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Yoga Retreat
June 19th-25th 2010
...enjoy the Summer Solstice under the Portuguese Sun
We will enjoy yoga from the start to the finish of
our week, beginning on the very evening we arrive
and finishing the morning we leave.
We will experience 6 transformative daily yoga flow
practices every morning. Practices that have come
from Anita McCann’s teaching, and of yoga flow,
dance and her own personal practice of pilates. We
will also enjoy 6 lunar evening practices, a
quieter, more meditative practice to wind down into
a calm and relaxing evening. These practices will
include restful, restorative asana, meditation and pranayama.
As the group will be relatively small, Anita will be
able to customise the classes to suit the specific
needs of the individuals attending. Anita
 has
always enjoyed teaching all levels, and in
particular welcomes beginners or anyone returning to
yoga after a break. She believes that there is as
much joy to be found in revisiting the basics as can
be found in more challenging practice. There will be
an opportunity for everyone to deepen their
understanding of yoga, to ask questions, to explore
and perhaps challenge their own physical limitation
and to work more deeply with both body and breath.
The time away from our busy lives will allow us to
trigger a little bit of self-healing, awaking that
spirit that we all posses but often neglect and
forget. More than anything, it will be fun, a time
to understand our bodies, open our minds and let
yoga do its magic.
You will need to bring some comfortable clothing for
yoga practice. Mats, yoga blocks and belts are
provided although you are always free to bring and
use your own.
The yoga at Yavanna takes place mostly on a purpose built
platform next to the pool, set in the beautiful and tranquil
surroundings of the Yavanna gardens, weather
permitting. It is an ideal
place to completely unwind and connect with a sense
of peace and harmony.
You will have plenty of free time to relax by the
pool or explore this beautiful part of Portugal. Two
excursions will be offered - we
will explain more on arrival.
Food
Sian, who has cooked at Yavanna for four years,
delights in using as much local, organic produce as
possible, many from our own organic vegetable
garden. Though English, she has lived in Northern
Portugal on the Spanish border for a number of
years, and creates a delicious fusion of European
tastes and flavours. This naturally includes a range
of local Portuguese specialities.
Vegetarian options are available, and we also try to
cater for Vegans and those with other dietary
requirements provided we are given plenty of advance
notice.
Our prices include all facilitation, accommodation,
airport transfers, excursions, all meals (apart from one or two taken at a local
restaurant), as well as facilities for making tea,
coffee, herb teas and snacks as required. Full
details here.
Local aperitifs, ports and wines are included in our
prices. If you require any alcohol over and above
our standard offerings then we are happy to provide
at an additional cost.
Anita McCann
Anita
McCann is delighted to offer her first yoga holiday at
Yavanna in June 2010. She is a trained Vinyasa Flow
teacher having studied with the wonderful Shiva Rea. Her classes are a blend of hatha flow movement,
sequencing and core stabilising. Anita is also very
interested in pilates and uses many of its fundamentals
in her teaching. The classes are always accessible to
everyone. The level of the classes will depend of who is
there and she welcomes everyone from complete beginners
to more practiced yogis. She is also a certified
teacher of yoga for Pregnancy from the Birthlight
Institute, and is happy to involve any expectant mums in
the holiday. The week will also include practices of
meditation and pranayama, and all will come with her
characteristic Irish lightness and sense of humour.
After
many years of teaching yoga in Southwest London, Anita
is now happily based in the Swiss Alps with her family,
continuing to enjoy her teaching and practice with the
incredible beauty of the mountains. You can visit her
website at
www.anitamccann.com.
Comments
"Anita
has a lightness of touch and an inclusive way
about her, so that no
matter at what
stage you are in your yoga, you feel able to
practise at your
own pace. She
also brings a level of detail to her instruction
which I find incredibly
helpful, often
bringing new meaning and insight to old
postures.
Above all, Anita brings a freshness, joy and a
sense of humour to all of her
classes."
Susanna Cumbley, Wimbledon, London
"I've been going to Anita's class since she
started teaching. Before then, I'd never done
yoga, pilates or anything else and I'd been in a
gym precisely once, for ten minutes. But I knew
immediately that Anita's class was just the
thing. The atmosphere is so friendly and
uncompetitive and I always, always feel better
afterwards - both in body and mind. Anita's a
truly gifted
teacher. She must be to keep me doing yoga for
over nine years!."
"Yoga with Anita was a highlight of my week, the
classes were always delightful, peaceful and
each one had a twist – a “gem” of some sort. I
always felt I’d had a wonderful workout and felt
happier within myself. I went with my husband so
we always felt we’d had a date. I loved hearing
Anita’s voice, her peace and enthusiasm
reverberated in our class and she always made us
smile whether she was encouraging the class to
stretch that tiny bit more or whether she was
delighting in a story she’d been heard on the
radio, read in a book or learnt from her boys.
Anita made us all feel proud of our own
achievements each week – thank you for yoga, for
peace for your wonderful manner. I miss your
classes."
What Type of Yoga
is Taught?
As mentioned
before Anita is trained in Vinyasa Flow with
Shiva Rea, and teaches what is commonly
described as a HATHA YOGA class. These classes
typically involve poses flowing from one to the
next, synchronised with the breath. However,
Anita is as comfortable teaching beginners as
she is with come experienced practitioners of
yoga. Hatha Yoga is simply a very broad term to
explain the union of breath and body. It can be
anything from slow simple movements accompanied
by breath, to more vigorous and challenging
vinyasa sequences.
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