Advanced Sadhana Course

(14 or 21 days Advanced sadhana retreat)

El Silencio” Sadhana Kutir, San Carlos-Uruguay

14 days option: april 16th to april 29nd, 2024

21 days option: april 16 to may 6th, 2024

This is an intensive practice retreat, with a special focus on advanced pranayama and study of the classic text “Hatha Yoga Pradipika”.
Is a time of seclusion and introspection to dedicate full time to the practice of Yoga to control the Prana and induce a meditation state and a spiritual transformation.
According to the classical yoga scriptures, Hatha Yoga is a preparation for Raja Yoga or meditation.
Hatha Yoga is not just about stretching the body and being flexible, but it is rather a science to control the body and Prana in order to control the mind.

This course was originally conceived and aimed at graduates of the Sivananda Teacher Training Course (TTC or ATTC), but later we have also opened it up to other sincere practitioners or yoga teachers from any linneage who already have a yogic lifestyle and want to deepen their inner experience and learn more about traditional Hatha Yoga, as taught by Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda and the classical scriptures.

We teach this course only to small groups in a seclusive place in the middle of the Nature, an ideal place for this kind of practices.

To take this course you donīt need to be very flexible or have any particular physical acomplishments, neither to be able to hold your breath for long time or anything like that. But, you need to make sure that you have not being consumming any toxics like alcohol, tobacco, or any kind of drugs for at least several months before the course begins. This is very important. The advance practices of pranayama can produce adverse results if the physical body or the psiquic body are intoxicated.

Do not take this course if you suffer from mental illness or any type of psychological imbalances. A sound body and mind is needed for this course.

There would be a natural progress on that through the practice in the course. The most important requisite is that you are able to follow a daily routine and discipline, follow exactly the instructions of the teachers, go to bed early at night and get up very early in the morning, as well as to follow the other rules mention below.

This course begins with a 2 weeks (14 days) part and continues after with an optional level of 7 extra days. So after the initial 14 days you have the option to stay for up to 21 days in order to go into deeper levels of practice and study, which is highly recommended. The second level is just a continuation of the first level, you cannot come just for the second level alone. You have to take the first part even if you have already taken it before.

The aim is to help each one to progress from the level they are now, in order to have a deeper direct spiritual experience by spending a dedicated time for sadhana in an appropriate environment without other concerns or wordly distractions.

In this course we have some group practices as well as individual practices. In the beginning there are some group classes and then gradually we give room to more time for individual practice according to the guidance of the teachers.

Daily Schedule

The following will be the daily schedule for the beginning of the course, but it will be adjusted and changed during the course along with the progress in the practices.

04:00 - 04:30
Wake up and personal practice of some kriyas
05:00 – 06:00
Advanced pranayama, group or individual practice
06:00 - 07:30
Satsang: Meditation and Mantra chanting
08:00 – 09:30
Asana practice. It will be alternating between group class and individual practice
09:30 – 10:00
Rest
10:00 – 11:00
Brunch
11:00 – 12:00
Karma yoga. Students will be asked to perform one hour of selfless service to keep up with the community needs
12:00 – 13:30
Time for personal sadhana and rest. Students will be given some practice to do during this time (pranayama and Japa), about one hour, and then some time to rest
13:30 – 14:00
Light Snack
14:00 – 15:30
Study of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Yoga sutras and other classical scriptures about the theoretical/philosophical understanding of hatha and raja yoga
16:00 – 17:00
Asana practice (sometimes group class, other times individual practice)
17:00 – 18:00
Advanced Pranayama (individual practice)
18:00 – 19:00
Dinner
19:30 – 21:00
Satsang- meditation and mantra chanting
21:30
Going to bed

This scheddule is to begin with, but will be adapted and changed during the course, as the practices become longer.

This is an international bi-lingual course, taught in English and Spanish.
Some classes will be taught in English with simultaneous translation to Spanish and some will be in Spanish with translation to English.

The retreat is still small and there is a limited capacity. Only small groups will be taken.

Register in advance!! Limited capacity

Topics of study :

  • Philosophy, practice and aim of hatha yoga and its relation to raja yoga
  • Detailed analysis of the 3 bodies, 5 koshas and the effects of the various practices
  • Yoga and the 3 gunas
  • Yoga and the 3 ayurvedic doshas
  • Prana, pranayama, nadis, chakras and kundalini shakti
  • How to balance and increase prana, tejas and ojas
  • Yogic diet
  • The environment for practice
  • Common obstacles and aids to the practice
  • Study and practice of yogic kriyas, asanas, pranayamas, bandhas, mudras and meditative hatha yoga techniques
  • How to advance in the practices according to different levels of experience and according to different physical/mental individual conditions
  • Pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi in the hatha yoga system

Course teachers :

This course is directed by Krishna Darshan and Maha Shakti. To see more information about them click here. 

Tuition and fees :

We are offering a very especial "early bird" discount (-US$200) if you sign up BEFORE march 1,  2014 Dont miss the opportunity!

14 days option

until march 1st
Frommarch 2nd  onwards

TENT
1050
1250
DOUBLE Room
1200
1400
SINGLE Room 2200 2400
  • Arrival Date: april 15th
  • Inauguration Ceremony : april 16th
  • Graduation Ceremony : april 22nd
  • Departure Date: april 23

21 days option

cost:
until march 1st
From march 2nd onwards

TENT
1400
1600
DOUBLE Room
1600
1800
SINGLE Room 2800 3000
  • Arrival Date: april 15th
  • Inauguration Ceremony : april 16th
  • Graduation Ceremony : april 29th
  • Departure Date: December 30th 

If you can not stay for the whole second part of the course, you can pay by day. After the 14th day the cost will be US$ 65 daily (per extra day). If you have any doubt about this, tell us how many days you can stay and we'll calculate the cost for you.

Includes the course, accommodation and meals (two main meals plus one light snack a day)

Transportation is NOT included (to and from the retreat place)

People comming from long distance flights are welcome to arrive on november 21st with no extra cost, to have some extra time to settle down and rest.
If you want to arrive a few days earlier (meaning before november 21st ) it may be possible, but please consult with us in advance, we will let you know about availability and donation fees according to how many days earlier you are coming for.

If before or after the Sadhana Retreat course you want to stay longer as a Karma Yogi, it might be possible, please write to ut to inquire.

Payment methods
Cash. ... If you pay with credit card (online only) we'll charge you an extra 10% because that's what it cost to us.

To register

  • $ 300 dollars, non-refundable deposit

  • Fill in the form that will appear in a new page and we will send you instructions for payment, only then you will have a reservation. Information about how to reach the place according to where you are coming from will also be sent.

Your payment or donation is the way for us to maintain the place and keep expanding it to allow more people to benefit, thank you very much!

To participate :

Fill in the form that will appear in a new page and we will send you information about how to reach the place according to where you are coming from.

Accommodation

We have a maximum of 16 beds in shared cabins plus there is plenty of space for tents. You have to bring your own tent. Beds in cabins are only available to the first people who request them. After that there will be only tenting space.

The great mayority of the practices during the course will be individual, and there is lot of space for doing so. Group activities will be outside as much as posible, and if weather does not allow, the practice will be held in a big hall, with big windows , air circulation and enough space between participants.

Rules and regulations
El Silencio is not a hotel or hostel . It is a family house where we follow the ancient and traditional "Gurukula" system, where the students live for a while with the teacher, like a family. Thatīs why we donīt have a housekeeping service. Each person should take care of cleanning his/her own space and we will share the cleaning of common areas like toilettes, kitchen, class room , etc. During the course and stay at "El Silencio" , we ask you to observe the following rules, to help maintaining a Sattvic atmosphere in the place and mind:

* Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take any drugs, meat or fish
* Very important: It is mandatory (unless there is an emergency) to keep complete silence between 22:00hr and 05:00hr. No talking, chatting or listening to music during this time, to respect all the people that is already in bed
* Observe ahimsa or non-violence towards anybody in body, action, speech and thought
* Do not hunt, kill or harm any animal
* Do not pollute the place by leaving garbage of any sort
* Respect and keep silence as much as possible, avoid shouting, screaming or loud music
* Please participate in the practices as much according to your physical capacity and follow the instructions of the teachers explicitly only
* Do not light any fire, incense nor candles in the whole property including tents or bedrooms
Only authorized staff will be in charge of incense and other fire related items.

What to bring
• Yoga mat and personal cushion
• Notebook to take notes
• The book: Hatha yoga Pradipika, with the commentary of Swami Vishnudevananda

• Neti pot, used to practice Neti kriya. Contact us if you donīt have one.
• If you are going to stay in a tent, please bring your own sleeping bag or blankets and towel
• Boots. If you like to walk in the wild nature it is useful to wear boots to prevent thorns and mud especially if it rains
• Toiletries items, Hand sanitizer, Laundry soap
• Flashlight
• Bathing suit (there is a river in the property)
•Proper clothing: During this time the weather is usually warm and pleasant, but nevertheless it can be cool sometimes in the early mornings or evenings, so make sure you have some warm cloths for those times.

How to reach the place
We are 21km away from San Carlos city, Maldonado state, 40km from Punta del Este city and around 160km from Montevideo, capital of Uruguay.

If you are flying to Uruguay:

  • Arrive at Montevideo city's Carrasco international airport (MVD) and from there take a bus to San Carlos (2 hours long). From San Carlos there are buses that will leave you 1km away from "El Silencio", we will be there waiting to pick you up if you let us know in advance. . You can also come from San Carlos by taxi. After you register for the course we will send you more detailed information about the transportation and a map and bus schedule to see which one fits your connections best.

    If you are coming from Montevideo

  • By car: We will send you a map with detailed instructions on how to reach us. It's quite simple.

  • From "Tres Cruces" bus station: There are many daily buses from Montevideo to San Carlos. From San Carlos there are buses that will leave you 1km away from "El Silencio", we will be there waiting to pick you up, if you let us know in advance. . You can also come from San Carlos by taxi. After you register for the course we will send you a map and bus schedule to see which one fits your connections.
  • Register in advance!! Limited capacity