Esther Ekhart
What to expect
This retreat is designed to slow you down and restore and revitalize you on a very deep level. When you are relaxed and your energy system is balanced, you can easily gain access to the world of reality, with all its joys, rather than being stuck in the world of the mind. We will mainly use yoga and meditation, but also lectures, inquiry, pranayama and silence as tools.
During the 10 days we observe mouna (silence) every morning from waking up until the yoga practice starts at 11.00. The early morning starts with meditation and pranayama. After breakfast and a silent break, we will continue with a fluid yoga practice that focuses on loosening, as well as strengthening and stabilizing the body and easing the mind. In the afternoon we gather again to learn about ourselves and life through short lectures, inquiry, meditation, restorative yoga and yoga nidra.
For 5 days we will all observe silence for the whole day. During class times, there is room to ask questions if they arise.
Please note: To really give the body and mind a break and observe true silence, all mobile phones will be collected during the few days that we are fully silent. A phone number of the retreat centre will be provided for emergencies.
As you begin to relax into stillness, you cultivate presence, awareness and an authentic relationship with yourself. You will get in touch with a felt sense of ‘being’. It is a universal felt-sense that we all have within us. From birth, and throughout every moment of your life, being is a constant, quiet, background presence that’s always with you. But until it is pointed out it can go unnoticed.
As well you may discover that being together with others in silence allows for a different sense of connection that can be more satisfying than spending the same time engaged in conversation.
You will access that same shared state of ‘being’. Rather than knowing others through their stories of who they are and what they do, the silence highlights our sense of connectedness.
This is a partly silent retreat. Within the 10 days there will be 5 full silent days, somewhere in the middle. During the silent days the main focus will be on meditation, and the mindful morning yoga practice from 11 – 13 to loosen out the body is still going to be there.
It’s best to come to this retreat having done a retreat with Esther already, or having experience with a silent retreat.
Daily schedule:
- 08:00 – 09:00 Meditation/Pranayama
- 09:00 – 11:00 Breakfast + break, in silence
- 11:00 – 13:00 Yoga / Mindful movement
- 13:00 – 17:00 Lunch/Free time
- 17:00 – 19:00 Meditation / discourse, with short breaks in between
- 19:00 – Dinner
- 20.15 – (optional) Meditation or a restorative practice
During the silent days the lunch break is shorter, and we will start at 16.00 or 16.30
Arrival is on Saturday Oct 21st, Departure is on Tuesday Oct 31st. Both days are travel days. I will offer a short grounding practice to those who are there on arrival day in the evening and meditation on the morning of Oct 31st.
Cost per person for 10 nights
All prices includes ten nights’ accommodation, fantastic meals served three times daily, plus all meditation and yoga sessions.
- Shared room en-suite, 2 people – € 1890
- Single room with shared bathroom facilities – €2190
- Single room with private toilet and shower – €2350
- Single luxury cabin – €2550 / couple share €2290 pp
You can secure your place with a non-refundable deposit of €450. The remainder of the fee will be due by 7th August, 2023. You can also pay in full now too.
Please visit the D’alijo Yoga Retreat Centre website for photos of the accommodation options and the beautiful surroundings.
How to book
Please visit Esther’s website to book your place directly where you will also find more details about the retreat centre and how to get there.
About Esther Ekhart
Esther is the founder of EkhartYoga.com. She has been practising yoga and meditation since she was a child and teaching for over 20 years. She brings her years of personal practice, therapy training and study of yoga philosophy into her teachings, creating a space for students to find peace and (re)connect with themselves and the present moment.