On this 12-day trip of a lifetime, connect your mind, body & spirit following Susan to the mystical and ancient Kingdom of Bhutan, where tradition is fiercely honoured and Gross National Happiness is integrated into society.
- Bask in spectacular views of the Himalayas as our journey takes us through enchanted valleys
and pristine forests to sacred temples and mountainside monasteries.
- Each day we will be practicing yoga, relaxation & meditation as the sun peeks through the
early morning mist and again as our day draws to a close.
- We will enjoy the hypnotic rhythms and colours of traditional festive cymbals and drums,
discover Bhutanese cuisine, and be immersed in the local culture while staying at private
farms.
You will be joining our group of five men and women of different nationalities. We look forward to meeting you there!
After discovering yoga in Toronto in 1985 and practicing with outstanding teachers like David Swensen, Esther Myers, and Mary Stewart as well as many lesser-known but excellent teachers around the world, Susan began teaching in 1998 following her first yoga teacher training with the late Derek Ireland in Goa, India, in 1997. She qualified as a yoga therapist with the Yoga Biomedical Trust in London (now organised through Yoga Campus) and with Mukunda Stiles, both in 2007. Susan has also studied Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy with David Frawley, A.G. Mohan and Vasant Lad, and for over a decade updates her knowledge in the field of Yoga Therapy via Yoga U Online, a great resource for teachers.
She teaches yoga privately and semi-privately, helping people with physical, emotional or spiritual issues and has been helping people transform their lives for over two decades, through yoga, mindfulness, Ayurveda and astrology. Learning more about yourself helps you learn how to take better care of yourself and others.
She works with teens and adults to build resilience, develop healthy coping skills and find a better frame of mind for the inevitable ups and downs throughout life. Using the same tools that helped her overcome several big life traumas, Susan can show you how to take a holistic approach to your own healing and self-realisation.
At the moment, Susan is not teaching weekly group yoga classes to free up more time for individual yoga therapy and astrological consultations. Read more about that decision here.
A gifted astrologer, Susan helps people to understand themselves and their life journey better through their birth charts and current astrological influences, in keeping with the ancient tradition of harmonising our inner experience with the outer world and the entire cosmos.
Of Irish descent, Susan was born in the US and raised in Canada. She came to Brussels in 1991 for an internship at the European Commission, which led to a short career in international institutions. Eventually, her love of yoga took over after realising the deep satisfaction of watching people tap into their higher potential and discover and transform themselves through ancient wisdom teachings.
Life’s challenges present an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth and are like signposts on the path to awakening. The practice of all aspects of yoga heals, empowers and inspires people.
Single rooms are available at a surcharge
Upon arrival at Paro International Airport we will be met by the Samsara Asia team’s driver and guide.
We’ll enjoy our first lunch together in Paro, before taking the one-hour drive to the capital city, Thimphu.
After settling in, we will meet for a tour introduction and a session of relaxation to freshen up before dinner.
National Textile Museum: Bhutan’s living art of thagzo (weaving) is one of the 13 arts and crafts practiced to this day. Learn to wear the national dress (gho for men and kira for women). The museum exhibits live weaving with major weaving techniques, styles and textiles made by different regions of Bhutan.
Institute of traditional medicine: The Institute provides medical services, trains traditional doctors, and conducts research on Bhutan’s medicinal plants to identify the ingredients in centuries-old remedies and help develop new health products. The Institute has a library of recipes dating back to the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism around 1616.
Visit the Bhutan Postal museum, an introduction to Bhutan’s evolution through the communication and postal systems conveyed through anecdotes, artifacts and a rich assortment of stamps.
Craft Bazaar: The bazaar is specially dedicated to authentic arts and crafts from all over Bhutan. Browse through many hand crafted products from the 13 Bhutanese arts and crafts including colorful scrolls, textiles, and masks.
Buddha Dordenma: The massive statue of Shakyamuni measures 51.5 metres, making it one of the largest statues of the Buddha in the world. 125,000 smaller Buddha statues have been placed within the Buddha Dordenma statue.
Drolma Zhingkham (Tara Abode) Lhakhang: we will drive toward Pangrizam to the 21 Tara Monastery, make offerings to the Goddess and sit in meditation under the giant cypress tree or in the Tara Room (depending on the weather).
Optional: Visit the School of Astrology and for an astrological consultation.