Retreats 2020

Postponed until Covid regulations allow.

Please get in touch and ask to be added to my email list to receive revised dates.

 

September 19th-20th

Amerta Movement in nature and camping retreat.

An Sanctoir, West Cork

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October 23rd-25th

Yoga and Meditation residential weekend retreat.

Heir Island,off the coast of West Cork

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Embodied Nature Wild Retreat

Amerta Movement and creativity in nature

A weekend residential camping retreat. Returning to a sense of belonging in the natural world through embodied movement, nature art, meditation, fireside sharing and self-reflection. .

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September 19th-20th  Postponed to 2021

An Sanctoir, Ballydehob, West Cork.

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Through embodied movement we will explore the different landscapes in An Sanctoir's 30 acres of secluded nature reserve; woodland, meadow, rock, hill, river.

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• Embodied movement and listening skills that will guide you into remembering we are part of nature; experiencing communication, relationship, belonging with the natural environment.

• Playful Movement explorations to awaken body and senses as fields of perception....to experience and connect more deepy with the world and each other.

• Experiencing how nature can be guide, teacher, companion, sanctuary and inspiration.

• Opening our senses and awakening life in every part of our being, every cell, so we can feel more awake, alive, responsive, creative and connected.

• Taking time to relax, listen, receive and rest, with nature as support

• Physically, mentally and emotionally connecting with both inner and outer worlds (self and landsape).

• Taking time to notice what we don't usually notice.

• Sharing movement, creativity and enquiry with others.

• Nature art to integrate our experiences and express something that honours the land and as an offering to the landscape. (Nature art ritual).

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Practicalities

• Camping is available on site. There is a hall we can use in case of bad weather for both sleeping and as a workspace

• Food will be provided, and cooking will be shared in the onsite kitchen.

• loos and showers on site.

•  Come prepared for irish weather! Dress to keep cosy and dry, Layers are best in case it gets warm. nights can get chilly, so hats, warm socks, hot water bottles are helpful!

• You will need a waterproof ground mat or picnic blanket to sit on outside.

• We will be outdoors on uneven ground, walking and moving, so you will need to be

       physically able for mixed terrain.

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Cost

€220 (includes food and camping)

Numbers are limited.

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Bookings:

Contact

Claire will send you an application form and payment details.

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Pre-requisites:

This is deep and subtle work. Although you don't need to have done any outdoor or movement based work before, some experience of group work or a personal practice of some kind would be helpful, as there will be periods of working on your own, so an amount of self-care and responsibility for your own process is part of the work.

It is not advisable to attend if you have a mental health problem.

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‘Embodied Nature’ has grown from Claire's background in Amerta Movement, art, and therapeutic horticulture. She has had over 20 years of professional experience in these fields, and in group facilitation.

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October 23rd-25th, Heir Island.

Yoga and Meditation weekend retreat.

Hrydaykasha Dharana: focus on the Heart Space.

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Men and women, all levels of experience welcome.

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• Asana, movement, embodied anatomy and pranayama (physical practices and breathing

exercises) to settle the body, mind and emotions, free up tension and blockages and prepare

for meditation. Focus on Heart Chakra (both physically and energetically).

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• Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra to release deeply held tension, allowing the heart

to soften and blossom.

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• Meditation based on the Hatha and Tantra yoga practice of Hrydayakasha Dharana,

meditation on the heart space.

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• Transformational Mediation to shift negative deeply held emotions.

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• Chanting; learn the full length version of the Shanti Path, the peace mantra.

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Schedule:

• Friday: 6pm ferry, followed by check in and dinner. Evening practice 8.30 - 9.30pm.

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• Saturday 7.30-9am asana practice followed by breakfast. 11am-12.45am introducing

meditation and yoga philosophy. Lunch and free time from 1-5pm. 5-5.45pm yoga nidra.

Dinner 6.30pm. Evening practice and silence from 8pm.

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• Sunday: Morning schedule as for Saturday. Afternoon practice 2.30-3.30pm.

End with Ferry at 4pm.

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The weekend is fully residential with a period of silence from Saturday evening until Sunday morning after breakfast.

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Cost : €330

All food and accommodation included, as well as your ferry to the island.

All rooms are single en-suite.

Places are limited to allow for social distancing measures. Bookings are on first come, first served basis and full payment ensures your place.

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Bookings:

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This weekend is based on Claire's extensive training and experience of teaching Yoga for the past 20 years. Her approach draws from classic hatha yoga practices (asana, pranayama, chanting, Yoga Nidra and meditation), as well as exploratory contemporary asana practice inspired many years of investigation into a mindful, embodied approach to asana in her own practice,and 23 years practice of a free-form mindful movement called Amerta. Influenced by many world class teachers, including Uma-Dinsmore Tuli, Angela Farmer and Victor Van Hooten, as well as her movement teacher for the past 23 years, Suprapto Suryadarmo.

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About the venues

Heir Island is a small Island, just a 5 minute ferry from the mainland between Skibbereen and Ballydehob in West Cork. Although it's just a hop across the water on the little ferry boat, it feels like a world away. You step onto the island and immediately feel soothed and your cares drifting away, as you soak up the peace and wildness of this magical place.

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Heir Island Retreat Centre, run by Sarah and Paul Matthews, is our practice space.

Warm, bright, atmospheric and facing out onto the wild open beauty of Roaring Water Bay. http://www.heirislandretreat.ie/

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Roaring Water Lodge provides accommodation for the residential retreats. Spacious, bright rooms, comfy beds, and home-made, delicious vegetarian food. You are guaranteed to be well looked after by your hosts. Information about your accommodation, as well as directions on how to get to the ferry can be found here:

https://roaringwaterlodge.com/

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Booking terms and conditions

• Retreat payments are due in full before the start of the retreat. Your place is only secure once payment is received.

• If you cancel one month or more before the retreat you will receive a 50 percent refund.

• Payments are non-refundable if you cancel less than one month beforehand. You can transfer your place to someone if you can find a friend to take your place. If you cannot attend at the last minute, for whatever reason, unfortunately we are unable to offer a refund.

• If you cancel, it is not possible to transfer your booking to a different event.

• In the event of a retreat being cancelled by the organiser, an alternative date will be offered. If you cannot make the new date, a full refund will be issued. With the retreats on Heir Island unusual weather may prevents the ferry to the island from sailing. I will always endeavor to find a last minute alternative venue if at all possible.

• If a persons behaviour during a retreat is deemed offensive, inappropriate or disruptive to the rest of the participants, they may be asked to leave. In this event, no refund will be issued.

• If you are booking flight to come, we recommend that you take out travel insurance, in the unlikely event that a retreat has to be cancelled, or you have to cancel yourself.