| THE
SUN CENTRE
France
The
Sun Centre Newsletter - January 2005
Happy New
Year! And may 2005 bring you peace, friendship, laughter and more wonderful
things than you could hope for.
Here at
The Sun Centre we enjoyed a quiet, peaceful and cosy midwinter with
just some family and close neighbours for company. Since before Xmas
we have had extraordinarily good weather and have been working in the
garden with only a T-shirt on top most days. The ground is almost bare
but there are tiny signs of life poking up everywhere and there is a
great sense of calm in the cloudless blue skies overhead.
All this
outdoor activity has seen us building a chicken coop and pen for our
brood of hens which should be ready to settle into their new home in
March. This means that we will soon be able to collect our own eggs
fresh from the garden. It’s time I started researching omlette
recipes on the internet.
After the
successful début of our wood burning stove, recently installed
in our yurt for winter weather (and cool evenings), we have just replaced
it with a larger model to ensure that groups can enjoy a cosy communal
space whenever they want it – even in the coolest of weather.
Other news
is that Ryanair, who fly from London Stansted to our local airports
Nimes and Montpellier, will later this month be switching the London
destination of their Nîmes route to Luton. Handier for some, less
handy for others, no doubt. One point to note, however, for those who
preferred the Stansted departure, is that Easyjet fly into Luton from
all over the UK making the international link easier in many cases.
Ryanair’s Montpellier-Stansted route remains unaffacted. British
Airways, of course, also fly into Montpellier from the end of March
through to October.
Finally,
we have just completed our 2005 program of events (see below) which
features many old favourites as well as a couple of new events being
run by Alex and myself and the arrival of two new facilitators. One,
Susie Hunt, will be inaugurating our first ever art retreat at the end
of May. This is, for me especially, an exciting occasion as I have been
wanting to host a visual arts event at the centre for some time, being
a great art lover myself. Susie, who lives in Aberdeenshire, is a talented
art group leader who will be challenging you to approach the creative
process from a whole new angle. Traditional water colours, oils and
still lifes are out; following your intuition and experimenting with
textures, effects, colours and different medias is definitely in. No
skill required – just a willingness to push your imagination a
little further and explore your creativity. Please book early as places
are limited.
I hope
you find something that takes your fancy in this year’s retreat
listings. There may be late additions to the program as the year progresses
– keep an eye on our website for updates, although we will also
send out any new course details via these newsletters. We do, of course,
also warmly welcome those who just wish to spend some relaxing time
alone or in company, with no fixed agenda, on an Open Retreat. Various
therapies are available for anyone who wants to pamper themselves and
there is plenty of walking, exploring, river bathing and sometimes evening
meditation sessions to take part in during your stay.
We hope
to see you soon!
Namaste,
Sharon & Alex
Events
Listing 2005
Note:
Prices are inclusive of all classes, shared accommodation (mostly twin
rooms) and meals. For weekend events, it is possible to arrive the night
before, and / or to spend an extra night or more.
Please
make enquiries via our online
form (in order to pass through our spam filter) or phone +33 (0)
4 66 60 16 78
Winter & Spring
Ayurvedic
‘Kick-Start’ workshop - with Alex Duncan
6 - 10th Jan 2005 (includes arrival option on 5th and overnight
stay on 10th, for early departure the 11th)
€675
Take
responsibility for you health and avoid premature aging and chronic
health niggles. Empower yourself through self-understanding and by
following the flow of Nature’s rhythms. By understanding your
unique constitution, your environment, and how these two relate, you
become empowered to introduce health giving measures into your everyday
life. On the first day, I will spend a little time with you individually,
to determine you Ayurvedic constitution (your prakriti) and suggest
specific recommendations, including nutritional, lifestyle and exercise
advice as well as suggestions for the use of Ayurvedic herbal remedies.
The rest of the time will be a split between informal educational
talks and practical sessions for the body, breath, voice and mental
work. As far as I am aware, there are no other courses like this running
anywhere in France. It is a great opportunity to work in a small group,
in a beautiful environment, and really learn something useful that
you can take home with you, not to mention have lot of fun!
‘Love
Yourself, Heal Your Life’ weekend workshop – with Sharon
Black
29 and 30 Jan
€230
The key to living a happy, whole life is to love ourselves. When we
truly accept and respect who we are, we automatically attract experiences
which nurture us and bring us joy. By learning how to master such
a simple yet profound change in attitude, you can transform your life
forever. During this workshop, based on the teachings of Louise Hay,
author of ‘You Can Heal Your Life’, you will receive in-depth
training in techniques such as positive affirmation, creative visualisation
and meditation. There will be pair work, group discussions, hands-on
healing, inner child work and guided meditations, all in a safe and
confidential environment. Price includes morning and afternoon sessions
both days, overnight accommodation on Friday & Saturday and all
meals from Fri. dinner through to Sun. lunch. Discount of €20
for those arriving Sat. morning. Optional stay to Thursday evening
possible on ‘Open Retreat’ (see below).
A
Practical Introduction to Ayurvedic Psychology - with Alex Duncan
26 & 27 Feb (additional overnight stays available on 25th and the
27th)
€220
The
focus of this weekend workshop is to introduce the Ayurvedic understanding
of the mind, and how to improve our mental and emotional health by
developing self-understanding and introducing supportive practices
such as positive affirmations, visualisation and mantra (healing sounds).
The Ayurvedic/yogic outlook offers a liberating change of perspective.
Nothing is lost, on the contrary, we only gain greater clarity and
peace. This short event will combine a mixture informal classes with
practical sessions. Anyone already familiar with yoga or Ayurveda
will benefit, but it is not a pre-requisite, as we will cover the
basics of the Ayurvedic approach in the first morning. One of the
great things about Ayurveda is that it works with our uniqueness,
helping us to understand how we relate to our environment, which includes
our friends, family and partners. Just having an understanding of
how the Doshas (mind-body energies) relate to peoples' habitual emotional
behaviour is quite useful in itself. It helps us to accept things
as they are, yet provides us with clues about how to make the most
of our relationships. Come prepared for some fun, as we chart our
minds with a new navigation system!
Spring
Equinox Yoga & Walking Retreat - with Alex & Sharon
19 - 26 March
€500
Alex and Sharon (your hosts at The Sun Centre) lead a week of inner
and outer discovery. Alex will help you find your feet with your yoga
practice through his daily yoga and Ayurveda classes, while Sharon
will guide you around the beautiful walking trails in the mountains
around the centre. Discover the natural beauty of this part of the
Cevennes from the GR routes (Grande Randonnee) as well as some of
the smaller trails, our own personal favourites. Walking times will
vary from 2 hours to 5 hours a day, with picnics provided at some
out-of-the-way beauty spots on longer hikes. The emphasis of this
week is fun, exploration, discovery and relaxation - in the order
of your choosing. With a special evening gathering to celebrate the
spring equinox (21 March). There will be lots of opportunity to talk
with Alex and Sharon informally about their own personal interests
in yoga, Ayurveda and personal development.
Spring
Clean – Ayurvedic Detox Retreat – with Alex Duncan
16 – 23 April
€600
Spring
is one of the best times to cleanse the body, it's where the phrase
"spring cleaning" comes from. This week-long retreat has
been designed to give you an opportunity to gently cleanse you body
and mind, while at the same time learn about some simple but very
beneficial Ayurvedic dietary and lifestyle practices. Ayurveda has
a comprehensive approach to detoxification and rejuvenation, perhaps
the most advanced in the world. Yet the heart of the Ayurvedic message
is ‘prevention is better than cure’. That’s why
I focus on teaching how to prevent illness and premature aging. The
approach I am offering is safe and gentle, and focuses on empowering
you via education, and includes the use of safe, time-proven herbal
remedies coupled with dietary and lifestyle changes, including simple,
enjoyable yoga exercises that gently detoxify and rejuvenate the body
over a period of months. This week is thus a primer as well as a detox
week. You will eat light, vegetarian food, but no extremes. It will
be tasty and pleasurable. You will receive a consultation with myself,
in order to determine your Ayurvedic constitution, and assess any
ongoing health concerns or special dietary needs during the event.
In addition to this, there will be a daily class where I will guide
you towards a self-practice of yoga-exercises, as well as presenting
some of the ideas behind the advice and tools you are being given.
But especially, there will be plenty of time to forget your busy life,
and just relax.
Yoga
& Walking Weekend – with Sharon & Alex
7 - 8 May
€150 (about £92)
Alex and Sharon (your hosts at The Sun Centre) lead a weekend of inner
and outer discovery. Alex will help you find your feet with your yoga
practice through his daily yoga and Ayurveda classes, while Sharon
will guide you around the beautiful walking trails in the mountains
around the centre. Discover the natural beauty of this part of the
Cévennes. Walking times will be about 3 hours each day. The
emphasis of this weekend is fun, exploration, discovery and relaxation
- in the order of your choosing. Price includes overnight accommodation
on Friday & Saturday and all meals from Fri. dinner through to
Sun. lunch. Discount of €20 for those arriving Sat. morning.
Optional stay to Thursday evening possible on ‘Open Retreat’
(see below).
Yoga
Retreat & Holiday – with Simon Rowe
21 - 28 May
€580
A
week of hatha yoga, meditation & relaxation, pranayama, partner
yoga and basic shiatsu. Simple Qi Gong practices will also be taught.
Emphasis will be on exploring the deeper aspects of yoga, getting
back to nature by practising outdoors and learning new ways to calm
the mind, de-stress the body and enjoy deep relaxation and self-healing
on all levels. With plenty of time to relax and explore the surrounding
countryside and mountains.
EVENT
DETAIL
Summer
Art
Retreat – with Susie Hunt
28 May – 4 June
€500
Join respected British artist Susie Hunt for a week of guided creativity
and exploration of materials. Whatever your art background –
be it none or professional - Susie will help you push your talents
further and explore your creativity in exciting new ways. During this
week you will experiment with techniques both old and new, making
use of a variety of textures, effects and colours. Susie will guide
you on a journey from the traditional to the contemporary, from water
colour to mixed media and lead you to explore the potential of different
medias. No skill required.
EVENT
DETAIL
Yoga & Walking - with Alex & Sharon
2 – 9 July
500€
see
description for March event
Living
Positively – with Alex and Sharon (full details available
on request)
9 - 16 July
500€
Being
human is to exist on four different but related planes: the mental,
emotional, spiritual and physical. Bringing health and harmony to
each and getting the balance right may seem like an impossible process.
But with the right approach and attitude, the journey towards health
and happiness can be a joy in itself. And being on the right path
– the right path for you, that is - brings a true peace all
of its own. During this week, Alex and Sharon. your hosts at The Sun
Centre, will share with you some of the ideas and teachings that point
the way to this kind of positive living. Using yoga, Ayurveda and
self-development (see the Heal Your Life entry for Jan.) they will
share with you some of the best ways to achieve inner and outer harmony
in your everyday life. Through all the practices covered, one theme
stands outs: the importance of respecting ourselves as individuals,
with our own needs, wants, talents and tendencies, and not members
of a species for whom one size fits all. Come prepared for change!
Yoga
– with Frances Yates
16 - 23 July
500€
Join Frances for a relaxing week of yoga and body awareness in inspiring
surroundings. Each day will start with an outdoor yoga session on
the deck accompanied by the whispering of leaves and symphony of bird
song. Afternoons will provide an opportunity to relax in a hammock
under the shade of the sweet chestnut trees, visit one of the nearby
river spots for a swim, do a bit of local exploring on foot, mountain
bike or horseback, or to let go completely with a massage. Before
supper the group will come together to practise mantra or meditation,
share some hands-on massage or create personal mandalas.
EVENT
DETAIL
Yoga
& Ayurvedic Nutrition (includes cooking lessons) – with Alex
Duncan
30 July – 6 Aug
550€
With
its origins stretching back to the dawn of written history, the Vedic
culture of ancient India created Ayurveda, perhaps the oldest still-practiced
health system in the world. A sister subject to yoga, Ayurveda uses
yoga, diet and lifestyle, each prescribed according to an individual’s
unique constitution, to bring about good, lasting health. This workshop
offers a rare opportunity to learn the basics of Ayurvedic nutrition
and cooking in a friendly informal setting, surrounded by nature.
A balance is struck between morning talks and cooking lessons with
leisurely afternoons and optional yoga classes. Includes hands-on
cooking classes. No prior knowledge of yoga or Ayurveda required.
Note: Alex
teaches Ayurveda for the European
Institute of Vedic Studies.
Yoga
– with Bronwen Coghill
6 - 13 Aug
500€
Deepen
your practice, understanding and living of yoga with Bronwen Coghill.
Each day will start with a morning session including banda practice,
a flow-based asana practice to channel energy and focus the mind in
preparation for a short pranayama and meditation practice to end the
session. The middle of the day will be free to relax and explore.There
will be a late afternoon session of restorative asana practice and
yoga nidra (deep relaxation practice), exploring how yoga nidra can
be used for personal growth and healing on all levels. Evenings will
be ‘as the mood dictates’ – talks or informal discussions,
games, or just doing your own thing. The week is suitable for those
who have already had some introduction to and experience of yoga.
Bronwen is running 2 consecutive retreats this year. This one, the
first, is more suitable for those wanting a gentler approach, with
more restorative work and relaxation than in the second week.
EVENT
DETAIL
Yoga
– with Bronwen Coghill
13 - 20 Aug
500€
Popular
yoga teacher Bronwen’s second event this summer. See previous
entry for details. Note: this week’s late afternoon session
will explore more challenging postures, with one or two yoga nidra
sessions during the week.
EVENT
DETAIL
Yoga
& Walking – with Alex and Sharon
10 - 17 Sep
500€
see
description for March event
Year-round
Open & Working Retreats
Open
Retreats
All year round, depending on availabilty
€350 per week / 55€ per night
Open
Retreats available throughout the year. Price includes accommodation
(twin or single room, depending on availability; camping available
for reduced rate) plus 3 meals per day (or picnic lunch if requested).
A variety of additional activities (yoga, Ayurveda, massage, etc)
are on offer and charged separately. During your stay, you will be
able to make use of our various workspaces and gardens & grounds
- ideal for reading, studying, yoga or meditation.
EVENT
DETAIL
Working
Retreats
All year round, depending on availabilty
€100 per week.
Experience
the pleasure of working at The Sun Centre with like-minded people.
Assistance to keep the centre running is always welcome as there are
1.5 acres of land to manage. The woodlands, grassy terraces and gardens
all need constant care and attention. There are jobs to suit all abilities
from delicate weeding and pruning to building work, where you can
achieve the satisfaction of creating something of lasting value. It
is important that you enjoy what you do, so care is taken to find
the appropriate task. Expect to work for approx 4 - 6 hours every
day, usually outdoors.
Please
make enquiries via our online
form (in order to pass through our spam filter)
Sharon
& Alex
The Sun Centre
48160 St Martin de Boubaux, France
(tel) +33 (0) 4 66 60 16 78 (dial 00 33 4 66 45 59 93 from UK)
(email) retreat@thesuncentre.net
(web) www.thesuncentre.net
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Essential
Ayurveda for Yoga Practitioners - Part II: Tridosha Theory
by
Alex Duncan, The Sun Centre, France
In the
first of this series of articles, I briefly explained the practical
relevance of Ayurveda to yoga. Now I will introduce the three doshas,
Ayurveda’s kingpin theory upon which all its practices are based.
The doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) are the three fundamental biological
humours that create and maintain all mind-body systems and functions.
In yoga we learn that the universe is nothing but prana, the ‘life
force’. Well, the doshas are nothing but a three-way division
of prana on the physical and mental levels. As prana is intelligent,
so are the doshas, which function like puppeteers, animating us right
down to deepest level of our being. Since the doshas are forms of prana,
the easiest and most effective way to control them is with the appropriate
pranayama, and believe me, like unruly children, the doshas need to
be controlled, lest they wreck the place! ‘Wait a minute’,
you are thinking ‘aren’t the doshas positive forces of nature?’
Yes: when they function properly, they uphold health, but when they
become cranky, they cause disease. Thus in Ayurveda, all disease is
considered an imbalance of the doshas (dosha literally means ‘fault’).
Vayu
(Vata), pitta and kapha are the three doshas, in brief; they destroy
and support (sustain, maintain) the body when they are abnormal and
normal respectively.
Asthañga
Hridayam by Vagbata (circa 500 AD).
There
is no such things as a free lunch, not even in Ayurveda. Keeping the
doshas in check is the key to optimal health and longevity, and requires
a continuous effort on our part. Besides, what good does a free lunch
ever really do, if we tend to overeat when given the chance! (As we
will see in future articles, most diseases start in the digestive tract.
We have a saying in Ayurveda: ‘The first half of your meal feeds
you, the second half feeds your doctor!’) How can we recognise
the doshas? We read their state of play by observation alone.
Vata
governs all movement thus controls all nervous function, thought
and mobility in general. Anything that moves in the body or mind does
so due to vata. It is dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, erratic.
Think of air or the wind. Its primary site is the colon and it is most
active in nature during the early morning and late afternoon, autumn
and early winter, and old age. When vata becomes aggravated, it dries
you up and disperses your energies and tissues.
Pitta
governs transformation and is responsible for all chemical
and metabolic functions, giving heat and the ability to digest, assimilate
and transform things both physically and mentally. It is slightly oily
or wet, penetrating, hot, light, malodorous, free flowing and liquid.
Think of fire or bile/acidity. Its primary site is the small intestine
and it is most active around midday and midnight, late spring and summer,
and adult life. When pitta becomes aggravated, it burns you up, consuming
your tissues and energies.
Kapha
relates to cohesion and provides structure, support, stability
and lubrication to the body and mind. It is oily or wet, cold, heavy,
slow, smooth, slimy, and stable or static. Think of water or phlegm.
Its primary site is the stomach (and lungs) and it is most active in
the morning and evening, late winter and early spring, and childhood.
When kapha becomes imbalanced, it creates stagnation of energy and excess
growth of tissues.
Take a
moment to consider these doshas, especially their qualities. Try to
recognise them in yourself. For example, consider one of vata’s
main qualities, dryness, which commonly manifests as dry skin, dry itchy
eyes, dryness in the mouth, dry cracked lips and nasal passageways,
dry hard stools, and dryness in the joints causing painful, stiff or
cracking joints. Psychologically, vata’s erratic nature can manifest
as confusion and unreliability. Its mobility gives quickness of thought,
which often becomes diffused and unfocussed.
The key
to understanding Ayurveda is to bring to life the ‘dry’
raw material of theory into ‘wet’ living knowledge, or vidya,
by correlating all that we experience to the ‘play of the doshas’.
So between now and the next issue, I invite you to ‘feed’
your experiences and observations to your mental ‘digestive fire’,
budhiagni (literally: fire of knowledge) for a deeper, tastier, understanding,
so as to whet your appetite for the next article, where I will introduce
my best friend Aunt agni and my worst enemy, Uncle ama!
Alex
Duncan, Ayurvedic Educator, lives in the South of France where he runs
The Sun Centre (www.thesuncentre.net) a small retreat offering consultations
and various Ayurveda & yoga workshops and retreats. Contact Alex
on (France): +33 (0) 466 455 963 or alex@thesuncentre.net.
Helpers
& Therapists required!
We always
welcome enquiries from people wishing to contribute to the running and
maintenance of the centre in exchange for a discounted stay. Last season
we were lucky to have two fantastic childminders who occupied our children
for 4 hours each morning. This year we are also looking for help in
the home and gardens. Availability is normally limited to one person
per week, but couples can apply. The following are possibilities:-
- Massage/hands-on
therapy (to give treatments to staff during rest weeks) ASAP!
- Child
care (references and interview necessary)
- Light gardening and cleaning work (no skills required)
- Skilled projects like fence building and buildings
maintenance (DIY skills required)
We have
no fixed formula but usually suggest that helpers pay 100 Euros per
week (normal Open Retreat cost is 350 Euros) and contribute about 4
hours per day of help. Alex is happy to offer an Ayurvedic
consultation for free as part of the deal!
Send enquiries/suggestions to
.
Our
Ethos When
we moved to France in 2001, we had a clear vision of what we wanted
to do, though at that time we didn’t have the place or the people
to do it with. Having been inspired by a visit to the holistic holiday
centre Skyros a few years earlier, we knew we wanted to work among people
who were interested in personal and spiritual growth. We wanted this
to take place in a beautiful environment, a place with an enormous amount
of stillness and natural beauty where people - including ourselves -
could relax, let go, feel safe, be at peace, and just BE with ourselves.
After a ridiculously small amount of time spent looking, we found our
little spot of heaven, halfway up a hillside in the middle of nowhere,
and called it The Sun Centre. The name refers to the metaphorical sun
in the centre of our hearts where we can be completely light, bright,
still and at peace. Like a brilliant inner source radiating life, light
and love through our whole body with each rhythmic pumping of the heart.
Read
more...
Newsletter
Every
3 months or so we send out a short newsletter (by email) explaining
what's new at The Sun Centre. There will also be some content covering
current issues in the field of Mind Body Spirit.
Please
pass this email on to anyone who you think might be interested in The
Sun Centre.
They
can join our mailing list by going to our homepage: www.thesuncentre.net
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