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Clare Stephen

I first encountered yoga while backpacking around Sri Lanka and India aged 19 and instantly fell in love with this most profound and beautiful practice. Yoga has been a constant refuge throughout my life since.

I trained to become a yoga teacher within the Iyengar tradition and qualified at introductory level in 1989. In 1991, after visiting  the Iyengar Yoga Ashram in Pune India, I went on to do further training with senior Iyengar teachers and gained my junior intermediate level 3 certificate in 2005. This allowed me to specialise in teaching antenatal yoga which, being a practising midwife , was an area of particular interest.

In 1986 on a year’s trip to Asia, I visited McLeod Ganj, a Tibetan refugee village in the foothills of the Himalayas and the residence of the Dalai Lama in exile. Whilst on retreat there, we were lucky to have an audience  with His Holiness on two occasions. This experience and indeed the whole journey round Asia, affected me profoundly and deepened my faith in the Three Jewels: the Buddha , Dharma and Sangha. I subsequently took refuge as a Buddhist.

I started coming to Dhanakosa in 2000 and have been teaching on yoga retreats here since 2008. I find the practice of yoga and meditation mutually supportive. Both nurture ease and deep embodiment and create the conditions for insight, wisdom and compassion to arise.

Yoga and Meditation Weekend

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Retreat Type:
Introductory

This weekend retreat combines introductory meditation teaching with yoga. This playful synthesis of body-based approaches to wellbeing (through meditation and yoga) in the peaceful and beautiful environment of the retreat can help restore physical and mental vitality and balance in our lives. 

We will cover an introduction to two traditional Buddhist meditations as well as give a solid introduction to the principles of meditation. We will also be exploring some traditional Buddhist teachings to get a flavour of how these might be relevant to our modern lives. 

No previous experience of meditation and yoga is assumed so these retreats are suitable for complete beginners, and they are also a good refresher for those who already have some experience.

For more information, read the retreat information sheet

Booking Fee:

£75.00

Booking Availability:
Spaces

going deeper - yoga and meditation

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Retreat Type:
Going Deeper

This retreat will emphasise a body-based approach to meditation supported by the mindful body work of yoga to help us develop a fuller physical and emotional awareness. We will continue exploring the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana, and also introduce a stronger Just Sitting and reflection element to the practice. These retreats will also include an introduction to Buddhist ritual and the Seven Fold Puja. Longer periods of silence than on introductory retreats will support a deep and rich experience of ourselves and others.

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars’ retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat, or who has been attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper.

Yoga teaching is suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners and will include elements of embodied movement.

For more information see the retreat information sheet

Booking Fee:

£100

Booking Availability:
Spaces

going deeper - yoga and meditation

-
Retreat Type:
Going Deeper

This retreat will emphasise a body-based approach to meditation supported by the mindful body work of yoga to help us develop a fuller physical and emotional awareness. We will continue exploring the Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana, and also introduce a stronger Just Sitting and reflection element to the practice. These retreats will also include an introduction to Buddhist ritual and the Seven Fold Puja. Longer periods of silence than on introductory retreats will support a deep and rich experience of ourselves and others.

Going Deeper retreats are an ideal first regulars’ retreat. They are suitable for anyone who has already done an introductory retreat, or who has been attending their local Triratna centre and wants to take things deeper.

Yoga teaching is suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners and will include elements of embodied movement.

For more information see the retreat information sheet

Booking Availability:
Retreat Full