Yoga Holidays and Yoga Vacations in Ireland
Ireland is a beautiful place to come and practice yoga on a weekend break or a 7 day yoga holiday.
The weather is suitable for holidays all year round.
Summer does not get too hot and rarely is hotter than 30 degrees celcius.
Winter in the Burren rarely gets colder than 10 degrees.
"Get away from it all" @ the Burren Yoga Centre
The Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre
Lig do Scith
Kinvara
Co. Galway
West coast of Ireland
The Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre is an ideal place to come for a
yoga holiday to get away from your everyday life and devote some time to your Self.
Situated in a peaceful tranquil environment, The Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre is a place where visitors can escape from their busy lives and take time to relax.
The yoga vacations include Yoga, Meditation, Detox and Vegetarian cooking course. We have weekend and week long courses, all year round.
The Centre is a purpose built building, specially designed as a residential yoga centre.
An ideal living space is created using Feng Shui, natural light and minimalist décor
The building of the centre was completed in May 1999, and is the dream of the owner Dave Brocklebank.
Dave designed the centre himself, and incorporated such design features as ceiling to floor windows to provide natural light and spectacular views of the Burren Hills, underfloor heating so that the centre is warm and comfortable throughout the whole year and an air ventilation system which brings warmed fresh air into all the rooms.
Yoga holiday at beautiful yoga centre
The centre is very unique in its use of light and colour. The layout and design of the house utilises Feng Shui to provide a space which has an almost instant feeling of relaxation and comfortableness.
The timber features of the centre include organic shaped counter tops in the kitchen, Gaudi shaped shelving on the walls, bunk beds which are suspended from the ceilings. These are all part of the unique but simple minimalist style of the centre.
Dave Brocklebank is a Satyananda Yoga teacher and ensures that the correct atmosphere is created to produce an environment of peace and harmony.
Dave Brocklebank began meditating in 1978 and has continued this most of the time over the years. He has studied and worked in the field of psychology and later moved to work in the IT field.
Dave began practicing Yoga in 1989 with the Galway school of Yoga and Meditation which is Satyananda based. He completed the 2-year teacher training with Shradhmurti and Chetanmurti in the Galway school of Yoga and Meditation The training is very broad and comprehensive and included practical experience with asanas, pranayama, shatkarmas, karma yoga, meditation and Yoga philosophy
Dave’s main goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the benefits of Yoga in their daily lives and to provide a yoga centre with the highest quality yoga teachers.
Dave runs the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre, co-coordinating courses, facilitating workshops. He brings in the best of yoga teachers from all over the world to teach at the centre.
Yoga vacation on the west coast of Ireland
The surrounding area of the Burren is well known for its beauty, peace and tranquility.
There are very few houses in this area of outstanding beauty.
The peacefulness of the area is ideal for a retreat away from our normally busy lives.
This feeling is quite noticeable even for those who normally would not be aware of the pace with which we live our lives.
Peaceful yoga break
Many people remark on the very deep sleep which they experience at the centre during the yoga holidays, and the refreshed energized feeling they have when they wake up in the morning.
The silence of the Burren helps us become aware of the noise within ourselves.
The Burren is one of the most magical areas in Ireland.
The location of the centre is not a number of miles from the Burren Hills. It is literally at the foot of the Burren Hills. The foot of the Slibh Carron ridge is 500 meters from the house.
The rugged limestone rock, which is shaped into hills could easily pass for another planet, is spellbinding.
The Burren is well known for the unspoilt nature of the whole area. The landscape has not changed for the thousands of years and most of it is protected from change as it is classed as ‘an area of outstanding beauty’.
The molding of the landscape took millions of years. Ancient standing stones and dolmens are scattered throughout the whole area. The rocky hills plunge into the Atlantic ocean, forming such well known places such as the Cliffs of Moher and the harbor of Dolin, noted for its traditional Irish music as much as the rugged landscapes.
There are many sites of interest with 20 miles from the centre. These include the Ailawee Caves, the village of Kinvara, the village of Ballyvaughan, the town of Lisdoonvarna. The list is endless, and all this is packed into a small area 20 miles long and 15 miles wide.
The Burren is also famous for the plant life which abounds in these hills. Wild Orchids, Gentian Violets, Mountain Avens, Harebells, Bloody Cranesbill are all found in this one area, but not found together anywhere else in the world.
A number of herds of wild goats roam the hills and the abundant small bird population add to the tranquil nature of the surroundings as the only sound to be heard is usually the bird song. The wild birds include the blue tit, great tit, bull finch, golden finch, wren, yellow hammer, cuckoo and many more.
From the hills of Burren rock, one can also sometimes see the traditional sailing boats of Galway bay known as the Galway Hookers. These traditional sailing boats with their black sails produce a feeling that one is back in time perhaps in one of the previous centuries watching an ancient boat ride on top of the crests of the waves.
The silence of the area is astounding. There is no farm machinery, little or no houses, and very few cars on the road.
Definitely a large part of the beauty and mystery of the area is its uninhabititated feeling… the silence… being alone with nature… and being in awe of the surrounding naturalness and beauty.
And this helps us to become aware of the noise inside ourselves, and to then let this go and merge with the silence and peace inherent in all.
A short hop from the UK
We get many people who practice yoga in the UK who take a cheap fligh to come on one of our yoga retreats.
It takes about 2 hours to get from most airports in the UK to the front door of the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre.
Meet lovely people on these yoga holidays in Ireland
The people who attend these Yoga and other self development courses tend to be friendly, loving and open to growth.
Very often friendships are formed on these types of courses which can last for years. There is a natural closeness which occurs when we come into contact with others who share some or many of the same values as we do ourselves.
It is also very interesting to hear about the other courses which people have attended and also to learn from those who are instructors or therapists themselves.
Most courses at the centre work to remove blockages or stale energy, and leave us more energised and alive.
Many of the courses at the centre work with our internal energies. Sometimes this is done by firstly working on the physical body, influencing the healthy functioning of our spines, internal organs and endocrine glands. This in turn, removes gross blockages and improves the physical energy which is available to us. It also facilitates a healthier functioning of the more subtle energies which flow through our beings and allows us to experience and work with these subtle energies.
Some other workshops work more directly with our emotions and allow energy to be freed up within our unconscious mind, enabling us to become more in touch with the wider consciousness which surrounds us all.
And other workshops work with the conscious mind, via psychotherapeutic methods in order to bring about greater awareness and happiness by consciously removing negativities which we often carry around with us without realizing.
One's self worth increases as one begins to take greater responsibility for ones own health and happiness.
Improve your health and peace of mind on a yoga vacation
Over the past 50 years, people are beginning to investigate more into their own health and the quality of their lives. They no longer simply accept the tablets or cures or verdicts passed on them by the traditional controlling professions. This coming of age, has lead to a greater personal responsibility and a greater personal power over one's own quality of life and over one's own destiny.
Most of the yoga retreat holidays at the centre aim to increase one's own ability to look after improving one's own health and state of mind. This increased ability leads to greater peace of mind, better health, and a more enriching life.
Flexible Relaxation breaks can be organized on request for a group of 6 or more. If you would like a break from your everyday life to experience relaxation, yoga and time-out in the tranquil Burren.
No previous experience of Yoga or meditation is required for these breaks although those who are already Yoga practitioners are very welcome also.
These courses are aimed at small groups who would like to take a break from their busy lives and take some time for their Self. To spend some time in a tranquil peaceful atmosphere, practice some Yoga and Meditation, some outdoor time in the Burren, and enjoy some vegetarian cooking.
The format of the weekend can be tailored to suit your needs.
If you are interested in such a break, contact the centre to inquire about available dates.
Cost per person €320 per weekend
Typical format of a weekend Yoga course
The weekend courses usually begin on Friday evening at 7:00 PM and finish on Sunday at 13:00.
A typical timetable is as follows;
Friday
19:00 Dinner
21:00 – 22:00 Gentle loosening, breath work and deep relaxation
Saturday
7:00 – 8:00 Body awareness, breathwork, guided meditation
8:15 – 10:15 Stronger Yoga class (Often Asthanga)
10:30 Brunch
11:30 – 14:30 Hill walk or sea walk or swim in Lough Bunny
14:30 – 16:00 Free time
16:00 – 18:00 Yoga class (Often Iyengar posture class)
18:30 Dinner
20:00 – 21:00 Meditation
Sunday
7:00 – 8:00 Body awareness, breathwork, guided meditation
8:15 – 9:45 Stronger Yoga class (Often Asthanga)
10:00 Brunch
11:30 – 13:00 Yoga class (often Iyengar)
13:00 Depart
The courses usually finish at 13:00 which gives time to either explore the Burren Hills or return home during the afternoon.
The cost of the courses are very reasonable and intended to be affordable by all.
The cost of most weekends is €320 per person and includes accommodation and vegetarian meals.
One can also arrange a course or a stay at the centre for a group of people and these are usually based upon your needs.
A team of highly qualified teachers from Ireland and abroad from various different traditions
There are a number of Yoga teachers who teach on the weekend workshops. So far these have included Granville Cousins (Asthanga and Iyengar), Orla Punch (Asthanga and Iyengar), Christophe Mouze (Asthanga and Iyengar), Anto Kearney (Asthanga & Iyengar), Marion Edler (Satyananda Yoga) and Dave Brocklebank (Satyananda Yoga).
Types of Yoga taught
The types of Yoga taught at the centre vary depending on the teachers who will be teaching. However in general they are either Asthanga, Iyengar or Satyananda yoga.
Asthanga Yoga is a quite dynamic strong form of Yoga and one should be quite flexible and/or fit before one starts. It is excellent for toning the body and increasing flexibility and also for overall fitness. There is also some breath and energy work, so that one can obtain a meditative state while performing the strong vigorous postures. This type of Yoga has become more famous recently as it is practiced by Madonna and also Sting.
Iyengar Yoga is primarily concerned with producing health and improving physical alignment of the body. It is also excellent for improving flexibility and toning the body. It requires a reasonable level of fitness to practice.
Satyananda Yoga is more traditional and the main emphasis is on inner awareness. Breathing techniques are taught from the beginning and most of the postures are practiced with the eyes closed and the awareness directed inwards.
The first 12 weeks of Satyananda classes are quite gentle and improve body and breath awareness, improve relaxation and help one become more in touch with what one’s body can and cannot do. At the same time, the mind is calmed by the internal focus and the gentle guidance to keep one’s awareness in the present rather than being caught up by thoughts. After this initial 12 weeks, one can progress to more stronger postures using the awareness gained during the first 12 weeks. Over a number of months or years the physical postures include the usual classical postures such as ‘the plough’, the shoulderstand’, ‘the headstand’ and so on. And also the sequence ‘Salutation to the Sun’.
The Satyananda courses also include breathing techniques some of which are relaxing, some energising, some heating and some cooling. There are also other aspects of Satyananda yoga which one becomes more aware of in time, including meditation, single pointed focus and harmony on all levels of one’s being. This form of Yoga can be learned by anyone, old or young, fit or unfit, large or small.
If you are new to Yoga then you could read the article on the website ‘What is Yoga all about’.
These weekends can vary from the quite gentle and relaxing to the quite strong and physical. And some of these weekend courses are suitable for complete beginners while some courses are for the more advanced.
The section ‘courses for 2001’ (on the website) lists a short description of the courses which are planned for the next few months. This list is usually updated each week or when any new course is planned.
If you cannot find enough information to find the course you would like (be it type of Yoga, level of fitness and/or level of experience) then ask me about a particular course or what style you are looking for.
For further information
Visit the website www.burrenyoga.com or contact Dave at +353+(0)91+637680
All enquiries are welcome.
You can be kept up to date with the latest list of courses by receiving the monthly newsletter. Simply contact the centre asking to be sent the newsletter. This can be e-mail or by post.
All inquiries are welcome.
Healthy environment
We have no insects or flys thats bite, the air is the freshest in the world blowing in from the Atlantic ocean.
Calendar of Yoga Retreat holidays in Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre, Ireland
