All levels are welcome. Ideal if you are ready to clean your body mind and soul.

Dates confirmed:

• arriving 21st October - leaving 20th November 2011 with Rory
• arriving 2nd Dec - leaving 1st Jan 2012 with Rory, Teresa and Kes
• arriving 6th Jan - leaving 5th Feb 2012 with Oliver
• arriving 10th Feb - leaving 11th March 2012 with Oliver.

  If these dates don't work for you please do let us know, we can accommodate.

Timetable
Everyday 4-5.30pm lead Ashtanga Vinyasa practice
The first weekend is just to settle in and get to know students and teachers.
Monday starts lectures and detox

Week one
Detox, Lectures and Ashtanga Yoga
Monday - Friday lectures are at 11-12pm on;
The 8 limbs of yoga
Philosophy
Alignment
Yogic strengthening techniques
Pranayama and Meditation techniques

Week two
2 Lectures on Mudras and Bandhas
7am Self practice
4-5.30pm Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Week 3 and 4
Chanting and Ayurvedic diet
7am self practice in the morning
4-5.30pm Ashtanga Yoga

Also included in price package:
3 day Detox and use of herbal steam
TOTAL = 30,000THB

Accommodation is available at the Retreat 30 nights, own room with en-suite bathroom + breakfast = 10,000B 30 nights, own room with shared bathroom + breakfast = 8,000B also add to schedule/dates many thanks teresa

INFORMATION ON ASHTANGA YOGA
Yoga is a philosophy of life, which also has the potential to create a vibrantly healthy body and mind.

Ashtanga Yoga, practiced in its correct sequential order, gradually leads the practitioner to rediscovering his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness, physical, psychological, and spiritual. Through this practice of correct breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama), postures (asanas), and gazing point (driste), we gain control of the senses and a deep awareness of our selves. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, one acquires steadiness of body and mind.

Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta, an ancient manuscript. The text of the Yoga Korunta was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900's by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and was later passed down to Pattabhi Jois during the duration of his studies with Krishnamacharya, beginning in 1927. Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). Transmitted this system of yoga to the modern world. This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures, a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.

Ashtanga yoga is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga practice. A set series of poses is performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga yoga is physically demanding, because of the constant movement from one pose to the next, but students progress at their own pace. Ashtanga yoga literally means "eight-limbed yoga," as outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. According to Patanjali, the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self consists of the following eight spiritual practices: Yama [moral codes] Niyama [self-purification and study] Asana [posture] Pranayama [breath control] Pratyahara [sense control] Dharana [concentration] Dhyana [meditation] Samadhi [absorption into the Universal]

The definition of yoga is "the controlling of the mind" [citta vrtti nirodhah] The first two steps toward controlling the mind are the perfection of yama and niyama. How ever, it is not possible to practice the limbs and sub-limbs of yama and niyama when the body and sense organs are weak and haunted by obstacles. A person must first take up daily asana practice to make the body strong and healthy With the body and sense organs thus stabilized, the mind can be steady and controlled With mind control, one is able to pursue and grasp these first two limbs.

To perform asana correctly in Ashtanga yoga, one must incorporate the use of vinyasa and tristhana.

"The Vinyasa" means breath-synchronized movement.
The breath is the heart of this discipline and links asana to asana in a precise order.

Tristhana refers to the union of three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. These three are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.

Posture: "The method for purifying and strengthening the body is called asana".

In Ashtanga yoga, asana is grouped into six series. "The Primary Series [Yoga Chikitsa] detoxifies and aligns the body. The Intermediate Series [Nadi Shodhana] purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels.

The Advanced Series A, B, C, and D [Sthira Bhaga] integrates the strength and grace of the practice, requiring higher levels of flexibility and humility.

Each level is to be fully developed before proceeding to the next, and the sequential order of asanas is to be meticulously followed. Each posture is a preparation for the next, developing the strength and balance required to move further. Without an earnest effort and reverence towards the practice of yama and niyama, however, the practice of asana is of little benefit.

Breathing: The breathing technique performed with vinyasa is called ujjayi [victorious breath] which consists of puraka [inhalation] and rechaka [exhalation]
Both inhale and exhale should be steady and even. The length of the inhalation should be the same length as the exhalation. Over time, the length and intensity of the inhalation and exhalation should increase, such that the increased stretching of the breath initiates the increased stretching of the body. Long, even breathing also increases the internal fire and strengthens and purifies the nervous system.

Looking Place: Dristhi is the gazing point on which one focuses while performing the asana. "There are nine dristhis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side and left side. Dristhi purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind. In the practice of asana, when the mind focuses purely on inhalation, exhalation, and the drishti, the resulting deep state of concentration paves the way for the practices of dharana and dhyana, the six and seventh limbs of Ashtanga yoga.

Bandhas are essential components of the ujjayi breathing technique. Bandha means "lock" or "seal". The purpose of bandha is to unlock pranic energy and direct it into the 72,000 nadi [energy channels] of the subtle body.
Mula bandha is the anal lock, and uddiyana bandha is the lower abdominal lock. Both bandhas "seal in energy, give lightness, strength and health to the body, and help to build a strong internal fire. Mula bandha operates at the root of the body to seal in prana internally for uddiyana bandha to direct the prana upwards through the nadis.

Jalandhara bandha is the throat lock, which occurs spontaneously in a subtle form in many asanas due to the dristi. This lock prevents pranic energy escaping and stops any build-up of pressure in the head when holding the breath. Without bandha control, breathing will not be correct, and the asanas will give no benefit.

The four internal cleansing practices, Pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and Samadhi bring the mind under control. When purification is complete and mind control occurs, the six poisons surrounding the spiritual heart- karma (desire), Krodha (anger), moha (delusion), lobha (greed), matsarya (sloth), and mada (envy) will one by one, go completely revealing the universal self.