One week Ashtanga retreat in Nepal with Mark Robberds and Deepika Mehta

For the first time in Nepal, join Mark Robberds and Deepika Mehta for an extraordinary retreat into the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga practice.

Hosted in a spectacular and welcoming Buddhist monastery nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the week brings together practices, teachings, people and places to create an incomparably inspiring opportunity to deepen your relationship to the practice and yourself.

 

Taught in the tradition of Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, this retreat is for those looking to develop and enhance their yoga practice. Learn the essential techniques of alignment and breath awareness, while cultivating the balance between strength, stability and flexibility.

Morning practice with Mark and Deepika will be complemented by workshops and inspiration sharing the core concepts of yoga philosophy and how to apply the wisdom of yoga into daily life, on and off the mat.

 

Overview of this Ashtanga retreat in Nepal

Each morning during the retreat, Mark Robberds and Deepika Mehta will combine the Mysore experience with the extraordinary power of this unique setting. Afternoon workshops will take us deeper into philosophy, breath work, movement, alignment, locomotion, dance, and more. This is perfect for all students wanting to take their practice, and even their teaching, to the next level. All levels are welcome but you must have a regular Ashtanga practice and be comfortable in the Mysore Class setting.

The retreat will include:

• Daily morning asana practice
• Afternoon workshops
• Meditation with the monks
• Breath work
• Chanting and music
• Dharma philosophy from the head teacher of the monastery
• Visits/hikes to some of the great pilgrimage points nearby
• Time for quiet contemplation in the spectacular location and joyful connection with like-minded others

Mark Robberds

Mark Robberds has been studying yoga since 1997. He is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher (one of the few Certified by KPJAYI) and since 1999 has been travelling regularly to India to practice with the late, legendary Guru Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, and his grandson R. Sharath, of Mysore. He also trained as an apprentice, with Eileen Hall from 1999-2005 at YogaMoves in Sydney and taught the busiest Mysore programme in Australia at the time.

Mark has studied extensively with some of the world’s best yoga teachers including Richard Freeman and Dena Kingsberg, and he continues to learn from masters in various disciplines in his quest to reach the highest point in human evolution. His teaching reflects the essence of these influences.

He has been teaching workshops, retreats and as a guest teacher, internationally since 2005. Mark wishes to share the teachings of yoga in a way that inspires people to develop a passion and love for the practice. He teaches each individual uniquely and is focused on helping each student to reach their full potential in life.

Deepika Mehta

In 1997, a near death rock climbing accident had the doctors tell Deepika Mehta that she would never walk again. Not one to allow obstacles to deter her , she sought alternative approaches and found Yoga. Practicing meditation and pranayama, Deepika dove deep into years of education and practice and seeking alternative healing techniques. She initially went to the Sivananda Yoga Kendra in Kerala, where she did her Teacher Training. From there she was led to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga and to meeting her Guru, Shri K Pattabhi Jois in 2002.

She has also travelled to various parts of the world studying with various masters like Richard Freeman, Dena Kingsberg, Prem Carlisi, Lino Miele, and Rolf Naujokat. She is currently a student Sharath Jois and learning Advanced A Series with him.

Deepika has been fortunate enough to have her own TV show called Yoga City, as well as teaching India’s most famous celebrities. She has been the master trainer on the show “The Biggest Loser” in India, and was featured as one of the three women redefining beauty ideals in India in Vogue magazine 2014.

 

Venue of this yoga retreat in Nepal

For Tibetan Buddhists, the hills of Pharping where we immerse for our retreat together is considered as sacred as Bodhgaya in India, as it is where is where the second buddha Guru Padmasambhava (“Guru Rinpoche”) attained the state of enlightenment, before going on to establish Buddhism in Tibet.

The monastery which is our home during the retreat makes important contributions to the preservation and sharing of the Buddhist teachings, and our stay there helps to fund education for the many young monks from remote areas of Nepal. The lovely guest accommodation has spacious and modern rooms, comfortable beds for deep and refreshing sleeps, all with attached bathrooms. The yoga space overlooks the rice paddies of the Kathmandu valley, and – when the weather is clear – gives us stunning views of the sunrise over the Himalayas.

It is the perfect place to go within and study.

Accommodation is on a twin-share basis, and the retreat fee includes a delicious, vegetarian and substantial brunch and wonderful healthy dinner each day. 

Course fee

The fee for the course is 125,000 Nepali Rupees. For an indication on what the rate is in your currency, see xe.com. At the time of writing, this equates to approx USD $1,200 or GBP £850. Payment details will be sent to you on confirmation of your place.

The fee includes: return transfer from central Kathmandu to the monastery in a comfortable private bus, twin-share accommodation, all your delicious vegetarian meals, teaching from Mark, trips during the retreat.

Next steps

Simply send us your completed Registration Form and we’ll help you from there.

Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the non-refundable deposit of 25,000 Nepali rupees (payment details will be sent with your offer of a place). Once your place is confirmed, we will also send you the Retreat Info Pack to full of tips to help you to plan your visit.

Book this course