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Yoga and Meditation retreat in Mas Vilartimo, Spanish Pre-Pyrenees, 15 - 21 June 2008, £295/235 conc.

I am running a 6 day yoga and meditation retreat/workshop this forth coming June in Spain. Its a really lovely time to be in the hills and forests of Catalonia; warm but not hot, fresh mornings and the stillness and expansiveness of Mas Vilartimo. Mas Vilartimo is a delightful 14th Century farmhouse surrounded by woods and meadows, situated in the foothills of the Catalonian Pyrenees, sixty miles north of Barcelona. The Mas is a grand, sprawling farm mansion, built or rather evolved, in the organic fashion of the local Pyrenean tradition. It is built from stone and timbers with high ceilings and deep covered terraces. The practice space is a large, cool, wood-floored room, a converted barn.

Nearby is a river for swimming and all around forests to walk through. The Mas is relatively isolated so there are no other houses, bars etc. around. You can enjoy a few days of the nature without distraction.

The retreat/workshop practice will be based upon a morning session of meditation and Dynamic/Yang Yoga and an afternoon practice of Yin yoga and meditation. The structure of the programme is balanced by the more dynamic, strengthening and energising morning sessions with the more "chilled" (though intense) Yin yoga in the afternoon. The retreat/workshop context is ideal for exploring and enjoying the connections between yoga and meditation, especially Yin yoga and meditation.

I will be teaching a simple "awareness in the present moment continuum" type of meditation, emphasizing awareness of the body, breath and physical context. The mind is naturally less busy and pre-occupied when you are out of your familiar and habitual context of your daily life, invariably a rich experience is to be had.

Daily Programme

7.30 Rise

8.00 Yoga (Dynamic/Yang)

10.30 Breakfast

12.00 Thai massage / workshops

15.00 lunch (la comida)

18.00 Yin Yoga And Meditation

20.30 Supper (la cena)

22.00 evening meditation

-silence over-night-

I will offer two 2 hour sessions to introduce the Thai massage technique and one workshop of the nature of "connecting with the heart/soul".

I would like to make a couple of excursions into the woods together in the afternoons too.

Sunday will effectively be an arrival day and I will lead a gentle yin yoga and meditation session after tea.
On Saturday I will lead a closing meditation before breakfast and departure.

I have deliberately designed the retreat programme to be spacious to allow for plenty of time to explore and enjoy the nature. We will follow a gentle rhythm of collective practice and there will be ample time to be alone or with others.

Flights

Please ensure your arrival time is comfortably before the Minibus Pick-Up at 5pm on Sunday 15th June and not before 12 midday on Saturday 21st June.

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) is connected well with most UK and European airports. I can recommend Easyjet who offer some good deals if you book early enough.

Please email me your flight times so I can co-ordinate the Minibus Pick-Up.

Mini-bus pick up

I am going to arrange for a Minibus Pick-Up from Barcelona airport at 5pm (17.00h). I cannot recommend public transport to or from Mas Vilartimo or to or from Girona. Public transport in this part of Catalonia is poor and irregular. I will charge 50 euros to pick you up and drop you back to Barcelona airport.

Accomodation and Food

Barcelona

The city is a fun and wild place and in June is not too busy. I can recommend staying there a couple days but you will need to arrange accommodation before hand as hotels and hostels get booked up early.

Booking

The retreat cost is £295/235 concession. This covers food, accommodation and tuition fees. This does not include flights or travel insurance. There will be a 50 euro charge for the Minibus Pick-Up. Please bring 50 euros cash for this.

To book please contact me on and then send me £75 booking fee, to pay the remainder by end of April 2008. My contact number in Spain is, mobile (0034) 638 31 71 38 or at home in Valencia (0034) 963 49 79 53.

To Bring

yoga mat, belt, eye-bag (if you have one)

2 single sheets for bed

towel

toiletries

torch

insect repellent

sun block/cream

trainers

note-paper

I can recommend travelling light.

"Ethic" or "Spirit" of the Mas Vilartimo Retreat

Primarily, I am interested in creating conditions for the cultivation and deepening of awareness, self-discovery, harmony and love. This is a collective enterprise and I would like all participants to take on the following training practices for the week of the retreat.

1. not to harm living beings

2. not to take the not given

3. no sexual misconduct

4. not to lie

5. not to take intoxicants

or perhaps for the more civilised amongst us, practice

1. love

2. generosity

3. stillness, simplicity and contentment

4. truthful communication

5. cultivate awareness, clear and radiant

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