reveal
AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY INTO SELF-DISCOVERY
Date: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 - MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Retreat duration: 4 days/3 nights
Teacher: Julie Moksim
Our last retreat of the season encourages you to take a journey into self-discovery. The process of yoga and meditation reveal to us who we really are. It brings attention to our passions and joys, as well as to our fears and sorrows. It allows us to tune into our purpose. Through the physical practice of yoga, samkhya and yoga philosophy, and through building internal and spacial awareness, we begin to see ourselves as we are. Beginners and seasoned practitioners alike will taken on an engaging ride through your senses.
Samkhya and Yoga Philosophy
Samkhya philosophy is one of the oldest and most influential of the six schools of Indian Vedic philosophy and has a profound impact on the beliefs, values and concepts used in the practice of Yoga. Samkhya philosophy reveals a detailed map of the universe to serve as a guide towards a state of oneness with all elements in the universe, the ultimate goal of Yoga. Samkhya regards ignorance as the root cause of bondage and suffering. Due to ignorance, the Self, spirit, or purusa identifies itself with the physical body and its constituents, which are products of matter, nature, or prakriti. Once the Self becomes free from the false identification and the material bonds, salvation is possible. This can be loosely compared to some Western concepts of the mind, body and soul.
Yoga is a school of thought that emphasizes meditation, contemplation and liberation (while Samkhya is the theory, Yoga can be thought of as the practice). The sage Patanjali (200 B.C. to 200 A.D.) is often recognized as the “father of classical Yoga.” He codified his thoughts and knowledge about Yoga into a text that is famously known as The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The core of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for Yoga practice. Upon practicing all eight limbs of the path it becomes self-evident that no one element is elevated over another in a hierarchical order. Each is part of a holistic focus, which eventually brings completeness to the individual as they find their connectivity to the divine. Because we are all uniquely individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another as they round out their understanding (excerpt from the Eight Limbs, the Core of Yoga, William J.D. Doran, Expression of Spirit).
Yoga is a school of thought that emphasizes meditation, contemplation and liberation (while Samkhya is the theory, Yoga can be thought of as the practice). The sage Patanjali (200 B.C. to 200 A.D.) is often recognized as the “father of classical Yoga.” He codified his thoughts and knowledge about Yoga into a text that is famously known as The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The core of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for Yoga practice. Upon practicing all eight limbs of the path it becomes self-evident that no one element is elevated over another in a hierarchical order. Each is part of a holistic focus, which eventually brings completeness to the individual as they find their connectivity to the divine. Because we are all uniquely individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another as they round out their understanding (excerpt from the Eight Limbs, the Core of Yoga, William J.D. Doran, Expression of Spirit).
The Retreat
This 4-day/3-night retreat is about taking the ancient and classical yoga philosophy into a real world application that is relevant to how we live in the modern day. Each day, you will get an opportunity to dive into and live the real meaning of yoga practice, from its physical form to its philosophical foundation. The physical practice of yoga, beyond exercise, is an active practice of observation, awareness and self-discovery. In order to do this, we need to apply the philosophy of yoga and to move beyond our habitual patterns in order to wake up the higher intelligence. We'll take you step by step through this process. Learning how to find ease in the physical practice is also a central element in this process, so we'll spend a couple of afternoons fine-tuning your alignment in commonly practiced yoga postures. Together with breath work, this retreat is a holistic experience through the eyes of Samkhya and Yoga philosophies.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
1:30PM Arrival and check in 4:00PM Introductions and overview, followed by opening ceremony 5:00PM Sunset Vinyasa Flow and Meditation 7:30PM Organic Buffet Dinner Day 2 7:30AM Pranayama and Meditation 8:00AM Vinyasa Flow 9:30AM Breakfast 2:30PM Philosophy Discussion: Samkhya 4:00PM Special focus workshop: A personalized approach to alignment of commonly practiced yoga postures 5:30pm Meditation 7:30PM Organic Buffet Dinner |
Day 3
7:30AM Pranayama and Meditation 8:00AM Vinyasa Flow 9:30AM Breakfast 2:00PM Philosophy Discussion: Yoga 4:00PM Yin Yoga 6:00PM Special Evening Program 7:30PM Organic Buffet Dinner Day 4 7:30AM Pranayama and Meditation 8:00AM Vinyasa Flow 9:30AM Breakfast 11:00AM Closing ceremony 12:00PM Check out and departure |
* This is a sample itinerary. The actual schedule on the retreat may change slightly as a result of students' level of experience and needs. We endeavor to make your experience as relevant as possible and changes may be made along the way to enable us to do so.
Price
Shared Room: (only two twin rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis)
Fountain Bungalow - USD348 per person
Riverside Bungalow - USD358 per person
Single Occupancy Room:
Fountain Bungalow - USD 430 per person
Riverside Bungalow - USD 450 per person
Price inclusions:
4 nights accommodation
Breakfast daily
Organic Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Dinner Buffet
All yoga and meditation sessions
Pool and bicycle use
Minivan transport from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang on the last day of the retreat
* There are only two bungalows with twin beds (one fountain bungalow and one riverside bungalow). All other bungalows have double beds. We will try to accommodate your request for single/double occupancy as well as Riverside or Fountain views, but this will depend on the availability of the room as well.