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The Yoga Studio Summer Retreat
2008
2, 3 or 5 days at Buckland Hall, South Wales.
A perfect place for a retreat in the beautiful
BRECON BEACONS
2 Days FRIDAY 1st Aug
to SUNDAY 3rd Aug £220
3 Days SUNDAY 3rd Aug
to WEDNESDAY 6th Aug £330
5 Days FRIDAY 1st Aug
to WEDNESDAY 6th Aug £550
About The Retreat
Yoga retreats are a very special opportunity to learn,
and live the essence of Yoga without the distractions
of our daily lives. Such an experience can be transforming,
or at the very least give us a grounding for a more
peaceful and healthier way of being.
At the retreat we take silent meditation walks after
breakfast, either around the beautiful grounds, overlooking
the Welsh hills, or down by the lovely winding River
Usk.
Also in the mornings we practice Asanas (Postures) to
suit our personal needs; also many different Pranayamas
(Breathing exercises) and Nidra (Deep Relaxation), in
more depth, thus allowing us to plan a perfect routine
for our individual requirements to practice upon returning
home. 
Such work can make a significant advancement in our
personal practice.
After lunch there is quiet study of Yoga philosophy,
and afternoons provide free time to go for walks, read,
paint, visit local beauty spots, or just have a long
bath! In the evening we practice Bhakti yoga - chanting
and drumming. We cover as many aspects of Yoga as our
time will allow. However you do not have to attend everything;
you can pick and choose your favourite programme. There
is no pressure. Such an experience can touch the very
spirit of our being and remain with us forever.
 About
the Venue
Buckland Hall is a small stately home, and is used only
for Yoga retreats and similar ventures. The owners are
particularly interested in our way of life and want
to help us to grow and develop by providing for our
every need. It is rather a luxurious venue perhaps but
that makes it feel even more special and restful. The
staff leave us alone completely to roam the house and
only show up to wait on our tables at meal times. What
a treat!
The friendly and caring staff provide us with excellent
vegetarian food, mainly organic and locally grown. Special
diets are catered for. The bedrooms are mainly for two
people sharing, tastefully decorated with en suite bathrooms
or showers. Some rooms have four beds with two en-suite
bathrooms. There are a few single rooms available. 
The house is magnificent and a delight to be in. There
are refreshments on offer throughout the day. The atmosphere
is exceptionally friendly.
TESTIMONIALS
We all lead such busy and hectic lives that to take
some time out should not be considered a luxury but
an essential part of our spiritual progression along
the Yogic path. Finding such a retreat can be difficult,
especially without leaving this country and cost always
has to be a consideration, but when I attended the Saraswati
Yoga Retreat I knew that I had found the perfect place.
The location is just wonderful with the peace and quiet,
the mountain scenery and the beautiful River Usk and
I knew that I had arrived somewhere very special. Saraswati
gently encourages us in our Yoga practise and there
is a spirit of love and harmony with many laughs and
enjoyment. However, no-one is made to feel obliged to
join in everything (or anything) as the time and focus
is on you, yourself, and what you feel you need spiritually.
I am not hesitating to reserve my place for a 4th year.
So, Namaste Saraswati, and a huge 'thank you'.
Jenny Bull
Comprehensives Yoga Fellowship Teacher & Tutor
I have very much enjoyed my special yoga time at Buckland
Hall with Saraswati and Brahma for different reasons:
I really appreciate the tranquil and peaceful setting
away from the hustle and bustle of London life and love
the clean air, beautiful walks and nutritious food.
As a teacher I indulge in practising my yoga several
times a day with Saraswati doing all the talking and
feel wonderfully stretched and peaceful.
I particularly treasure my quiet time during walks and
meditation.
Thank you Saraswati and Brahma for all the work and
care you put into these retreats to make them a relaxing
and memorable experience for all.
Gabriele Steen…Nataraja..... Yoga Teacher
A Haiku
Yoga at Buckland Hall…
Green hillsides rolling
Dew drops glinting in the grass
Light opening my heart
Anushka Nolan…Ananda..... Trainee Teacher
The retreat is a chance to get to know yourself whilst
relaxing in the beautiful and peaceful Welsh countryside.
An ideal opportunity to gain much greater awareness
and understanding. A truly wonderful experience!
Belinda Dimmock…Pavana..... Trainee Teacher
To receive a brochure please
submit an Enquiry
Form or email:
saraswati@blueyonder.co.uk
or call: 0208 641 1792
A Celebration of Life - Kirtan workshop
Saturday 3rd May 1.30pm
- 3.30pm Adults £10.00 children free
Chanting is joyful. Chanting
is fun. Chanting is freeing. Chanting is beautiful.
Chanting touches the deepest longing of the heart.
It is a form of heart centre yoga or Bhakti yoga.
Chanting simple devotional songs has its roots in the
ancient Vedas, India's most revered scriptures (circa
1500 B.C.). The word Kirtan comes from the Sanskrit
root 'kirt,' meaning to repeat, to celebrate.
The music's repetitive nature promotes
concentration and tranquillity of mind, and is thereby
a powerful method for spiritual introspection. Kirtan
is singing over and over the many names of life, expressing
the multi-coloured rainbow manifestations of the One.
It is said that there is no actual difference between
the mantra and the truth of life and as the words roll
off our lips in song, peace is invoked, made manifest
in our hearts. Kirtan is part of an ancient form of
yoga known as Bhakti, or the Yoga of Devotion. Devotion
to include every shade of colour in the palette of human
emotion expressed in the chants. These chants have been
sung for millennium by yogins. In our workshop we will
chant and immerse ourselves in an endless river of spiritual
practice that has been flowing through the ages and
across the world on a joyful journey of discovering
who we really are. Kirtan is for all people. There are
no masters of Kirtan, no experts, no teachers, no advanced
students, no beginners. The practice itself is the teacher.
There is no right or wrong way to practise Kirtan. Kirtan
can be breathtakingly beautiful, the music can be stunning
and masterful; and it can also be almost painful to
the ears! It is not about being able to sing but about
breaking chains that bind us. Aesthetics don't matter.
All that matters is the spirit, the feeling. Don't worry
about what you sound like, feel whatever you feel, have
no expectations, no inhibitions. Kirtan is a train carrying
us home.
Saraswati & Brahma have been running chanting workshops
for over fifteen years.
Why not come along and have some fun. How often do you
get a chance to play?
CPD CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE ON REQUEST.
Yoga
and Food
A Yoga Day with Saraswati
Saturday 7th June 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
10.00 am - Noon. Hatha Yoga
Noon - 1.00 pm Lunch provided by the studio vegetarian,
yogic and delicious
1.00pm - 4.00 pm Yoga Diet
Including afternoon refreshments
"Foods dear to those in the mode
of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's
existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction".
Bhagavad Gita
"Let the yogi eat moderately, otherwise, however
clever, s/he cannot gain success". - Siva Samhita
Everything in Yoga is about balance. That includes the
way that we eat and the food that we eat. We will look
at just what a healthy balanced diet really is and learn
how to create balance and harmony in body and mind by
eating well.
Yoga is often described as a science. As scientists
then, we will look at all the latest research on food
and how its effects us physically and psychologically.
Without a doubt food is very important to us. It gives
us life. What we put in our mouths creates our body
and gives us our energy. What can be more important
than that? Food is so important to us obsession with
it can cause havoc in our lives. Obesity and food disorders
are major modern day issues. In our western privileged
world of plenty we are at odds with our ancient in built
survival response to eat as much as possible and so
are too often over fed and yet undernourished. The media
and endless slimming books add to our on going struggle
with food. We need to acknowledge that eating provides
us with emotional comfort as well as bodily nourishment.
We will as yogins care for our whole being and find
balance in a way of eating that will bring a sense of
peace to body and mind. This workshop will be informative
for anyone interested in good nutrition following peaceful
principles. Finishing with….. Saraswati's slimming
secrets!!!
Open to all levels, including beginners to yoga.
CPD CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE ON REQUEST.
The Yoga Studio also
offers:
Quarterly Yoga Days for learning the philosophy
of yoga
A yearly Yoga Lunch - a special occasion of yogic celebration
including a demonstration of postures by Saraswati.
Other events throughout the year include workshops on
Breathing, Singing/Chanting & Meditation.
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