The retreats are held at Clearview Retreat, a residential retreat centre ninety minutes north of Melbourne in the King Parrot Valley in central Victoria. Clearview Retreat backs onto the Tallarook forest and ranges, with immense views 100 kilometres across to Mount Buller and other spectacular mountain ranges.

This is a range of workshops to expand and deepen our understanding of yoga. In a class situation we often only get to practice postures, yet yoga has an insightful, practical and fascinating body of knowledge regarding the workings of the mind and the soul, as relevant today as it was 4,000 years ago.

Each Weekend Mountain Yoga Retreat involves yoga classes, relaxation, meditation, some periods of silence, and guided walks. The structure of each workshop is the same, but different themes are focussed on each weekend.

Home-cooked, delicious, inspiring vegetarian meals are provided, beginning with Friday night dinner. Special diets are catered for.

More retreats will be scheduled for 2013 - check the website later for updates or ask to be put on our email list.

Enquiries:

Jocelyn Bennett, ph 03-5797 0229

2-day retreats

$ 345 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + sharing bedroom (2 or 3 people in a room)

$ 385 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + one person to a bedroom

3-day retreats

$ 515 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + sharing bedroom (2 or 3 people in a room)

$ 575 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + one person to a bedroom

4-day retreats

$ 690 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + sharing bedroom (2 or 3 people in a room)

$ 770 per person: yoga tuition + all meals + one person to a bedroom

Meals include: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Massage treatments are also available for an extra cost. Please enquire.

Two-day retreats have 5 yoga sessions. Three-day retreats have 7 yoga sessions. Free time between yoga sessions allows guests to rest and explore. Optional massage can be booked separately. Class sizes are kept small and students of all levels of experience are welcome. If there are areas of particular interest or special needs, i.e. injuries or pregnancy, please let us know in advance so we are able to better tailor the program to suit you.

When:

Cost:

2-day retreat: 7pm Fri until 3pm Sun

3-day retreat: 7pm Fri until 3pm Mon

4-day retreat: 7pm Thurs until 3pm Mon

2-day retreat: $ 345 or $ 385

3-day retreat: $ 515 or $ 575

4-day retreat: $ 690 or $ 770

Price includes yoga, accommodation & food and

varies with level of accommodation

(+optional massage available at extra cost)

For full range of price options, see below

Kimberley Roberts has been teaching yoga for 11 years in both Canberra and Melbourne. She initially trained with the IYTA (International Yoga Teachers Association) and later completed the Diploma of Satyananda Yoga Teaching to become an Accredited Satyananda Yoga teacher. She lived for 5 months at Bihar Yoga University, the Satyananda Yoga ashram in Northern India, where she completed the Certificate in Yogic Studies and imbibed the yogic lifestyle. She teaches general classes, workplace yoga, and one-to-one sessions. She has also been facilitating various self development workshops for several years. Kimberley’s vision is one of inspiring people to utilise yoga as a means of accessing their full potential. She believes that yoga is so much more than an isolated physical practice but a way of life that has the capacity to bring great richness and depth to any and every experience and interaction. www.yourpeacewithin.com.au

Spring is the season for growth where energy begins to rise. As the plants and trees reveal fresh buds, why not take the time to let the change of season revitalise yourself and elevate your own energy. Join us for a dynamic experience practicing within an Iyengar style of Hatha Yoga. We will explore the relationship between movement - Asana - and stillness - Meditation. Investigate the language of postures through technique, reiteration and sequence. We will view the nature of the senses and the movement of the mind, from distraction through observation into attention. We shall deepen it with the dance of the hand gesture - Mudra - often referred to as the Architecture of Enlightenment. We will practice watchful breathing - Pranayama. In a beautiful Natural setting, you will be able to relish in the freshness of the day from the break of dawn. Some general yoga experience required.

Kath Moir started her yoga life as a student of hatha yoga and esoteric studies; she then studied yoga at Gita International for 2 years and completed her yoga teacher training in 2001. Since then she has explored many disciplines of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Satyananda, Powerflow. Kath also has a Bachelor of Education majoring in nutrition and continues to work in the health industry. Kath believes that yoga is not just about what happens on your mat, it also incorporates the wish to saturate every cell, thought and action with the essence of yoga when we are away from out mat. This can be a difficult and challenging process and it is the reason we need to return to our mats regularly and find quiet time and space to re-learn and remind ourselves about this amazing thing called yoga.

Spend some time giving yourself some nourishment. Life can be a busy place and in meeting our commitments we can neglect to provide ourselves with the materials for nourishing our own life and growth. Over this weekend you will support your body with asana practice and vital fresh food; take the time to sit quietly in meditation; relax completely with traditional Yoga Nidra; discuss the yoga of food - Anna Yoga - and set up some practical, meaningful ways that you can step back into your regular routine with a small kit bag of tools to support, encourage and nourish yourself.

Just as leaves fall to the earth, there is a place deep within us that yearns to be grounded as autumn unfolds. Urban living can distance us from the transformational potential of seasonal shifts, neglecting our biorhythms and disturbing our inherent ability to flow. Retreating into the majestic beauty of the autumn at Clearview, allow yourself to be mindfully guided within. An exploration of meditative movement, harmonious breath, inward reflection, and a nurturing approach to ourselves will leave you refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to experience a more grounded and embodied state of awareness in your daily life. Together we will savor and celebrate the gifts of the earth: wholesome delicious food lovingly prepared for the season; the soft yield of the forest floor underfoot; Yoga practices reflecting the power of the five elements; and as dusk closes in, an invitation to surrender into deeply restorative sleep in tranquil surroundings. A return to simply Being.

Belinda Blackburn has been practicing yoga for 10 years and loved it so much she went on to achieve her Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teaching in 2008. Since then she has taught several weekly classes at SunYoga studio in Sunshine including beginners, open, general and meditation. She has also taught yoga classes in prisons, workplaces and schools. Her training at the CAE covered a variety of yoga styles which, along with ongoing study and practice, has given her the opportunity to be inspired by their combined wisdom as she develops her own unique blend. Belinda has a nurturing teaching style which encourages students to explore and deepen their self knowledge through asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation. Beneath the pressures of everyday life we all have a calm and peaceful interior and Belinda works to guide her students towards this place and give them the tools to establish an ongoing connection to it. www.yogatogrow.com.au

Angela Lane is a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor who has been practicing for more than 25 years. She is a dedicated teacher who aims to involve students in a dynamic and entertaining experience, which has value for them as individuals and results in an appreciation of yoga’s enormity and simplicity as well as enriching their lives. Angela began yoga under the guidance of Peter Scott. She has studied with BKS Iyengar and Geeta and did her teacher training with Frank Jesse and Mark Gibson, which qualified her for certification with the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune. She regularly participates in classes and seminars with senior yoga teachers of various styles, nationally and internationally. Angela teaches regular classes at the University of Melbourne as well as community centers in inner Melbourne. She has been dedicated to health and wellbeing for over 35 years and has a Masters Degree in Applied Science.

Most of us have heard of the chakras but to many people they remain mysterious. This weekend we will explore through a variety of yoga practices where the main chakras are located, what they relate to and how you can work with them in both your yoga practice and your life. Each of the seven main chakras is connected to different aspects of our life, systems within the physical body, emotions and personality traits in the mind as well as elements in the world around us. By delving into them one at a time you will discover what each one means for you personally and how it connects you to the people and the world around you. Practices will include asana, pranayama, meditation, relaxation, discussion and self-discovery with an aim to deepen your self awareness and tune into your chakras.  

Unplug and pause from the relentless busyness of life and re-charge your batteries. Spend a whole weekend nourishing, resting and connecting deeply with YOU. Autumn is the perfect time of year for slowing down and looking inwards. Like all living beings our wellbeing is affected by the change of seasons and our bodies need to adjust from the high energy output of the summer months to the more reflective energy of the cooler months. We will spend the weekend doing yoga activities that will help to replenish your energy reserves and boost your immune system. Claire’s style of yoga is gentle and playful and the yoga sessions will include asanas, breath work, yoga massage, meditation, relaxation and chanting. Fun and laughter is guaranteed! The yoga sessions are complemented by eating delicious, healthy vegetarian food, going on guided nature walks and resting amidst the beautiful surrounds of Clearview Retreat.

Unplug and pause from the relentless busyness of life and re-charge your batteries. Spend a whole weekend nourishing, resting and connecting deeply with YOU. Autumn is the perfect time of year for slowing down and looking inwards. Like all living beings our wellbeing is affected by the change of seasons and our bodies need to adjust from the high energy output of the summer months to the more reflective energy of the cooler months. We will spend the weekend doing yoga activities that will help to replenish your energy reserves and boost your immune system. Claire’s style of yoga is gentle and playful and the yoga sessions will include asanas, breath work, yoga massage, meditation, chanting and relaxation. Fun and laughter is guaranteed! The yoga sessions are complemented by eating delicious, healthy vegetarian food, going on guided nature walks and resting amidst the beautiful surrounds of Clearview Retreat.

Claire Heywood, principal teacher and owner of SunYoga, has been

teaching yoga for over 10 years. She has an extensive professional history as a yoga teacher, shiatsu therapist and performing artist, working in these areas for 25 years. She believes that in the hectic pace of modern life it is important to teach people to relax, connect deeply and work with themselves in a kind and nourishing way. Her wish is to increase personal health and happiness and to support people to be the best they possibly can. Her yoga teaching style, a combination of Hatha & Oki-Do Yoga, is an evolving form that reflects her diverse physical history and ongoing studies. Her classes are friendly, creative, fun and eclectic. She works deeply and gently through anatomical principles and has special expertise in care of the spine. www.sunyoga.com.au

1. ~ GST is included in these prices
   

2. ~ Deposit to secure booking: $ 100 for 2-day retreats, $ 150 for 3-day and 4-day retreats
   

3. ~ Balance to be paid 3 weeks before yoga retreat
   

4. ~ Deposit will not be refunded if booking is cancelled less than 3 weeks before yoga retreat

Dr Fiona Cairns: With more than ten years of practicing yoga and meditation, Fiona has been a teacher since 2008. Trained in the Sivananda Vedanta Yoga tradition in India, she discovered, in yoga, the tools for complete health – in body, mind and spirit. Also a consultant psychiatrist, Fiona is passionate about promoting health and wellbeing for the whole person and enjoys the challenge of blending eastern philosophy and western medicine in creative and vibrant ways. Deeply committed to life long learning she regularly returns to India for further study. From her studio in Kyneton, Victoria, Fiona has a vision for building healthy, joyful communities and sees the practice of Yoga as a wonderful way to do this.  

Lesley Fox began her Yogic journey early – prenatal Yoga shared with her mother before birth planted a seed that is still nurtured daily. Lesley’s roots are from the UK, yet travelling in almost every continent – to study, work, volunteer – she can gratefully replant them anywhere. Her practice and teachings are powerfully influenced by working with children and individuals with disabilities, supporting their empowerment and co-creating dance and movement experiences. Her teachings are based upon the principles of Ayurveda, the meridian/organ systems, Yogic philosophy, physiology, and psychology – supported by study with Himalaya Yoga Valley in Goa, the Australian Institute of Yoga Therapy, Donna Farhi, Tara Judelle, Ghatastha Yoga, Jane Ribinskas & the Knowing Flow Healing Vinyasa, Anahata Giri & the Yoga of Birth, and Body-Mind Centering. How we move, breathe, and respond to our environment is shaped by the unique quality of our experience; Lesley is honoured to share hers with you.

Uncover the beauty and power of who you really are, using the ancient practices of yoga. Gain a clearer sense of what prevents you connecting to this part of yourself and in doing so, experience the real freedom and joy of being alive. On this retreat we will engage soulfully with the various practices of yoga - postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation, chanting and philosophy - as tools for self awareness, and learn the language and patterns of our body and mind. In particular, we will work with asanas as symbols and messengers of deep wisdom.

Often we seek relaxation, recovery or a clarification of our direction and silent longings. Retreats follow an age-old recipe of the right mixture of activity and rest. This structured approach can more quickly usher a person into deep resting, refreshed motivation and clarified intention. This retreat will follow the Vijnana tradition in yoga - with a balanced combination of meditation, breathing practices, yoga postures, and study. There will be generous amounts of silence, in order to allow us to hear the sounds of the beautiful surrounds and our own rhythms. Alongside this, we will do restorative practices, have gentle, open-minded discussion, eat well, and go out into the trees, so they can teach us about steadiness and patience. Suitable for those seeking a dedicated practice experience. Some experience with yoga is advisable.

Antonia Pont has been practicing yoga for 16 years, and studying zen since 1996. She has trained and practiced with teachers in Australia, India and Europe, and has taught locally and internationally. She completed her first teacher training in Melbourne, with Paul Wooden of Gertrude Street Yoga in 2004. She then trained in the Vijnana tradition and received certification as a Vijnana teacher from the founder of the style, Orit Sen-Gupta, in 2011. She continues to study with Orit, travelling to Germany each year, and was the English language editor for Orit's latest publication, The Heart of Yoga. She has established Vijnana Yoga Australia, which operates from Studio Cirq, in Melbourne's CBD. Her approach to teaching postures, breath and meditation is precise, steady, and sometimes irreverent. She encourages students to trust the strengthening and startling journey that practice can be, and to integrate this wisdom into their lives off the mat. www.vijnanayoga.org

Take time out to tune in and rediscover who you are beyond the demands of your hectic schedule. Release pent up tensions, soothe the nervous system and bring peace and clarity to the mind. Through a variety of yoga practices we will slow down, drop inside and come home to ourselves to deeply nurture on all levels. Over the weekend we will explore both flowing and restorative yoga, pranayama (breathing practices), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) and meditation. Our aim is to promote deep profound rest and healing, to learn to listen to the body and to develop finer states of awareness. Guided nature walks will assist in feeling an ease with all life. Gradually we will learn to let go of all that is unnecessary and simply rest in the stillness of the present moment.

Spring - and there is an explosion of energy all around us. Is it possible for us to be immune? As the days lengthen and warm there is a natural openness and expansion in us. Spring and the planet breathes in. Not a gasp, but a long, slow, even inhalation laying the foundation for summer. These powerful natural cycles are like great rivers of energy that we can tap. Our weekend will explore the inhalation as a foundation for a practice that moves in rhythm with the seasons, with a focus on opening postures and energizing pranayama (breath). Recharge and inspire.

Bill Walsh graduated from Gita Yoga in 2007 with a commitment to honouring the student and the time they had set aside to practise. Bill has gone on to teach thousands of hours everywhere from health and yoga studios and sporting clubs to adult and youth prisons. With a strong belief in creating community through yoga, he runs programs for several councils. Yoga has been a source of transformation in his own life. Bill employs static and balance postures supported by a flowing vinyasa style with an emphasis on each student being guided by their own breath. Bill is currently continuing his studies in the Krishnamacharya lineage at Agama Yoga Centre.

(*Clearview Retreat also offers nature meditation retreats, and food retreats.

See Nature Meditation Retreats and Food Retreats for details.)