Ashtanga Yoga Retreat in Salento, Italy 2013

Self Practice. Self Knowledge.

Ashtanga Yoga Retreat  with  Laruga Glaser & Sati Chmelar 

31 August - 7 September 2013

For the first time, collaborating together, Laruga and Sati will infuse the practice of Ashtanga yoga into the depths of it’s philosophical teachings, through practice, contemplative lectures and group dialogue. It will be a life affirming, heart opening, expansive week, that will challenge and inspire, within the beautiful setting of Salento, Italy.

Laruga will be facilitating all yoga and technique classes, while Sati will be conducting all philosophy and meditation courses. It will be a blend of practical application of Ashtanga yoga, through morning Mysore classes, and in depth technique sessions, with ample time focused on integration and immersion of what arises through practice in engaging philosophical study sessions. The material covered will be participatory in nature and never dull. Be prepared to step into new and exciting territory!

Mysore Sessions and Technique Classes 

Laruga Glaser 

Mysore classes will be held every morning from at 7:00 - 9:30. 

Technique Class Topics

1. Vinyasa Integration 

In this class special attention will be focused on moving with conscious awareness, in union with  conscious breath, otherwise known as vinyāsa. Trouble shooting areas of instability that may be present, we will delve more thoroughly into how to build strength, with care and attention, building upon internal alignment. Focused points of attention will include practical application of Tristhanam (posture, breath, gaze) into each movement, promoting a calm center, accessing sense withdrawal, known as pratyahara. Learn to activate and open the energy channels of the body without strain. Discover balance, support and integrity in strength-based postures such as techniques for jumping back and jumping through as well as structural breakdown of challenging poses and transitions. 

2. Backbending Awareness

The paradox when backbending is we must be strong and soft at the same time; uniting the

energy of strength and surrender. In this class, learn the basic components of backbending

with integrity to the natural flow of the body, as well as, experiencing the concept of active

release. When actively releasing, we will learn to use grounding mechanisms to deepen our

awareness, while fully utilizing the breath. These fundamental techniques allow the body to find

depth and strength, while at the same time, letting go.

3. Arm Balance Architecture 

Experience the exhilaration arm balances bring in a playful and explorative way, while learning the basic elements and foundational techniques to successfully build an arm balance practice. Proper alignment, strength building, as well as, energizing the subtle body will be addressed in this inspiring and informative workshop. 

Philosophy & Meditation Classes

Sati Chmelar 

Philosophy classes will be held every evening. Please bring a journal or notebook. 

Philosophy study sessions with Sati are a humorous, interactive, passionate, and a genuine exchange. Learning is a combination of lecture, discussion, question and answer, as well as contemplative writing. There is a strong focus placed on becoming intimate with the information and students are invited to deeply engage with the material presented. Students will be asked to explore how the information measures up against their lived experience with a sense of spacious possibility, balanced discrimination, and most importantly, an open heart. 

Tentative Philosophy Study Topics 

1. The Bhagavad-Gita and Understanding Love

After a general introduction to The Bhagavad-Gita and its primary teachings, we will explore the meaning and nature of attachment vs. non-attachment and how this energy can impede or enliven our practice and our lives.

2. Facing Our Afflictions

Through Patanjali’s treatise, The Yoga Sutras, we will study what gives rise to our suffering and in particular how ignorance manifests our mental afflictions (kleshas). We will also explore ways to identity and dissolve these afflictions in our lives. 

3. Becoming The Philosopher

We will learn to identify what Yoga genuinely is and examine what makes it unique among the six philosophical schools of Indian philosophy. We will put ourselves in the philosopher’s seat and examine what our beliefs are regarding some of the biggest questions that Indian philosophy attempts to address. An extra focus will be placed on Classical Yoga.


For More Information and Booking
Email:  info@yogainsalento.com
Call:  +39 0836 600 284
Website: www.yogainsalento.com