August 1 - 6, 2023

Cultivate Creative Power: Yoga, Art, Nature & Writing

Cultivate Creative Power: Yoga, Art, Nature & Writing

We may think of joy as something that happens spontaneously. Few people realize that it needs to be cultivated and practiced in order to grow. Mindfulness is the continuous practice of deeply touching every moment of daily life.
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Cultivate your creativity with a few days of inspiration, peace and rest in the mountains.

Come to this retreat where you will have the opportunity to tune in to the rhythms of nature, in full season of expansion and expression. A retreat designed so that you can breathe deeply, find your own rhythm and (re)connect with the creative power that, just like in nature, lives in all of us.

Give yourself a few days at the foot of Monte Perdido to:

  • Take a break and listen deeply.
  • Integrate the teachings of yoga and meditation into every aspect of your life.
  • Immerse into Nature, contemplate it, breathe it, and be inspired by its beauty.
  • Approach writing as a means to connect with you and the world from creativity.

Who is this retreat for?

For everyone, regardless of physical condition, level of practice or age. Because yoga practice is for everyone. During these days we will practice daily:

  • yoga asanas,
  • pranayama,
  • meditation,
  • creative writing workshops,
  • meditative hiking,
  • mindfulness techniques.

Rates include

All meals made with love in our vegetarian kitchen.
5 Nights of accommodation.
Guided meditations.
5 Yoga and movement sessions.
1 Tea ceremony.
2 Satsangs.
2 Creative writing workshops.
1 Guided relaxation.
2 Meditative hikes in nature.
2 Long half-day hikes in the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.
All taxes, public liability and accident insurance for activities: hiking and yoga.

Not included

Transportation

Activities

Yoga classes are for all levels of practice. The sessions combine Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga principles, as well as movement and mobility exercises.

There is one yoga class per day. The classes are usually dynamic, except after the long meditative hikes there are gentle yoga classes (yin yoga).

Yoga classes are progressive, variations for different levels of practice and particular limitations are always offered.

Meditative walks and hikes are esencial practices in our retreats. They are very simple and accesible for everyone.

They help us to understand, through experience, our deep connection with nature. It makes us notice in each step and in each breath, that the energy that exist inside us it is just the same as the energy that exists out there.

Nature is our greatest teacher. Silence and deep listening helps us enrich the experience She offers.

There will be a daily 90 minute meditative walk in nature, opening the senses and developing mindfulness.

Two days will be dedicated to meditative hiking, starting just after breakfast and coming back for a gentle yoga session. It is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the the Ordesa National Park or surrounding areas.

Everyday there will be guided meditation sessions, in the morning and some nights before going to sleep. The best way to start and finish the day.

We practice simple techniques that are easy to carry on at home. We use universal elements to all of us as concentration objects, such as the breath, the body sensations, sounds, etc.

In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sang means group or community. Satsang is a gathering to share our concerns, questions, and our deepest insights. It is also a time to meditate together, contemplate nature and sing meditative songs or mantras.

Writing is one more path to knowledge, which helps us to better understand our own nature and the world. Like meditation, writing brings us closer to and further away from ourselves, and also helps us develop skills such as observation, empathy or our ability to express ourselves.

If you feel like getting closer to writing and understanding some of its essential elements, in the two workshops of this retreat we will talk about the key ingredients of a text and what it takes to tell a story. We will see some tips to improve the style, and we will also take a look at poetry so that you can return home with more inspiration.

Facilitator: Ana Erostarbe

Ana Erostarbe is a journalist. She is dedicated to strategic communication at Linking Ideas, a company of which she is a founding partner, and her previous career has always been linked to communication. She is the author of the memoir “Hasta que mates” and the collection of poems “De aquellos días”.

A moment of silence to connect with nature, with yourself and with the group. Sharing a bowl of “living tea” we deepen all the richness that dwells in “the way of tea” (Cha Dao).

We give ourselves the opportunity to make from something ordinary something extraordinary and full of meaning.

Karma Yoga is Yoga in action = finding skillfulness and integration in any action.

We bring the principles of Yoga in everything we do. We invite you to practice Karma Yoga by helping us with simple tasks of the house as fetching water from the fountain, chopping vegetables, drying dishes, etc.

6:30 Wake up
7:00 Meditation
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Meditative Hike
11:30 Yoga class
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Free time
17:00 Writing Workshop
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Satsang
22:00 Rest

DATES: August 1 to 6, 2023
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

Duration

The retreat starts on Tuesday, August 1st at 16h. Check-in is from 15 to 16:30h. Then, there will be a yoga class and an introduction, followed by a dinner and an opening of the retreat. The retreat finishes on Sunday, August 6th at 12h, after brunch.

Facilitators

Katya Ríos

Yoga and meditation

Daniel Benito

Mountain guide and meditation

Ana Erostarbe

Creative Writing

Rates per person

Types of accommodation

Rates per person

Standard shared dormitory

750€

Attic double occupancy

785€

Attic single occupancy

859€

Chandra double occupancy

899€

Chandra single occupancy

1045€

Bhumi double occupancy

899€

Bhumi single occupancy

1045€

Surya double occupancy

955€

Surya single occupancy

1085€

Without accommodation*

635€

*Without accommodation: it includes all the retreat activities and meals. It doesn’t include the accommodation, that can be in another guest house nearby.

Prices, donations and grants

We want our programs to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

The published rates correspond to the basic/standard retreat prices. If you are in a difficult financial situation and require financial help to attend this programme, you can find here two support options we are offering. You can select one when you make your booking.

At the end of the retreat we will open a space for donations. With your generosity you are supporting Casa Cuadrau (cooperative of social interest) and its team. You are also enabling other fellow practitioners, who are in a more difficult financial situation, to attend our programmes.

The assistance we offer is only for people in a difficult financial situation, who are unable to afford the cost of this programme.

The price includes:
– Shared dormitory accommodation
– All meals
– All activities
– Taxes & Insurance

Please consider paying the highest rate you can afford from the following:
– Reduced dorm rate: 675€
– Super reduced dorm rate: 625€

If you cannot afford either of these rates, please consider applying for a Karma Yoga/Volunteer programme (minimum stays are 8 weeks).

Discover yoga as an Art of Living