Art of Retreating
Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.
Marcus Aurelius (the Roman emperor, best known for his Meditations on Stoic Philosophy, AD 121-180)
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau
The world has not to be put in order: the world is order incarnate. It is for us to put ourselves in unison with this order. We live at the edge of the miraculous.
Henry Miller
One does not have to turn to the East and its philosophies, as these quotes from ancient Rome to the 20th C attest, to know that the quest for inner peace, a sense of purpose, an enlightened self-knowing and worth, forms part of humanity’s immemorial and timeless search for deeper meanings and ultimate truths.
Few cultures remain where there is a seamless entwining of the spiritual and the secular, and where it does exist, there also exist forces to bring about dilution and extinction of those ancient traditions. More commonly people will often look to nature for greater intensity and meaning in life, but pristine nature is under attack. The way many of us live in modern Western lifestyles disallows time to stand still, to take stock, to re-explore those path ways in and through which we control our destiny, shape our thoughts, take charge of our own well-being. For so many a crisis has to occur in their lives before they take any action.
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Art of Retreating was born of Marieke’s discovery of the yoga mat a mere 5 years ago. Quite a few teachers, classes, experiences later, some of them desultory, some of them life-transforming, all instrumental in their revelations, have come to form the backbone of daily life, a necessity that brings stillness, invigoration, hopefulness, and of course the pleasure of sharing its power: The power of good eating, of using breath, of feeling flexible and strong, of a quiet and ordered mind.
And the discovery of certain teachers that brings great excitement that demands to be shared with like-minded people.
Retreats incorporate great consideration to the setting, ensuring you are in a place to be in and stay that is inspiring, to the food so it’s an expression of the reason to be there, to the teachers who bring vast experience and empathetic knowledge, and where relevant, to the cultural experience possible on your doorstep.
Previous Retreats have been held in:
North East Victoria at the Jamieson Sanctuary and the Steiner School
East Bali
Rajasthan + Rishikesh in North India
Our teachers include:
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Patricia Widayat with Yogashala studios in Melbourne and now in Bali, whose 30-years experience as a wonderful Pune-trained Iyengar teacher has attained a long and loyal following and is highly regarded for her encouragement skills. |
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Jean Campbell who comes from a lineage that includes Iyengar and Ashtanga training in India and in recent has years developed a deep exploration of Ayurved and the Anatomy of Yoga that she shares widely with students and trainee teachers in workshops at her Newcastle studio and abroad in Asia. |
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Albert Hennick is based in the Adelaide Hills and brings to his practice and teaching over 40 years experience in many yoga disciplines with various masters, a uniquely energising, healing, flowing style of teaching that encourages a sincere commitment beyond the mat, enabling students to touch the deeper paths of yoga, inner healing and self-awareness. |
Retreats planned for 2008.
Spirit of Bali: East Bali in May – 8 days based at a private and secluded sea-side compound on a headland beyond Candi Dasa, far way from the tourist hordes.
Spirit of India: South India in November – 15 days in 5 different locations, including Mysore, the Kerala backwaters and Pondicherry.