Yoga - since its creation - has always been taught in a one-on-one setting. The teacher would assess the needs, aspirations and constitution of the student and give them the personal practice that would connect them to their innermost truth. This innermost truth of the individual is unique to that person, and each person’s yoga practice will ultimately be an individual practice, guided closely by authentic teachers and teachings.

A yoga retreat is a rare opportunity to discover what it is to live a yogic life of awakening. It is a time we remove ourselves from our ordinary life and create a new possibility of coming out of our conditioned minds, our emotions, and our body. From early in the morning until well into the evening, we will be immersed in the sacred path of yoga in all its forms. It is an intensive process that will change the way you see your life.

We call this retreat “The Body” because the physical body for most is the doorway into the process of yoga alchemy that transforms your body, heart and mind. This training prepares your body to become a sacred temple dedicated to fully awakening.

This retreat is a 100-hour training - which can be followed individually or in combination with the 200-hours Basic Teacher Training - to support your integrity, commitment, dedication and knowledge of yoga. It is a special opportunity for those who are interested in deepening their own yoga journey, as well as for those who want to learn how to properly build their own yoga Sadhana (yoga self-practice).

The practices are based primarily on the traditional Vinyasa Yoga method based on the teachings of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the 'founder of modern yoga' who was the teacher of many influential teachers like Indra Devi, K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and A.G. Mohan. His method will be explored and opened to include many other elements from the body of Hatha yoga practices. Elements of Ayurveda will also be added to include a more therapeutic and balancing effect of the practices, allowing for a broader view of yoga on all aspects of life.

Invaluable benefits you will gain from this training:

• A cleansing of the temple of body and mind

• A clearer understanding of yourself

• Alignment with your life towards awakening

During this retreat, our experienced teachers Katiza Satya and Kevin Sahaj draw from several wisdom traditions to offer you 100 hours of practices ranging from asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, rituals, and philosophy. Together with The Heart and The Mind programs, The Body presents the core of their Sva Dharma teachings. Under their guidance, you will immerse yourself fully into the process of yoga, experiencing directly what it is like to live and practice full-time.

Program

We start this 10-day retreat in a unique way - with mauna (silence). It is a way to go beyond the surface – beyond names and forms, social, cultural or psychological boundaries. You will receive teachings and practices in silence, allowing yourself to let go of critical thinking, questions and other habits of the mind. Knowledge is a fruit of learning, while wisdom is a fruit of practice. Through silence, our mind reaches a certain clarity, and you will be ready for deeper learning and practice. We immerse ourselves into meditation, pranayama, philosophy and a balanced asana practice, going deeper in concentration and breath awareness, allowing and trusting inner alignment, exploring subtle body, purification, basics of Ayurveda, basic anatomy knowledge, setting the stage for the meeting of the inner alchemist and the inner healer within our selves.

These 10 days are the sacred ground for your “yoga practice laboratory” where the alchemy takes place. This is where we start the process of deconditioning the mind which is deeply entangled in the body tissues. We start to trust again in the body intelligence, its nature and connection to the subtle body. Wisdom and trust of how to be in the body rises spontaneously. Together we create the environment where the sacredness of our own body can be experienced again, like a newborn child.

Typical Daily Schedule

06:00 Morning wake-up

06:30 Meditation and Pranayama

07:00 Asana Yoga practice

09:00 Light breakfast

10:30 Lecture

11:30 Q&A

13:00 Lunch and free time

16:00 Lecture

17:00 Tea break

17:30 Deepening the practices

19:00 Dinner

20:30 Meditation, chanting or Yoga Nidra practice

21:00 Bedtime

Curriculum

Asana: The Vinyasa yoga method based on the teachings of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya will be your main practice and map for this training. You will also focus on specific asanas and how to approach them in different ways. You will be taught alignment, breath, bandhas, inner and outer focus and suitable variations for each asana, learn the sanskrit name and the benefits of each pose.

Pranayama: We will teach the true meaning of Prana and the natural breath. Preparations for pranayama, together with some of the most classical techniques (such as Kapalabhati, Nadi Shodhana, and the Nine Purification Breaths) will be covered.You will build a personal practice of pranayama to incorporate into your daily practice.

Kriyas: Kriyas are cleansing and purification practices that prepare you for deeper yogic experiences. You will be introduced to some of the basic yet powerful kriya techniques and incorporate them into your daily practice routine.

Physical and Yogic Anatomy: We will explore the physical body in a very practical way, and introduce you to the subtle bodies: the yogic anatomy of chakras, nadis, vayus and koshas, helping you to more fully understand the process and benefits of yoga.

Yoga Philosophy: Foundational philosophy will be mostly based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, with a particular focus on the 8 limbs of yoga. You will learn how to apply this in your yoga practice, in your teaching and, most importantly, in your everyday life.

Ayurveda You will be introduced to the Science of Ayurveda and you will receive a solid foundation on the pillars of Ayurveda, e.g. the three doshas, your own natural born constitution (prakruti) and your current imbalance (vikruti).

Concentration and meditation: From the beginning of the course, you will be introduced to meditation. During the course, you will be given different techniques to practice formal meditation. You will come to understand what meditation is, and how the other aspects of our practice are traditionally used to to prepare ourselves for moving deeper into meditation. You will learn how to guide others in basic meditation.

Mantra: You will be introduced to the importance of Bhakti Yoga and Vedic chanting, learning some of the most important mantras and sutras to connect to the divine through sacred sound.

D’Alijo Yoga Retreats Center is a yoga retreat in the midst of beautiful Portuguese nature. It sprawls across three hectares of land consisting of terraces, olive fields and hills with large rock formations

The accommodation consists of wooden chalet-style houses, cabins or rooms which are tastefully decorated, positioned in rural parts of the grounds at walking distance from Yoga Studio, swimming pool and the main house. All rooms have outside verandas.

The main house which was rebuilt with huge granite rocks from centuries ago is now the cosy “heart” of the retreat centre. Surrounded by large terraces and undisturbed views of the area and premises. It offers 5 guest rooms. The centre offers a heated swimming pool, water features, and a peaceful meditation cave and the surroundings invite tranquil walks.

D'Alijo Retreat Center is located 1 hour away from Porto International Airport. Transfers from/to the airport can be arranged on request.

Booking information

After booking the retreat, you will receive more information on how to reserve your room and transfer. In case of any questions, please contact us at academy@delightyoga.nl.

Arrival/Departure

The Body Retreat starts on 8 July and finishes on 17 July 2023. Transfer between Porto (OPO) Airport and the retreat location by car takes 1 hour. On 8 July, check-in is open as of 12.00 hrs and the program starts around 16.00 hrs. On 17 July, the program ends after a morning self-practice.

There are many airports with direct flights to Porto, e.g. Schiphol and Eindhoven (NL) and Düsseldorf and Weeze (D). Or consider environment-friendly alternatives like bus or train to Porto and then join the shared transfer from Porto airport. There is also a Flixbus connection to Guimarães from where pick-up can be arranged.

We advise not to arrive after the retreat has started, or to depart before it has ended, as this would mean missing important parts of the program. The transfer from the retreat centre to the airport OPO leaves 3 hours before the flight departure time.

Price

Teaching fees

Individual participants:

• Early bird valid until 30 April 2023: € 1.550 (incl. VAT) if paid in full upon registration

• Regular: € 1.650 (incl. VAT) payable in full upon registration

• Installments: € 1.750 (incl. VAT) in monthly installments (last installment due on 8 May 2023)

Registered students of the Basic Teacher Training:

• € 1.250 (incl. VAT) if paid in full upon registration

• € 1.350 (incl. VAT) if payment in installments (last installment due on 8 May 2023)

From this total, an amount of €150 is considered as non-refundable booking fee according to our T&C. The booking fee is non-refundable if participation is cancelled or postponed by the student for whatever reason (including corona-related circumstances).

Please note that due to Dutch tax legislation (reisbureauregeling), there is no VAT deductible. Teaching fees including course manual, excluding accommodation/travel.

Accommodation

The costs for accommodation and food are on the basis of 9 nights and full board (3 vegetarian meals per day). The following room types are available on a first-come first-serve basis (please indicate in case you snore/have frequent nightmares):

• € 1.045 shared room with 2 people

• € 1.280 single room with shared facilities (house with 3 single bedrooms and shared living room / bathroom)

• € 1.590 garden suite (luxury single 36 m2, own facilities)

The accommodation is invoiced separately with a due date of 30 April (Early Bird) or 8 May 2023 (Basic TT students / Regular / Installments).

Not included in the above fees are books, travel costs to- and- from the retreat centre, travel insurance (highly recommended), local tourist tax.

Camping at the retreat location / external accommodation is not possible.

Extra nights can be booked directly at D'Alijo Yoga Retreat Center by sending an email to info@dalijoyogaretreats.com, for a 30% discount on the chosen room rate (stay in same (single) room or upgrade twin to single). This includes two meals instead of three during the events. As an indication, a single room costs 113€ per extra night.

Package price

• Participants following The Body Retreat and/or The Heart Retreat and/or The Mind Retreat directly after each other, receive a discount of €75 per retreat on the Early Bird price (not applicable for payment in installments).

After booking your spot through the booking module (scroll all the way down), you will receive a confirmation indicating how to book your accommodation and transfer.

For our cancellation policy, please read our General Terms and Conditions.

Requirements

• To have practised yoga steadily for a minimum of 1 year with a teacher and have a regular and consistent self practice (at least 3 times a week) in any hatha-based style of yoga.

• A motivational letter in which you tell us more about yourself and your motivation to take part in this training.

Reading Material

Required reading

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – Swami Satchidananda or Georg Feuerstein, OR Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

Recommended reading

Yoga Mala, Sri K Pattabhi Jois

The Art of Vinyasa, Richard Freeman

Health & Well-Being

Your current health and health background are very important to us to assess your needs and to be aware of any precautions or adaptations of the yoga practices that may be needed for you personally. The information you provide is confidential and will not be shared with others.

Please let us know if any of the following applies to you (if so, please detail):

• Are you experiencing physical, mental, or emotional issues?

• Are you currently under medical treatment or taking medications for mental or physical conditions?

• Are you currently or have you suffered in the past from depression, burnout, addiction, or any other mental health issues?

Get a taste or prepare

Meeting the Body - Online workshop

If you would like get an introduction or prepare for the retreat, or if you would like to refresh the practices, we recommend joining the online workshop "Meeting The Body" on 11 March 2023 with Satya & Sahaj. Registered participants of this year's retreat receive a 50% discount. To receive the voucher code, please email academy@delightyoga.nl.

Stay Connected with the Sangha

To stay connected with the Sva Dharma community we offer the Sva Dharma Family Gatherings. This is an exclusive event for everyone who has ever participated in a training or retreat with Satya and Sahaj. We warmly welcome you to gather, re-connect, inspire each other, practice together, share experiences, and thus find support in the Sangha (community of like-minded people).

NOTE: This retreat is part of the 200-hour Basic Teacher Training of Delight Yoga but can also be followed individually.

IMPORTANT: After booking your spot through the booking module (scroll all the way down), you will receive a confirmation indicating how to book your accommodation and transfer.