Scaravelli Inspired Yoga Immersion Course

Venue

Gayles is a picturesque retreat centre ideally situated in outstanding countryside on the South Downs, five miles from Eastbourne and fifteen from Brighton. Here rural doesn’t mean hard to reach; there are excellent train services from the nearby towns that provide direct travel to and from London Victoria, Gatwick, Ashford International, Brighton and so on. Gayles is just one-and-a-half hour drive from London and there is a regular bus service that conveniently stops beside the entrance. For European visitors there is a ferry service to and from mainland Europe from Newhaven, which is only a twenty-minute drive away from retreat.

The environment and ambience at Gayles encourages an open, safe, relaxed and intimate atmosphere that promotes learning and self-development. We believe that retreats should be fulfilling and inspiring; unobtrusive but available, we do all we can to support you in making the most of your time here so that everybody leaves feeling stimulated, nourished and refreshed.

Gayles is set in ten acres of land adjacent to the Seven Sisters Country Park (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), The National Trust Crowlink Estate and Friston Forest.

With its open fire, high ceiling and refreshing artworks, The Stables, a beautifully converted 1930s stable and adjoining property, provides a warm and practical area for eating, chatting and relaxing. The ground level has an open-plan, well equipped, kitchen and dining room with under-floor heating. There is a separate stereo system with a CD player, DAB radio and amplifier (with an iPod connection cable) which you may wish to use to enhance your own ambience. Immediately outside there is a large, decked, seated eating area which is wonderful for informal meals and gatherings in more clement weather.

There is extraordinarily beautiful countryside and excellent walking opportunities all around.

Accommodation

All indoor accommodation is in comfortable dormitories. The accommodation, studio and eating areas are situated close together around a thoughtfully maintained garden next to gentle meadows offering stunning, panoramic views, allowing you space between activities and room to wander and reflect. There are two recently renovated dormitories, ‘The Studio’ and ‘The Playroom’, which offer comfortable and spacious accommodation for up to seventeen people.

All accommodation is equipped with toilets, showers and washing areas as well as hot drink making facilities. There are good quality, sturdy single and bunk beds with individual storage drawers. Duvets, pillows, linen and towels are provided.

Apart from the sensitively managed estate in which students are free to wander, there is also a private hard surface tennis court and open air pool that you are welcome to use.

Camping option

Whilst Gayles Retreat offers great dorm accommodation, there is also the option of camping.  Gayles offers 4 pitches for tents no bigger than a three person tent.  You can either bring your own tent, or use one provided by Gayles.

Please bring your own sleeping bag and any other camping equipment of your choice.  Pillows and towels are provided.  Toilet and shower facilities for campers are in a funky horsebox which has been fully customised and has proved a great hit with clients.

If you choose a tent provided by the venue, it will be pitched ready for your arrival.  The tents provided are Vango Soul 200 tents which are classified as a two person tent, although best suited for individuals.

Click here to view the full details and a video showing the type of tent supplied.

Team

Catherine Annis is well known for her imaginative and practical approach to yoga. Originally a professional dancer, she discovered yoga as a teenager, and has been practicing for more than 30 years.

Having explored Sivananda, Iyengar, Ashtanga and various forms of Hatha yoga, she eventually gravitated to the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli.

Catherine’s daily yoga practice and teaching focuses on deepening physical awareness and alignment to reveal and release the natural freedom of the body, particularly the spine. She holds a Masters degree in ballet studies and is a qualified Thai massage practitioner, and it is this interest in the body which informs and inspires her teaching.

Gary Carter has been teaching and practising yoga and various other movement practices for 25 years.

He studied with Mary Stewart, Sophy Hoare, John Stirk, Peter Blackaby and, after a brief time with Vanda Scaravelli, met and studied with Diane Long in Florence and Rome. He has studied Shiatsu, Chi Ne Tsang, CranioSacral Therapy and in 1998 met Tom Myers and studied the Anatomy Trains theory in depth, completing the KMI Structural Integration training.

Over the past 15 years he has lectured in Movement Anatomy for Yoga, Yoga teacher trainings, Pilates teacher trainings and massage schools all over the UK.

He has run the Science of Movement course at Middlesex university from 2007- 2011 and studied Dissection at the Institute of Anatomy in Vienna. He ran his Natural Bodies centre in Brighton for over 20 years running several yoga teacher trainings and continues to run his Anatomy and yoga courses in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Jake Poller started practising yoga in 2001. Since then he has studied with some of the world’s leading yoga teachers, including David Swenson, Tias Little, David Life, Duncan Wong, Doug Keller, Godfrey Devereux, and Edward Clark from Tripsichore. He completed his teacher training in 2009 and has taught in a variety of gyms, yoga centres and corporate venues.

In 2010, Jake completed his PhD thesis on the role of mysticism in the life and work of Aldous Huxley. His research led him to investigate Vedanta, Tantra, Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as the work of Krishnamurti, who befriended Huxley shortly after the latter moved to California in 1937. Jake is specially interested in Krishnamurti’s early involvement with the Theosophical Society and the effect this had on his subsequent philosophy.

Jake is currently writing a book about Aldous Huxley, Krishnamurti and the Theosophical Society

Schedule

Sample Programme

Please note that whilst we will do everything possible to adhere to the programme and details laid out above, some things are outside our control, and therefore we reserve the right to make changes if necessary.

Food

Good quality locally sourced food is tasty and nourishing and is served in the relaxed atmosphere of the beautifully converted dining room. If the weather is sunny there is the option of eating out in the open on the terrace. Food will be vegetarian and organic. We can also accommodate for any food intolerances you may have. Please mention these when booking so proper arrangements can be made with the chef.

Travel

Gayles is situated off the A259, 5 miles from Eastbourne and 15 miles from Brighton and about one mile from the picturesque village of East Dean. It is easy to find and access is excellent.

Gayles Retreat
Friston
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN20 0BA

07721 023 845   or   07969 749 829   (Roz & Derry Robinson)

Road:
Travelling east on A27 from Worthing/Brighton, follow signs to Newhaven/Lewes. At roundabout after the rail crossing you have a choice between Lewes and Newhaven; take A26 to Newhaven / Seaford. Alternatively follow the coast road A259 from Brighton to Newhaven. In Newhaven, follow sign to the left for Seaford A259.

Carry on the A259 until you reach Seaford and a mini roundabout with the train station on your right hand side. Stay on the A259 going out of town and continue in the direction of Eastbourne. You will come upon a small bridge spanning a water course. Continue over the single lane bridge and you will then come upon a farm house and the Seven Sisters Cyle hire shop on your left where the road begins to start to climb up a small hill. Approx 2 miles beyond these buildings towards the crest of the hill there is a bus stop on the right hand side of the road as well as the entrance to the private road leading to Gayles.

Satellite navigation

You may find that the postcode does not pinpoint the location exactly.  These are the GPS coordinates:

Rail:
There is a direct train line from London, Gatwick, Brighton and Ashford International etc. to Eastbourne Station. From there we are a 15 minute bus ride away – there is a request stop at the entrance. The telephone number for National Rail Enquiries is: 08457 484 950.

Book Now

Don’t miss out …. book your place on this yoga immersion course now Please note that this course usually sells out very quickly.  To avoid disappointment, please book  your place as early as possible.
Title * Mr Mrs Miss other First Name * Last Name * Your Email Address * Telephone * Address * Which course date are you booking *  13-17 May 29 July-2 Aug both dates Number of places you are booking * Where did you hear about the course? Name of additional guests you are booking for Type of accommodation *  Dormitory Camping If you are camping  I'll bring my own tent Use one of the tents supplied by the venue If you are bringing your own tent, please specify the make and model DEPOSIT A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required to confirm each place. The balance is due no less than 6 weeks prior to the event. You may also pay in full at the time of booking if you prefer. Bookings made less than 6 weeks prior to the event must be paid in full. Payment is by cheque or bank transfer. Please contact Catherine and she will give you the bank details, or alternatively send cheques to: Catherine Annis c/o Triyoga Camden 57 Jamestown Road Camden London NW1 7DB Please select one of the following *  I'd like to pay just the deposit now I'll pay in full now Your yoga experience  Absolute Beginner Beginner Intermediate Very Experienced Yoga Teacher Do you have any dietary requirements? Have you joined Catherine Annis on any of her previous events?  Yes No Where was the last event you attended with Catherine Do you have any medical conditions that we should be aware of? If you are pregnant, please state the number of weeks at the time of the weekend / holiday / course I accept that I must be covered by my own medical and travel insurance (please tick) *  Yes I would like to be emailed updates on new weekends / holidays / events  Yes No Do you have any additional comments or requirements Please leave this field empty.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? After you’ve selected the SEND button above, we will then send you an email confirming receipt of your booking form and confirmation of an available place. We will tell you the exact amount due to confirm your booking. We will email you all further information on the venue and what to bring with you approximately 4 weeks before the event.
CANCELLATION POLICY Deposits are non-refundable. For cancellations made up to 60 days before the course starts, your full payment (excluding deposit) will be refunded.  59-30 days before the course starts, payments (excluding deposit) are non-refundable, but are transferable to a future course with Catherine Annis.  If the cancellation is made 29 days or less before the retreat, payments are non refundable. Cancellation of your course, for whatever reason, must be notified in writing to Catherine Annis via this website, using the ‘contact us’ form.
All bookings are final, and for this reason we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover you in the event of any need to cancel at the last minute.