Yoga & Meditation Long Weekend (with Surata & Sarah)

This retreat is suitable for those who have a regular meditation practice and who regularly attend retreats, a centre or a group within the context of the Triratna Buddhist Community. You will also need to be familiar with, and happy to participate in, Triratna Buddhist devotional practice and ritual (puja), be comfortable with extended periods of sitting meditation and the possibility on some retreats of periods spent in silence.

These retreats with Surata and Sarah are for those who already have experience of practising and meditating within the context of the Triratna Buddhist Community and regularly practise yoga.

Surata brings to his teaching 50 years’ experience of both yoga and Buddhism. His teaching combines a depth of experience with humour and playfulness which he brings to his classes. His particular mindful and gentle style of yoga is influenced by the teaching of Vanda Scaravelli, as he writes:

Experimenting with our body from stillness in meditation, slowly at first, so as to catch the quality of our own resting, breathing and subtle moving, we will sense for habitual patterns and look for appropriate alternatives. If we can allow the breath to lead and carry us into movement, perhaps we can free and awaken the spine and thence our hearts and minds.”

Sarah says of her practice:

"A brush with yoga in my late teens led me into esoteric martial arts which became my passion for a decade and a half. I taught Shintaido in Berlin in the early 90s and upon my return to the UK came back to yoga as my main body work practice. Living in Brighton at the time gave me access to a lot of teachers and a vibrant yoga scene. My main teachers were Peter Blackaby and Monica Voss and I decided a next step would be to do the teacher training in Scaravelli inspired yoga. I trained at Morley College with Rosamunde Jordan and Marilyn Freedman in 2005 - 2007, and with  Rosamunde and Donna Malcomson in 2013. I now have nearly twenty years experience of teaching both group classes and one to ones.

My exploration in yoga is often led by curiosity about how one’s physical experience in the world influences one’s emotional and spiritual life. I like to encourage anyone who expresses an interest in a more mindful and intuitive approach to yoga to try it out".

There will be two sessions of yoga a day alongside meditation, Buddhist devotional practice, ritual and discussion.

Covid-secure requirements

We are no longer asking each retreatant to take a lateral flow test before travelling to Rivendell, but we are asking that they bring a test with them in case they fall ill whilst here.

We want those that come to Rivendell to be confident that we are making their stay here as safe as possible.

Concession information

Rivendell has a concessionary rate available for most of its retreats. If you are in need of further financial assistance to help enable you to come on retreat here, please do consider writing to our office team via bookings@rivendellretreatcentre.com explaining your circumstances.

Cancellation policy

All deposit amounts are non-refundable and non-transferable in all circumstances. 

If you wish to cancel your place on a retreat, we require a minimum notice of 4 calendar weeks before a retreat is due to take place.

If you cancel more than 6 calendar weeks before a retreat is due to take place you will receive a refund of all but the deposit amount, if you have paid in full.

If you cancel between 6 and 4 calendar weeks before the retreat is due to take place and we can't replace you, you will be required to pay half the total cost of the retreat.

If you cancel less than 4 calendar weeks before the retreat is due to take place then any refund will be at Rivendell’s discretion, depending on the circumstances.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel, as there may be other people waiting for a place on the retreat to become available. The refund amount will still depend on whether we can fill your space.

Retreat Leaders: 
Surata and Sarah Whiteley
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 to Monday, October 27, 2025

Prices for this event are: £289 - £259 (Conc)

Selected Price: 
£289.00