Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) retreat, Mid Wales, United Kingdom

Kundalini Awakening

Working with Pranayama and the Energetic Aspect of the Process of Spiritual Awakening

Tuesday 1st July - Sunday 6th July 2025

This retreat will take place in a beautiful centre in Montgomeryshire, in Central Wales, U.K.

The centre comprises a large country house with two converted barns set in 200 acres of grounds.

The gardens are lovely, with an orchard, woods, fields, stream and boating lake.

The Yoga

The focus of the retreat will be on the cultivation of inner silence, peace-fullness, bliss and Self-Realization.  

We will be holding three practice sessions each day. In the evenings there will be teachings given on the philosophy of yoga especially as it relates to the Kundalini process. 

Topic

During the retreat we will be looking at the process of kundalini as it unfolds in the body. We will also look at various pranayama practices and at how these work with kundalini to create an effective and stable spiritual awakening.

We will look at the following forms of pranayama during the retreat:

  • Spinal Breathing Pranayama
  • Alternate Nostril Breathing
  • Heart Breathing
  • Kapalbhati
  • Dynamic Jalandhara Bandha
  • Yoni Mudra Kumbhaka
  • Spinal Bhastrika


Some of these are advanced forms of pranayama, but more basic forms of pranayama will always be available for people who are new to yoga, or who prefer that.

No previous experience of yoga is necessary to attend this retreat.

Practices

Teachings on the retreat will also include:

  • Deep Meditation – especially looking at the process of brining the mind to stillness and silence and the cultivation of the witness.
  • Spinal Breathing Pranayama – looking at the purification of the subtle nervous system.
  • Samyama – looking at the practices of samyama and cosmic samyama, and at how these relate to transcendence.
  • Asana practice – building a daily posture practice routine. 

Full instructions in practice will be given. The retreat will be led in English and will be suitable for people of all levels of experience. 

All yoga classes and meditation sessions are optional, so you can take the retreat at your own pace.

Teachers

Tristan Dorling

Tristan Dorling

Tristan began the practice of yoga in 1985 at school when he was 16 years old. At the age of 19 he travelled to the Himalayas to live in a Mahayana Buddhist monastery. This was really his first introduction to the higher teachings and to the spiritual life. He had his first awakening experience a year later after a meditation retreat in a Buddhist cave monastery in Thailand…

Alex Wales

Alex Wales

Alex first came to yoga through meditation, and this practice continues to provide the foundation of his yoga journey and the inspiration for his teaching. He sees the practice of yoga postures as a means to integrate the subtle transformative effects of meditation with the physical body creating space in life for peace, energy and creativity to arise.

Darshan

Tristan will be giving darshan several times during this retreat. This is a gentle energetic transmission designed to increase the purification of the central channel in the body. It will be possible to receive darshan each time it is given.

Receiving darshan is optional and is in addition to the regular classes. 

Food

Home made Bread
Salad dish

The food on the retreat will be cooked by Sally.

Food will be vegetarian. The food served will support a yoga and meditation practice. We can also cater for vegan diets and gluten free diets, if you let us know in advance.

There will be two meals served each day (brunch and dinner). Fruits and hot drinks will be available all day.

Cost and booking

Per person:

  • One bed in the female shared room (three sharing), En-Suite:  £745 per person   (Available)
  • One bed in the male shared room (three sharing), En-Suite:  £745 per person   (Available)
  • Double room (2 sharing), En-Suite:   £765 per person   (Available)
  • One bed in a twin shared room (female), En-Suite: £765 per person   (Available)
  • One bed in a twin shared room (male), En-Suite: £765 per person   (Available)
  • Single Room, En-Suite:   £795   (Two rooms still available)

The price includes accommodation for 5-nights, food and all the yoga and meditation sessions.

A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of £100 is required to secure a place on the retreat, with the balance paid 2-months before the retreat starts.

There are a limited number of single rooms available and they are given on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Once your place on the retreat has been confirmed, you can make payment by credit/debit card here, or by bank transfer.

Payment terms and conditions are on the same page at the bottom. 

Getting there and away

The nearest town is Llanidloes which is ten minutes away by car or taxi. The nearest train station is Caersws which is also ten minutes away by car or taxi. 

Full travel directions are sent out to everyone coming.

Retreat schedule

Tuesday 1st July 2025

15:00-16:00  arrival
16:30-18:00  asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
18:00 dinner
19:30 evening meeting followed by silent period until 09:40 the following morning.

2nd to 5th July 2025

07:00-08:30    asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
08:40-09:40    pranayama, meditation, samyama
10:00 brunch
11:00 – 15:30   free time/ walking/ personal practice

15:30 – 18:00  asana pranayama, meditation,  samyama
18:00    dinner
19:30    evening talk/ questions and answers followed by silent period until 9:30 the following morning.

Sunday 6th July 2025

07:00-08:30 asana, pranayama, meditation, samyama
09:00 breakfast
10:00-11:00 house and kitchen clean-up

11:00 farewells and departure