Mae Rim Retreat centre, Chiang Mai
Yoga – Thai Massage – Meditation with Angelika and Rachel
Sat. 31. January – Fri. 13.February 2009
This retreat gives an opportunity for women to find a quiet, nourishing, warm and save environment where we connect deeply with ourselves and each other, learn about acceptance and loving kindness and arrive at home in our hearts.
cost: £575
Includes:
- yoga, meditation and thai massage tuition
- shared accommodation in twin and triple rooms(no single rooms available)
- three daily organic veg. meals
- transport from Chiang Mai to ‘Mae Rim Retreat Centre’ and transport to any excursions.
Excludes:
- Air fare and transport from the air port to Guest House in Chiang Mai
- Meals during stay in Chiang Mai
ABOUT THE RETREAT
The Retreat will start on Saturday,31.January 2009 at 18.00
at the ‘Wild Rose Centre’ in Chiang Mai.
We will have a welcome meeting, refreshments and a gentle Yoga session. After that there will be time to make our own meal arrangements and go to bed early. The Sauna at ‘Wild Rose Centre’ will also be available.
Next day there will be a morning yoga session and a fairly open programme with enough time to rest, explore the markets and temples in the city or sit in cafés.
We are going to stay in a Guest House nearby for two nights before we move on to ‘Mae Rim retreat Centre’ on Mon. 2.Feb.09
At ‘MAE RIM RETREAT CENTRE’ we will start each day in silence with sun salutations and meditation. After breakfast there will be time to reflect, write your journal, go for a walk or simply rest.
There will be another 2 hours Yoga session with Angelika in the morning, varying from a dynamic asana flow with breath awareness, to detailed work on alignment or partner work.
In the afternoons, after some space for yourself we will have Thai Massage sessions with Rachel, were we will learn simple stretches at a beginners level in partner work, or a ‘Yin Yoga’ session or ‘Yoga Nidra’ deep relaxation with Angelika.
In the evenings there will be group sharings and some readings from Pema Chodron’s book “The places that scare you- a guide to fearlessness’ and a short meditation. The program will vary according to our needs.
We also will do a little excursion to another Yoga Centre in a more remote village near some natural hot springs, were we are planning to stay for a couple of days.
ABOUT THE THAI MASSAGE
Thai Massage has its roots in India and Ayurveda. The strong connections between Thai massage and the yogic tradition becomes apparent when you have your first Thai massage treatment. Some of the stretches can seem very familiar to a yoga student and can it be a lovely experience being supported by the practitioner in certain moves and stretches. Thai massage is an energy balancing treatment, which works on the whole body and has its effect on the mind too. During our sessions our aim will not be to learn a whole body massage but rather we will be dipping into some parts of the practice to support our daily yoga practice with Angelika.
ABOUT THE YOGA
The Yoga will be suitable for all levels.“Yoga – Body of Light” has it’s foundation in the precision and vigour of Iyengar Yoga but emphasises more on breathing and the body’s natural flow of movement. Learning the body’s anatomy and how to move from within, the body is seen as an energy field interacting with nature. Remembering the pure joy of body movement we come back in touch with our true inner potential and happiness. The emphasis on this retreat will be the journey to our deep inner hearts longing to express our potential as women, our strength, our power, our vulnerability, sensuality and softness, our creativity and inner beauty.
ABOUT THE TEACHERS
Angelika
Angelika is a Buddhist practitioner and Yoga teacher for 22 years. Her Yoga is influenced by the profound teachings of, Pema Chodron, Tsultrim Alione, Jack Kornfield, Thich Nhat Hanh and their teachers.
She calls her Yoga “Body of Light”, a journey into the more subtle body, the body of breath, energy flow, prana, transparency, lightness and joy using the classical asanas to connect with that within us, which is in total harmony, the body of light.
Her teachings are lively, honest, always changing and directly from the heart, inspired by many well known Yoga teachers she feels particularly grateful to Gita Iyengar’s solid teachings of alignment and vigour, Angela Farmers creative and feminine approach, Orit Sen Gupta’s Vinyasa flow and philosophy, Dona Holleman’s pioneering, strong and clear practi, Vanda Scaravelli”s teachings of “undoing the body”, Sarah Power’s beautiful way of combining “Yin Yoga” with Buddhist insight teachings and Swami Veda’s gentle and subtil teachings of the Himalayan Yogis.
Rachel
Rachel has been studying and exploring the art of Thai massage for the past six years. Her original inspiration for learning Thai massage came from her early yoga classes with Angelika (when we practiced lots of wonderful pair-work) and her deep connection with Thailand, which began in the 90s when she volunteered with a Burmese women’s refugee project in Chiang Mai for two years. The strong connection of Thai massage to Buddhist practice and loving-kindness is incredibly grounding, as it can be like a meditation when giving a treatment.
Practicing Thai massage and yoga has helped Rachel to balance some of the pressures and challenges of working as a community mediator in inner-city London, her main field of work for over 10 years. Rachel offers a calm but also enthusiastic presence in her teaching and is very excited to be able to share the simple beauty of northern Thailand and its culture with others.
ABOUT THE RETREAT CENTRE
The Retreat Centre is located in Mae Rim, a rural village 40 min north of Chiang Mai. This is a sacred centre, build on sacred land that shines as a refuge and a homecoming in the hearts of everyone who visits.
For more information please visit their website!
It is run by Ouyporn(Thai) and Ginger(American), who are involved in ‘International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice’ (www.womenforpeaceandjustice)
More Information about the journey please download thai-retreat-info
or use the »contact form.
ABOUT BOOKING
Please complete the booking form and send me a cheque made to A.Grohmann (£100 deposit or the full amount £575) as soon as possible. Please email me for the full address.
The £100 deposit is non refundable