Yantra Yoga is one of the oldest recorded systems of yoga in the world. It has come to us by way of Tibet, a land that holds a vast, rich Buddhist knowledge and heritage. Yantra Yoga’s unique series of positions and movements, combined with conscious breathing, can help coordinate and harmonize one’s personal energy so that the mind can relax and find its authentic balance.

Many positions used in Yantra Yoga are similar to those of Hatha Yoga, but the way to assume and apply them differs significantly. Yantra Yoga uses a sequence that consists of seven phases of movement, connected with seven phases of breathing. In particular, the position in the central phase of each movement helps create specific retentions of the breath that work at a deep, subtle level. For this reason it is not only the main position, but this holding and the entire movement that are important.

This is a superb method to attain optimal health, relaxation, and balance through the coordination of breath and movement.

While today’s Yantra Yoga practitioner does not necessarily need to follow a particular spiritual path, anyone can practice without limitation. This fundamental and rich method is connected with the profound essence of the Dzogchen Teachings, and for millennia it has been taught for the purpose of finding one’s true natural state. For more information about the Dzogchen teachings, see http://www.yantrayoga.org/what-is-yantra-yoga/

Cost and booking

Prices quoted are per person twin share with private facilities. Travel is not included: we are happy to advise on itineraries, or have a look at our How to Get there page for more information. All prices are in Australian dollars.

The cost of the week is $1550 twin share.
Single room supplement: $350
Non-participating partner: $850

If you have any queries, please email us with the Contact us form. If you would like to make a booking, please fill in our booking form.

Program Includes

• 7 nights twin share accommodation at Daku Resort in traditional bures with private facilities.
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided.
• Services of a teacher.
• Course fees.
• Excursions as indicated.
• Return airport transfers from Savusavu to Daku Resort.

Program Excludes

• Airfares
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance.
• Optional activities not listed on the program
• Costs of a personal nature eg laundry, massages, private trips, bar bills
• Meals in Nadi or taken in transit at the airport

Oni McKinstry

Oni McKinstry (ERYT 500- Yoga Alliance) has been practicing Hatha Yoga for 24 years, teaching since 1993 and completed her 3-year Teacher’s Training in Auckland in 1996. She met her Tibetan Dzogchen Master, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in December 1999 and was authorised to teach Yantra Yoga in 2005. Oni was authorised as a Level II Yantra Yoga Instructor in 2010, and has taught in the USA, Canada, Hungary and New Zealand. Oni has recently moved to Christchurch, New Zealand. Her blog is www.oniyogini.com

She says: For me having practiced many styles of yoga (Iyengar, Sivananda, Hatha, Ashtanga Vinyasa) I felt there was something missing, even though my yoga was practiced in a mindful and coordinated way. When I first learned Yantra, I felt everything coming together in a very effective way, my mind was in the same time space as my breath and my body. There was a sense of clarity and calmness as well as a feeling of energy being cleared, harmonized and smoothly flowing. This experience of clarity of mind and energy is very profound yet transformative in my daily activities.

One can have this experience from just one session of Yantra! This is what people will take with them from the retreat. How we breathe while we move is the most important emphasis. We focus on learning and experiencing this (breathing) concretely, and the positions are secondary. The effects are instantaneous and powerful. When we become more harmonized and coordinated internally, there is less stress, less tension and we are more relaxed and at peace with ourselves and others.

Personally, I liken it to jet fuel! Other yoga systems stretch and work my body but Yantra Yoga really works my complete being. I feel truly relaxed afterwards in my mind, energy and body.

We will have two sessions daily. Each session will have breathing practice and dynamic, balancing, movement.  We will learn and practice the movements from the text Yantra Yoga-the Tibetan Yoga of Movement by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (available from www.yantrayoga.org/store3/)

The Nine Purification Breathings (For exhaling stale prana/ energy)

Tsijgong (Loosening the Joints- 5 preliminary movements)

Lungsang (Eight Movements for ‘purifying’ and balancing the prana energy),

Tsadul (For control/co-ordination of the channels- 5 preliminary movements)

1st, 2nd and 3rd group of Yantras (Movements which have much in common with Hatha yoga asanas but differ in the way that they are performed. In yantra yoga the pose is not the main thing: instead what is essential is the sequence of movements, interconnected with the breathing, performed to assume the pose. Both the movements and the pose are done for a limited time, based on a fundamental cycle of 4 counts.)

Vajra Wave (A very dynamic sequence of movements with the benefit of overcoming problems of prana and energy channels)

Basic Rhythmic Breathing (a pranayama) as well as the fundamental Complete Harmonious breathing exercise.

All welcome, no previous yoga experience necessary.

U-Tube: Yantra Yoga: tibetan yoga of movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M_VpcSqq70

Programme

The daily programme is structured around a morning session of approximately 2 hours, and a late afternoon session of approximately 2 hours. In between there will be time for relaxing, visiting town, having a spa massage, going snorkeling on the reef and seeing some local Fijian culture. The  programme may change slightly depending on group dynamics and the weather.

Sat Mar 9
Arrive Savusavu. The resort is 10 minutes from the airstrip,

Sun Mar 10
8:30- Breakfast
10-12 noon: philosophy and practice of Yantra yoga
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 4.30 pm: free time for spa treatments, swimming, relaxing
4.30pm – 6:30 pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm             Dinner

Mon Mar 11
8.30                 Buffet breakfast
10-12 noon- Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 4.30 pm: visit to Savusavu town
4.30pm – 6:30pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm            Dinner

Tue Mar 12
8.30                 Buffet breakfast
10 – 12 noon   Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 4.30 pm: beach / boat outing
4.30pm – 6:30 pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm            Dinner

Wed Mar 13
8.30                 Buffet breakfast
10-12 noon: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 3.30 pm: free time for spa treatments, swimming, relaxing
3.30                 Tapa making demonstration
4.30pm – 6:30 pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm          Drinks at the Savusavu Yacht club. Informal dinner at Daku.

Thu Mar 14
8.30                 Buffet breakfast
10 – 12 noon   Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 3.30 pm: free time for spa treatments, swimming, relaxing
3.30 – 5.30      Village visit
6.00 – 7.00 pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm          Dinner

Fri Mar 15
8.30                 Buffet breakfast
10-12 noon: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
12.30               Lunch
1.30pm – 3.30 pm: free time for spa treatments, swimming, relaxing
3.30                 Coconut demonstration
4.30pm – 6:30 pm: Pranayama and Yantra Yoga practice
7. 00 pm          Final dinner

Sat Mar 19 Return to Nadi and on to international flight