusing on the in-depth learning of the traditional Ashtanga Yoga system appropriate to each student's ability.
This course for those that are already reasonably fit and we do not recommend it for anyone suffering from a bad back.
Beginners will be gradually taken through the different asanas and vinyasas (co-ordinated breath with movement).
More advanced practitioners who know the series will practice at their own pace (Mysore style) getting adjustments and being led further into the practice.
This course is for people who wish to work intensively with their physical body through the Astanga practice.
If you are a beginner to yoga, please read
What type of yoga is best for me ?
Instructor
Gillian Mooney is one of a small number of Ashtanga yoga teachers worldwide to have received the official Authorisation to teach from the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Institute in Mysore, India. She has spent many years studying at the source of this ancient practice in Mysore, India under the direct supervision of her teacher, Sharath Rangaswamy.
Gillian is passionate about imparting this traditional yoga system as she learned it from her teacher in India. Her unique teaching style is derived from her ability to impart the purity and simplicity of this practice in a way that makes it accessible to people of all ages and levels, from complete beginners to experienced.
Gillian originally discovered yoga having come from an athletic background, and was initially drawn to the physical side of the practice. The ashtanga practice due to it’s flowing series of postures which can be quite challenging, captured Gillian’s imagination and enthusiasm right from the start and she began practicing ashtanga yoga on a daily basis.
However, over the years, slowly through a regular daily practice Gillian began to realize the depth of the practice and experience the benefits in a transforming way not only physically, but more importantly mentally and spiritually.
Gillian’s initial view of yoga as being a challenging physical practice has greatly transformed as she now views the physical aspects as being only the first step in the bigger picture.
" I believe that people can gain immense benefits from yoga. It's not an easy path but if we can be open enough to allow ourselves to surrender we can slowly, slowly tap into the deeper realms within us gaining a much more balanced life in all areas.
The Burren is an idyllic place for yoga being as it is such an incredibly spiritual part of Ireland. " - Gillian
Gillian was fortunate to study with the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois from 2005-2007 and with Sharath Rangaswamy from 2005 to present.
Since Gillian’s first visit to Mysore, India in 2005, she has spend a number of long periods of time there including a two year full time sabbatical (2007&2008)
She continues to make annual trips there to further her studies, and she has also studied with senior AYRI Certified teachers Lino Miele in Kovalam India (Jan&Feb2006) and Rolf Raujkot in Goa, India (March&April2006)
Gillian has also been studying Sanskrit and Yoga Philosophy with Dr. M.A. Jayashree and Prof. M.A. Narasimhan in Mysore, India since 2005.
She has spent many months between 2005-2009 attending daily satsang with the late Ramesh. S. Balsekar studying the Indian Philosophy of Advaita Vedanta (non duality) in Mumbai, India.
Gillian’s message to any beginner
"There is no need to feel nervous as we all were (and still are!) beginners. I've been working with complete beginners a lot these past few years and I can assure you that you will receive all the necessary attention and guidance you need to provide you with the tools to leave the course with the confidence to start and maintain a daily practice of your own." Gillian’s message to anyone practicing ashtanga daily for 4 years
"I am well used to working with both beginner and experienced students together, and will provide you with all the guidance and help (wherever you are in whichever series i.e. primary or intermediate) once I have had time to see your practice during the first day. As you are ready, you will be moved on to mysore self practice, hence enabling us to work on whatever areas need help and you will probably find that with the right breath and awareness you will find yourself reaching places you may have previously thought unreachable.Coming on a long weekend course Vs once class a week
Instead of stepping back into the usual daily life with it's challenges, stress, and possibly traffic noise and many other demands, one's practice deepens if one is able to stay within that meditative state especially within a yogic environment and enjoying vegetarian food, and spending time in the beautiful unspoilt landscape of the Burren.
This is the perfect opportunity to completely immerse yourself in yoga and to scrub the mind clean enabling you to set the tone for a newly relaxed lifestyle... the course will provide you with the tools and confidence to return home with your own daily practice for years to come...
Timetable for the long weekend
Friday arrival
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 6:00 - 7:00pm | Arrival & Registration |
| 7:00pm | Dinner by Paddi |
| 8:00 - 8:30pm | Karma Yoga |
Typical day timetable
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 7:15 - 7:45am | Breathwork |
| 7:45 - 9:45am | Ashtanga yoga class |
| 10:00am | Breakfast |
| 10:45 | Karma Yoga |
| 11:30 – 5:00pm | Outdoor trip into the Burren |
| 2:00pm | Lunch out locally |
| 5:00pm approx | Return to centre |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 - 8:00pm | Karma Yoga |
| 8:45 - 9:30pm | Relaxation class |
Alternate days
Every second day, as well as the usual classes listed on the typical day's timetable above, we have an additional afternoon class.
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 4:30 - 6:00pm | Asana Yoga class |
Monday departure
| Time | Activity |
|---|
| 7:15 - 7:45am | Breathwork |
| 7:45 - 9:45am | Ashtanga yoga class |
| 10:00am | Breakfast |
| 10:45 – 11:30 | Karma Yoga |
| 12:00 noon | Depart |
Granville Cousins will teach an excellent challenging yoga retreat. Details at
yogAsana and Meditation Granville Cousins 1Tell me more about Ashtanga yogaWhat to bring with youBooking and DepositsFAQ about coursesWhat is Karma yogaComments Testimonials
