About Scaravelli-inspired yoga and our teaching

'Practice transforms us...We become more beautiful, our faces change and our walk gains in elasticity...To watch these enchanting changes is amazing.'    p.36, Awakening the Spine, Vanda Scaravelli

Scaravelli-inspired yoga encourages individual exploration of asana rather than imitation of form. Vanda Scaravelli worked with B.K.S. Iyengar for many years, but evolved her own approach to her practice which is very different from what we now know as Iyengar yoga.

She did not want to found a system of yoga, but to encourage individuals to make their own exploration. We call our work Scaravelli-inspired to honour her intention.  We aim to offer participants on this retreat an individually-tailored experience. This is your opportunity to transform your practice through a weekend of intensive exploration at your own pace and with the assistance of two experienced teachers. Finding a pathway of ease into postures is the priority.

This approach to yoga is very accessible and prior experience is not essential. 'Beginnner's mind' is the attitude which will help all participants to gain the most from the retreat. However we recognise and honour our students prior experience - we aim to help you enrich your practice through mindful exploration, not to replace one system of yoga with another.

Our teaching partnership began when our different yoga backgrounds led us both to Gary Carter's Advanced Diploma in the Anatomy of Yoga for Teachers. Equivalent to a postgraduate qualification, this advanced diploma for yoga teachers is the most in-depth study of the anatomy of yoga available in the UK, attracting movement practitioners with varied experience such as phsyiotherapists, osteopaths, and dancers. On the course, detailed anatomical study is applied to Scaravelli-inspired yoga, layering theoretical with experiential knowledge.

 

Accommodation, Food, the Area, Travel, Pricing

 

Accommodation

Alstonefield Manor is an elegant Georgian house in the heart of the village, just minutes walk from the yoga venue and The George. Enjoy complete rest and relaxation in the sitting room or the garden. This character period property offers a range of accommodation. Let us know your priorities and we will try to meet them. Any visitors wishing to extend their stay should contact Alstonefield Manor directly at info@alstonefieldmanor.com

 

Food

Look forward to delicious food prepared with care and attention with locally sourced ingredients. The George recently featured in The Times list of 50 best places to eat in the English countryside. The George has also been reviewed by Alistair Sawday in The Times and is featured in The Good Food Guide 2010 and The Good Pub Guide 2010. Friday and Saturday night dinners will be served in the pub dining room. For the Sunday lunch buffet we will have exclusive use of the conference room in Lode Barn. All diets can be catered for, so let us know your preferences and we can plan menus accordingly.

 

Area

Alstonefield is in the Peak District National Park, and within walking distance of Dovedale, the Manifold Valley and many other sites of outstanding natural beauty. We will be organising a guided walk on Saturday from Alstonefield to Ilam and back through Dovedale, and a shorter early morning walk on Sunday. For those staying beyond the weekend, we are well situated for visiting Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Hardwick Hall. These historic country houses are all within an easy drive of your accommodation.

 

Pricing

Early booking advised as we are limiting numbers to ensure individual attention for all participants. For bookings, payments and enquiries, please contact Jane Dawson by email jane@theyogapractice.co.uk or telephone 07939 262 133

Non-refundable deposit secures your place £100.

Early payment offer, £350 if full payment received by 15th August.

Bookings and payment after 15th August £375

For those visitors wishing to join us for part of the weekend each Yoga Practice Session is available at £30, each Epilogue Session £10. Please contact us to book, as we are limiting numbers to ensure individual attention for all participants.

Partners who do not practice yoga are welcome and alternative activities can be arranged. Long distance walking and fishing are options. Please contact us to arrange. Pricing is dependent on activities.

 

Travel

Arrival and Departure times: The first Practice Session on Friday begins at 17:00, so plan to arrive in time to settle in and be ready to start! The last Practice Session will finish at 12:30 on Sunday, and is followed by a buffet lunch.

By road:   Leave the M1 at Junction 25, follow the A52 to Ashbourne, then take the A515 towards Buxton. Look for signs from the A515 to Alstonefield and Milldale to find the village. Approximately three hours drive from London.

By train:   Trains from London St. Pancras to Derby. Fast trains hourly take 1hr 33 mins. From Europe, Eurostar will take you to Derby via London St Pancras. From the North of England, trains run hourly from Manchester to Buxton with a journey time of approxiamtely 1 hour

By air:   Both Manchester airport and East Midlands airport are approximately 1 hours drive from the village.

Pick-ups are available from Derby or Buxton stations and Manchester or East Midlands airports (included in the price quoted above).