AYP Silent Retreat

7-Day (6-night) AYP Yoga and Meditation Residential Retreat, Devon, United Kingdom

Tuesday 14th to Monday 20th September 2027

The Venue

This retreat will take place at Eden Rise retreat centre 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 four or five meditation practice sessions each day.

There will be seven, or eight hours of yoga classes each day.

Full instructions on practice are given on the first day of the retreat

What does being in silence involve?

We will be entering silence on the first evening after the evening talk finishes. Then participants will remain in silence until the final practice session on the last day (20th September). So, there will be a total of 5 full days in silence. During the silent period the teachers who are leading classes will be able to speak.

During the silent days participants will be asked to refrain from speaking, watching videos, listening to podcasts or music, other than spiritual podcasts or music, reading books other than spiritual books, and to refrain from singing other than during the group bhajan (kirtan) sessions.

Participants will be encouraged to turn off notifications on any devices so that they are not disturbed during these five days.

There will be a bowl in the yoga hall with pieces of paper and pens. If anyone needs to ask a question during the silent period, they will be able to write it down and place it in the bowl. It will then be answered in the evening during the talk by the teacher.

Topic

The Process of Liberation

During this retreat we will be looking at the overall process of liberation. The retreat will cover many aspects of the liberation process. Especially:

The role that meditation plays
The role played by pranayama practices
The role played by bhakti (spiritual desire)
The role played by Karma Yoga (liberation through action)
The role played by Samyama practice.
The role played by Self-Inquiry practice

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.

Darshan

Tristan will be giving darshan during this retreat. This is a gentle energetic transmission designed to increase the purification of the ajna chakra and central channel in the body.

Bhajan/ Kirtan sessions

Bhajans will be held in the yoga hall on some afternoons during the retreat.

This is devotional singing designed to open the heart and purify the subtle nervous system.

The songs will be in Sanskrit, but there is no need to know any Sanskrit at all to be able to join in. The words are easy.

Food

Sally will be cooking on this retreat.

Food will be vegetarian. The food served will support a yoga and meditation practice.

Vegan and gluten free options can be provided. Please ensure you inform us of your requirements and of any food allergies at the time of booking.

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 (available)
One place in a shared twin room (female): £790 per person (available)
Double rooms (couples) – 2 single beds: £790 per person (available)
Single room: £810 (available)
Bringing your own campervan: £760 per person (available)

The price includes accommodation, food and all the yoga sessions. A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required to secure a place on the retreat. The remainder is then due six-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. There are no electric hook-ups for campervans.

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

Tuesday 14th September 2027

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.

20:30 Silent period begins

Wednesday 15th September 2027

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 – 16:45 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama

17:00 – 18:00 pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk

Thursday 16th September to Saturday 18th September 2027

07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 14:00 free time/ walking/ personal practice
14:00 – 15:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
15:45 – 16:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama

16:45 – 17:30 pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk

Sunday 19th September 2027

17:00 – 17:45 pranayama, meditation, samyama18:00 dinner
20:00 – 21:00 evening talk

Monday 20th September 2027

07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama

08:30 Silent period ends
09:30 breakfast
10:30-11:30 kitchen and yoga hall clean-up
11:30-12:30 Farewells and departure

“Space and silence are necessary because only when the mind is alone, uninfluenced, untrained and not held by experience can it come upon something totally new.” [Krishnamurti]