I am delighted to be able to offer another week of kriyas, asana, pranayama, meditation and mantra in the beautiful retreat centre, Hidden Paradise. This year I have the pleasure to welcome Judie Freeman who will lead aerial yoga sessions in the Earth Temple.
Set in the southern Sierra Nevada, over 1000 metres above sea level, the week will include a guided walk and the opportunity for local walks into the Sierra Nevada National Park, to the nearby village of Canar and to the nearest town of Orgiva.
Rupert and Julia who run the centre offer the warmest of hospitality with great care and love. Their team will be on hand to help as and when required. We will receive deep nourishment on all levels. Rupert has created the beauty and stillness of Hidden Paradise and Julia will provide us with the most delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals during our week’s stay. Any dietary requirement can be catered for. As much of the produce as possible is from the centre’s organic garden.
23 people can be accommodated on this retreat. Everyone will have the opportunity for at least 2 aerial yoga sessions during the week.
The centre itself offers spectacular views of the mountains and a direct view to the Mediterranean Sea.
Accommodation is in stone houses, tree houses or bedrooms within the main house. Single occupancy supplement is available if booked early enough (payable in euros on arrival).
The entire centre is solar powered (no hairdryers or irons please) and water is from a nearby spring.
The Spaceship is a beautifully crafted circular wooden space with an amazing view down the valley towards the sea and can accommodate 16 yoga mats comfortably
The Earth Temple is an exquisite, larger circular wooden space with a traditional earth floor, close to the centre’s gardens and open air plunge pool. Eight aerial hammocks can be hung here.
There is a heated swimming pool, a wood fired sauna and a small library of books. Massage therapists are available throughout the week and treatments can be booked on arrival.
There will be three yoga sessions a day plus a silent meditation each evening after supper (see below for proposed programme). Stillness, silence and inner reflection will be encouraged throughout the week, as well as times of laughter and sharing. I will be available most afternoons for 1:1 sessions to discuss any aspects of individual process/practice.
A guided walk one day will take us through the Alpujarran mountains with fabulous views. For those more intrepid walkers, it may be possible to organise a walk up Mulhacen which, apart from the Alps, is the highest peak in western Europe. This involves booking a mountain bus from Capileira and would incur an extra charge.
I would recommend that trips to the Alhambra or other attractions are organised before or after the retreat. Trips to local towns or villages can be arranged from Hidden Paradise in the afternoons or anytime throughout the day if you are happy to miss a practice session. The weekly market in Orgiva takes place on Thursdays.
We will have silence from 9pm until after breakfast each day and one day of full silence during our week’s stay.
Cost
£695 including shared accommodation & all meals (excluding flights, transfers & optional single room supplement)
Getting There
Granada and Malaga are the nearest airports. Almeria is also possible to fly into. Ryanair/Easyjet/Jet2/Norwegian offer direct flights to Malaga from Scotland. Other airlines offer direct flights from other UK airports. British airways, Iberia, Vueling and Easyjet offer flights to Granada.
Transfers can be arranged from/to airports. Car hire is another option and there is room for parking at Hidden Paradise.
Arrival: anytime from lunchtime on Friday 13th September
Departure: by late morning on Friday 20th September
Booking
Please contact me for booking details and any other information you may require suemclennan@gmail.com
Proposed Schedule
| Friday 13th Sept | 2pm onwards | Arrival and allocation of rooms |
| 4.30pm | Formal welcome followed by a gentle stretch class, nadi sodhana and relaxation | |
| 7.15pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Silent meditation | |
| Saturday 14th Sept (Full moon) | 6.45/7am | Morning practice with focus on gayatri mantra, breath kriyas, chandra namaskar, pranayama leading to meditation |
| 9am | Breakfast | |
| 11.15am | Asana and pranayama practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 5pm | Asana, pranayama and meditation practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Chanting Silent meditation |
|
| Sunday 15th Sept | 6.45/7am | Morning practice with focus on gayatri mantra, breath kriyas, surya namaskar, pranayama leading to meditation |
| 9am | Breakfast | |
| 11.15am | Asana and pranayama practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 5pm | Asana, pranayama and meditation practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Chanting Silent meditation |
|
| Monday 16th Sept Day of silence | 6.45/7am | Morning practice with focus on gayatri mantra, breath kriyas, surya namaskar, pranayama leading to meditation |
| 9am | Breakfast | |
| 11.15am | Asana and pranayama practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 5pm | Asana, pranayama and meditation practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Silent meditation | |
| Tuesday 17th Sept | 6.45/7am | Shorter morning practice |
| 8am | Breakfast | |
| 9.30am | Guided walk with packed lunch | |
| 6pm | Return to Hidden Paradise | |
| 6.30pm | Yoga nidra | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Chanting Silent meditation | |
| Wednesday 18th Sept | 6.45/7am | Morning practice with focus on gayatri mantra, breath kriyas, surya namaskar, pranayama leading to meditation |
| 9am | Breakfast | |
| 11.15am | Asana and pranayama practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple (more advanced) | |
| 1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 5pm | Asana, pranayama and meditation practice in Spaceship; Aerial yoga in Earth Temple | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Chanting Silent meditation |
|
| Thursday 19th Sept | 6.45/7am | Morning practice with focus on gayatri mantra, breath kriyas, surya namaskar, pranayama leading to meditation |
| Orgiva market | 9am | Breakfast |
| 11.15am | Asana and pranayama practice in Spaceship | |
| 1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 5pm | Final restorative class in Earth Temple | |
| 7.30pm | Supper | |
| 9pm | Silent meditation | |
| Friday 20th September | 6.45/7am | Final morning practice |
| 8am | Breakfast |
