Yoga for Meditation Bank Holiday Weekend Retreat

This yoga retreat at Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, is a bank holiday weekend for anyone who wants to build a steady meditation practice. Led by yoga teacher Johnny Glover, "Yoga for Meditation" offers practical support and encouragement for people who find that meditation feels out of reach, whether the obstacle is a restless body or a busy mind. Complete beginners, experienced practitioners and teachers are all welcome.

What to Expect

The weekend draws on the first four verses of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, which show that distraction has always been part of the human experience and that regular practice is the way back to our Centre: the place of internal quiet and stability that remains constant whatever is happening within and around us. Over the days, the teaching returns to a simple idea. Recognising distraction is itself the antidote to being lost in thought. From there, participants discover what it is to rest in conscious presence and watch the stream of thoughts without being swept away by it.

The work moves through three preparations before meditation itself.

- Breath work steadies the nervous system through breath awareness, abdominal breathing, viloma and anuloma viloma.
- Movement releases tension through joint releasing sequences, a hip opening series, spinal movements, and back and abdominal strengthening.
- Relaxation brings conscious rest through Yoga Nidra, a withdrawal of the senses leading to conscious sleep, and Yoga Nyasa, directed awareness synchronised with the breath.

The meditation practices are Kaya Sthairyam (body stillness), Antar Mouna (inner silence), Ajapa Japa (repetition of mantra synchronised with the breath) and Chidekasha Dharana (awareness of the space of consciousness). By trying these different tools, you find which ones suit you, and leave with a toolkit and a clear plan for practice in daily life.

The schedule begins on Friday evening at 7.00 pm, after supper. Saturday and Sunday each have two sessions, from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 3.00 pm to 5.30 pm, with breaks. The retreat closes on Monday with a morning session from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm, finishing in time for lunch.

About Johnny Glover

Johnny Glover has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2001. He first qualified as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Therapy and Training Centre (YTTC) in Northern Ireland. His weekend course is a popular one, and it is known for its practical, encouraging approach to establishing a consistent meditation practice.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Kagyu Samye Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and centre in Eskdalemuir. Accommodation is available through the venue separately, and the weekend's teaching space and facilities are part of the retreat.

Before You Go

The posture work is slow and gentle, so the weekend suits complete beginners and those with conditions for which strenuous exercise is not advised. It is taught in English.

Please bring your own mat, a sitting block or cushion, and a blanket. Bring comfortable layers of clothing too, so you can move freely and stay warm; the joint releasing movements can actually lower body temperature. Accommodation is not part of the course fee.