Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) retreat, Devon, United Kingdom
Kundalini Awakening
Working with Pranayama and the Energetic Aspect of the Process of Spiritual Awakening
6th May - 11th May 2025
This retreat will take place at the Bala Brook Retreat Centre on Dartmoor in Devon, South West England.
The centre is a beautifully converted old farm house with a large yoga room, dining room and library.
There are 35 acres of gardens and grounds, an orchard, a small wood and a stream. There is wifi in the main house.
The Yoga
The focus of the retreat will be on the cultivation of inner silence, peace-fullness, bliss and Self-Realization.
We will be holding three practice sessions each day. In the evenings there will be teachings given on the philosophy of yoga especially as it relates to the Kundalini process.
Topic
During the retreat we will be looking at the process of kundalini as it unfolds in the body. We will also look at various pranayama practices and at how these work with kundalini to create an effective and stable spiritual awakening.
We will look at the following forms of pranayama during the retreat:
- Spinal Breathing Pranayama
- Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Heart Breathing
- Kapalbhati
- Dynamic Jalandhara Bandha
- Yoni Mudra Kumbhaka
- Spinal Bhastrika
Some of these are advanced forms of pranayama, but more basic forms of pranayama will always be available for people who are new to yoga, or who prefer that.
No previous experience of yoga is necessary to attend this retreat.
Practices
Teachings on the retreat will also include:
- Deep Meditation – especially looking at the process of brining the mind to stillness and silence and the cultivation of the witness.
- Spinal Breathing Pranayama – looking at the purification of the subtle nervous system.
- Samyama – looking at the practices of samyama and cosmic samyama, and at how these relate to transcendence.
- Asana practice – building a daily posture practice routine.
Full instructions in practice will be given. The retreat will be led in English and will be suitable for people of all levels of experience.
All yoga classes and meditation sessions are optional, so you can take the retreat at your own pace.
Teacher
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…
Food
Food will be vegetarian. The food served will support a yoga and meditation practice. We can also cater for vegan diets and gluten free diets, if you let us know in advance.
There will be two meals served each day (brunch and dinner). Fruits and hot drinks will be available all day.
Cost and booking
Per person:
- One bed in the female dorm (max three people): £655 per person (Available)
- One bed in the male dorm (max three people): £655 per person (Available)
- Double room (2 sharing): £695 per person (Available)
- One bed in a twin shared room (female) £695 per person (Available)
- One bed in a twin shared room (male) £695 per person (Available)
- Single room: £745 (Available)
- Small single attic room: £715 (Available)
The price includes accommodation for 5-nights, food and all the yoga and meditation sessions.
A non-refundable deposit of £100 is required to secure a place on the retreat, with the balance paid 2-months before the retreat starts.
Once your place on the retreat has been confirmed, you can make payment by credit/debit card here, or by bank transfer.
Payment terms and conditions are at the bottom of that page.
Getting there and away
Bala Brook is near the village of Didworthy which is close to Totnes, Devon. The nearest train station is Totnes and the nearest airport is Exeter.
Full travel directions can be found here (half-way down the page)
Retreat schedule
Tuesday 6th May 2025
16:00-17:00 arrival
17:30-19:00 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
19:30 dinner
21:00 evening meeting followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.
7th – 10th May 2025
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:40 pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 16:00 free time/ walking/ personal practice
16:00 – 18:00 asana pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
19:30 evening talk/ questions and answers followed by silent period until 9:30 the following morning.
Sunday 11th May 2025
07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
09:30 breakfast
10:30-11:30 house clean-up
11:30-12:30 farewells and departure
