We are born so full of life and yet conditioned by society, it's institutions and through the passage of time we can lose touch with this very life that we are.
Religious teachings and spiritual practices can sometimes reinforce this separation from ourselves with their emphasis on good and bad, right and wrong, should and shouldn't.
The intention behind this retreat is to provide relief from these structures of belief, to give space for a rediscovery of who we are and what life is.
While together we will engage in practices of yoga through movement, breathing and chanting, as we explore these we will see that the point of is not to turn us into some kind of imagined yogi, is not to make us some better version of ourselves.
Instead, we will see that, fundamentally, these teachings point us back to the gift of who we already are.
Daily Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga
Each morning classes of Ashtanga Yoga will be offered in the Mysore-style method. In this unique style of practice we work through a learned sequence of postures in the manner it was developed by Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India.
By following this method, practitioners have the opportunity to experience deeply their own embodiment by paying attention to the breath and internal sensations.
Drawing on over 20 years of experience sharing this method, Luke will offer insight into approach and alignment giving both verbal and physical assistance individually to support a deepening unfolding in the yoga experience.
Ultimately, with continued practice and attention the body's innate intelligence is awoken and guides from within.
Vedic chanting
Yoga has deep roots in the ancient wisdom traditions of India. As it has travelled to the West this connection has been somewhat weakened as the focus has moved more towards the physical performance aspect of the yoga postures.
The sages of old contemplated deeply important existential questions such as, 'who am I?' and 'what is life?'. Their answers are revealed in the ecstatic utterances of the Vedas and the Upanishads.
Through chanting these mantras we engage in their vibratory essence and have the opportunity to engage with the teachings that the ancient seers transmit to us through time immemorial. Their message is today as relevant as it ever was.
Daily schedule
18/06
15.00 - 17.00 Check in post 1pm
17.00 - 18.00 Welcome
18.00 - 19.00 Dinner
19/06
07.00 - 09.00 Morning Mysore practice
09.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
Free time
13.00 - 14.00 Lunch
Session 1 – Practical Samkhya
The ideas of yoga as they appear in the Yoga Sutras text come from a foundational philosophical system called Samkhya. In this session we will learn the essence of its pointers through a series of exercises developed by a modern sage, Douglas Harding, that may provide insight into the ancient inquiry of our true identity!
18.00 - 19.00 Dinner
20/06
07.00-09.00 Morning Mysore practice
09.00-10.00 Breakfast
Free time
13.00-14.00 Lunch
Session 2 – Practical Yoga Sutras
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras don't talk much about yoga postures! Instead they are primarily concerned with seeing through the persistant turings of the mind, leading the mind back to the quietude of its own source. In this class, after looking at what Patanjali has to say about how our mind works, we will play with practical forms of inquiry that reveal the mind and its stories leading in the process to a greater self-understanding
18.00 - 19.00 Dinner
21/06
07.00-09.00 Morning Mysore practice
09.00-10.00 Breakfast
Free time
13.00-14.00 Lunch
Session 3 – Walking Meditation
So often in our actions we are simply not there! The automatic conditioning of our lives robotocises us as and we miss our lives in the moment as we are busy making other plans and acting towards our goals. Along the way we forget to stop and smell the roses, to be aware of our environment, the gifts of nature as they manifest around us. Inspired by Zen practice, this walking mediation will help us experience the bounty of Nosen's natural abundance, connecting with the outside nature as we connect simultaneously with our inner nature and awareness.
18.00 - 19.00 Dinner
22/06
07.00-09.00 Morning Mysore practice
09.00-10.00 Breakfast
Free time
13.00-14.00 Lunch
Session 4 – Dynamic Moving Mediation
While our yoga practices constitute a disciplined way of getting in touch with our bodies, breath and internal sensations, sometimes we can best connect with out inner aliveness by shaking everything out and moving freely without thought, judgement or a plan as to how that movement should be. This session will provide an opportunity to do so! Through shaking off the cobwebs of discipline and giving the body an opportunity express itself freely we will then quietly observe the awoken energy and sensations.
18.00-19.00 Dinner
23/06
07.00 - 09.00 Morning Mysore practice
09.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 11.00 Closing circle
10.00 - 11.00 Check out.
13.00 - 14.00 Lunch
About Luke Jordan
Luke Jordan, a Certified Teacher in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, brings an expansive
understanding of yogic and spiritual culture, backed by a Masters in Indian Religions. His passion for Eastern mysticism began in the 1990s, sparking an ongoing journey of spiritual exploration that has taken him around the world, learning from experts, gurus, and teachers in Yoga and spirituality. Luke's pursuit of knowledge led him to Mysore, India, where he studied with Sri Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath, earning him the honour of Certification within the Ashtanga tradition. He appreciates the deeper philosophical aspects of Yoga, taking delight in the chants, myths, and principles intrinsic to Yoga and wider tradition. Luke now resides in Portugal, where he founded the Colares Yoga Club and annually conducts the intensive Ashtanga Yoga Summer School.
Prices for the workshop
Single room: 11.450 NOK per person
Twin room: 9.450 NOK per person
Group room: 7.450 NOK per person
Price includes:
Workshop lectures and classes
Accommodation at Nøsen Yoga og Fjellhotell for 5 nights
Delicious plant-based meals during the entire stay
Sheets, blankets, and towels
Complimentary tea, coffee, and infusion
