Śiva and the liṅga

• In the land of Śiva, immerse yourself in authentic, traditional yoga teachings to support you in all aspects of your life.
• Explore wholeheartedly as part of a supportive group in a wonderful environment.
• Soak in the beauty and support of incomparable Arunachala.
• Deepen your understanding of yoga principles and empower your ongoing practice.

• Movement, Meditation, Kīrtan, Recitation

• Storytelling, Study, Satsang, Pilgrimage

At the feet of the mountain – regarded as a form of Śiva himself, in the sanctuary of Namashivalaya, in the lap of Pārvati Mā, we will explore the yoga of the whole human being.

Yoga does not ask us to be anything we are not, but invites us to experience our true depth, recover our true capacity, remember our real self.

Arunachala is one of the most potent places to foster this remembering.

As guru of guru-s, yogi amongst yogi-s Ramana Maharshi said,

‘Arunachala is truly the holy place. Of all holy places it is the most sacred! Know that it is the heart of the world. It is truly Siva himself! It is his heart-abode, a secret kṣetra. In that place the Lord ever abides the hill of light named Arunachala.’

If you are new to yoga, what better place to start?

This ten day program will invite you into the practical, flavourful, supportive and empowering riches of the yoga tradition.

If you are a seasoned student/practitioner, what better locale to deepen your practice than at Arunachala, yogabhūmi par excellence?

During these ten days, soaking in the blessings of Arunachala, we will live the teachings: simply, gladly, wholeheartedly.

 

This will be a powerful opportunity to:

– instantiate new habits

– support easeful, nourishing, whole human practice

– Integrate yoga into your day to day reality

– support the full expression of your beautiful self.

 

Every day will integrate practices to nourish the whole human being:

Meditation practices to connect to our deeper self. Bathing in the presence of Arunachala, with gratitude for the many sages who have tended its nourishing fire, every day we will devote time to the foundational technique of yoga practice, the one that takes all the others to whole new levels and turbocharges the yoga process of ‘rewiring’ our understanding of who we are, dissolving our attachments to limitations and allowing ourselves into the light and insight of greater freedom, steadiness and clarity.

*If you are new to meditation, clear guidance and instruction will be provided.

Broad spectrum yogic movement: working with yogic principles to invigorate, cleanse and fortify the miraculous bodily vehicle. We’ll learn simple do-anywhere techniques and explore practical ways to nourish our diverse movement capacities and intelligence while fostering easeful circulation of healing energy and nourishing information through the network of our being.

*Working beyond yoga brands, this approach is accessible and scalable for all.

This will include:

– exploring efficiency, skilfulness and coordination, how we can learn to move as an orchestra – with all the instrumental powers of our being collaborating in mutual support.

– harnessing the energy of the elements, drawing on the vastness of sky, the power of the sun, integrating them into the roots of our being and becoming a conduit for flowing, nourishing and supportive energy.

– expanding our movement toolkit and resources with principle-based practices we can easily weave into our day to day lives.

Singing and recitation. Sound is treasured in the yoga tradition and is a key part of James’ practice and teaching. Sound reaches the parts that other techniques are not always able to. Recitation in Sanskṛt – the well-made, well-structured language – supports yogic integration of both hemispheres of the brain, helps refine our speech and can expand our awareness of how we relate to ourselves, others and our world in remarkable ways.

*Do not worry if you are not an experienced singer or used to singing with others, this practice is accessible and connects us to our deeper human heritage!

Learning and studying the liṅgāṣṭakam hymn

Sanskṛt is an ocean and can be studied for many lifetimes. However, we can learn to recite classical Sanskṛt relatively quickly and we will do so during this retreat: learning the sounds of Sanskṛt and the foundation principles to be able to recite and sing in Sanskṛt with accuracy, confidence and feeling.

*James brings thirty years of teaching experience and makes the Sanskṛt teachings accessible and relatable so we can all connect to the deep inspiration of these practices.

We will learn and practice the liṅgāṣṭakam eight verse hymn every day in this land where every stone is considered a liṅga and the mountain the liṅga par excellence.

 

–Studying the liṅgāṣṭakam will allow us to dive deep into the rich flavour and practical teachings of the yoga tradition.

The hymn condenses many teachings and invokes many stories.

Working in traditional, authentic style, we’ll explore these teachings in daily interactive, practical study sessions, always relating them to our own lives.

 

Satsang and communication. Yoga practice is a conversation. So many of its greatest teachings are given in the form of a dialog. We will share daily satsang – coming together to explore what is, sharing song, stories, communication and conscious relating activities, meditation and celebration.

In the yoga tradition, to study is to practice and to practice is to study. We each have to walk our own path, but we can learn from and support each other along the way.

 

This retreat offers a wonderful and special opportunity to work together as part of a supportive group in a wonderfully supportive environment and empower your own ongoing yogic journey.

BOOKING

To secure your place

Step One:

Reserve your place by paying the £720 deposit HERE.

Step Two:

Email: james@jamesboagyoga.com specifying:

– your room request

-single, double, triple, or garden house sharing (four or five)

-names of other participants you want to share with

Once room is allocated I will send you an email with the request for the remaining balance.

Full payments completed before 31^st August qualify for a £90 ‘cashback’ bonus. You can either redeem this as a reduction from your remaining balance or have it credited back to you on the eve of the retreat.

See further details of room options below.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE HERE

Email james@jamesboagyoga.com for further inquries

 

More about this unique offering

Śiva and the Liṅga at Arunachala

Ten days at Namashivalaya

As we learn to recite the liṅgāṣṭakam and explore its verses, we’ll gain insight and understanding into the practical riches of the yoga tradition. Exploring the layers of story, symbol and invocation encoded in these eight verses to Śiva, with Arunāchala as our companion and guide, this will include:

– Śiva and the Five Acts of Consciouness that we are always participating in: creation, sustenance and transformative destruction, veiling and revelation; and how we can work with these natural phenomena for our own evolution

– Overcoming the suffering and bondage of birth and death, relishing and celebrating the gifts of Life

– The creative and sustaining importance of ‘destruction’

– The role of devotion and surrender: karma yoga, jñāna yoga, bhakti yoga and surrender

– Worship: how to live a prayerful, balanced and satisfying life

– Śiva and the symbolism of the liṅga, forms of Śiva: Nāṭarāja, Yogīśvara, Arunachala and the liṅga of fire

– Kumāra Sambhava and the ashing of Kāmadeva

– The quelling of Rāvaṇa’s pride

– The destruction of Dakṣa’s yajña, the complementary role of external and internal practices

– Names and forms of Śiva that we can work with in our own lives and practice and how these relate to other deities.

– Śiva as the embodiment of karuṇā – compassion

– The universal energy of consciousness

 

– These themes will all be explored in the whole life yoga way, relating them to our own lives and practice. Our daily practices and the excursions will all provide rich context for an immersive and deepening educational experience. This program is intended to bring you empowerment to continue your yogic journey with renewed insight, confidence and inspiration.

 

Daily movement, meditation, recitation and satsang

 

Daily study and practice of the liṅgāṣṭakam hymn

 

Delicious, homemade, locally sourced food

 

Agnihotra ceremonies on site at Namashivalaya

 

Excursions and special activities

 

• Girivalam circumnambulation of Arunachala.

Early morning meditative pilgrimage around the mountain, including visit to Adi Annamalai – oldest temple in Tiruvannamalai, followed by restorative āsana and prasādam lunch.

 

• Meditative hiking pilgrimage to the beautiful Pārvatīmallai and its extraordinary mountain-top temple.

• Temple visit to Adi Annamalai – reputedly the oldest temple in Tiruvannamalai

• Visit to Ramanashram and Skandashram meditation caves

 

• Time for optional additional girivalam/Ramanashram/temple visits

 

Workshops

 

• Whole Life Yoga and Yogic movement workshops to expand your yoga practice toolkit:

• How to actually cultivate yoga when we are working with yogāsana
• Solar power and Sūrya namaskāra for life – ‘do anywhere’ forms of sun salutation. Sun salutations and the structure for a nourishing, well-rounded and sustainable physical practice
• Nourishing the whole human being: work playfully with coordinative patterns and stimuli, challenging body, mind and senses to easefully, playfully promote neurogenesis and renewal while cultivating dynamic strength, balance and practical mobility
• Creation, maintenance and destruction, yogic movement and the five acts of consciousness
• Conscious relating, yoga, speech and the power of sound

 

Fees per participant:

Fees include accommodation, all practice/study/satsang sessions, transport and entry/guide fees for excursions, all meals at Namashivalaya (two meals or three meals a day depending on our schedule eg. On girivalam and Pārvatīmalai excursion days we will have two meals only)

Not included: transport to and from the retreat, any food/refreshments outside, any transport for personal optional trips beyond the retreat program.

 

Refund policy:

Before 31 August: 100% refund minus any transaction/transfer fees

From 1^st September: No refund unless your place is taken by another participant. If someone else takes your place, a full refund will be issued minus any transaction/transfer fees.

 

Fees in GB£

Yogi Hut single occupancy: 1530

Yogi Hut double occupancy: 1480

Śiva single occupancy: 1580

Śiva double occupancy: 1355

Śiva triple occupancy: 1280

Lakṣhmī single occupancy: 1580

Lakṣhmī double occupancy: 1355

Saraswatī single occupancy: 1580

Saraswatī double occupancy: 1355

Brahmā single occupancy: 1630

Brahmā double occupancy: 1380

Brahmā triple occupancy: 1305

Viṣṇu single occupancy: 1630

Viṣṇu double occupancy: 1380

Viṣṇu triple occupancy: 1305

Kadamba single occupancy: 1630

Kadamba double occupancy: 1380

Garden House single: 1580

Garden House double: 1355

Garden House triple: 1280

Garden House 4 sharing: 1243

Garden House 5 sharing: 1220

 

Minimum attendance: 10 retreat participants

Maximum: 22 retreat participants

 

Example daily schedule:

Day at Shivalaya

6-7 meditation

7-7:45 agnihotra

7:45-9:00 āsana/movement

From 9:00 breakfast

10:30-13:00 morning session – liṅgāṣṭakam study intro

13:00 lunch

16:00 workshop (movement) and meditation

18:00 dinner

19:00 satsang

20:30 rest and joyful silence

 

Excursion day

Morning excursion

Return for hearty lunch and rest

Afternoon session

18:00 dinner

19:00 satsang

20:30 rest and joyful silence

 

…

 

Our accommodation is at the wonderful sanctuary of Namashivalaya. www.namashivalaya.org

Surrounded by rice fields, in the presence of the sacred mountain Arunachala, Namashivalaya offers an extraordinary setting to immerse in these teachings.

Tended with love and devotion by Shankara and Vimala and their wonderful team of local staff, the tree and flower filled grounds offer a haven for birdlife in an atmosphere wonderfully conducive for yoga practice and meditation.

All rooms are comfortable and spacious.

Singles, doubles, triples and one room for up to five people are available. We will have the whole retreat to ourselves.

Once you reserve your place by paying the deposit, James will be in touch to arrange your room choice. Alternatively, email james@jamesboagyoga.com or call +447415594689 also on whatsapp/telegram, to inquire as to the options available or to book rooms together with other participants.