This retreat was  originally scheduled for June 2020, but I'm sure you remember we were all at home instead! Finally the time came and from the 5 - 11 August 2023 there were 15 of us who enjoyed a blissful week together yoga-ing in Ubud Bali.

We were fortunate to have Swami Madhuram leading the afternoon class, workshops and Satsangs. Our evening Satsang started with the ancient mantra from the Brihadaranyaka Upansihad

ASATO MĀ SAD GAMAYA

TAMASO MĀ JYOTIR GAMAYA

MṚITYOR MĀ AMṚITAṂ GAMAYA

OM ŚĀNTIḤ ŚĀNTIḤ ŚĀNTIḤ

 

May we be lead from what is unreal to what is real

From the darkness to the light

From the mortal to the immortal.

Om, Peace Peace Peace

This opened a talk about the true meaning of human life, to find the ever important answer to the question "who am I?" 

For this we are advised by those who have completed the journey to perform certain practices. Over time these practices reveal our nature by removing the ignorance based on the thinking that I am this body and this mind. Swami Madhuram reminded us "we are ever free, ever pure, ever blissful". We live this life like we live in a tent, outside in the world around us. Yet all the time our house, our true home is within and we practice yoga to be able to go home.

Every day we had a taste of various techniques of yoga, meditation, chanting - time honoured tools to help us navigate our way in the busy self-centred era of Kali Yuga.

Here is another mantra we chanted Om Prabhu Deep Niranjan Saba Dukha Bhanjan.

What we valued from our week long retreat is:

• the nourishing and uplifting energy from the kindness and collective wisdom of the group
• taking time out of our everyday busyness and focusing on our selves in such a way to be healthy and reset our inner compass to move in an intentional direction
• the opportunity to practice yoga everyday made us feel both alive and relaxed
• reminding ourselves of our yoga foundations and to take this back into our practice in our daily lives
• enough structure to keep focused balanced with enough free time to not feel presseured
• the option to opt in and out of the programs offered, enabling us to tailor the retreat to our own needs
• knowing the right thing happens at the right time with the right people around you. Even if it does not feel like it at the time
• the ducks!! every morning during meditation a raft of ducks waddled down the side path to the field in front of our yoga space 'conversing' enthusiastically to each other. At the time of our afternoon class they came together again and took themselves home. It was a daily natural life rhythm that reminded us to keep life as uncomplicated as possible, the joy of simple pleasures, the value of simple rituals, activity and community.

We are planning to go again. Stay connected via our newsletters.