Nass Valley, BC
Group Size: 20 Max
May 1 - 31 and/or May 31 - June 30
A Yoga Alliance 100 hr Continuing Education Program
Choose To Live A Conscious Life
Escape to the remote and magical Nass Valley. Located in an ancient forest in the heart of the Nisga'a Nation. This program will provide you with the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of life and will open your heart and your perspective to what could be.
The Yoga program provides you with an opportunity to discover yoga beyond the mat. Learning to live a yogic life in union with nature and like-hearted spiritual seekers. Learning to love ourselves and others more deeply, forming new friendships and experiencing the unique environment of off-grid living.
Together we will explore the four main paths of yoga Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga. Bhakti Yoga will be practiced through ritual, song, mantra & dance. Raja Yoga will be practiced through asana, pranayama, & meditation. Jnana Yoga will be practiced through Self-inquiry, observation and a recognition of the witness consciousness. Karma Yoga will be practiced through selfless service in building, gardening, landscaping, cooking & cleaning.
THE YOGA PROGRAM
The Reality of Off-Grid Living
It's very easy to get romantic ideas about living off-grid in the forest with community. This program is not a retreat in the typical 'western sense' -- there will be no umbrella drinks here. Joining the Yoga Program is, of course, an opportunity to study, learn and live in Yoga but you will also be considered part of our community and will experience first-hand what off-grid yoga life could be like. We live and work intimately with nature, when it rains, our boots get muddy, we make almost everything we can with our own hands, taking only what we need from mother earth. We poop, pee, and have hot showers outside! There is no cell reception and we keep the Wi-Fi to a minimum. We're keeping it pretty real up here at the 'shram. We're also dedicated to our spiritual practice with some silliness splashed in between. If this sounds like something you could get down with then we'll be happy to have another earth-bound yogi in the mix.
Anuttara Yoga
What's Included...
28 days lodging at Anuttara Ashram, located in an old growth forest, surrounded by waterfalls and the sacred Nass River
Yoga & Meditation classes
Share Circles
Spiritual Philosophy Classes
Kirtans / Devotional Dance
Yagnas/Fire Ceremonies
Guidance in Karma Yoga Activities and Service
3 vegetarian/vegan meals daily plus unlimited tea (usually harvested from our own gardens and forest), and water
Round-trip transfer to and from Terrace BC (on program start and end days)
**This is a Certified Continuing Education Program - Yoga Alliance Yoga Teachers are eligible for 100 hours after completion**
Daily Schedule
6:00
Morning Chanting
6:15
Personal Practice (Optional)
8:00 - 9:00
Breakfast (silent) & Morning Meeting
9:00 - 1:00
Seva /Karma Yoga - Gardening, Cleaning, Cooking, Building Projects and/or Landscaping
(15 - 20 hours / week -- 6 days a week)
1:00 - 2:00
Lunch
2:00 - 3:00
Free Time
3:00-4:45
Afternoon Class - Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama, Philosophy
5:00 - 6:00
Group Silent Meditation
6:00 - 7:00
Dinner
7:00 - 9:00
Free Time/Occasional Evening Activity
Spiritual Movie, Sacred Dance, Sacred Fire Ceremony, Kirtan
Silence is practiced 9:00 PM - 9:00 AM
Full Moon / New Moon
Optional fasting or simple food
Yagna (Sacred Tantrik Fire Ceremony)
Facilitators
Bhairav
Artemis
What’s the goal of the Anuttara Yoga Program?
"I think in a lot of ways we're trying to break the western portrayal of Yoga. Yoga is not something you do on a mat; Yoga is not a breathing exercise; Yoga is not even a practice. Really, Yoga is what we all innately are. Yoga is when otherness, self-ness and all separateness has completely dissolved.
There are practices that we teach that you can do that may lead to Yoga but they themselves are not Yoga."
- Artemis
"The Anuttara Yoga Program could be said to have a range of diverse goals, but really, we're honouring the ancient tradition while providing practical tools for the modern person to use in their daily lives. Living the Yogic lifestyle with conscious minded people is something that a week-long retreat just can't offer."
- Bhairav
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available for those with financial hardships. Please contact us to request an application form.
Location
Located in a secluded and peaceful setting, Anuttara Ashram is 100 acres of stunning mountains, old-growth forest, waterfalls, wildlife and more. The property has cliffs that back on to the sacred Nass River and is completely off-grid with no cell reception. Wi-Fi is available on weekends.
To be in a place with this much purity, preservation and stillness is a rare occasion in our modern world.