Stillness and Ecstasy
The Art of Merging Silence and Euphoria
7-Day (6-night) AYP Yoga and Meditation Residential Retreat, Devon, United Kingdom
1st to 7th June 2026
The Venue
This retreat will take place in Devon, South West England. The centre has been deliberately converted for retreats and is in a beautiful location in the South Devon countryside near Totnes.
The centre has a large yoga room, under-floor heating throughout, a sauna, and wifi.
The Yoga
- Deep Meditation
- Spinal Breathing Pranayama
- Samyama
- Mudras and bandhas
- Asana
There will be three or four practice sessions each day with full instruction given.
Topic
Stillness and Ecstasy
During this retreat we will be looking at the process of bringing the mind to silence, cultivating stillness, the witness quality and bliss. We will also look at the process of purifying the subtle nervous system, cultivating purity and ecstasy. We will then look at what happens when these two processes happen at the same time and begin to merge, producing a state of liberation, unity and divine love.
There will be 30 minutes of karma yoga (service to others) each day. All yoga classes and meditation sessions are optional, so you can take the retreat at your own pace.
Teachers
Tristan Dorling
Tristan began the practice of yoga in 1985 at school when he was 16 years old. At the age of 19 he travelled to the Himalayas to live in a Mahayana Buddhist monastery. This was really his first introduction to the higher teachings and to the spiritual life. He had his first awakening experience a year later after a meditation retreat in a Buddhist cave monastery in Thailand…
Alex Wales
Alex first came to yoga through meditation, and this practice continues to provide the foundation of his yoga journey and the inspiration for his teaching. He sees the practice of yoga postures as a means to integrate the subtle transformative effects of meditation with the physical body creating space in life for peace, energy and creativity to arise.
Food
Sally will be cooking on this retreat.
Food will be vegetarian. The food served will support a yoga and meditation practice. We can also cater for vegan diets and special diets such as dairy or gluten free, if you let us know in advance.
There will be two meals served each day (brunch and dinner) and fruits and hot drinks will be available all day.
Cost
Per person:
- One bed in the female dorm (max 4 people): £760 per person (available)
- One bed in the male dorm (max 6 people): £760 per person (available)
- One place in a shared twin room (male): £790 per person (fully booked)
- One place in a shared twin room (female): £790 per person (fully booked)
- Double rooms (couples) – 2 single beds: £790 per person (fully booked)
- Single room: £810 (fully booked)
- Single bell tent (already set up with bed): £790 (fully booked)
- Double bell tent (already set up with a 4 foot double bed): £760 per person (fully booked)
- Bringing your own campervan: £760 per person (1 place remaining)
The price includes accommodation, food and all the yoga sessions. A non-refundable deposit of £150 is required to secure a place on the retreat. The remainder is then due three-months before the retreat starts.
Dormitories for men and women are separate. If you are coming on your own and staying in a shared twin room, then you will be sharing with someone of the same gender.
If you are staying in your own campervan, you will have access to the toilets and showers in the house. Parking for campervans is in front of the house.
Booking
Contact Tristan to book a place on this retreat.
Once your place on the retreat has been confirmed, you can make payment here. A non-refundable deposit of £150 is payable to reserve a place. The balance is then due three months before the retreat starts.
Booking terms and conditions are on the payment page.
Getting there and away
The nearest train station is Totnes which is 10 mins away by car or taxi. The nearest international airport is Exeter (45 mins by car) or Bristol (2 hours by car, train or bus). Heathrow airport in London is 4 hours away by train.
Travel instructions are sent out to everyone coming before the retreat starts.
Retreat schedule
Monday 1st June 2026
15:00-16:00 arrival
16:30-18:00 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:30 dinner
20:00 – 20:30 welcome session in the yoga hall upstairs, followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 16:00 free time/ walking/ personal practice
16:00 – 17:45 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk/ questions and answers, followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.
Wednesday 3rd June to Friday 5th June
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 15:00 free time/ walking/ personal practice
15:00 – 16:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
16:45 – 17:40 pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk/ questions and answers, followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.
Saturday 6th June 2026
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 16:00 free time/ walking/ personal practice
16:00 – 17:45 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk/ questions and answers, followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.
Sunday 7th June 2026
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
09:30 breakfast
10:30-11:30 kitchen and yoga hall clean-up
11:30-12:30 Farewells and departure
