Padmadarshini
I have long been interested in exploring and working with the body. Since being a teenager coming into my body through movement has been a way of connecting with and resourcing myself. I have taught yoga at Bodywise in Manchester for many years now. During this time both my personal practice and approach to teaching have ongoingly changed and evolved. It has been important to me to see the practice as a process of enquiry, exploration and creativity. This has drawn me to study with various teachers over the years and I am particularly grateful to Sarah Powers and Donna Farhi for the rich teachings I have received from them.
In more recent years I have also been drawn to also exploring more somatic /embodied movement approaches - allowing movement to arise from listening to impulses within the bodymind and from outer stimuli. In particular I love the practice of Authentic Movement, a little known but very rich embodied relational movement practice. It’s a bit like doing the metta bhavana through movement! Whether through movement or meditation I am really interested in discovering how the body can be a 'doorway' into listening to ourselves and can help us find a deeper, more open, easeful relationship to ourselves, others and the world around us.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with a blend of traditional yoga and contemporary approaches to embodied movement. This playful synthesis of body based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and movement) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives.
Each day we will explore how the body can be a 'doorway' into listening to ourselves and take us into a deeper, more open and easeful relationship to our experience. We will offer guided and improvised movement explorations; for example how is it to feel ourselves made of the earth, to inhabit and breathe our bones and find the movements stories and images they hold.
Our explorations over the week will include movement, stillness, dance, drawing, dialogue and poetry.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with a blend of traditional yoga and contemporary approaches to embodied movement. This playful synthesis of body based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and movement) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives.
This retreat will take a playful approach to reconnecting with the body through the elemental experience of water and through movement. Each day we will have the opportunity for several swims in the local lochs and rivers as well as other explorations of water and wet places. We will be using movement to support embodiment and connection. There will also be introductory meditation teaching, daily collective meditation practice, and a practical contemporary look at some traditional Buddhist teachings.
Each day we will explore how the body can be a 'doorway' into listening to ourselves and take us into a deeper, more open and easeful relationship to our experience. We will offer guided and improvised movement explorations; for example how is it to feel ourselves made of the earth, to inhabit and breathe our bones and find the movements stories and images they hold.
Our explorations over the week will include movement, stillness, dance, drawing, dialogue and poetry.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with a blend of traditional yoga and contemporary approaches to embodied movement. This playful synthesis of body based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and movement) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with yoga. The supportive atmosphere of the retreat allows us to develop and deepen both practices, and understand how the two augment each other. Both meditation and yoga teaching will be suitable for complete beginners.
For more information read the retreat information sheet.
Each day we will explore how the body can be a 'doorway' into listening to ourselves and take us into a deeper, more open and easeful relationship to our experience. We will offer guided and improvised movement explorations; for example how is it to feel ourselves made of the earth, to inhabit and breathe our bones and find the movements stories and images they hold.
Our explorations over the week will include movement, stillness, dance, drawing, dialogue and poetry.
These retreats combine introductory meditation teaching with yoga. The supportive atmosphere of the retreat allows us to develop and deepen both practices, and understand how the two augment each other. Both meditation and yoga teaching will be suitable for complete beginners.
For more information read the retreat information sheet.
Nature is for many of us an important source of spiritual nourishment in an increasingly busy world. On these retreats we will combine traditional Buddhist teachings with the simple practice of spending time walking in the rich and beautiful landscapes that surround Dhanakosa. Guided walk options will be available to suit all levels of fitness.
For more information read the retreat information sheet.
