LIVING YOGA

​​The practice of Yoga is a lifelong pursuit, and the path is not always an easy one. Along the way, it is inevitable that we occasionally lose motivation or inspiration, or simply forget why we fell in love with Yoga in the first place. While a lot boils down to discipline and commitment when maintaining our personal practice, uncontrollable factors like travel, work, responsibilities and, well, life, can disrupt even the most sincere practitioner. In my years of practice, I've discovered two other pillars that can really support us in staying on-track — studentship and sangha (community).

 

This is what's inspired this 60-hour midsummer immersion in Sri Lanka (it's during the school holidays, and I hope school teachers can join us this time). In this 8D7N residential programme, we'll remove ourselves from the routine of daily living, and instead, steep ourselves in the rhythms of unobstructed practice. 

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I have selected our immersion venue — a retreat centre tucked away in the central highlands of Sri Lanka — for its spacious, unhurried vibes and the verdant nature that surrounds it. We have the estate all to ourselves, creating a conducive container in which we will study the Yoga Sutras, commit to holistic daily practice (asana, pranayama, dharana and svadhyaya — postures, breathwork, meditative practices and self-inquiry); and craft a personalised, individualised sadhana that we can take home with us when we emerge from this cocoon. And everyday, we will remind ourselves of the ultimate goal this wisdom science guides us towards — freedom.

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The intention that holds this immersion is different from that of a retreat, so leisure activities and sightseeing are not the main priorities. That said, we will have the option to take a half-day off in the middle of the immersion to go daytripping in Kandy — we'll walk through an ancient forest, visit the sacred Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, and then either stop for a coffee in a colonial-style hotel, or do a little shopping at the local markets.

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If the time we spend on our mat is the meat of Yoga, then you can consider this immersion to be its bones: the unseen structure of tradition and history that is the foundation of the practice; and the reason behind why we actually do all the things we are invited to do on and off the mat.

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Who this immersion may be suitable for

 

• You have been practising in a studio for awhile, and are curious where the postural practice stands amidst subtler practices like working with the breath, philosophy and meditation.
   

• You have been practising for awhile, and keen to take charge of your personal practice, adapting it to fit your lifestyle, constitution and mental/spiritual needs.
   

• You have been thinking to join a teacher training to deepen your knowledge of Yoga, but are not sure whether to invest both the time and money that a training requires. And should you change your mind mid-immersion to share what you've learned, then you can choose to add on the Yoga Teacher Training module (*see below), scheduled to be held over 7 weekends in Singapore in July and August.
   

• You are a newish teacher who feels your practice and teaching lack depth.
   

• You are a longtime practitioner missing the camaraderie of community, and yearning to remember why you practise.

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All are welcome. We will build our practice and our understanding of the practice from the ground up, so there is no pre-requisite but a sincere seeker's heart. This is also an invitation to all Living Yoga teacher training graduates to come home to the container of studentship, sadhana and kula. To return to the heart of the practice as a community can be inspiring and re-affirming.​​