The Union of
Opposites
A 5 day retreat into the intimacy of breath, body and relationships
with
Mark Whitwell
The Sanctuary Thailand
April 28 - May 2 2019
"The desires for extreme states such as "universal love"
or "tantric union", have pierced spirituality, diminishing the value of real personal regard, love, and relating". ~ Mark Whitwell
In this 5 day retreat (non-residential & residential options available) Mark Whitwell will teach Hatha Yoga as handed down from his Vedic tradition. Guiding us back into relatedness with all ordinary conditions, instead of striving for particular energies or states.
The course will explore the depersonalization of Love & sexuality through idealized spiritual concepts. Love and sex have been often obscured or dismissed by the ascetic traditions and major religions or abide in neo tantric practices that both deem that our natural state of sexuality and the expression of love is something that needs to be sublimed into some cosmic state or denied all together.
Hatha yoga is the means by which we heal the primal knot caused by this dysfunctional inheritance.
On that regard, we should start seeing sex as the essence and function of life. Yoga is the enactment of commitment, love, and tenderness towards your own embodiment, which enables commitment, love, and tenderness towards another’s"
Through actual hatha yoga practice, we discover how to relax and re-sensitize the body, so it can truly love another. Dropping into presence, without abiding in neo-tantric practices or the patriarchal methods of celibacy, renunciation and withdrawal from the world.
THIS RETREAT IS THE CONTAINER THROUGH WHICH WE CAN BECOME UTTERLY PRESENT, BY TANGIBLY FEELING THE BEAUTY OF WHAT IS ALREADY RIGHT HERE.
"Love is personal. It is the appreciation of an actual person or physical existence.
There is so much depersonalizing of love in spiritual discourses. The ideas of "higher love," "all-pervading consciousness," "unconditional love," etc. have grossly distorted our ideas of it.
A disregard of others is inherent in the notion of reaching for God or "the all-pervading" through the vehicle of another.
"The desires for extreme states such as "universal love" or "tantric union", have pierced spirituality, diminishing the value of real personal regard, love, and relating".
-MarkWhitwel-
The Practices
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Krishnamacharya's basic principles of practice, restoring receptivity and sensitivity to asana (and life);
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Rewiring asana, pranayama, bandha, meditation.
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Introduction to sound and mantra
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The essential principle of "strength receiving" practice through yoga.
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Vinyasa Krama, the art of appropriate sequencing;
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Yoga history and philosophy
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Upasana (sitting close) – personal, in-depth discussion of our yoga practice and how it relates to our life, love and sexuality.
Mark Whitwell
Mark is interested in developing an authentic yoga practice for the individual, based on the teachings of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, "the teacher of the teachers," and his son T.K.V. Desikachar.
After first meeting these two great teachers in 1973, Mark realized the importance of their scholarship and committed his life to furthering the communication. His teachings clarify the profound relevance of ancient wisdom to modern times.
Mark has taught yoga for many years throughout the world, adapting the principles of the Great Tradition to the needs of people from many cultures and many countries. He was the editor of and contributor to T.K.V. Desikachar’s book, The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice, and is the author of Yoga of Heart and The Promise.
Venue
The Sanctuary is a unique, humble yet beautiful resort nestled in the remote jungle of Haad Tien Bay on Koh Phangan island. The only access available to this part of the island is via boat and no cars or motorbikes can be driven there ( besides one scary road done with an RV which is not for the faint-hearted).
A unique part of the island where you can only walk between the three beaches by foot. Surrounded by gorgeous jungle, beaches, and views out to the Thai gulf. Staying at the sanctuary alone is an experience in itself, famous for delicious health food, detox programs and workshops and training as well as the lifestyle being in this part of the island offers ( you'll know what we mean when you are there).
And a fun fact about the Sanctuary! The movie "The Beach" was based on this old community that used to live there and the land of the Sanctuary, the writer wrote the book in this very place :)
HELP OUR TWO FRIENDS, LAWRENCE & SCOTT FROM UGANDA BECOME YOGA TEACHERS AND SPREAD THE HEART OF YOGA IN THEIR HOME TOWN!
We have given a full scholarship to receive the teachings of Mark Whitwell as has Emma Warmington from Jivani Yoga School for her teacher training to these two beautiful beings, Lawrence & Scott who are dedicated to spreading the teachings of Yoga in their home town in Uganda.
We need to cover flight, visa, accommodation and food costs ! Thus we are asking for your support!
We would LOVE your support in donating even $1 to our crowdfunding to help these two join us and Emma's teacher training next month!
Your contribution will help not only Lawrence and Scott, but their local community. Their Yoga training will be primarily in the lineage of Krishnamacharya, UG Krishnamurti, Desikachar and Mark Whitwell and they will also be trained in Compassionate Communication, Transformational Voicework and facilitating groups.
https://www.gofundme.com/jivani-yoga-heart-of-yoga-in-uganda
Schedule
28th April
- 14:30-16:00. Check-in
- 17:00-20:00. Welcoming, Satsang, intro to practice
- 20:00-21:00. Dinner
- 22:30. Lights out
29 April -1st May
-7am-9am morning session part 1
-9-9.30 fruit break
-9.30-11.30 morning session part 2
-11.30/12-4.30 brunch/break
-4.30-7.30/8 teaching
-730-830 : dinner
2nd May
- 7:00-9:00 Practice & teachings
- 9:00-9:30. Fruit break
- 9:30-11:30- Teachings and closing
- 11:30 - Brunch
- 13:00. Check out
** It is strongly advised to arrive on the island 2 days before the retreat to overcome jetlag if arriving from long distance. note any accommodation before or after is separate from course fees and must be booked ahead of time
FOR EVERY RETREAT TAKEN WITH US, YOU ARE PLANTING 2 TREES TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS FOR FLYING, HELPING OFFSETTING THE EFFECTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
AMANEcurated is in LOVE with our partners Fifteen Trees(15trees.com.au), who are working hard to improve our fucked up relationship to the environment.
Due to the large number of flights being taken from participants and teacher to meet us, we feel it imperative to contribute to this cause by PLANTING AN AVERAGE OF 100 TREES PER RETREAT WE SERVE
If you'd like to plant more trees on your own, check out their cool project through the link above!
Getting to Koh Phangan
** It is highly advised to arrive 2 days before the retreat to overcome jetlag
BY BUS & BOAT BY PLANE & BOAT
From Bangkok : the cheapest way is take one of the overnight buses leaves Khaosan Road evening about 18.00 and in the next morning arrives Surathani, then take a boat from Donsak Pier.
Bus and boat combo ticket can be arrange by travel agencies on Khaosan Road for about 700-900 Baht all the way to Koh Phangan. Then you need to take a taxi to HAAD RIN BEACH and find boat taxis ( there are many) on the beach that will take you to HAAD TIEEN BEACH or THE SANCTUARY. This is about a 10 minute boat ride for around 200 THB p.p
The cheapest option is to fly from Bangkok (BKK) to Surathani Airport (URT) with AirAsia.
Transortation to the ferry pier is easy to find at Surathani airport.
Ferries depart several times a day with the last one around 17.30.
Travel time: 1 hour flight from Bangkok to Surathani airport. Then is 1.5 hour bus ride to boat pier and depending on what boat company you take the boat to Koh Phangan is between 1.5 hours (Lompraya) -2.5 hours (Raja fairy).
BY TRAIN & BOAT
Taking the overnight train from Bangkok with the proper bed is also a comfortable way to get Koh Phangan. Trains stop early morning at Surathani, buy bus and boat ticket to Koh Phangan Island. Train tickets from Surathani back to Bangkok should be reserved in advance especially in high season.
Then you need to take a taxi to HAAD RIN BEACH and find a boat taxi ( there are many) on the beach that will take you to HAAD TIEEN BEACH or THE SANCTUARY. This is about a 10-minute boat ride for around 200 THB p.p
Flying to Koh Samui is convenient, yet more expensive, you may check the rates for yourself. Koh- Samui Airport (USM) has frequent flights from Bangkok (BKK) with Bangkok Airways.
Travel time 1-hour flight and 30 minutes boats ride from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan.
Then you need to take a taxi to HAAD RIN BEACH and find a boat taxi ( there are many) on the beach that will take you to HAAD TIEEN BEACH or THE SANCTUARY. This is about a 10-minute boat ride for around 200 THB p.p
