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Samahita Retreat - Newsletter October 2011
Dear friends,
My philosophy on life is to never deny the heart's wishes, then let the brain do the figuring out. I took this on early after leaving university, bound for the City but instead waiting tables and personally exploring. Without a plan yoga and wellness came roaring forward. These have shaped my life and brought so much to me. Of course it has required much effort and dedication to date but still I feel blessed and fully believe in following what is in your heart. This in part has affected how I am as a father and husband - full on yoga in practice and equally as enjoyable. I am often asked am I teaching my kids yoga. So that is the topic of this issue's article, a personal view and experience but hopefully worth sharing.
This heart-driven approach to life, discounting any fears, moving ahead with what has to be done, has also given us (my wife and I) the opportunity to help others. I believe in businesses engaging in social responsibility. We have tried to help the local schools, environment and temples to date but also to help individuals gain opportunity. This is the feature on two of our Cambodian students included within this newsletter. The spirit of helping can always exist and does not need a center or a bank account to help out. I believe there is ample opportunity every day, especially in the busy city. It feeds the heart which brings us full circle to following our heart. To quote Swami Vivekananda, "It is not the receiver who is blessed but the giver". Store that in your brain and remind yourself of it when you are feeling less interested to help or share. It has been a strong reminder for me.
All of us here hope to see you at some stage that works for you. In the meantime keep up the awareness on the breath.
Wishing you all a big, happy heart.
Om
Paul
Yoga and Health Articles
I am often asked the question: "Am I teaching my kids yoga?" My typical response is: "they are teaching me yoga."
Yoga and My Children - By Paul Dallaghan.
In November 2011 Nich and Piseth from the Cambodia NGO Krama Yoga will be joining the Centered Yoga Foundation Training.
Yoga in Cambodia By Founder Isabelle Skaburskis.
One of the questions I get asked most often is, 'should I eat soy?' On one hand promoted as a wonder food and on the other maligned as a cause of cancer. Claudia Jones, Samahita Wellness Director investigates the link between soy and your health
Soy and Your Health - By Claudia Jones.
When and how is women's practice affected by menstruation and how should we as teachers and students address this question?
Practicing During and Around Our Cycle - By Elonne Stockton
People Share their Experiences
I would like to thank everyone at Samahita Retreat for making this a great experience. Thanks for the love and support. You're all worth a million. Hope that one day I will return to your lovely people. Thanks so much
- Hilda, Holland (Sep 2011)
Upcoming Programs at Samahita Retreat
October 15 - 22, 2011
Continuing Education Pranayama Training Course
Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Gradual Path to Awakening With Miles Neale, Psy.D. and Emily Wolf, Ph.D. (cand)
Join Dr Miles Neale and Dr Emily Wolf, psychotherapists from the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, for a week of meditation, yoga and personal inquiry. The emphasis of the retreat will be exploring the Gradual Path (lam rim) teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, a comprehensive and systematic approach of self-healing and self-mastery designed to lead individuals from distress to full awakening. Drawing on his background in psychotherapy and Buddhist meditation, Dr. Miles Neale will present the Gradual Path teachings through the contemporary lens and language of clinical psychology and neuroscience. He will also provide daily instruction and guidance of the three major types of Buddhist meditation: deep mindfulness, analytic contemplation and visualization.
Emily Wolf will provide complementary instruction in asana, pranayama, chanting and assist with meditation, discussion and group facilitation. All levels of asana and meditation experience welcome. The retreat is ideal for enthusiasts of Indian Yogic traditions who would like to supplement their current philosophical understanding with the Tibetan Buddhist perspective, as well as for those new comers interested in acquiring a complete set of tools for embracing a contemplative lifestyle.
October 22 - 29, 2011
The Joy of Practice with Elonne Stockton
In this retreat, we will develop our self-practice of yoga asana and breathwork - pranayama. At the same time, we will explore where the practice of yoga comes from, what the different elements of the practice are and why we practice yoga to begin with. What is so great about yoga anyway? Find out!
All levels are welcome. This is an opportunity to be in yoga, to live it, to immerse ourselves in the practice of yoga. It is a chance to be in a healthy and uplifting setting with like-minded people, learning about the practice while building something solid that we can take with us to enrich our lives. Get in it, and develop a love and appreciation for the practice. The joy is ours to celebrate; it is already in us.
Throughout the week, we will have morning breathwork - pranayama, intention setting, chanting and asana practice (led asana and self practice classes), afternoon discussions and restorative asana classes, and of course lots of bhakti/devotion! Some mornings there will be additional silent walks or walking meditations, and some evenings we will have optional kirtan, satsang and other activities.
October 29 - November 5, 2011
Detox and Yoga: 7 Day Detox and Yoga Retreat
Detoxify Body and Mind while Building a Yoga Practice with Claudia Jones
The seven day detox and yoga retreat program is the ultimate opportunity to take your wellbeing to a new level. This fully supported detox program will lead you through a transformative process both on a physical and mental level to leave you feeling light, energetic and uplifted. This detox retreat can help you to normalize your weight, balance your eating habits and transition into a healthful way of living.
Guided asana practice specially adapted for the detox program. Ashtanga Yoga Mysore style will be available Reduction in joint and muscle stiffness.
Claudia is the Director of Samahita Wellness at Samahita Retreat. Claudia expertly guides and supports our guests through detox and wellness programs and has done so since the program's launch. She is instrumental in the on-going development of our detox programs and the growth of our wellness center. Claudia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of complementary health and wellbeing from her holistic health and yoga center in the UK, which she ran for many years till selling in 2006. She completed her Centered Yoga Training in 2007, has taught retreats in Goa, India and on the Greek Islands and is a resident teacher here at Samahita Retreat. She has spent time in study in both Mysore with Pattabhi Jois and Sharath and also at The Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute with Sri Tiwari for pranayama.
December 19 - 26, 2011 - All About Asana and the Breath
December 26 - January 2, 2012 - All About the Breath and Philosophy
Christmas & New Year Yoga Retreat Celebrate the Holidays and Enter the New Year with Paul Dallaghan
Paul and his team will share in the task of teaching and guiding. Our expanded yoga shala space allows us to handle all students in different classes, as necessary. The retreat will offer a mix of Asana and Pranayama practice, along with practical workshops on philosophy and integrating yoga into daily life. Our intention is for you to feel uplifted and clear in what to practice by the time you end the retreat.
The first week will place an emphasis on Asana in the workshops, with more on the Philosophy by the second week, apt for an understanding to contemplate closing the old year and opening the new, with both weeks focused on the breath. Keeping things fluid Paul will still entertain questions on all subjects over the different weeks.
There will be a Christmas Eve celebration with feast and performances. Our Christmas celebration is centered around giving and sharing by inviting local school children to perform their traditional arts and raising money for their schools. The special ceremony will help you close and heal the past year, setting the energy and intention for the year coming with an impetus to follow through on it. The rest of your time will be a nice break from all the crazy holiday happenings and commercial onslaught. Come and really enjoy the break.
On New Year's Eve there will be a special ceremony to acknowledge 2011 and welcome in 2012 as well as a feast and performances. The special ceremony will help you close and heal the past year, setting the energy and intention for the year coming with an impetus to follow through on it.
This year we are pleased to have a special musician Daphne Tse who will share her beautiful voice and music with us during this retreat.
January 2 - 7, 2012
2012 Destined To Be a Year of Change, Start it Right
Yoga and Daily Life in the Face of Change with Paul Dallaghan and John Campbell
There has been a lot of hype around the year 2012, specifically the date of December 21. For sure there is some energetic shift which has already begun. As with any shift or change the level of awareness and preparation of each person can help determine the growth or difficulty we come under due to the shift in circumstances. Both yoga and Buddhist philosophy offer tremendous clarity, wisdom and support for everyone. They are of course built on practice. Both John and Paul share this common bond in practice and deeper understanding. The start of any endeavor is highly important and this short week is a great opportunity to explore practice, either from being exposed to it at a new level or looking to immerse into it.
As is typically taught here, students will focus on mind, breath and body practices. These are tools to work with on a regular basis that can literally transform your life and build a tremendous inner strength. Here each student will work on and learn, to take home, breath, meditative and asana practice. We feel this is one of the best things to have for yourself in times of tremendous change, upheaval and uncertainty. We hope to be of help. Please join us.
January 7 - 14, 2012
Yoga Practice and Buddhist Thought with John R. B. Campbell, Ph.D.
Join John Campbell, Certified Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and scholar of Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism for a week of yoga and meditation practice. Drawing on his rich background in the body-mind transformative traditions of India and Tibet, Professor Campbell will be giving instruction in the Ashtanga Yoga system in the lineage of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The emphasis of the retreat will be on the "outer" bodily practices of asana linked to their "inner" components of mental and emotional development. Daily instruction in asana, pranayama and meditation practice will be combined with lectures on the theoretical foundations of the Yoga based on their presentation in the classical texts and oral teachings of Hindu and Buddhist Yoga systems, leading participants toward a richer understanding of the potential and value of their own practice. An ideal environment for the experienced yoga enthusiast who wants to deepen their practice, it is equally suited to the total beginner who wants a powerful, practical introduction to these ancient methods of liberating the ordinary body-mind complex from egocentric suffering.
This course is open to all levels of students.
Bring your group to SYT
Samahita Retreat is a full service retreat center providing a complete supportive environment for focused learning and continued education in yoga, spiritual and health interests. During certain times of the year our center is available for private group programs by request.
For more info please see:
http://www.yoga-thailand.com/private-yoga-teacher.html
Upcoming workshops around the world with Paul
October 22 - 23 Tokyo, Japan
Sun and Moon Yoga Studio
October 28 Half day workshop
Balance Yoga Atlanta GA USA
December 2 + 3 Jakarta, Indonesia
Namaste Yoga Festival
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@yoga-thailand.com
Skype id: yogathailand1 or yogathailand2
Tel. + 66 77 920 090 to 091
Samahita Retreat 55/20-24 Moo 4 Namuang, Koh Samui, Surathani, Thailand 84140
