Create Space XVII Retreat - Monday 24th October to Saturday 5th November 2016 Fully booked
Basunti Retreat
Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, Northern India
11 days of relaxation, rejuvenation and Yoga at the stunning Basunti Retreat and places of spiritual significance nearby.
Basunti is an idyllic private lakeside retreat, set in beautiful tropical gardens, in the foot hills of The Himalayas. Situated in the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India it sits at the heart of a wildlife reserve and is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Maharana Pratap Sagar lake. The centre has been developed sympathetically to accord with the local environment and is the perfect place to unwind and recharge.
Join us in this peaceful and beautiful setting for Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, walks and workshops on the history and philosophy of Yoga. The schedule will allow you time to read, rest, rejuvenate, swim in the pool, walk and explore nature. The lake was formed by a dam across the Beas river, one of the seven great rivers immortalised in the ancient texts of yoga. So as we perform our Yoga we will be following a 5,000 year tradition in the area, adding extra significance to our practice. This was also the river at which the army of Alexander the Great stopped in 326BC and marked the point where they turned for the long march home. There is plenty of more recent history to see as well.
Accommodation comprises 10 comfortable twin-bedded (double on request) rooms, spread over
two low rise lodges and the Main House, each with its own en-suite bathroom
facilities, veranda or balcony. They all come with extensive
views over the
gardens or the surrounding area. Our
classes and workshops will be held either on the cool marble of the flat roof of
the main house or the open air thatched roof yoga shala. Both with
spectacular views over the lake and to the Himalayas beyond. Wherever we are we will be united with
nature which is the essence of Yoga. And then there is the food !!!!!
The kitchen, under the direction of David Butterworth (a founder member of
Neal's Yard Bakery, Covent Garden), produces a mouth-watering array of both
European and local Indian vegetarian dishes, fresh juices from its fruit trees
and the option of fish caught by the local fishermen. They use fruits and
vegetables from their own garden whenever possible, supplemented by produce
bought in the local markets.
We
will start in the city of
Amritsar, the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion.
After settling in to the hotel you will have the opportunity to visit the Golden Temple and explore the
city. The following day we will drive to
Basunti which will be our
main base. We are fortunate that our stay coincides with Diwali which we will
celebrate.
Later in our stay we will take a trip to McLeod Ganj or 'Little Tibet' as it is
referred to.
Our base for sight-seeing will be the
Chonor House,
conveniently located near the Thekchen Chöling Temple adjacent to HH the Dalai
Lama’s residence. The hotel
was designed and built by British architect David Porter in a style intended to
blend with the natural environment of the hills overlooking the Kangra valley.
Each of the well-appointed rooms is beautifully decorated according to a unique
Tibetan theme. Here we will be able to explore this important centre of
Tibetan culture.
On the way to McLeod Ganj we will stop off to view
Kangra Fort. This is the largest fort in in Himalayas and probably the
oldest in India. It was first mentioned in Alexander the Greats war
records from 326 BC, but most of it dates from the 9th century. After
another couple of days in Basunti we will return to Amritsar for more
sight-seeing an over-night stop and our return flight.
About the Retreat Leaders:
Heather
teaches Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga blending different disciplines
and incorporating
elements of Pilates. She has Diplomas in Anatomy & Physiology, Yoga
Therapy and
Pre- & Post-Natal Yoga. 
Heather is also a Life Coach and Reiki practitioner. Heather coaches for exam stress management
in schools and runs workshops in meditation & deep relaxation. She also provides
services to Spas, health clubs, schools, private & corporate clients and also to local authorities to help tackle inequalities in affordable
healthcare for a broad range of age groups and ethnicities.
Tony
presents workshops on Yoga history and philosophy,
organises the walking meditation and guided walks as well as looking after the
logistics of the retreat. He has over 40 years experience of hill walking,
is a member of the Long Distance Walkers Association, is a Reiki Practitioner and
has a Diploma
in Advanced Meditation. Tony runs regular 8 week courses in Mindfulness.
..
We will be joined by two popular teachers, Andy Hamilton and Jean-Claude Rawady.Andy will provide Tai Chi classes enabling us to practice "The Form" and experience its beautiful flowing movements and the impact on our energy. With JC and Heather helping, he will also introduce us to the benefits of paired Yoga. This can help with alignment and also provide support and a challenge to go further.
Jean-Claude has 10 years experience of practicing Yoga and 6 years teaching. He sees Yoga as a way of life, a journey to be taken peacefully and healthily in both mind and body. As well as his background in Hatha and Power Yoga, JC is developing his training in Tantra. He will help you go deeper into your practice and inspire you to extend your boundaries.
Booking
.The booking schedule below is aligned to payments we need to pay to Basunti and the hotels.
|
|
Shared
Twin or double
Accommodation |
| Booking fee (non-refundable) | £225 |
| Second payment by 25/03/16 | £225 |
| Third payment by 17/06/16 | £225 |
| Final payment by 08/08/16 | £450 |
| Total payment | £1,125 |
.A non-refundable deposit of £225 is to be made when booking. Stage payments are minimum.
Payment
-
Please print the booking form and post it with a cheque to the address shown or email Heather for details for a BACS transfer;
-
Or use the PayPal buttons below, note: this incurs a booking charge by PayPal:
Cancellation Policy
Deposits
(£225) are
non-refundable. For cancellations within ten weeks of retreat start a refund of 25% of
full payment less deposit
will be returned. Consideration will be taken for
exceptional circumstances at the discretion of Heather George.
Cancellation, for whatever reason, must be notified in writing
or email.
.