YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREAT in the Gambia

When?   30 January - 6 February 2015

Where?   Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre, Kartong, The Gambia, West Africa

Contemplative theme for the week: Yama and Niyama - being with others - being with ourselves.     

Level?   Suitable for all - beginners, experienced yogis, all ages, stiff people, bendy people - work at your own level.
I invite you to join me on my yoga and meditation retreat in a very special place that will warm your heart.  Take a week out of the British winter to soak up the sunshine and blue skies - the temperature is likely to be in the mid-30s with lots of pleasant shade and cool sea breezes. The climate is perfect to stretch into your yoga practice, relax and restore.  Luxury accommodation.
Yoga practice
The climate is perfectly suited for yoga practice and you will find it easy to stretch and relax.  My yoga is fairly slow paced and the focus is always on mindful awareness and exploration.  We will all work together as a group, but you can adapt the practice as you wish, working more strongly or gently as you need that day.  So it really it suitable for all levels.  The regular yoga will help detox your system and bring a deeper awareness and increased vitality to your body and mind.  There will be two yoga practice sessions a day, one in the morning before breakfast and one late afternoon (Sat-Thurs). 
The theme for the week
The theme for this retreat is YAMA AND NIYAMA - these are the 10 ethical principles set out in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Working through these one by one, alongside asana (posture work) and quiet contemplation, we will each reflect upon our own personal attitude towards ourselves and others. It will be a week of rest, healing, strengthening, nurturing and new discoveries.

Rolfing
Aspects of Rolfing movement are always included in my teaching.  As part of the yoga practice you will be able to explore how your body moves, improve your posture and efficiency of movement.  It is possible to book an individual one-to-one Rolfing session with me while you are away if you wish, working on your posture, rehabilitating, dealing with pain or simply creating more ease in the body. These will be at a discounted rate of £40 during the week.

Excursions and activities
There are various excursions and activities, such as drumming lessons, that can be arranged for you to give you a taste of Gambian culture during your week.  I recommend a trip to the sacred crocodile pool where the women elders of the village will give you a blessing. Early in the morning, Morgan can take you on a guided bird walk and show you the abundance of amazing birds in the area, including hawks, pelicans, weaver birds, osprey, parrots, to name but a few (I'm not usually a bird-watcher, but I found this amazing!).  Jaineba offers tie-dying workshops (you'll see her work in the craft shop), and Fatou (pictured) is available to braid your hair.  A visit to the market in Brikama, the nearest town, can be arranged, and river trips can be fun.  (There is a fee for these activities; all are reasonably priced.)
The venue
Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre www.sandele.com is in the forest by the sea in the south of the Gambia, away from the main tourist area.  British hosts Geri and Maurice are internationally respected pioneers in sustainable tourism and have created a wonderful place to stay and practice yoga, in conjunction with the local village Kartong.  In the afternoons you can rest in the shade of the palm trees or on the idyllic beach.  You will be given a guided tour of the extensive grounds on arrival and be introduced to the many community and eco projects ongoing at Sandele.

Retreat fee
The fee for the retreat is £510, which includes all yoga sessions and half board in a shared en suite room.  Lunch and snacks can be bought from the Sandele restaurant (though you may find as I do that after a late substantial breakfast/brunch you don't need another meal before dinner).  Single rooms are available for a single room supplement of £90.
EARLY BIRD OFFER: £465 if booked before the end of July 2014.

To book
Book your place by paying a deposit of just £150.  The deposit is non-refundable and the remainder of the fee is due 8 weeks before the retreat commences.  Book by the end of July to get the early bird discount!  Please email me on [email protected] for a booking form.
Getting there
Fly to Banjul from Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester (there are Friday flights which are perfect if you're just staying the week).  Flights and transfers are not included in the retreat fee.  Flights can be booked via the Gambia Experience or Thomas Cook and cost from £300-£450 return (prices vary).  Transfer from Banjul airport to Sandele costs £20-25 one way which can be shared by guests arriving on the same flight and will be arranged for you by Sandele. 

Special flight offer:  Gambia Experience are currently offering a special fixed price of £395 return for guests on this yoga retreat.  This price is guaranteed for bookings made up to the end of August, even if prices go up on the their website.  It includes 20kg of baggage, an in-flight hot meal and you can pay a £95 deposit now and settle up 8 weeks prior to departure.  There is a special number to call and offer code - please email me for these [email protected]

What to bring
  • Yoga mats are provided, but you may prefer to bring your own (travel mats are a lighter weight designed for air travellers).
  • Yoga clothes and swim wear.  Cardigan for cooler evenings.
  • Summer sandals.  Walking shoes for excursions or walks.
  • Sun cream and hat, though it's quite possible to stay in the shade most of the time.
  • Insect repellent - there are very few flying insects around at this time of year, but it's a good idea to spray in the evenings anyway.  (Nets are provided over the beds.)
  • Malaria tablets - contact your GP for advice.  Malaria is rare at this time of year, but it is advised to take precautions anyway.  The most popular allopathic preventative medication is Malorone or Doxycycline - look on the internet for more information to help choose the one that suits you best.  For homeopathic advice call Ainsworth's Homeopathic Pharmacy on 020 7935 5330, who provide a mail order service.

Before your trip
  • Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance before booking your flights.
  • Immunisation - contact your GP for up to date advice (usually it's just typhoid and Hep B if you haven't already had those).
Coming early or staying on
If you wish to extend your stay, please get in touch with me for details of special accommodation rates.  The popular Kartong Music Festival will be taking place the weekend of the 6-8 February.  The video to the right is about the first festival, and also tells you a lot about the village of Kartong.  2015 will be the 10th anniversary of the festival, so a very special one!
Youtube video
A previous guest at Sandele made a video about his experience which you can see here.  You will see pictures of Sandele, various excursions and some clips from the Kartong Festival.

For more pictures and links see my Facebook page Gambia Yoga Retreat.
How to book a place
If you would like to join this special Gambian yoga and meditation retreat, please email and I'll send you a booking form.  If you have some questions first, give me a call on 07867 488561 or email [email protected]

Yoga teachers
If you are a yoga teacher and are interested in running a retreat at Sandele - please get in touch with me for more information.

KAIRA DORON (Mandinka for ‘only peace’).