PHILIPPA ASHER
KPJAYI certified teacher
8th - 14th September 2024
Ashtanga Yoga retreat with Philippa Asher (KPJAYI certified) in a beautiful 16th century French Château situated in South West France, surrounded by far-reaching countryside views and vineyards. This idyllic venue provides the perfect environment for a peaceful and focused yoga practice.
Delicious and freshly cooked vegan and vegetarian food, with some of the vegetables being picked straight from our garden. The elegant and comfortable bedrooms are complemented with 2 swimming pools and 30 acres of stunning gardens and woods.
The retreat offers daily Ashtanga guided self-practice, and Sanskrit-counted Led Primary Series classes. Afternoon workshops will cover concepts on the method, asana technique and alignment, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy, history, Q&A and anything else that interests the group.
All levels of practitioners are welcomed to this retreat. In order to achieve a more meaningful and focused experience, this retreat will have a maximum of 12 students.
SCHEDULE
Sunday, 8th September | 2024
· Check in after 15.00
· 19.30 – Welcome dinner with a few guidelines about the retreat
9th September – 13th September | 2024
· 08.00 – 10.00 – Mysore Practice
· 10.00 – 11.30 – Small break before brunch
· 11.30 – Brunch will be served by the pool, depending on the weather, cooked with organic vegetables picked straight from our garden or bought from one of our local farmers
· 13.00 – 15.30 – Afternoons will be free for relaxing, swimming, walks in the woods or in the vineyards, massage, sightseeing
· 16.00 - 17.30 – Workshop to deepen your Ashtanga practice
· 19.00 - Dinner
Saturday, 14th September | 2024
· 08.00 – 10.00 – Led class
· Check out: we kindly ask students to vacate their room by 10am, although they can stay at the property longer if their flights are in the afternoon or early evening
· 11.30 – Goodbye brunch
ACCOMMODATION
Ashtanga France is based in a 16th century Château, fully renovated with very comfortable and spacious bedrooms, cozy and warm living areas and a sumptuous dinning room.
The house sits in 30 acres of grounds comprising woodlands, ancient trees, a beautiful lake and singing birds every morning. The Château also provides 2 swimming pools, sun-lounges and plenty space to rest and relax.
LOCATION
If you are looking to escape to tranquility and surround yourself in never-ending vineyards and countryside then you have found the right place. Wake up to birdsong and gaze at the stars at night, marvel at the Eagles and Buzzards soaring on the updrafts in the late afternoon heat and walk through our extensive grounds to watch the heron’s patrolling the lake.
If you want to venture further afield then we are surrounded by pretty villages, many dating back to medieval times. The impressive river Garonne is a few kilometers away as is the famous Canal du Midi here you can hire canoes or take a boat trip. Bicycle hire is available locally.
As you’d expect, there are numerous wine tasting Châteaux in the area and we are happy to organise visits. Bordeaux and Toulouse is worth a visit if your have time, it’s about 1.15 hour by train.
OUR FOOD
During our retreats we follow the principle of wholesome, nourishing and freshly prepared vegan and vegetarian food. Our garden provides a selection of organic vegetables and herbs that are picked daily according to the season.
We also support our local farmers who grow organic vegetables and fruits. We believe the best meals are those prepared with the highest quality ingredients we can find.
ABOUT PHILIPPA
From London, Philippa Asher is one of a few Ashtanga yoga practitioners in the world (and the only British woman), to be Certified by Sri K Pattabhi Jois, to teach the Ashtanga yoga method in his tradition. She has learned the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A and Advanced B Series directly from Pattabhi Jois and Sharath (at the Krishna Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India) and shares the Ashtanga yoga system Internationally (in studios and on retreats) and also Online (Sanskrit Counted Led classes and One-to-Ones).
After a vocational ballet school training from age twelve and twenty five years of studying and teaching dance at universities and ballet companies all over the UK, Philippa randomly walked into an Ashtanga yoga class in London. It was a life-changing incident, that made complete sense.
From the late 1990s, she began learning/practising the Ashtanga yoga system, daily before work (in the media, film and music industries). For twenty years she has studied for several months each year at KPJAYI in Mysore (and on tour), practising under the guidance of guru Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Jois.
In 2006, Philippa established and ran Triyoga Soho’s Ashtanga self-practice programme in London. She taught there for five years before relocating to South India, to build her own shala (on a coffee estate in the Western Ghats). ASHTANGA NIRVRTA is a stunning homestay yoga retreat, which aims to bring Ashtanga yoga to all levels of practitioners, in nature, without distraction.
As well as teaching Mysore-style Ashtanga guided self-practice, led classes and workshops at ASHTANGA NIRVRTA, Philippa also leads workshops and self-practice residencies at studios in London, Europe and on retreats worldwide. When not in the studio, she teaches Online One-to-Ones and Sanskrit Counted Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A Series classes and pranayama.
Her approach to sharing yoga asana (from beginners to more seasoned practitioners) is serious, yet light-hearted and joyful. Her emphasis is on good technique, safe alignment, the synchronisation of vinyasa (Sanskrit-counted, coordinated moving/breathing sequences) with tristhana (alignment of breath, gaze points and movement), passing on the exact method as taught by Pattabhi Jois from the late 1990s and embracing the essence of Patanjali’s sutras on yoga and asana.
Philippa’s dedicated passion for Ashtanga yoga, background as a trained dancer and experience as a qualified teacher (Post Graduate Certificate in the Education of Adults), gives her an intuitive and sound understanding of bodies, yoga asanas, people and how they learn.
For more information, please visit: www.ashtangaphilippa.com
Cottage Price
€1,250
per person
Shared bedroom, with 2 Single beds, shared bathroom with maximum 2 other rooms
€1,650
Private bedroom, Double sized bed, shared bathroom with maximum 2 other rooms
€1,850
Private bedroom, King sized bed, shared bathroom with maximum 2 other rooms
Château Price
€1,900
per person
Shared bedroom, 2 Double sized beds, luxurious ensuite with shower and bathtub
€2,050
Private bedroom, King sized bed, shared bathroom with 1 other room
€2,250
Private bedroom, King sized bed, luxurious ensuite with shower and bathtub
Request your room
Philippa Asher 8th - 14th September 2024
Other information
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Mysore Classes
Workshops
Fruits, tea, coffee and nuts available all day
Delicious and organic meals twice a day
Comfortable and beautiful accommodation
Wifi (StarLink 200MBS connection speed)
Time to explore the beautiful French countryside
Yoga equipment (Manduka Yoga mats, blocks, belts and blankets)
Group pick-up and return from/to Agen station
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Massages and other therapies (available on request)
Train tickets
Flights
Sightseeing (available on request)
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Toulouse and Bordeaux are the closest airports.
1) From Bordeaux airport there are two choices:
• Hire a car at the airport and drive to Ashtanga France/ Château de Gueyze (1h15 min journey)
• Or from Bordeaux airport, get a taxi to the train station Bordeaux St Jean and hop on the train to Agen Station (1h30 min journey). From there we can arrange pick-ups
2) From Toulouse airport, there are also two choices:
• Hire a car at the airport and drive to Ashtanga France/ Chateau de Gueyze (1h30 min journey)
• Or get a taxi to the train station Toulouse Matabiau and hop on the train to Agen Station (1h30 min journey). From there we can arrange pick-ups
3) If you are coming from Paris:
• There are direct trains from Paris Montparnasse station to Agen train station (3h11 min journey). From there we can arrange pickups.
*Train tickets can be easily be purchased in advance on www.trainline.com
