Yoga Retreats
Expand Your Awareness: Yoga Asana, Pranayama & Philosophy
April 28 - May 5, 2012
with Gerald Disse and Linda Munro
About the Retreat
Pranayama
During this session you will be introduced to different yogic practices and breathing techniques to purify the body and the mind. You will come away from this week with a daily routine in which we encourage you to continue on your own once this week of intensive yoga practice is finished. If you've already been practicing pranayama in the tradition of Kaivalyadham then you are encouraged to do your self-practice under the guidance of Gerald & Linda.
Mysore practice or Intro to Developing Self Practice
For those who already have a Mysore practice, you will do your self-practice under the guidance of Gerald & Linda. For the others, you will be given the tools to develop your personal practice.
Asana Technique
Each day a different topic will be explored in order to move deeply into the understanding of these groups of asanas. You will learn how to work safely and intelligently while getting through some "road blocks" in certain postures. Topics that will be covered: Chaturanga & Working with the Core; Finding Balance in Standing Positions; Twisting & Forward Bending the Spine; Bhujapidasana & Kurmasana; Back bending; Finishing Sequence.
Lecture
In each afternoon session we'll choose a topic of yogic discussion in order to expand your knowledge of the entire spectrum of yoga. Dynamics of Breathing; Building Practice with Bandhas; The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga; Chakras and the Energetic Body; Chakra Meditation; Open Question & Answer
About the Teachers
Gérald Disse
Gérald has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. He discovered Ash-tanga Vinyasa Yoga in 1991 with Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. He spent 8 years traveling to Mysore spending 4 - 6 months per visit to learn more of the system, then going off to some other exotic location to practice daily what Guruji had taught him. Gérald was taught up to the third series and was one of the first French students to have been personally authorized to teach by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. As he had learned directly from the Guru at a time when there were not so many yoga students in Mysore, he started to give workshops around the world. He gave Ashtanga workshops in Australia, New Zealand, and around the USA and Europe.
In addition to his Ashtanga yoga practice, Gérald has done extensive stays in Vipassana silent meditation centers in India and Australia and continues to cultivate a daily meditation and pranayama practice.
During his travels he visited Auroville, an international spiritual commu-nity in Tamil Nadu, South India.
He related with the place immediately. It was a way for him to remain connected to the spirituality of India and also still have connection to the west, so he decided to build a house and a yoga shala and become a part of the Auroville community. Gerald spent 5 years there teaching daily Ashtanga Mysore style classes in between his workshops around the world; until 2004 when he decided, after being away for 17 years, to move back to France.
Gérald is now settled in Paris where he has founded a beautiful community of yoga with Linda and their children.
They own a beautiful zen studio in Paris
http://www.ashtangayogaparis.fr
Linda Munro
Linda was first introduced to yoga in 1996 in Toronto, Canada with Ron Reid and Diane Bruni. She had been in a car accident in 1995 and was in physical therapy when she became interested in yoga as a way to compliment the therapy. Soon after she realized that the yoga would be a life time practice. A practice of asana, pranayama and meditation but also a practice of being truthful, a practice of being kind, a practice of being fearless, peaceful and happy. She believes that the practice of "yoga" is continuous; the practice does not stop when you roll up the yoga mat. The practice of yoga includes the way you live your life, the way you relate to your family, friends, co-workers and to the strangers on the street. This is the lifelong practice of developing yogic awareness.
In 1997 she moved to New York City with her work in the fashion business while continuing a daily ashtanga practice studying under Eddie Stern. The year 2000 brought her to Paris, France.
After thirteen years in the world of fashion she decided it was the time to move fully into the direction she had been moving since her first yoga class. She felt a strong desire to strive to give to others what her teachers have given to her; so she started teaching yoga as her own study and practice continues. Gerald and Linda opened Ashtanga Paris in February 2004. She continues her studies of yoga philosophy under the supervision of Georg Feuerstein. Linda was introduced to a coherent pranayama practice by Paul in 2007 and since has continued the practice and study with O.P. Tiwari.
She considers Ron Reid and Marla Meenakshi Joy her primary teachers from a far. And her husband, Gerald, along with their two young children, Amaya and Jonathan, her primary daily yoga teachers!
For more about Gérald and Linda see their videos on http://www.ashtangayogaparis.fr/videos.html
The Daily Schedule
The program begins at 5pm on the first day of the retreat with a group welcome and departure is at 12pm on the last day.
The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the teacher.
| 7.30 am | Pranayama |
| 8.15 am | Mysore practice or Intro to Developing Self Practice |
| 10 am - 1 pm | Brunch buffet |
| 3 - 6 pm | Asana Technique & Lecture |
| 6 - 8 pm | Complimentary herbal steam room available |
| 6 - 8 pm | Dinner buffet |
| 8 pm | Optional evening program or quiet time |
Based on request and availability, you are welcome to arrive early or extend your stay, our Residential and Wellness Programs details are on http://www.yoga-thailand.com/yoga-holidays.html





