Course full: 7-day Ashtanga yoga retreat in Nepal with John Scott and special guests
Beneath the Himalayas and by one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism, join John Scott and team for a very special Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga retreat.
Taught by: John Scott, with Helen McCabe, Andy Gill and Ellen Johannesen
Location: Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Pharping, Nepal
Cost: 122,000 Nepali Rupees (approx. USD $1,145 or GPB £900, depending on current exchange rates. See www.xe.com for rates)
**All places for John Scott’s 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.**
For the first time in Nepal, join John Scott and his team of guest teachers – Helen McCabe, Andy Gill and Ellen Johannesen – 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.
The full teaching team are offering the retreat for no fee for their teaching, donating all proceeds to the work of the monastery to provide a quality education to little boys from some of the poorest parts of Nepal and to preserve and share the Dharma with all.
Retreat summary
Amongst the energy of the Himalayas and by one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism, join John, Helen, Andy and Ellen 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, 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 (plus one led led class during the week, and extra support to those with a less-established practice), 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.
John Scott
John is a dedicated and direct student of Shri K Pattabhi Jois since 1989. John was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga by Derek Island, while traveling through Europe. As a result, John began his studies with Guruji – Shri K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore India, and has since then continued to develop his practice and teaching with many other students on the path of yoga.
In 1995 John was certified to teach Ashtanga Yoga by Shri K Pattabhi Jois. John incorporates design philosophies with yoga philosophies, adding a very precise, detailed and colourful metaphorical presentation to his teaching.
To learn more about John, visit his website and enjoy some of his freely available teaching videos. And for John’s full bio, visit:
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 will be in your currency once charged to your card, see www.xe.com. At the time of writing, this equates to approx USD $1,145 or GBP £915. We can accept payment by credit card, but 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 John and his world-class team, trips during the retreat.
Next steps
Simply register for an application form and we’ll help you from there.