Heading north to teach yoga and the Dharma! By Sadhita
Dear friends,
I have just arrived back to Spain after leading a short retreat at Dharmagiri retreat centre in Sweden. This trip for me had a double significance. Firstly, After more than 22 years I was returning to Sweden where I lived for two years in my early twenties.
Secondly, I was offering the first Bodhiyoga retreat at our Triratna centre in Sweden.
The retreat centre was superbly set up and prepared thanks to the help of Sridaya the one person manager of the retreat centre. It was warm and welcoming to the group who came from different parts of Sweden as well as Denmark, the UK and Spain.
Our program was typical of any bodhiyoga event; meditation, yoga and some theory around the topic of mindfulness and the four foundations. These are the ingredients to any retreat. In addition we did a little bit of ritual. The meditation and yoga form the bedrock of the bodhiyoga system. The yoga we teach differs a little depending on the circumstances and desired outcome of the class.
Essentially we have three approaches to the physical asana practice: general, recuperative or quiet practice and remedial which is the basis of the 500hrs teacher training. Within whichever approach to yoga we take we always apply the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness which underpins all the physical practice.
As often is the case people arrive tired. Slowly, the retreat emerges out of this tiredness and people discover their energy and enthusiasm for practicing. After a day or so you see a transformation in people: more energy, more openness and a desire to get on with the program.
For me as a retreat leader there is always a lot to think about. On the one hand you have the material to deliver and on the other peoples´ response to it and their wellbeing. Both of these things consume large amounts of mental and physical energy. It is always a mixture of highly rewarding and demanding.
As we plugged into the program I had a sense of being on a journey, a common experience when either leading or being on retreat. Its as if everything starts to unfold and a bigger pattern emerges in the midst of the practice. In this there is always a sense of the unknown. Where are we going and why are we doing these esoteric practices that are thousands of years old!? For me the ritual of being involved in this process of either guiding others or being in retreat myself defies words. We can talk about self development or deeper self understanding but this does not really do full justice to the process. It´s an adventure. The practices and the context provide an opportunity for us to get to know ourselves and then how we might relate more intelligently and with wisdom to our lives. Yoga gives us a strong body foundation in awareness and meditation helps us to change the habits and tendencies that stop our desire to progress. It helps us to deepen into what is!
So all in all the few days that we practiced together felt very fruitful and interesting. It was a pleasure to meet some new people from the nordic regions as well as see a few budding bodhiyoga students who all, in their own ways, are dealing with the changes taking place in themselves. It was also a pleasure to get the 200 certificates out to two more teachers: Josephine Norrbu and Sonja Mäkelä both of whom put in a lot of work to get their papers and teaching hours done quicker than the typical time that it takes. Well done to them both! Also it was great to have Michelle and Tracey on the retreat who also handed me their papers.
We are provisionally planning another retreat at the same venue in the winter time, this time for a week. Keep an eye on the Bodhiyoga website for that event.
Best wishes to all.
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