Photos Ashtanga with Granville Summer 2005
The first half of the first photos are of outdoor activities on a Satyananda week long course in 2005, and the second half are of Ashtanga and Meditation with Granville'sweek long course in 2005.
This is Siobhan's 9th course here at the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre.
Siobhan is a Satyananda yoga practitioner and comes each year on various weekend and week long courses.
And this is Elsa's second course. Elsa is one of our youngest course attendees. She attended the first course with her mum when she was 14 years old.
She said she had a great time and made some good friends on the course as well as enjoying tyhe yoga and the outdoor activities.
The black sails in the background belong to "An Traonach".
An Traonach is a Galway Bay hooker and the skipper is Mehall.
Mehall keeps an eye out on the weather during the summer and when he spots good weather he lets Dave know that sailing conditions are looking good.
This is Paddy who is looking after the sails today.
The Galway Bay hooker is a traditional vessel used to bring cargo often turf to the Islands many years ago. Mehall maintains this boat in the traditional way, and there are no winches on board and no outboard or inboard motor of any kind.
All the sails are man-handled using the sturdy lines on board.
As we glide out into the bay under sail, we see the view of Kinvara quay from a new perspective.
Mehall keeps a keen eye out for any change of wind and if he spots any interesting sights like the basking seals he lets us know.
Tagdh on the right of the picture is the Satyananda yoga teacher on this course.
The view of the Burren hills is breath taking as we sail effortlessly out into the bay.
Paddy is well used to the ropes and is good for a tale or two ;-)
Another Galway bay hooker sails alongside.
After the sail we head to Fanore beach for a refreshing swim in the sea.
Hey hand stands are easier under water!!!
What next today? Its hard to believe what we fit into one day at the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre!
Just time for a short stroll through Coole Park while Paddi prepares our vegtarian feast for this evening.
Well ok, just time for a quick cup of coffee and now we are ready for our stroll.
And out the courtyard into this amazing park of woods, lakes, gardens which strethces for miles.
We have had 3 groups have got lost in the woods over the past few years.
This is a beautiful change to the natural rugged landscape of the Burren.
Some of these trees are pretty old.
And next day we head off for a hill climb up Mulloughmore hill.
Hmmmm.... do you recognise this house from a famous Irish TV serial?
I know Elsa does and as usual we hop out to get a few photos before we get ready for our climb.
It takes about 1 hour to get to the top, and the views are amazing.
Even the views half way up are very beautiful as we look down onto this Burren rock landscape scattered with lakes and hills.
Something about the fresh air and the easy going nature of these activities is very cleansing to the soul.... and it shows in the eys and the smiles ;-)
Some of the Burren wild flowers are very beautiful and we stop to examine the flowers as well as take in the views from time to time.
And by the end of the week everyone in the group is feeling top of the world and already secretly planning when they will come back next year.
"And i hope to see you all back here next year for some excellent yoga instruction, some very clear meditational guidance, some great activities outdoors, amazing vegetarian food from Paddi and all the fun and craic that comes with these courses." Dave
Those of you who have been here already, know that Dave is not exagarating.
The stone walls of the Burren never cease to amaze first time visitors.
And the hills plunge down into the sea mainly onto a rocky shoreline.
These walls stretch for miles up and down hills. And seperate fields filled with rock and others of lush green grass, Burren wild flowers.
A paradise of unspoilt countryside on the dge of Galway bay and the Atlantic ocean.
But there are some beautiful beaches with very few people on them. A refreshing change to many of the resorts in the rest of Europe.
In fact one of the most refreshing things about the Burren is how few people there are here.
And as usual Dave's knows of an off the track cafe where we can indulge in some excellent coffee and cakes while we sit back into this easy pace of an unfolding adventure in the magical Burren.
Weather is changeable in Ireland, but there is always healthy fresh air which is a change from humid hot cities, and the weather is always warm enough to get out for hill walks all year round.
The twisty narrow roads of the Burren bring one amazing view after the next.
And one can easily come down a hill and into a beautiful bay or harbour like Kinvara or Ballyvaughan.
This is a sleepy unspoilt land which has not changed much since the ancient Druids of Ireland lived in these parts.
Some of the green roads that we take for our walks were built back in the times of the famine and the views are spellbinding.
And there is always time to stop to inspect an ancient site, or to take a photo.
And one of our favourite spots for a swim before dinner is the lake which is 4 miles from the centre.
Granville loves swimming in Lough Bunny especially as the water is only chest high so it heats up in the summer so that one could stay in for an hour if one wished.
And next morning its back on the mat for the early morning Ashtanga yoga session.
These photos were taken outside the actual class as we did not want to disturb the instruction and experience which Granville brings to each class.
We have an early morning Meditation from 7:00 to 8:00 am.
And from 8:15 - 10:15 AM Ashtanga class each day
Every second afternoon after our usual outdoor activities, we have an extra asana class usually improving on the postures of the ashtanga sequence but breaking down each posture so that each participant can get to understand what they need to be working on in each of the postures.
And every evening we have a meditation class from 8:00 - 9:00 pm
And you may well ask..... after that day of meditation, ashtanga, outdoors in the Burren, more asana class, amazing vegetarian food by Paddi the chef, and then a meditation class.... what do you do after 9:00 pm ?
Well that would be telling ;-)
Believe it or not some people still do have energy to do their own thing before retiring to bed.
But each day we get the cance to improve our meditation, and our ashtanga practice.
And by the end of the week its hard to imagine not starting each day like this .....
And then a great refreshing swim to feel on top of the world.
Hope to see you all again next year ;-)
