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Morning sessions celebrate the warmth of the day, with Pranayama, Surya Namaskar and a Vinyasa flow. Includes standing asanas, arm and leg balances, backbending, and inversions. Evening sessions include meditation, twists, forward bends and hip-openers.
Susan welcomes all levels. The therapeutic alignment of her work is for anyone who would like to gain a strong foundation for a lifelong practise, and for those who experience chronic pain or limitation of movement in the work.
Susan has taught many group retreats over the years. Here is what many have to say about her work:
“Susan is a teacher with unique knowledge, style and energy. She is authentic. She establishes trust and comfort. She sees each student’s journey and teaches a yoga suitable for everyone!! Her combination of a sharp mind, strong physique and soft heart has forever made her one of the most important and special teachers I have ever had the honour to meet. Thank you!”
-Annie (Stockholm, Sweden)
“Here is why Susan Desmarais is a great teacher: She inspires you to reach for goals you didn't know you could reach, and she helps you to reach them. She led thoughtfully organized sessions, each with a leading idea or thread, all tying to the larger theme of the week: our need to balance striving and effort with receptivity and flow. The group that Susan assembled was wonderful to work with, and to share conversations and delicious meals with. The retreat will certainly be a highlight of my year.”
-Michael (San Francisco, USA)
“I must have been building up some good karma to have earned a week’s practice with Susan. She has the empathy that the nervous student needs. She also has a great teaching technique, a wonderful laugh and a huge heart. If you have the chance to work with her, grab it with both hands.”
-Jane (London, UK)
"Susan's approach to teaching is very firm and very tender. The result is that people in her retreat experience, in mind and in body, ripple at the edges of courage and fear, trust and the unknown. My body and heart were, and are, extremely grateful!"
-Jill (New York, USA)
“My first yoga retreat, but certainly not my last...a great journey. I was inspired and impressed by Susan’s energy, professionalism, and all she shared with us. She is a brilliant yogi, but more importantly, an excellent teacher with the ability to reach out and challenge everyone at different levels.”
-Rikke (Copenhagen, Denmark)
“Susan cares, and this is what it’s all about. She is a seasoned yogi, a hard working professional, an inspired teacher and a life companion. Her retreats are hidden gems that have made a marked difference in my life. I have attended two of her retreats already and I will surely be going back again! I had a great time and I returned home happier and stronger. I would recommend her retreats to anyone who wants to go the extra mile in their yoga practice.”
-Valeria (Milano, Italia)
“My practice has been transformed from spending just one week with Susan. I’ve been practising for many years, and this is the first time I have had my practice improved upon and inspired so intensely.”
-Karen (London, UK)
“Susan guides you through the yoga with direct and precise directions, which were incrediby helpful as I worked my way into many new and challenging poses. Each session was an exercise in trust (in ourselves), in letting go, and opening up mentally and physically. It will be difficult to follow up her skills and abilities as a teacher.”
-Bobbi (Seattle, USA)
“As soon as I arrived Susan made me feel very relaxed and part of the group. We had an amazing week, and I felt my yoga improved a lot. With Susan's breathing techniques, I managed to do some challenging poses which I never thought I'd be able to do. I can't wait to join her on another retreat...”
-Becky (Cornwall, UK)
“Susan really got everyone’s Yogic FIRE started - this made our muscles burn, our skin glow, and got our hearts wide open. A lasting inspiration.”
-Daisy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
“I am getting so much more out of my Yoga since attending your workshop. Your instructions were so precise and logical, I now follow them (albeit in my head) during my practice. Thanks for getting me to practice Yoga safely and also for working so hard to make it intense and interesting with a great big feel-good factor (hence overcoming my attention span issues).
You put so much into your teaching, you should be very proud.
-Colin (London, UK)
"Susan is an inspirational teacher. She challenges you to find your limits and then extend them--you find yourself doing things you never imagined you could achieve. A yoga retreat with Susan is also fun:there is plenty of room for laughter and good cheer."
-Adam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
"Susan's teaching style is light and fluid, challenging and strong, but most of all fun and inspiring. There are no 'passengers' in Susan's classes; both the most humble of beginners and adept of yogis will gain from her instruction. I tell so many people to go, and want to go back myself – it's that simple!"
-Liagh (Dublin, Ireland)
"Susan is unique. Her teaching style shows her profound understanding of yoga, in a place where east-meets-west. One can learn so much at her enjoyable, fantastic retreats."
-Chrystel (Merano, Italia)
Susan is a unique blend of Eastern and Western culture and she blends them both with panache, style and grace. She is a very radiant, very “rooted” Lotus.
-The Group (International)
Susan's yoga retreat was so much more than I had anticipated. She is an incredibly talented and accomplished yoga instructor. Susan quickly assessed the wide range of ability present in the group and designed her classes to support all of us, regardless of our level and experience. Personally, I grew tremendously both in my yoga ability and spiritual awareness. Susan encouraged me to take risks and personally assisted and encouraged me to work slightly out of my comfort zone. I left the retreat relaxed, refreshed and a much better yoga practitioner than the beginning of the retreat just a week earlier!
-Susan (The Hague, Holland)
“Susan has the gift to make me humble and turn inside every time I work with her. She is fun, wacky, and quite humourous, yet she holds this place of self-discovery with compassion and sweetness. Thanks for being the teacher that you are.”
-Marieluise (Zurich, Switzerland)
“Susan's teaching skills enabled me to go beyond my normal physical limits. Teaching us how to help others was a bonus. Her ability to create dynamic group energy made everyone feel welcome and part of something special.”
-June Yvonne (Palermo, Italia)
“Susan is a truly inspirational teacher and I loved the partner work as it enabled me to learn from others and develop my own yoga practice confidently. Throughout the whole week there was a real sense of group ethos and strength - all of us working together towards one common goal. I had a fantastic time and this experience has motivated me to join my own yoga group back home.”
-Sarah (Brighton, United Kingdom)
“I could feel the magic that ran through the group. I know each of us will bring home something very special, maybe even life changing.”
-Elizabeth (Roma, Italia)
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Susan's background in Japanese culture and in Buddhism brings a unique perspective to her teachings in yoga. A student of yoga for over 30 years, her training and experience include classic Hatha yoga, Sivananda, Kripalu, Scaravelli, Ashtanga and Anusara. Having taught for over 12 years, Susan’s specialty is therapeutics. She shares yoga in an energising, therapeutic way, with FUN at the same time.
More about Susan on www.kikuchiyoga.com
Cost of course:
£545 single room
£495 per person, shared room.
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