Course Full: Ashtanga Yoga Retreat in Nepal with Petri and Wambui

Deepen your physical and spiritual practice with a week in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal.

**All places for Petri and Wambui’s 2018 retreat are now booked. We have a waiting list in case we receive any cancellations and can release a place: if you would like to be added to that then you are welcome to register your interest with us.**

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For the first time in Nepal, join Petri and Wambui 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.

Retreat summary

Amongst the energy of the Himalayas and by one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism, join Petri and Wambui for a very special immersion into the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice.

The one-week retreat combines the powerful practice of Ashtanga Yoga in one of the world’s most unique settings, with technique discussions, pranayama, healing techniques and Yoga Therapy, chanting, optional morning meditation with the monks, Dharma philosophy, visits/hikes to some of the great pilgrimage points nearby, and plenty of time for quiet contemplation and joyful connection with like-minded others.

The retreat is an opportunity to adjust your pace and perspective, to slow down, to experience life more fully through mindfulness, and to feel supported in your practice by dedicated teachers, by the sacredness of the place and by teaching in the complementary philosophies of Yoga and Buddhist Dharma.

The retreat is aimed at those with an existing Ashtanga Vinyasa practice (newer practitioners are welcome, but the retreat isn’t suitable for absolute beginners). We expect to be a splendidly full community, so the practice space will be “Mysore-style”, both in terms of the practice and in the occupation of the space! 

Each day will begin with optional meditation with the monks, under the calming and inspiring gaze of the temple’s 60-foot Buddha. Mysore-style self practice will bring us together each morning, followed by a varied schedule each day to share ideas, philosophies, techniques and places that add texture and depth to your practice and personal journey. We will also protect time for your own space to restore, connect and simply be.

Petri and Wambui

Petri Räisänen started practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 1988 as a devoted student of his Guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and was authorized to teach Ashtanga Yoga in 2001 by Guruji. Petri is careful to pass on his Guru’s exact teachings. He is the director of Ashtanga Yoga Helsinki, one of the world’s largest Ashtanga Yoga Shalas which he co-founded in 1997. Sri K Pattabhi Jois blessed the school to teach the traditional Astanga Yoga method.

Petri focuses on integrating healing and therapy with yoga, meeting student’s individual needs and guiding their progress. Petri’s yoga pose adjustments are gentle, effective, therapeutic and, according to some, almost magical. They originate (besides his own practice and teaching) from his past work as a traditional Finnish folk healer and naturopath. His friendly, relaxed behaviour and intuitive perception give an open, energetic and meditative atmosphere to his classes.

In 2004, Petri wrote “Astanga – The Yoga Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois” in collaboration with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, R. Sharath Jois. The book introduces the primary series (1st series) Astanga Yoga method and philosophy, as well as its potential as a physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual practice. His intermediate series (2nd series) book “Nadi Sodhana” was released in 2008 and is written mostly from the interviews with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from 2006-2007 in Mysore, India. 

See Petri’s full bio.

Wambui Njuguna-Räisänen discovered the therapeutic benefits of Hatha Yoga in 1995, and has continued to practice ever since, in complement to the various forms of dance and martial arts she has been involved in, such as capoeira, samba and Afro-Brazilian dance. She was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga in 2008 and credits her first teachers, Jeff and Harmony Lichty (Ashtanga Yoga Victoria) for starting her off on the spiritual path.

Wambui moved to Helsinki in 2009 and has been assisting Petri since then, both in Finland and internationally. She started teaching at the Ashtanga Yoga School of Helsinki in 2011 and is the editor for Petri’s primary series book. She continues to assist Petri, both in Finland and internationally, following closely in the direct method of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

See Wambui’s full bio.

The venue

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 122,000 Nepali Rupees. For an indication on what the rate is in your currency, see www.xe.com. At the time of writing, this equates to approx USD $1,145 or GBP £915. 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 Petri and Wambui, trips during the retreat.

Next steps

Simply register for an application form and we’ll help you from there.

Book this course