I just got word that my dear friend Claudia Jones has put together a yoga retreat in Goa in February of 2009. If you are thinking about taking a nice yoga holiday next year consider going to Goa to learn yoga with Claudia!

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ASTHANGA YOGA / PRANAYAMA RETREAT AT YOGA GYPSYS ASHVEM, GOA

WITH CLAUDIA JONES

FEBRUARY 1ST – FEBRUARY 10TH 2009


The Yoga Retreat will be held in Ashvem, North Goa on arguably one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on this coast. The Yoga Gypsys Retreat Centre is situated in a spacious and shady palm grove which is quite literally on the beach. Its accommodations are in keeping with the beautiful, natural surroundings; there are both octagonal Zen style bamboo houses and Portuguese villa style cottages from which to choose. The lovingly tended three tier gardens are stocked with organic vegetables and a variety of medicinal, local and tropical flowering plants.

The Ashtanga Yoga/ Pranayama Programme
7 am – 8 am Pranayama and Meditation
8 am – 10 am Ashtanga Yoga Asana Class
10 am Breakfast Free Time
4 pm – 5 pm Restorative Asana Class
5 pm – 6 pm Pranayama and Meditation
7 pm Dinner Free Time

The retreat is open to all levels of fitness and abilities. Some experience of the Ashtanga Yoga practice would be helpful but is not essential.

The morning asana classes will focus on the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga, while the afternoon asana classes will be gentle and restorative to counter the morning practice.

The pranayama sessions over the course of the retreat will teach the preparations for pranayama practice and introduce students to each of the different pranayamas.

Meditation will be a part of the morning and evening sessions, allowing quiet time to focus within.

The Food
Dining is on site with breakfast and evening meal prepared fresh to our requirements. Breakfast usually consists of fresh juice and fruit salad, yoghurt, muesli, porridge, bread, preserves, plus a hot Indian accompaniment, bhaji. Local fruit and a mix of Indian nuts, seeds and raisins are available early in the morning for those who like a small bite before yoga along with hot water, lemon, ginger and honey. The evening meal consists of 2-3 courses of Indian/ Mediterranean fusion fare, mainly vegetarian, with occasional chicken and famous Goan speciality fish dishes, and fruity desserts.

With advance notice vegan diets and food intolerances can be taken into account.

Breakfast and dinner is included in the retreat price. Snacks available in between these times at the seaside bar include fresh juices, lassis (yoghurt fruit drinks) soups and salads from the garden and are at an additional charge.

Along Ashvem beach are several restaurants open for lunch and snacks.

Therapies
The following therapies will be available during your stay outside of class times:

Reiki
Reflexology
Indian Head Massage
Thai Yoga Massage
Aromatherapy

Please note that therapies are not included in the retreat cost and are offered at an additional charge.

Reiki Level One training is also available on the mid-retreat rest day, or can be arranged prior to or after the retreat. Again this is at an additional charge. Please contact Claudia for further information on therapies and Reiki training.

About Claudia
Claudia’s early interest in yoga began with the study of Integral Yoga and Sivananda Yoga and the teachings of its founders Sri Swami Satchidananda and Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati.

Since being introduced to the Ashtanga Yoga practice by a friend in 2005, Claudia has made its study and practice her main focus.

Claudia has spent the last two years in India studying yoga, pranayama and meditation. Her teachers include Sri. K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga and the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, and his grandson Sharath, and more recently one of his senior students, Rolf Naujokat.

In 2007 Claudia completed her formal training in Thailand under the tutelage of Paul Dallaghan, also a senior student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, where she received a Yoga Alliance recognised teaching qualification.

Her other teachers in the field of Ashtanga Yoga include Danny Paradise, John Scott, Miri and Gili Harouvi and Marci Naujokat.

The Pranayama approach Claudia follows is in the tradition of Sri O P Tiwari, head of the Kaivalyadhama Institute, Lonavla. She was introduced to this style by her teacher Paul Dallaghan, one of Tiwariji’s few senior students. This year she will be attending a one month long instruction in pranayama under the direct tutelage of Sri O P Tiwari, enabling her to pass on the teachings of this incredible lineage to her students.

During her time in India, Claudia has been able to deepen her focus in Vipassana meditation, attending courses in the style of S N Goenka and following her own self-practice.

Prior to her time in India, Claudia lived in Bournemouth, England where she founded the Bay Tree Holistic Health and Yoga Centre in 2001 which she ran for five years. During this time Claudia focused on her practice of complementary therapies and her teaching of the healing art of Reiki.

Claudia is currently teaching Ashtanga Yoga at her shala in Lesvos, Greece.

Getting There
The Yoga Gypsys Retreat Centre is based 90 minutes away from Goa’s Dabolim Airport. Transfer to the retreat centre by taxi is the easiest option. There is a pre-paid taxi stand as you exit the airport arrivals area. A taxi to Ashvem Beach should cost between 750-1000 rupees.

There are two main flight options: one is to take a charter flight direct to Goa, through a holiday company, the other is to take a scheduled flight to Mumbai and book a connecting flight to Goa. For budget internal flights try Spice Jet, Indigo and Air Deccan. Other options include Kingfisher Airlines, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India

As Indian currency is not available outside of India, you will need to change some money at the airport on arrival or use the airport’s ATM machine. Please note that there is no ATM near the retreat centre but you will be able to change money/travellers cheques and use ATM’s in the local towns. The exchange rate last season fluctuated between 76-82 Indian rupees to 1 GBP.

Please note that a tourist visa is required to enter India. Visas are valid for 6 months from date of issue and cost around £30.

Vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis are recommended.

What to Bring
The weather in February is usually at its best with warm days and cool evenings. Please note that early mornings can be quite chilly so bring something warm to begin your practice in.

Yoga wear, yoga mat, swimwear, sunhat, sun cream, mosquito repellent.

You can buy pretty much everything you need locally, beach vendors sell clothing and sarongs and there are pharmacies and general stores in the local towns.

Exploring the Local Area
There will be plenty of time during the day to explore and enjoy the local beaches and to sample the local fare. There is information in each accommodation with suggestions for day trips and local places of interest. Taxis can be arranged to and from the retreat centre. There are local markets for shopaholics or for those who like to browse; Anjuna market, held weekly, offers goods from all over India and is ideal for souvenir shopping.

Please note that on the first day of the retreat we will meet at 4 pm, giving you plenty of time to arrive and get settled in.

On the fourth day the programme will be pranayama and meditation only from 7 am – 8 am, allowing you a rest day and free time to explore the area.

On the last day of the retreat we will finish our yoga programme at breakfast time, allowing you to spend a leisurely last day at the centre or to take an excursion.

Booking and Prices
The cost of the retreat including 10 night’s accommodation, breakfast and evening meals and full yoga programme is £770, inclusive of 10% luxury tax.

Single accommodations are available at an extra cost of £220 per 10 nights.

Extra night’s accommodation before and after the retreat are usually available with advance notice and are at an additional charge.

Please note a £200 non-refundable deposit is required upon booking to secure your place.

For all bookings and information please contact Claudia
happyecoclaudia@yahoo.co.uk