in Otford, New South Wales organised by The Yoga Centre East Redfern - An Iyengar Institute
Paul Bowles speaking of the desert… THE BAPTISM OF SOLITUDE.
A strange and by no means pleasant, process of reintegration begins inside you, and you have the choice of fighting against it, and insisting on remaining the person you have always been,
Or letting it take its course.
For no one who has stayed in the Sahara for a while is quite the same as when he came.
Perhaps the logical question to ask at this point is:
Why Go?
The answer is that when a person has been there and undergone the baptism of solitude
She cant help herself. Once she has been under the spell of the vast, luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for her, no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. She will go back, whatever the cost in comfort and money, for the absolute has no price.
Why this quote.. what has it to do with a summer Yoga retreat in Otford?
It is a plea for us to experience the potential beauty of ourselves, our lives, our practice, our desires. Our world wants to keep us only in the administrative level of existence, make us into a frightened nanny state people. We become preoccupied, busy with nothing much, keeping our eyes down, forgetting to lift our eyes and hearts to the huge sky lying over our heads, forgetting that we have an unfathomable desert at the heart of our country, and inside ourselves. This place that is full of life and mystery longing for freedom and meaning.
And so we place ourselves in the company of the transcendent.
We must stop, smell the essence, follow the light, see this in those we love, and even those we rub along with.
It takes practice and trust to lift our eyes from the bits and pieces of our lives, to allow ourselves to be transformed by what we love.
We will have this time in Otford, in the company of those who share some of our deeper values.
Caroline Coggins
This retreat is for students with Iyengar Yoga experience, Trainee Teachers and Yoga teachers.
Retreat Schedule
Arrive on Friday for 4 PM start with group practice then dinner. Saturday AM meditation followed by asana classes in the AM & PM. Sunday same as Saturday but will finish after lunchtime 2 PM.
Retreat costs:
A deposit of $200 is required to hold a space on the 2019 Summer Retreat.
We suggest to book early as space is limited.
Camping
Includes: All Yoga tuition, 2 nights camping plus all vegetarian meals.
Earlybird cost if paid in full by December 18: $630
Full fee due by January 18: $710
Share (Quad share, non ensuite)
Includes: All Yoga tuition, 2 nights share accommodation plus all vegetarian meals.
Earlybird cost if paid in full by December 18: $710
Full fee due by January 18: $790
TWIN SHARE en-suite accommodation is available but very limited. Enquire for availability.
How to Register:
Download the APPLICATION FORM , fill in and email back to us.
All Payments are via direct transfer, please email us for banking details.
Once we receive your application and a bank receipt of your deposit/payment, a space will be blocked for you.
Retreat Schedule