COME TO YOUR SENSES: Autumn Yoga and Somatics Retreat with Tara Sullivan
COME TO YOUR SENSES: A Herbstferien Retreat focusing on Yoga and Somatics
October 25 - November 1, 2025
taught by Tara Sullivan + team + held at Pavlos Place in Triopetra on Crete
Offering a Jivamukti Yoga retreat at Pavlos Place in Triopetra on Crete Island in Greece, has been a dream for us at Three Boons Yoga ever since we opened Jivamukti Yoga Berlin. Indeed it is probably THE Jivamukti Yoga retreat place on planet earth. Sadly we never could make it happen as driving there (due to the doggies) is a bit too long and difficult. But luckily, our dear Tara are now stepping in and organizing a retreat there right during the autumn break (German Spring Break 2.0, a.k.a. Herbstferien) with the benefit that you could even bring your kids (which are easy to just take with you on the plane in case they are non-furry plus there will be included child care during morning yoga classes; we hear maybe even Ossian might teach a kids yoga class or hold a kids kirtan if properly asked for).
RETREAT LANGUAGE: English (Tara teaches in English but also Irish and New Zealandian)
THE DATES: Saturday, October 25 until Saturday, November 1, 2025
GENERAL INFO ON THE YOGA PROGRAM & OTHER ACTIVITIES
THE THEME: Yoga is sometimes associated with asceticism, a rejection of the sensual world. World religions have advocated forms of this for millennia. The Christian abnegation of the body, Descartes’ assertion, “I think, therefore I am”, and puritanical religious fundamentalism have all contributed to a widely-viewed cultural notion that sensory enjoyment is at odds with spiritual attainment.
Pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, is often interpreted as “withdrawal” of the senses, a type of non-reactivity or disinterest in the sensual experience. Another interpretation is “recovery” of the senses. Deep exploration of the body-mind in all its richness and complexity could be a move towards refining the senses to the highest level of subtlety and delight. Clear and deeply felt experiences of life through the body can be a high expression of the soul and a way to connect with the most profound qualities of life. For all of human history, beauty has been associated with divinity, and the direct experience of objective reality can be Yoga.
The Vedic concepts of Purusha and Prakriti, spirit and nature, are also known as the Enjoyer and the Enjoyed. Sri Brahmananda Sarswati wrote, “Without feeling, knowing and thinking would be impossible.”
Asana practice calls me to perceive my body with greater clarity and understanding, and indeed learn to feel and sense more. As I explore and guide my breath in specific ways, I become more attuned to how it feels, and how the experience of breathing is connected to my movement, my thoughts, my emotions, and my entire being. In meditation practice, I become aware on an even finer level of the connections between my thoughts, breath, and body, and can guide myself to a level of delicate body awareness in which I experience profound movements of energy and consciousness. I have the experience of seeing my emotions clearly and the ability to be less controlled by them.
During the retreat, we will sing mantras together, practice asana (in the Jivamukti style), pranayama, meditation, and explore concepts and practices from more contemporary somatic work such as the Alexander technique, natural vision improvement, and breathing as outlined in the book Breath by James Nestor. In this intimate setting, we will be able to accommodate all experience levels in a tailored way, so please don’t think that you are not “advanced” enough for a yoga retreat. There will be hands-on assists and time to address individual questions .
THE YOGA PROGRAM: Asana practice calls me to perceive my body with greater clarity and understanding, and indeed learn to feel and sense more. As I explore and guide my breath in specific ways, I become more attuned to how it feels, and how the experience of breathing is connected to my movement, my thoughts, my emotions, and my entire being. In meditation practice, I become aware on an even finer level of the connections between my thoughts, breath, and body, and can guide myself to a level of delicate body awareness in which I experience profound movements of energy and consciousness. I have the experience of seeing my emotions clearly and the ability to be less controlled by them.
During the retreat, we will sing mantra together, practice asana (in the Jivamukti style), pranayama, meditation, and explore concepts and practices from more contemporary somatic work such as the Alexander technique, natural vision improvement, Tomatis Conscious Ear, and breathing as outlined in the book Breath by James Nestor. In this intimate setting, we will be able to accommodate all experience levels in a tailored way, so please don’t think that you are not “advanced” enough for a yoga retreat.
Schedule (times are approximate):
Arrival day, check-in, dinner and introductions
Full days: practice from 9:30-13h
13h brunch, afternoon break
17:30-19h, evening practice
19h dinner
Departure day, breakfast and check-out
Can I bring my partner, who doesn’t practice yoga? What about my child?
You are warmly invited to bring your partner, friend, family, or whoever might like to accompany you to a magical place for a relaxing week out of time. We will provide childcare support during the morning yoga sessions for children able to swim and independent enough to go with a group; this is an individual decision we can make together so please get in touch. Taras child Ossian is coming and is looking forward to some friends with whom he can enjoy the week. The morning sessions will be for practitioners only, but everyone is welcome in the evening sessions which will be more varied and purposefully inclusive.
REGISTRATION AND PRICES:
For one week of accommodation, all delicious meals, and full participation in the yoga and somatics program:
Triple room €1150
Double room €1265
Single room €1375
€800 for accompanying adults (without yoga program) or kids aged 12 and up
€400 children 6-11
THE REGISTRATION :
For signing up, get in touch with Tara directly at tara@tara-sullivan.com. You can also check out the retreat information on Tara’s website www.tara-sullivan.com This retreat is organized and billed independently from Three Boons Yoga Berlin/Jivamukti Berlin GmbH by Tara herself, so by signing up you will contract with Tara, not with Jivamukti Berlin GmbH.
MORE INFO ON THE LOCATION
There are still a few places on earth that resist following the rhythms of the cities and remain oases for those who are in search of something different. Triopetra Beach is one such place, where time seems to have stopped. Dry landscape, pure nature, dominating sun, and Etesian wind, the sound of the cicadas and the noise of Homer’s wine-dark sea, οἶνοψ πόντος, prevails. The beach is just a few steps away from Pavlos’ Place, and you can enjoy miles of unspoiled and deserted beach with an invitingly crystal-clear sea for swimming or snorkeling. Nature in its purest form will surround you and prompt you to explore and admire its beauty. The yoga shala rests on the top of the building, with endless sea views and both indoor and outdoor space for practice.
TARA SULLIVAN
Though I grew up in an academic family full of words and ideas, it was somatic experience that sparked the fire of curiosity in me. I began my professional life as a classical singer, and out of my own interest in how to feel free, became an Alexander technique teacher. This led to my tenure as the in-house Alexander teacher in the Voice department at Long Island University (C.W. Post), which provided an unshakable foundation in somatic education. After more than a decade of practice, I trained with Sharon Gannon and David Life to teach Jivamukti Yoga. Seeking a change from the noise of New York City, I lived and worked around the world before deciding to raise my son in Berlin. Inspired by relationships, music, the body, and the cosmos, you can find me between the yoga mat and the kitchen, ardently making vegan food.