Self-Inquiry and Advaita/ Non Duality

6-Day AYP Yoga and Meditation Retreat, Devon, United Kingdom

25th to 30th June 2024

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.  

Hills behind Eden Rise
The Yoga Hall AYP Retreat in Devon

The Yoga

  • Deep Meditation
  • Spinal Breathing Pranayama
  • Samyama
  • Mudras and bandhas
  • Asana
  • Self inquiry

There will be three practice sessions each day with full instruction given.

Topic

During the retreat we will be looking at the topic of advaita (non-duality). This is the stage in yoga where we move beyond identification with the mind and the sense objects, into a direct understanding of our true nature.

We will start by looking at some Self-Inquiry methods such as asking the question “Who am I?”, and the practice of “Neti Neti”. We will also look at the practice of affirmations such as “I am truth”, and “I am free”.

We will look at how advaita teaching was taught by various teachers over the years, such as Rama Krishna, Ramana Maharshi and Krishnamurti. We will finish the retreat by looking at the practice of Pure Abiding in the Self.

During the retreat, people will be able to take these classical non-dual teachings of yoga, and put them into practice if they wish to. Full instructions in practice will be given, so no previous experience is necessary.

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. There will be a maximum of 14 people on this retreat.

Teachers

Tristan Dorling

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 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

Home made Bread
Salad dish

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.

Sally will be doing the cooking. 

Cost

Per person:

  • One bed in a Shared room (max 4 people) (female):   £530 per person   (fully-booked).
  • One bed in a Shared room (max 4 people) (male):   £530 per person  (available).
  • One place in a shared twin room (male):   £560 per person    (fully-booked).
  • One place in a shared twin room (female):   £560 per person  (fully-booked).
  • Double rooms (couples) – 2 single beds:   £560 per person  (fully-booked).
  • Single rooms:   £590   (fully-booked).
  • Bringing your own campervan: £490 per person (available)

The price includes accommodation, food and all the yoga sessions. A non-refundable deposit of £100 is required to secure a place on the retreat. The remainder is then due two-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.

Eden Rise field of sheep

Booking

Contact Tristan to book a place on this retreat. 

Once your place on the retreat has been confirmed, you can make  payment here. Booking terms and conditions are on the same 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). 

Travel instructions are sent out to everyone coming before the retreat starts.

Hill near Eden Rise
Eden Rise kitchen

Retreat schedule

Tuesday 25th June 2024

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.

Wednesday 26th June to Saturday 29th 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
19:30 – 20:30    evening talk/ questions and answers, followed by silent period until 09:30 the following morning.

Sunday 30th June 2024

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