Yoga Retreat

Yoga Practice as Therapy

May 2 - 9, 2009

with Neil Barker

About the Retreat

"Yoga practices lead to the total integration of the entire personality." - Sri O.P. Tiwari

This retreat is an exploration of yoga as therapy. We will explore the synthesis of ayurveda, yoga's sister science, and yoga (in the modern context) as physical and psychological therapy.

Mornings will be dedicated to breath-work exercises, which will provide an introduction to Pranayama and create an awareness of the importance of the breath on and off the mat. This will be followed by yoga asana taught in the traditional method of Ashtanga Vinyasa, either partially guided by a teacher ("Led") or self-paced under the guidance of a senior teacher ("Mysore style"). There will be opportunity to explore adapting the practice to an individual's therapeutic need.

Discussions on health, healing, and diet, from both a yogic and modern perspective, will take place in the afternoons.

The goal is for each student to leave with an understanding of yoga as an integrative holistic system and lifestyle choice.

"Yoga is the science of experience and the art of living." - Sri O.P. Tiwari

About the Teacher

Neil is a creative, lively, and gifted teacher with a unique ability to share learning in a way that students immediately "get" even difficult lessons. He is a senior teacher at Yoga Thailand and the training director for Centered Yoga Institute. He has been teaching with Paul since 2004. He is also a dedicated student of Sri O.P. Tiwari and is authorized to teach the Ashtanga practice by the master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Neil has a solid background in the healing arts, having studied and practiced as a chiropractor/spine specialist, acupuncturist, and Chinese medical practitioner. Neil spent a number of years living in Beijing, where he opened the first modern-day yoga center. For more about Neil, see his full bio.

The Daily Schedule

The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the teacher.

7:00 am	Morning herbal tea
7:30 am	Intention and Day Opening Breathwork-Pranayama and Meditation
8:15 am	Asana Practice: detailed guidance in the Asanas, develop and grow a self-practice from the Ashtanga Yoga series going through in led detail and mysore style
10 - 11:30 am	Brunch Buffet
4:00 pm	Special workshop covering both Asanas and Pranayama as well as the selected philosophical or anatomical topic. There will be some discussion and Q&A and some time working on the breath, poses and restorative yoga
6:00 pm	Dinner Buffet
6 - 9:00 pm	Steam room available
7:30 pm	Evening program - video, satsang, meditation