3 Days Festive Rejuvenating Meditation and Yoga Retreat in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Lake Isle Retreats, 42 Geaglum Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen BT92 9GN, Northern Ireland, UK
Meditation and Yoga Retreat in Ireland
Lake Isle Retreats invites you to a meditation retreat in Ireland! This retreat is for you if you are looking forward to meeting fellow meditation enthusiasts in a space dedicated to meditation. There will also be other activities such as a picnic, excursion to a temple, Kirtan, and more!
Meet the instructors
Tim, Chrissie, & Sukhada
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Highlights
- Yoga practice with Lucy and Chrissie
- Mantra or silent walking meditation with Tim
- Mindfulness walk alongside a river and treasure hunt
- Crossover to an island by boat for temple / island visit
- Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and herbal teas
- 2 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
3 days with instruction
Accommodation
Facilities
- Dining area
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Yoga studio
- Free parking
- Library
Mandala House has private single rooms, twin rooms, and triple rooms. You can either book a room privately for yourself, share a private room with a friend or two, or share a room with others on the same retreat. The retreat center can cater for between five and thirteen guests.
Single rooms available on all retreats. Also, on some retreats accommodation may be shared with other attendees. If you're not used to this, don't worry! This is part of the retreat experience and helps to create a large family atmosphere.
Also, you won't be spending so much time in your room anyhow - the retreat is so packed with events, exotic experiences, and friendly interactions, that you hit the pillow tired at night, and then the next morning you jump out of bed and are out walking or jogging through the countryside by the shores of Upper Lough Erne, hearing the morning chorus of the birds.
Program
Meditation
"To meditate" is defined as the practice of focusing one's mind for a period of time for spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation (Oxford English dictionary). The Lake Isle Retreats meditation class is designed to satisfy these two motivations.
As long ago as 1500 years before the present, early monks in Ireland established monasteries on several islands of Lough Erne. The feeling of meditation and calmness permeates the lakeland atmosphere, especially if you arise early and experience this for yourself, even if the retreat you attend only begins at 08:30 a.m.
The class
The facilitator sings some slow deep mantra chants using the beautiful harmonium instrument. Everyone relaxes and centers themselves. Seated on chairs, everyone takes part in silent meditation, attempting to expand his or her own consciousness through deep hearing.
The focus will be on being in the moment and listening to the sounds of the world, without your attention wandering - without day-dreaming. Simply hearing. Simultaneous to this, The facilitators will silently repeat two simple mantras, representing the divine masculine and the divine feminine.
After meditation, you discuss your experiences. The facilitator touches on some philosophy behind the practice of meditation.
Then you begin the relaxation sequence. Participants choose whether they want to remain seated on chairs or switch to lying on a yoga mat or specifically-tailored flat cushions. Other options include sitting cross-legged or holding oneself in a yoga pose.
Calming relaxation music is played out over the room, with flutes, oriental violins, and sounds of birds singing and water falling, etc. The participants are taken through a visualization sequence - a guided meditation where you travel to a distant beautiful land with the mind's eye.
In the end, as you are all mentally returning to the room, the facilitator sings auspicious mantras along with the harmonium. Finally, participants open their eyes feeling very refreshed and enlivened.
Yoga
According to ancient texts from India, yoga has been practiced since time immemorial. In the early 20th century, a Vedantic scholar and Ayurvedic healer called Krishnamacarya is credited as being a leading figure in the founding of "modern yoga", which is the general Hatha-style yoga which can found in community halls and gyms all over the planet.
Lake Isle Retreats have fantastic local yoga teachers plus expert visiting teachers to lead their programs.
Daily schedule
Friday, December 27, 2019
- Optional massage times: 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m.
- Arrival time: You can arrive anytime from 2:30 p.m.
- Dinner is served from 6:15 p.m. Massages are available to be booked from 3 p.m. Price: 30 GBP or 35 EUR for a 50-minute massage. An aromatherapy full-body massage, reflexology, Indian head massage; head, neck and shoulder massage; Aromatouch; all available from qualified, good-natured therapists.
- At 7 p.m., start relaxation and meditation with Tim
Saturday, December 28, 2019
- 07:30 Mantra or silent walking meditation with Tim - this also involves some outdoor walking meditation, for which you will need a winter coat, and hat, scarf, gloves.
- 08:30 Yoga with Lucy
- 10:15 Breakfast
- 11:30 Depart for a walk to the Cladagh Glen and the Gortamaconnell viewpoint
- 12.10 A section of the walk is a mindfulness walk alongside a river. You'll also climb up to a viewing point at Gortmaconnell. On the top of the hill, you have a fun treasure hunt!
- 14:45 Delicious picnic lunch after the walk (according how you all feel at the time you can either eat outside or warm up in the cars)
- 16:00 Arrive back at the retreat center Mandala House
- 16:20 Massages available from this time and all evening
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:20 Kirtan meditation music by candle-light
Sunday, December 29, 2019
- 08:30 Yoga with Chrissie
- 10:00 Breakfast
- 11:10 Meditation and visualization with Tim
- 12:10 Cross over to an island by boat for temple / island visit. Kirtan sacred songs - Sunday program with various other visitors and participants. This event takes place every Sunday.
- 13:00 (optional) talk on Vedic wisdom of ancient India. Guests may also use this time to relax and chill-out, if they wish. You can walk around the 22-acre lake island with mature forests and thousands of trees.
- 14:00 The Sunday Feast in the temple
- 15:00 Depart from Inish Rath Island and return to the mainland
Included excursions
You will be able to enjoy a forest walk by car and crossover to Inish Rath Island by boat for temple / island visit.
Instructors
Tim McEvitt
Tim left his home at Dublin when he was 18 years old to become a Krishna monk, which was initially a bit of a shock to his family but now everyone is happy. He trained at Bhaktivedanta Manor temple near London and then lived in the temple on Inish Rath Island for eight years. While in the temple, he studied Vedic philosophy from the ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavat Purana, plus he learned kirtan-yoga and sacred chant music.
Chrissie
Chrissie is originally from Germany, though has a sweet Irish accent. She is a yoga teacher and a tour guide. She sometimes travels around Ireland to assist German-speaking tourists with their holiday. But back in Fermanagh, she shares her unique yoga tips during the retreats. She was trained in Doi Saket, Thailand with a school which traces its lineage back to Paramahamsa Madhavadasji in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sukhada Repass
Sukhada Repass has her own practice near the shores of Upper Loch Erne called Ray of Light. She enjoys helping people through Reiki energy healing, sound therapy, Indian head massage, and reflexology. She is a mother to three lively and energetic children, two of whom were born in the state of Vermont, USA during their time there. Sukhada has deep enthusiasm and faith in energy healing.
Retreat location
Mandala House is situated on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, 400 meters across the water from Inish Rath Island. The lakeland area is a peaceful sanctuary where you can enrich your body, mind, and soul. Deer and other wildlife wander freely in the peaceful lakeside atmosphere.
The house is situated in Fermanagh, one hour 45 minutes' drive from the start of the M3 motorway in Dublin, or the same drive-time from the start of the M1 in Belfast.
For spiritual, holistic and meditation retreats in Ireland, perhaps there is no more fitting and beautiful location as L. Erne, with its 154 islands - five of which were historically the sites of monastic communities from the sixth century.
On nearby Inis Rath there is a beautiful Krishna temple, and at the retreat and accommodation facility on the adjacent mainland, Lake Isle retreats offers you a very warm welcome.
Nearby places
- Inish Rath Island, 400 meters
- M3 motorway Dublin - 45 minutes' drive
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
All food is vegetarian and extremely tasty, cooked with love by vegan chef Carmen Padilla Quiel. Meals are prepared fresh on the day.
Everything is vegetarian - no meat, fish or eggs. Most preparations are vegan (dairy-free). The food is a combination of Indian vegetarian (e.g. samosas, curries, basmati rice, etc, etc.) and "Western" vegetarian (e.g. pizza, salads, pasta, soups, etc). The retreat center can cater to any special diets for allergies and intolerances.
In case you're a yogi, Vaishnava or someone familiar with a "Sattvic" diet, the retreat center doesn't use the following ingredients: onions, garlic, mushrooms, vinegar, and alcohol.
In Ayurveda these ingredients may be prescribed for medicinal or other uses, but are not generally consumed by Hatha or Bhakti yogis. If that sounds "restrictive" then you might find you have a lot to learn about non-European cookery!
The retreat center has a polytunnel and a vegetable garden for growing their food. During the growing season, they use their own organic potatoes, carrots, courgettes, peppers, corns, tomatoes, beetroots, cucumbers, French beans, and some herbs in preparing the dishes.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
During the first day, massages are available to be booked from 15:00. The prices are 30 GBP or 35 EUR for a 50-minute massage. Aromatherapy full-body massage; reflexology; Indian head massage; head, neck and shoulder massage and Reiki energy healing.
During the second day, you will be able to book therapy sessions. Therapies available:
- Aromatherapy full-body massage with Fiona, Lucy, Sukhada, Paula, or Sonia
- Head, neck and shoulder massage with Fiona, Lucy, Sukhada, Paula, or Sonia
- Back massage with Fiona, Lucy, Sukhada, Paula, or Sonia
- Reflexology - Massage therapy of the feet with Sukhada, Fiona, Paula, or Sonia
- Reiki energy healing with Sukhada, Annette, Paula, or Fiona
- Sound healing with Sukhada
- Aroma touch (light massage of the back and feet) with Paula or Sukhada
Aromatouch
This is a light massage of the back and feet. Aromatouch is where essential oils are applied along energy meridians and visceral contact points of the back and feet to help balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of the body. Aromatouch helps general well-being by reducing physical and emotional stressors and supporting healthy automatic function. A session is deeply relaxing.
Reflexology
A gentle therapeutic pressure point massage, working on the reflex zones of the feet, which correspond to different parts of the body. Stimulating these reflex points can help with many health problems and boost the body’s healing ability. Restores natural balance and promotes a sense of well-being. Wonderfully relaxing.
Sound Healing
Sound Healing is the use of tuning forks on the body to restore harmony and balance. It helps to restore harmony and balance & reduce stress. Each energy center within the body has its own note, so when one receives sound healing, it's an aid to restore the body's natural vibration.
Temple visiting
Every day of the year in the temple on the island there is a morning ceremony and meditation that you are very welcome to attend. One begins at 04:30 and the second at 07:00. You are welcome to attend any service if you like. For attending the 04:30 service in the temple you may phone the island the day before and that morning to request your ferry trip. The mangal arati ceremony and chant at this time is a wonderful experience.
What's included
- 2 nights accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and complimentary herbal teas every day
- All classes and workshops and activities
- Free parking outside the retreat center
How to get there
Recommended Airports
BFS
Belfast International Airport
97 km
Transfer not provided
LDY
City of Derry Airport
97 km
Transfer not provided
DUB
Dublin Airport
117 km
Transfer not provided
Driving directions from Belfast and the East
- Coming from the Belfast and the East, take the M1 which leads onto the A4 in the direction of Enniskillen.
- Twelve miles before reaching Enniskillen, look for the left turn taking you to Lisnaskea. At Lisnaskea there is a primary roundabout beside Lidl Supermarket.
- Go onto the main street here by taking the second exit and drive down the road.
- After one minute, you come to a smaller mini-roundabout (a painted circle) on Main Street and take the right turn taking you towards Derrylin on the B127 road, which you follow for five miles.
- You cross over a first and then a second bridge over the lake (both bridges are approximately 100 meters long).
- Take next turn left and follow signs to Inis Rath from here.
- Continue on the gravel road towards Inis Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.
Driving directions from Dublin
- From Dublin or the South, take the M3 from Blanchardstown in the direction of Cavan.
- As you approach Cavan Town, take the third exit at the main roundabout following the signs for Enniskillen and Ballyshannon. Follow this road and after 14 minutes, you arrive at the Belturbet Roundabout (do not take the earlier turn-off for Belturbet town).
- Continue on straight taking the second exit here towards Enniskillen (you're continuing on the same N3 (M3) road which began in Dublin).
- Continue on for 8 kilometers and take a right turn at Teemore Cross.
- The sign says Lisnaskea 9 - you are now in County Fermanagh and road-signs are in miles. Follow this road for two miles going in the direction of Geaglum Quay and Inish Rath Island. Continue on this road to its conclusion following the signs to Inish Rath Island (just before you come to Geaglum jetty there's an Inish Rath 1/4 mile sign).
- Continue on the gravel road towards Inis Rath for 400 meters until you see the sign for Mandala House.
Driving directions from the North (Derry, Donegal, Omagh)
- Coming from the North (Derry, Donegal, Omagh), aim for Enniskillen. The road approaching Enniskillen is the A32.
- In Enniskillen, aim for Dublin on the Sligo Road (A4).
- A mile out of town center, take the first exit or go left at roundabout following signs for Dublin.
- 10 miles South of Enniskillen, you come to Derrylin.
- On the other side of this one-street village, take a left onto the B127 towards Lisnaskea.
- After three miles, look for the Inish Rath Island signs from here.
- The first sign will have you make a right turn off the B127.
- Continue on the gravel road towards Inis Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.
Driving directions from the West (Sligo)
- Coming from the West (Sligo), aim for Enniskillen.
- Before entering the town, take a right (or second exit) at the roundabout and aim for Dublin on the A509 (N3).
- 10 miles South of Enniskillen, you come to Derrylin.
- On the other side of this one-street village, take a left onto the B127 towards Lisnaskea.
- After three miles, look for the Inis Rath Island signs from here.
- The first sign will have you make a right turn off the B127.
- Continue on the gravel road towards Inis Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Dublin Airport (DUB).
You can also fly into either Belfast International Airport (BFS) and City of Derry Airport (LDY). Each of these cities is a similar distance by road from Inis Rath Island and Mandala House.
If you are not hiring a car, then Dublin Airport (DUB) may be the most convenient airport destination. Nine times a day a Bus Eireann coach (the national operator) goes through the airport and brings passengers to Belturbet (the small town closest to the retreat center in the Republic of Ireland). Ground staff at the airport will assist you to find the location of the bus stop, which is a very short walk from the main exit of the airport building (specifically you want Zone 10, Stop 2, Route 30). You're looking for the bus with 'Donegal' as its end destination. Tickets are 26 EUR return. The coach at about 13:50 is the time most convenient for you for arriving for the retreats, in general.
Arrival by bus
Large towns close to Inis Rath Island are Enniskillen and Cavan Town. A taxi from Cavan will cost approximately 35 EUR and a taxi from Enniskillen will cost approx 30 GBP. Enniskillen and Cavan are 25 kilometers away but you can get closer to the retreat center with the national coach services of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. From Dublin, take the Donegal line from the main (and only) coach station in Dublin city center (Busárus). Ask for a ticket to Belturbet. The journey takes about two hours and 20 minutes. From Belturbet, you need a taxi. From Belfast, there are buses every hour from Belfast to Enniskillen. You get off at Maguiresbridge, about 12 miles before Enniskillen. Then, take a taxi.
Arrival by ferry / boat
Especially if you live in the vicinity of a ferry port on the Irish Sea, traveling by rail (or coach) and a ferry is a fine alternative to travel by air. For example, visitors from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Wales, and the English midlands can access Holyhead in North Wales by rail or coach. Once you arrive at Dublin city center, you're on a coach from the central coach station (Busarus) to get to Mandala House.
Arrival by taxi
Via Republic of Ireland: Benny Corby with his family and friends are the cheerful local taxi service. If you arrive on the Bus Eireann coach at Belturbet, the car journey to Lake Isle Retreats' Mandala House near Inis Rath Island costs 15 EUR. Almost two hours after leaving Dublin, the coach stops in Cavan town for a five to 10 minutes' break. From the moment this bus departs again you should phone Benny and tell him where you are. He will then know you will be arriving in Belturbet 15 minutes later.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.
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