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Bali Mandala Teacher Immersion Yoga Retreat
with Shiva Rea
Organised by Samudra Yogadventures, co-sponsored by Pure Yoga
17-23 April Balispirit - Ubud, Bali
Bali Mandala Yoga Retreat and
Fluid Power Teacher Training with Shiva Rea
Immerse yourself in one of the most sacred cultures of the planet - in the heart of the yoga mandala, life as art and offering is a living experience in the Hindu Bali.
This immersion retreat with Shiva Rea is for teachers of vinyasa and other styles of hatha yoga who want to integrate a liberating, philosophically and physiologically grounded approach to fluid movement and flow into their practice and teaching.
From the first coming together, we will create a ritual mandala in which to realise, awaken and cultivate for deepening our connection to the mandala of the body, life and the universe..
Calling all those who are ready to dive into the flow...
Fluid Power ~ Sequences and Practices for liberating the flow. Enjoy waves of movement arising from your body and within nature as the very essence of the universe. Then, with peace of mind, become one with this divinity. —Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
The 6-night / 7-day retreat will take place in Bali's heart - the hilltown of Ubud, and Bali's preeminent centre for fine arts, dance and music. For six blissful nights, you will stay in a Balinese-style boutique hotel with clean & comfortable rooms, verdant gardens and a large swimming pool.
Brought to you by Balispirit.com, your retreat will be organically inspired and infused with cultural experiences led by experts in Balinese Hinduism and spirituality. In between classes you will have time to enjoy's Bali's cultural heritage: enrich your experience in the land of the gods with optional dance performances, art classes and temple treks. You can also check out Ubud's blissful spa scene, sample all the holistic practitioners available and the great healthy food!
About the retreat
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Often people's experience of Hatha Yoga is of holding poses, or asanas. The underlying view with Tantric Hatha Yoga is an embodied recognition of spanda - the vibratory flow of life energy. Through the meeting of the yogic/ayurvedic view of the fluid reality of the body and the physics' wave theory, this retreat will explore the healing application of wave motion for both physical and spiritual health.
During the week, we will journey into dynamic and rejuvenating vinyasa flow practice to provide tools for enlivening fluid power in one's body and life. We will develop a rhythmic combination of asanas to lubricate the joints, spine, and stiffness of the mind. We will explore the practices of kriya, circular breathing, and visualisation to increase the circulation of prana-shakti.
Morning practices are fertile, creative explorations that catalyse afternoon and evening interactive practicums, discussions and pilgrimages.
The week will focus on:
• Development of class openings and mini-vinyasas for beginner & mixed-level classes that cultivate wave motion and fluid body
• Cultivation of five different primary pranayamas within asana and seated practice to "pranify" one's being
• Learning four innovative sun salutations or namaskars to teach that emphasise the circular, fluid movement in a balanced activation of strength and flexibility (part of a base of 20 sun salutations in Shiva's teaching style)
• Sequencing with fluid power: learn four prana vinyasa flow sequences that serve as a template to develop your own effective and creative flows for beginner, mixed-level and intermediate classes
• Integration of sound, music, and chanting as vibratory source
• Sahaja yoga flow - spontaneous free-flow of yoga as an expression of the meditative flow of yoga
• Relevance and detailed understanding of the fluid/pranic body for balancing and healing the stresses of 21st-century life
• Accessible exploration of yogic philosophy through the celebrated tantric texts, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and Spanda Karikas, as well as poetry to deepen the living connection to prana-shakti, life force
• Micro-meditations to stay connected to the flow while living yoga
• Teacher Self-Care: ayurvedic practices for nuturing one's life-force and juice of living
Come learn Shiva's fluid, dynamic approaches to yoga, movement, and healing and participate in the creative quantum intelligence that guides our evolution from within as a natural path to freedom!
Your itinerary includes:
• 3-hour transformational vinyasa flow yoga sadhana with Shiva
• Transmission of dally seated meditation practice, which creates the flow of a living yoga as meditation
• Teacher Training option
• Balinese Ritual Yoga Trance Dance
• 6 nights' accommodation in authentic Balinese style hotel with pool
• Airport pick-up on arrival
• 50 hours of teacher training applicable to Shiva's 200/500-hour Yoga Alliance approved Certification Programme covering Fluid Power Teacher Training Module
• Daily traditional Balinese brunch after morning yoga (giving freedom to your budget and exploration for dinner)
• Unlimited purified water, fresh juices, coffee and tea
• Guided walk through Ubud's Holy Monkey Forest Temple
Optional: Half-day tours of Ubud's Holy Temples and other cultural aspects of Balinese Dance/Gamelan Performances and River Rafting & Surfing classes
Contact BaliSpirit.com to schedule optional activities and events, or click here
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Sample itinerary
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• Thursday 17 April - Arrive 7pm for Evening Opening Programme
• Friday 18 April to Tuesday 21 April (Daily Rhythm)
- 7:00am - Transformational Prana Flow Sadhana and Meditation
- 10:30am - Garden Brunch
- 3:00pm - Teaching lab with assistants (integrating the namaskars, hands-on adjustments, sequencing)
- 5:00pm - Fluid Power with Shiva (body mandala, philosophy, practical teaching tools to enliven your living and teaching of the flow)
- 7:00pm - Free time and Optional Evening Programmes according to temple rituals and other local magic - 1-2 days will have an alternate schedule (evening teacher training) to allow for daytime pilgrimages.
• Wednesday 23 April
- 7:00am - Closing Practice and Ceremony
- 11:00am - Garden Brunch
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Balispirit - Ubud, Bali
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Our retreat will take place on the outskirts of the beautiful upcountry cultural village of UBUD at a riverside resort. Classes will be held at Balispirit in the Yoga Barn. More information about your hotel will be available shortly. Once you register, Balispirit will email you a hotel update.
Ubud will allow you to take advantage of Bali's stunning mountain scenery, many multicultural offerings, the warmth of its people, boutique shopping, luxurious spas, international food, and a peaceful easy-going lifestyle that has won the hearts of many who visit.
About Ubud
Known as Bali's artistic and cultural centre, the name 'Ubud' is derived from the Balinese word "ubad" or "medicine". It is a place of healing and rejuvenation - relaxed and genuine, friendly and comfortable, small and intimate.
The Sacred Monkey Forest is a small nature reserve located near the southern intersection of Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman. It houses a temple and over 200 long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. If you're feeling brave, buy a bunch of bananas from the sweet Balinese grandmother at the forest entrance... you'll be very popular once inside!
Cultural Events
If it's culture you're after, you'll never lack for something to do on any given night in Ubud. Legong, Kecak Fire and Trance Dance, Shadow Puppets, Bamboo Gamelan, Barong & Keris Dance, Ramayana Ballet and Frog Dance - only a few of the events that take place nightly at temples throughout the village. New Moon and Full Moon Kecak Fire and Trance Dances are not to be missed!
We typically have a listing of performances from Ubud's Tourist Information Bureau (located at the main intersection of town, across from the Ubud Palace).
Another good source for Ubud activities is a monthly publication called 'Ubud Community'. Copies can be found at KAFE.
For more information on Ubud Bali, please click here.
For more information on Balispirit, please click here.
For more information on the Yoga Barn, please click here.
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About Shiva Rea
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Shiva Rea, M.A., is a leading teacher of transformational vinyasa flow yoga and yoga trance dance worldwide. She began exploring yoga at the age of 14 as a way to understand her name, given to her by her surfer/artist father. Her studies in the Krishnamacharya lineage, tantra, ayurveda, bhakti, kalaripayattu, world dance, yogic art and somatic movement infuse her approach to living yoga and embodying the flow. She is known for bringing the roots of yoga alive for modern practitioners in creative, dynamic and life-transforming ways, and for offering the synthesis form of vinyasa flow out in the world. As a global adventurer, she has lead over 70 retreats and pilgrimages nationally and internationally as well as served as a creative catalyst for conferences, festivals and actions for the environment, yoga and the arts including the third annual Yogini Conference of Kripalu and Omega. Shiva writes for Yoga Journal and is the author of award-winning CDs and DVDs to empower and transform yoga home practice. She lives with her family near their favourite surf break at Sunset Beach in Pacific Palisades, California.
www.shivarea.com
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Prices
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Mandala Yoga Retreat and Fluid Power Teacher Training
17 - 23 April 2008 (Thu - Wed)
6 Nights / 7 Days
Balispirit - Ubud, Bali
• Single Occupancy (Your own room)
- Regular Price: US$1,950 (about HK$15,175)
- Cardholder Price (10% discount): US$1,755 (about HK$13,689)
• Double Occupancy (Shared with other guest)
- Regular Price: US$1,700 (about HK$13,225)
- Cardholder Price (10% discount): US$1,530 (about HK$11,934)
Important Notes:
1. A US$250 (HK$1,950) non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space for the retreat
2. Prices above are EXCLUSIVE of airfare from your home destination, extra massage + spa services, and optional Full-day & Half-day tours
3. Pure Members receive 10% discount on above quoted rates. When registering, please enter coupon code: pureyogacoupon
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Registration
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* Registration for this retreat is available online only at the Pure Yoga website. Not available in studios.
To register:
1. Please visit www.yaretreats.com. By registering, you agree to and have read our Terms and Conditions.
2. Click "Bali Retreat 08"
3. On applications page, please enter "pureyogacoupon" under coupon code for Pure Cardholder Discount |
Enquiries
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Please note that Pure Yoga is only a co-sponsor and not the organiser of this retreat. This retreat is organised by Samudra Yogadventures.
For enquiries, please click here.
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Travel details
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• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months to be allowed into Indonesia. If you are an American, Austrlian or EU Citizen, there is visa on arrival at the Denpasar airport for US$25 - exact change required. Members of ASEAN countries do not need a visa. If you are from another country, please read about visa requirements and other important details in our Travel Bali section.
• Destination Airport: Denpasar Airport - Bali, Indonesia
• Recommended Airlines: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air
• A round-trip ticket from Hong Kong to Bali is approximately HK$4,300
• Plan to arrive on 17 April in time to enjoy the evening opening event. The retreat will finish 23 April at noon.
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Helpful hints
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Banking
The exchange rate is approximately
Rp.9,300 = US$1. / Rp 1170 = HK$1. Things cost a lot less in Bali. There are ATMs all over the place that take Cirrus and Plus. PLEASE tell your bank and credit card companies the dates that you will be in Bali or elsewhere, as they might cut off your funds for fraud protection if they don't know it is you. VISA or MasterCard are also widely accepted, with only a few places that take American Express.
A typical dinner at Kafe Ubud will cost you between US$7-20.
What About Credit Cards, Cash, Exchange Rates & Money Changers?
Most small shops, restaurants and tour companies run on cash. ATM machines are rampant on the island, most having the Cirrus and Plus connection. You often get a very good exchange rate via ATM and it's convenient.
Money changers are all over Bali, although not all are trustworthy. Try and stay away from the small storefront Balinese ones - the guys with handwritten signs and made-up rates. The larger establishments, or those that say 'authorised money changer' will be a safer bet. In dire time, you can always do a cash advance at a local bank, but it will cost you 18-20% from your bank PLUS another % from the Bali Bank. As far as exchange rates go, they differ between travellers cheques and CASH. The smaller the bill, the less the rate. $5 is worth less to a money changer than $100, and the rate they give you will reflect that. Make sure that you do not bring US$100 notes from the year 1996. Many counterfeits entered Indonesia in 1996 and the stigma still stands.
For credit cards in Bali - Diners is non-existent, American Express is rarely accepted, although there is an American Express office somewhere on the island where you can go to buy travellers cheques and report stolen cards if need be. VISA and MasterCard are the cards of choice. For the most recent exchange rates, check at www.xe.com, but remember that the online rate is rarely 100% correct and will be off by a few cents.
Calling Home
There is IDD in most hotel rooms. The code to call outside the country is:
008+country code+area code+number
What to Wear
Though it is hot outside, your rooms and the hotel are air-conditioned.
A rain poncho or umbrella will come in handy, and both can be purchased inexpensively here. As this is summertime in Bali, the rains tend to be warm and humid but a light jacket can be useful for evenings. Bermuda shorts, pedal pushers and cool cotton clothing are a good idea Comfortable sandals are a must and should be easy to take off as most Balinese do not wear shoes indoors. Same-day laundry service is inexpensive and plentiful, so you're better off to pack light. Don't forget your bathing suit!
Although the Balinese are used to Western tourists, they are still a modest culture, so walking down city streets with no shirt on will likely get you a sideways glance or two.
When entering a temple or other sacred site, you MUST wear a long sleeved shirt, and pants or preferably sarong that covers your knees. Women and men have separate requirements, and the Balinese are only to happy to explain the rules and outfit you accordingly if you're minus an appropriate item or two.
Suggested Reading about Bali
See here for great books on Bali: www.ganeshabooksbali.com |
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