Vinyasa Flow Summer Retreat
Vinyasa Flow Summer Retreat
*Bookings for the August, September and October 2021 retreats are reserved for those groups cancelled off 2020 retreats.
Important notice. Please read notes on restrictions and please note changes to the usual retreat timetable to facilitate adapted classes.
The realisation of this event will be subject to the public health situation and Government restrictions at the time of the event. As of now we are working on restrictions set from the 5th July which can be found on www.gov.ie
From 5 July (subject to the public health situation at the time) Indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6.
Our groups have an average of 20-22 on each retreat. To meet Government restrictions we will divide the yoga class in two classes, Group A and Group B.
Each class will have 11 or 12 guests. Furthermore, the group of 11-12 will be broken down into 2 pods of 5-6 students. There will be the appropriate spacing between mats and we will mark the space for your mat with chalk. We usually provide yoga mats but given it is a sensitive time in terms of hygiene we would prefer if you bring your own mat to the retreat as we will not have time to clean mats between classes.
The teacher will facilitate a yoga class to Group A and repeat the same class to Group B. In order to facilitate the duplication of classes we have shortened the classes marginally and we will offer 3 classes instead of 4 over the duration of the weekend. We will replace class 3 on the Saturday afternoon with an optional guided walk through pretty country tracks which meander through rolling hills and forestry. Many may find this change in timetable advantageous as it means that after lunch on Saturday you are free to do as you please until dinner that evening, so if one of your main objectives of the retreat is to rest and have some down time then you can do just that.
We will prepare lovely fresh vegan food as usual but rather than eat in the large dining room in a large group as we usually do, you will eat in smaller groups in your individual guest housesIt will be a different but a more intimate experience. We have 4 guest houses, 1 sleeping 4, 1 sleeping 6, 2 sleeping 6/7 guests. In the larger house where there may be 7 guests, there are 2 dining tables in different rooms therefore if you would prefer to eat in a group smaller than 7 this will be possible. Groups above the amount staying in your individual house will not be able to congregate in sitting rooms or other communal areas.
Retreat theme and Classes
Liz will lead you through a rich, peaceful & meditative journey through ancient, traditional Hatha Yoga practices and Somatic Movement. The style of yoga taught is Vinyasa Flow Yoga, combined with relaxation, a guided meditation, Yin and restorative practices.
Using Vinyasa Krama and practices presented in the classical teachings of Patanjalis Yoga Sutras, Liz will guide you to the quiet mental and physical state of “sthira” (steadiness) and sukham (ease).
Friday evening
Somatic Movement & Meditation (Using inherent natural movement patterns and Somatic Movement Sequences we will ease out the body after a busy week and use some breathing techniques to prepare the mind for a guided meditation).Preparation for seated meditation begins with movement (yoga) and ends in stillness.
Saturday morning
This Vinyasa session will focus on yoga asana & breathing practices which address problems that can be present in the physical platforms and stabalizing junctions of the body – primarily the feet & ankles, hips & pelvis, shoulders & neck. The health of the spine benefits hugely from these practices and facilitates more efficient breathing and co-ordination
Sunday morning
Drawing from the previous sessions – the Sunday morning class will bring everything together in an integrated and well rounded practice which will conclude with a Restorative Yin Yoga practice using bolsters and props to ensure that everyone leaves feeling rejuvenated & energised yet peaceful, calm and rested
Drawing from over 15 years of combined study, teaching experience and personal practice Liz uses refined specific approaches & modifications and variations where necessary to ensure that all students regardless of age, ability or fitness levels receive the maximum benefits from their practices. She will guide each student safely addressing problematic areas of the body such as hips, hamstrings, lower back, shoulders and neck easing out stiff joints and tight muscles along the way. Liz has a unique way of using her skills to challenge those who are more experienced while nurturing those who are just beginning all in the same environment. As the body becomes more open and free through the tools of the practice so too does the mind as it enters a more peaceful and meditative state.
Retreat Schedule
There will be 3 yoga classes and 1 organised light trek of 1.30 mins approx.
Friday Afternoon:
16:00 – 17.15 Yoga class group A
17:45 – 19:00 Yoga class group B
19:00: Dinner
Saturday Morning:
8.00-10.00 a.m Breakfast. Group A will need to come earlier to collect their breakfast, try to allow 1 hour digestion time before the yoga class.
Saturday
9.30-11:00 Group A
11:30 – 13:00 Group B
From 12:30
Lunch from 12:30 group A can come earlier. Group B should come at 13:00 when as soon as they have finished their class.
Saturday afternoon
*More notes about Saturday afternoon below
Free time
Or
14:30 Guided light trek
16:00 We will leave some homemade biscuits or protein balls or similar in the dining room self Service area.
19:00 Saturday Dinner
Sunday Morning
*Same Schedule as Saturday morning – only difference is Group B will have their class first to give group A a chance to lie in if they wish.
9.30-11:00 Group B (You are free to leave the retreat after your class or you can relax until 13:00)
11:30 – 13:00 Group A
The retreat ends around 13:00 on Sunday. There is no lunch offered on the Sunday.
*Weather permitting we will join groups A and B together and take 1 of the 3 classes outside.
Saturday Afternoon Notes
Free afternoon and evening to have some time out. Mostly our guests main objective for getting away for a weekend is to breathe, rest and just have downtime. This is your chance to do just that. Chill out in the sitting room area, have a siesta, read a book. Weather permitting lie out in the courtyard garden in the sun!
For those who feel like a more lively form of relaxation you can choose to come on our guided light trek.
14:30: optional guided walk
To keep things simple and to respect social distancing we have chosen a trek which is close to the property to avoid car sharing. It starts with a charming farm lane track meandering though fields with farm animals and views over rolling hills and shillelagh village for 20 minutes and then we enter a hilly woodland where we will do a circuit for about 45 mins then return home on the farm lane track of 20 mins. We often see birds of prey and deer and sometimes foxes in these woods. It is a pleasant walk and will take approx. 1;30 mins maybe a bit longer if the group is stopping and starting .
*For anyone with reduced mobility or an injury please speak to Olivia prior to the walk.
Meals provided at the Retreat
Friday Afternoon: When you arrive it is nice to be able to have a hot drink such as tea, herbal tea, coffee and a tasty treat. We will leave out some freshly baked sweet treats.
Friday Evening – Main course & dessert
Saturday Morning – Light breakfast before class (in form of an all-in-one breakfast bowl)
Saturday Lunch – Delicious Soup and Salads
Saturday Mid Afternoon – Feeling peckish? We will leave out some tasty treats!
Saturday Evening – Main course & dessert
Sunday Morning – Light breakfast before class (in form of an all-in-one breakfast bowl)
CLASS TRAINER
LIZ RICHARDS
Instructor
Liz Richards is a registered SYT (Senior Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance Professionals UK with over 1000 training hours behind her. She has been teaching Yoga full time since 2009.
She teaches Classical Yoga using the Vinyasa Krama system and Hatha Yoga principles for all levels from Beginners – Advanced students and her teaching is firmly rooted in the lineage of Krishnamacharya.
Throughout her yoga journey to date, Liz has explored and practiced many different forms of and approaches to yoga and has taken workshops and trainings with senior international teachers in all. These include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Krama & Viniyoga.
She is grateful every day for the opportunity to share the little knowledge she has acquired and is humbled to find that as first and foremost a student of yoga herself, it is in fact her students who are among her best teachers.
Liz has an insatiable appetite for learning and is continuously undertaking more advanced yoga trainings with top gurus in India and other parts of the world.