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Simon Low Retreat info |
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Booking form for retreats holidays and weekends and deposit fees payment option here |
General Information for Residential Weekends
Weekend venues have been chosen for their situation within beautiful and peaceful countryside environments, enabling students to relax unwind and feel close to nature. Unless otherwise stated, these weekends are suitable for all levels of experience.
Upon arrival you will receive a full schedule detailing all class and meal times and stating any other weekend activities, but as a general guide most weekends begin on Friday afternoon with rooms being available from 4.30pm onwards (expect Ampleforth where rooms are available from noon on Friday). The first yoga class starts at 6pm followed by dinner. On Saturday there are two yoga classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. On Sunday morning, weather permitting, there will be one of Simon’s renowned ‘silent walks’, followed by breakfast and another yoga class.
Tuition is orientated towards all levels and focuses on the foundations of yoga with each session lasting for at least two hours allowing time for greater emphasis on pranayama, relaxation and meditation techniques. Whilst encouraging everyone to attend all yoga classes, they are of course optional and the schedule allows for plenty of freetime for rest and relaxation. Weekends finish after lunch on Sunday. Rooms should be vacated by 4pm.
You will be sent information, including recommended travel, directions, site map, a list of what to bring, & massage therapists contact numbers, two weeks before the start of each weekend.
Massage and other wonderful treatments with fully qualified and highly recommended therapists are on offer throughout the weekend. Bookings can be made in advance by calling the therapist directly, or upon arrival. Payment should be made directly to your therapist during the weekend.
Commonwork Farm
The Commonwork Centre and Bore Place House are set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, close to Sevenoaks in Kent. Bore Place House is an old Tudor manor house with Jacobean
and Victorian extensions. There is a large comfortable sitting room with an open fire place for those chillier autumn and winter weekends. It is surrounded by an ancient walled garden with a beautiful lily pond, and the working organic dairy farm, pottery and brickworks which make up Commonwork Farm. This special and unspoilt environment makes for a very relaxed weekend with a great sense of freedom. There is wonderful walking amongst the thousands of acres of surrounding countryside. The Sunday morning walk follows the Bore Place Field Trail. Suitable clothing and walking boots are advisable. Yoga classes take place in the listed 16th Century converted barn, an atmospheric space, being part of a group of historic barns within a courtyard, which have been renovated and converted to provide a comfortable and peaceful environment.
Accommodation for the weekend is at Bore Place House and also in the converted Old Stables and the Small Barn. All rooms are comfortable and well furnished. and are mostly twinshare although some single rooms are available. Bathroom facilities are shared.
For those wishing to get out of town earlier on Friday, there are country houses to visit, good walks and an excellent local pub, ‘The Wheatsheaf’, serving great lunches. Details are included in your information letter when you book.
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Huzur Vadisi, Turkey
Set among fig and olive groves Huzur Vadisi is in the region of South West Turkey known as Lycia. The aptly named Huzur Vadisi or ‘peaceful valley’, is situated in a secluded mountain region 
a few miles away from the beautiful unspoilt Mediterranean coastline and local marina town of Gocek. The centre is based around the original restored farmhouse. There are hammocks hanging enticingly between the trees, a beautiful natural stone swimming pool and a traditional wooden ‘kosk’ or tree/summerhouse, which is a favourite place for siestas and evening gatherings.
Sleeping accommodation is in traditional nomadic yurts. These are circular wooden framed permanent ‘tents’ which are very comfortable and spacious, being equipped with “proper” beds, electricity, fans and have wooden floors. There are a couple of rooms in the farmhouse. Meals are delicious and in the style of Turkish village cooking, using fresh local produce, mainly vegetarian, and occasionally fresh local fish. Yoga classes take place in the mornings and late afternoon in the vine covered yoga shala, where often the only sound to be heard is a shepherd’s flute or the tinkling of goat bells in the surrounding hills.
Huzur Vadisi offers stunning scenery, clear night skies, great walking in the pine forest to spectacular view points and exceptionally warm hospitality in a very peaceful environment. Included in the holiday is a full day boat trip around the beautiful bay of Gocek, anchoring in quiet coves for lunch, tea and swimming. There will be one free afternoon and one free morning during the week. The local village of Gocek which is only a twenty minute taxi ride away has a pretty marina with shops, little bars and restaurants, providing all amenities.
June 9 -16, 2008
August 25 – September 1, 2008
September 1 – 8, 2008
The August/September weeks can be taken as a one or two week holiday.
Price: One week £620. Two weeks (with discount) £1170.
Prices do not include flights or insurance. The price is inclusive of accommodation on a twin share basis, full board (mainly vegetarian), all yoga tuition, group transfers (on selected flights only) to and from Huzur Vadisi and one full days boat trip each week. Single rooms carry a supplement of £185 although it should be noted that availability of single accommodation is always limited and dependent on group numbers.
Please Note: We will advise you of selected flights to Dalaman airport which will have the advantage of free transfer to Huzur Vadisi. Those arriving in Turkey on other flights should make their own way to Huzur Vadisi via taxi, at their own expense. We will give you all necessary information and directions. Massage treatments are available throughout your stay. Payments are made directly to your therapist.
Please Note: A non-refundable DEPOSIT of £315.00 for each week is required with a completed Booking Form to secure your place, subject to availability.
Full payment is due 6 weeks before the start of the holiday. No reminders will be sent.
It is a condition of this vacation that each person has personal travel insurance appropriate to activity and fitness centred holidays.
BOOKING FORM
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Molino del Rey
Located in a quiet little village in a beautiful and unspoilt region of Andalucia near the famous city of Ronda, Molino del Rey is a converted water mill with pools, meditation & drumming caves. It also has one of the best yoga studios in Europe with wooden parquet flooring and occupies an extraordinary position, hand-cut out of the mountain, floor to ceiling windows with views across the valley and a door leading into the inner stillness of the caves. The centre is surrounded by fabulous walks and scenery being very close to the Sierra de las Nievas nature reserve. The classic ‘white village’ of Alozaina is four km away, and has good facilities, a bank, post office and supermarket, plus the opportunity of sampling the local tapas.
All rooms are twin share with en-suite bath facilities and balconies, most of which have great views of the mountains and the peaceful valley of Jorox. There is a lovely swimming pool and great vegetarian food. Yoga classes are taken twice a day (early morning and late afternoon) in the spacious and light flooded studio. Pranayama and meditation are incorporated within the sessions. There is usually one free morning and one free afternoon a week to allow for excursions. You will receive a full schedule on arrival.
On-site massage and other therapies are available throughout your stay at Molino Del Rey. Payments direct to therapist.
Jorox is off the beaten track about one hour’s drive from Malaga and the coast. As public transport is very limited in this region it is advisable to hire a car. If you wish, we can put you in touch with other students to share the cost.
It is necessary to make your own way from Malaga to Molino del Rey (about one hour). Full easy-to-follow travel directions will be sent to you.
Taxis from Malaga are approx. £45/55 (sharing is advised).
One week holiday £620.00
Railei Beach Club, Krabi, & Khao Sok Lake, Thailand - February 29 - March 10th 2008 - £910 per person (not including flight or insurance)
Two Centre Holiday:
Railei Beach Club, Krabi, & Khao Sok Lake
**Booking now. Places are limited!**
This year’s yoga holiday group will enjoy staying & practicing yoga at Railei Beach & Khao Sok, two of the most spectacular destinations in Thailand. We will be staying 3 nights at Railei Beach & 7 nights at Khao Sok Lake ensuring that you have the opportunity to really appreciate both of these special places. This is the very best time of year to be in this region. It is the dry season & weather is nearly always warm, sometimes hot, & usually free of any rainfall.
Railei Beach was recently described as ‘the most beautiful beach in Thailand’ by Conde Nast Traveller, the best beach in Asia by Asia Travel magazine & the second most beautiful beach in the world by the London Times. This National Park is surrounded by the awesome craggy limestone cliffs unique to Krabi Province. The warm, friendly & stunning blue sea of Railei Bay offers safe & easy swimming conditions, & easy boat access from Ao Nang (10 minutes) or Krabi Town (45 minutes), both of which nearby towns offer all the shops, banks markets & services you could need.
Khao Sok Lake is a secret paradise destination deep within one of Thailand’s National Parks. We will take an awe inspiring boat journey on to a short hike (20 mins) through lush primary rainforest to our own private lake, where no other tourists will be staying. Our destination is a small floating bamboo village community, set up as a perfect yoga venue, with separate huts with interconnecting bamboo walkways, & a floating bamboo yoga shala. The entire village is made out of bamboo & floats on tree trunk platforms!
PRICE: £910.00 per person
PRICE INCLUDES:
At Railei Beach:
• Bus Transfer from Krabi Airport to Ao Nang as part of a group only. I.E. If you are traveling alone transfer costs cannot be included on flights other than group recommended arrival flight. See travel information below.
• 3 Nights Twin/Double accommodation from Feb 29th. NB: Single Accommodation Supplements at Railei Beach £50 per night (subject to availability & group numbers).
• Yoga classes commence on the morning of March 1st.
• Daily Brunch.
• Dinner on the first night at Railei beach club (see note below)
• Transfer from Railei beach to Khao Sok Lake
At Khao Sok Lake:
• 7 nights single accommodation (or shared if preferred).
• Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Yoga Classes (last taught class will be on the morning of March 10th)
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Flights & Travel Insurance.
• Airport bus transfers from Krabi to Ao Nang (30 minutes) unless part of a group arrival transfer. NB: on arrival taxis can be arranged to meet you upon request if traveling separately. Cost £25 approx.
• Boat transfers between Ao Nang to Railei Beach (10 minutes). You must pay cash for this trip (50 Thai Bhat usually).
• Airport transfers on departure from Khao Sok to requested airport (suggest Krabi or Surat Thani)
• Dinner at Railei Beach (other than the first night).
NB: On the 2nd & 3rd evenings at Railei Beach dinner will be taken at one of the inexpensive local restaurants serving delicious food, all within a minutes walk from Railei Beach Club where we are staying. Cost usually from as little as £5 depending on your appetite!
TRAVEL ADVICE FROM LONDON:
Arrival: Fly from London on February 28th arriving Bangkok February 29th. Fly Bangkok to Krabi (most convenient airport) We advise arriving at Krabi on the morning of February 29th to take advantage of free transfer to Railei Beach. See recommended flight details below.
For later arrivals we advise arriving at Krabi by 4pm to ensure arrival at Railei Beach before dark. Transfer by bus/taxi & boat to Railei Beach (approx 45 mins). Boats can be organized for night transfers to Railei Beach from Ao Nang with prior arrangement only.
Departure: Simon’s last teaching day at Khao Sok will be the morning of March 10th & departure will be at approximately midday allowing time for an evening flight from Bangkok.
RECOMMENDED FLIGHT:
THAI AIRWAYS (for arrival Feb 29th)
TG 911 Departs Heathrow: 11.50am February 28
Arrives Bangkok: 06.10am February 29
TG 249 Departs Bangkok: 08.00am
Arrives Krabi: 09.20am
Departure: March 10th:
TG 260 Departs Krabi: 21.05pm
Arrives Bangkok: 22.25
TG910 Departs Bangkok: 00.30am
Arrives Heathrow: 06.20am March 11
Contact your travel agent or a good website is: www.airline-network.co.uk
NB: In previous years some people have chosen to extend their holiday in Thailand either alone or with Simon who usually goes to another special destination for 2 nights. If you know you will be staying in Thailand beyond March 10th please book your flight accordingly or if you would like to leave your options open to decide later please make sure that your return flight is changeable. Discussions / internal arrangements will be made in Thailand. EG: Last year 7 students went with Simon to stay at a small remote island before returning home while others travelled separately to different locations of their choice. Your decision to stay in Thailand beyond March 10th should not however be dependant on Simon’s choices or schedule.
NB: It is a condition of this vacation that each participant has personal travel insurance appropriate to activity and fitness centred holidays.
Single Accommodation Supplements (subject to availability & group numbers): Railei Beach £40 per night
Please Note: A completed Booking Form and full payment secures your place, subject to availability.
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