Ashtanga Yoga & Mindfulness Retreat with David Robson & Jelena Vesic. 3-6 June, Croatia

Ashtanga Yoga & Mindfulness Retreat

Retreat

Croatia

start: Jun 3, 2023
end: Jun 10, 2023

Overview

This is an invitation to a very special retreat with the superb teaching duo David Robson and Jelena Vesic, in the gorgeous and ancient Istrian peninsula, Croatia, for a week of Ashtanga Yoga & mindfulness practices.

With over 30 years' combined experience of teaching daily at their Toronto Mysore program, the largest outside of India, David and Jelena are well known for their generosity, dedication and a deep passion for Ashtanga Yoga.

Our Retreat is held in the serene beauty of Istria, the quiet and supportive setting for a journey of mindfulness and deep practice.

This retreat is open for all levels of practitioners – from beginners to advanced.

Included

5 daily Mysore style Ashtanga Yoga practices and one traditional Led Class
5 mindfulness meditation Sessions
Workshops on technique and alignment
7 nights in gorgeous accommodation with access to own kitchen
Use of 3 swimming pools
Daily Yummy vegan and vegetarian brunches and dinners

Teachers

David Robson

Teacher

view profile

David Robson is the director of the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto. With 100+ students each morning, he leads one of the world’s largest Mysore programs outside of India. After completing a degree in…

Jelena Vesić

Teacher

After studying ballet for 16 years, Jelena made Yoga her sole focus in 2009. She has studied with her teacher, David Robson, since 2010, and is now leading the evening Mysore program at AYCT. She often…

Guests said:

"So this morning during Mysore class I did my first stand up from drop-back, and then I did it again and again.. This is barely a physical achievement for me, it's rather a mental one. For the first time in my life I felt the energy and the need to stand up for myself, to believe in me despite the thoughts, which tried to bring me down. It wasn't a fight with the gravity, it was to make peace with myself, to ask forgiveness for every time I put myself down, for every time I buried my feelings just to please others. Thank you Jelena and David,my teachers, for believing in me and giving me the trust!" EM

"For the third year in a row these two beautiful souls, amazing teachers and ashtangis, Jelena and David, visited Croatia. Today our two week Ashtanga intensive is over. I learned a lot, sweated a lot, laughed a lot, and enjoyed immensely. Thank you Jelena and David" IJ

Program

At this retreat David and Jelena weave together their combined wisdom and teachings of Ashtanga Yoga, mindfulness, Yogic philosophy, breath, technique and physical alignment and adjustments. The program includes traditional morning guided Mysore-style self-practice, the Sanskrit-counted Led class, 5 mindfulness meditations, and a series of afternoon technical workshops.

This is a unique opportunity to look deeper into these practices in order to cultivate an understanding of Ashtanga Yoga as a pathway to greater awareness of the body-mind-spirit union. You will without a doubt learn invaluable tips to deepen your own practice.

The program is suitable for Ashtanga Yoga practitioners of all levels, as well as teachers who want to take their practice to deeper physical, mental and spiritual levels.

If you are new to Ashtanga Yoga, the opportunity to practice daily with David and Jelena will build a strong foundation for your continued self-practice. If you already have an existing practice, this is a chance to dive deeper in a safe and inspiring way!

You will have some afternoons free, available for exploring the incredible Istria, -speckled with historical towns and known for its beautiful Adriatic coastline. There is a lot to do during your days in Istria! But remember that this is your Yoga retreat, so you can always choose to rest, enjoy a delicious meal, and relax by the pool!

And after a full day of practicing and exploring, you get to come back to the retreat for delicious vegetarian/vegan food and good company. Next day you get to do it all again!

DRAFT PROGRAM (Subject to change)

SATURDAY June 3

5.30pm Evening Intro talk and Welcome

SUNDAY June 4 - MOON DAY

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation - 45m

David will begin the session by leading you through some gentle pranayama, seated breathing exercises. Jelena will then guide you through a seated Mindfulness Meditation practice.

8.30am WORKSHOP: Moving Breathing System - 1.5h

The vinyasa system provides the defining structure for the Ashtanga practice. David and Jelena will provide an overview of the goal of Ashtanga and the vinyasa meditation, and also show you 5 transformational techniques to help you work on deepening the vinyasa in your practice.

12.30pm WORKSHOP: Suryanamaskara - 1.5h

The Sun Salutations contain Ashtanga’s prototypical vinyasa sequence and foundational postures. Working correctly in each of the postures is essential to the healthy longevity of your practice.

MONDAY June 5

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation - 45m

8.15am Mysore

Mysore style self-practice is the traditional format for practicing Ashtanga Yoga. Led classes are a fantastic way to learn about the vinyasa, but Mysore-style is where you follow your own breath and deepen your focus and meditation skills. This is a unique opportunity to practice in a room full of devoted Ashtanga students, and experience adjustments and guidance from teachers who lead one of the world’s largest Mysore programs outside of Mysore.

12.30pm WORKSHOP: Key Alignment Principles - 1.5h

This workshop offers a survey of some of the classic issues that can arise in the practice of Ashtanga’s Primary and Intermediate Series. Many problems can be avoided by understanding some key principles of alignment. By learning these simple rules and integrating them into your practice you can safely move deeper into your asanas.

TUESDAY June 6

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation - 45m

8.15pm Mysore

WEDNESDAY June 7

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation - 45m

8.15am Mysore

12.30pm WORKSHOP: Lift Offs and Landings - 2h

This session offers detailed techniques, alignment and energetic principles that take us towards graceful, weightless transitions between postures in the practice.

THURSDAY June 8

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation – 45m

8.15am Mysore

12.30pm WORKSHOP: Pain Free Backbends – 2h

Backbends don’t have to hurt. This workshop will explore the alignment of Ashtanga’s Primary & Intermediate Series backbends. We will learn about 4 techniques that can take the pain out of backbends and help you to find your way deeper into these transformative postures.

FRIDAY June 9

7.30am Pranayama & Meditation – 45m

8.30am Led Primary Series - 1.5h

Using the traditional Sanskrit count and focusing on the rhythm of the breath, David and Jelena will lead us through the entire Primary Series, with lots of helpful cues along the way.

SATURDAY June 10

8:30 Breakfast & Check out by 10am

Location

Your stunning home for the week is a beautiful farm estate- a quiet resort located in the heart of the Istrian peninsula, northern Croatia, not too far from the Slovenian and Italian borders.

How to Get There:

The quiet village of Prascari, is just a 30 minute drive from Pula airport.

Zagreb airport to Prascari is a 2.5-3 hour drive, and the airport is directly connected to many European capitals, some with low cost flights.

Trieste airport to Prascari is a 90 min drive. Venice airport is 2.5 hours away. (Arriving in Croatia from Italy).

We recommend renting a car if you plan to explore the nearby lands during your stay, as the retreat takes place in a secluded quiet area.

Package

Set on an idyllic Istrian estate surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens, our home for the week is a collection of 4 restored traditional stone villas, offering a gorgeous blend of the old and new. Our home is inspired by tradition and nature, creating an atmosphere of stillness and vibrancy of life. All villas have their own kitchen and swimming pool, are very spacious, beautifully furnished, and have a standard double bed.

All but two of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, are modernly equipped and tastefully decorated, and include Wi-Fi and air conditioning. You can choose to stay solo, in a shared twin room with individual single beds, or in a shared double room in which you will share a kingsize bed with someone (best suited for friends, couples, family, or retreaters who are open to sharing a bed!). The junior suite for two has its own kitchenete.

Cost

Luxury suite with own kitchen & bathroom & garden (doube bed shared): €1950 SOLD OUT
Junior suite with own kitchenette, ensuite bathroom and garden access (double bed shared): €1850 SOLD OUT
Deluxe single room: a beautifully furnished room with a king size bed for single occupancy with ensuite bathroom: €1950
Deluxe twin room: a beautifully furnished spacious twin room for two people, with two single beds. This room has its own ensuite bathroom: €1850
Superior twin room: a beautifully furnished spacious twin room for two people, with two single beds. This room shares a bathroom with one more room of this type: €1790
Suite: A beautifully furnished very spacious suite with a king size bed to be shared by 2 people, a sofa and ensuite bathroom with a tub, and access to a garden: €1790
Superior double bedroom: a beautifully furnished spacious room with a king size bed, to be shared by 2 people (ideal for couples, friends, or those who do not mind sharing a bed!). The room has an ensuite bathroom. €1680

The photos above depict various but always similarly equipped bedrooms (single or shared).

Each booking requires a 500EUR non-refundable deposit.

Important

Here is the fine print for your travel:

Check-in: June 3, 2023, 4pm onwards. Early check-ins are not possible.
Check-out: June 10, 2021, by 10.30am. Late check-outs are not possible.
The prices are in EUR and per person
Food served is vegetarian and vegan
Please ensure that your passport is valid and that you have the adequate entry permissions to Croatia.

Your package includes

All Yoga, meals and accommodation.

Not Included

Travel to and in Croatia, insurance (including Covid insurance) and visa costs

COVID related information:

Your health and safety is our priority! If there is anything you are concerned about related to travel to Croatia, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

For latest info related to travel to Croatia please visit updates by the Croatian government on this link.
We highly recommend you book flexible or refundable flights in case of any changes to your trip. SupersoulYoga will not be responsible for any travel related costs.
Please ensure you have a health, travel and cancellation insurance.

BOOKING POLICY

If your retreat doesn’t proceed as scheduled in 2023, we will automatically transfer your payment(s) to the retreat’s alternate dates which will confirm in writing to you. If you are unable to attend the alternative retreat dates, you can transfer your payment to a different retreat altogether or keep your payment as credit (that never expires).
In the very unlikely event of retreat cancellation, your payments will be refunded within 14 days, minus 6% admin cost.
If you wish to cancel the retreat: the cancellation fee is as follows: Deposit fee is non-refundable, + 25 EUR admin fee. If you have paid the full price of the event we will refund your balance within 14 days. No travel costs can be reimbursed in any circumstance. All students need to get full insurance coverage for all the unforeseen circumstances.

Ashtanga Yoga & Mindfulness Retreat