Taghazout, Morocco,  Tamazirt by Amayour yoga retreat centre near Taghazout, Morocco has announced its spring and summer yoga retreat schedule, placing an emphasis on capturing the energy of new and full moons, and equinoxes.

“Tamazirt means countryside and amayour means full moon in local Amazigh dialect Shilha,” explains Tamazirt by Amayour co-owner Shiraz Ksaiba. “As the lunar energy can be felt for up to three days either side of the new or full moon, we want to capture this energy during our yoga retreats at Tamazirt by Amayour.”

“Spring represents a time of new beginnings and, here in Agouni in Morocco's Anti-Atlas Mountains, the seasons change before our eyes with the fruit trees in bloom, verdant argan forests, and fields with farmers tending their crops. It's also a good time for surfing in nearby Taghazout for those looking for a bit more physical activity,” adds Ksaiba.

Participants are encouraged to join in mindful walks through the rolling countryside, or soak up the panoramic views from the rooftop yoga shala or terrace-level dining area as shepherds graze their herds through the argan trees. In keeping with Amayour's food philosophy, daily meals are prepared using fresh ingredients from the fishing boats, rural markets and even the local gardens to ensure guests dine on the finest seasonal ingredients.

With a belief that yoga should be accessible, Ksaiba has designed a programme to fit all budgets and while maintaining the little luxuries of modern travel and ensuring classes are adapted to participants' abilities.

EASTER BREAK IN MOROCCO

||pause|| retreat 20 - 25 April 2019 with Pip Roberts at Tamazirt by Amayour

On 19 April the full moon will light up the skies over Tamazirt by Amayour and in honour we will kick off our five-night pink moon yoga retreat on 20 April 2019 with Pip Roberts. This full moon retreat will be slow and with feeling, similar to Pip's yoga practices.   

Each day starts with a morning lunar namaskar, a steady-paced and slinky flow, working with the elements to find resonance with the cycles seen and felt in the skies above. Slower than the classical sun salutations, these free-flowing, more restorative, moving meditations are easily adaptable to the day's energy levels and yogi experience.

Afternoon/evening practices are more restorative, and mostly floor based, designed to literally refill your cup. Expect plenty of bolster hugging and yoga Nidra (yogic sleep).

Throughout the six-day retreat, Pip will lead two yin workshops:  

A deep dive into the water element: A journey into the fluidity of the water element within the depths of body through a yin yoga practice, submerging ourselves into subtle movement within stillness. This is perfect for those who are planning a surf lesson throughout the week.

New shoots: A yin practice for spring to re-enliven the inner energy and leave participants feeling energised and ready for real life at home, whatever it holds.

Prices from £360.00 per person in a six-bed share room.

About Pip

Pip offers vibrant, thoughtful and relaxing classes stemming from her intuitive self-practice and varied inspiring trainings  - over 900 hours including hatha in the form of the British wheel of Yoga Diploma, flow with Shiva Rea, Tara Judelle & Tara Stiles, and yin with Norman Blair, Satu Tuomela and Scott Lyons. Pip's a down-to-earth, straight up yogi who embraces the spiritual in a modern way.

Practice is always about being and feeling, rather than doing, exploring pathways into our bodies, seeking to connect in rather than zoning out. 

More details: Tamazirt by Amayour

STAR STUFF AND SELF CARE

Five-night retreat 30 April - 5 May with Gill Costello at Tamazirt by Amayour 

In a world so quick to tell us we're fat, ugly, unfashionable, old, lacking, poor, out-of-date or incomplete in exchange for selling us the latest trend, we can quickly forget our true value, and that in fact we have indestructible, inherent, magnificent worth.

Starting on 30 April, Gill Costello will lead a five-night retreat in the hills of Morocco with participants tuning in to their intrinsic value, the inherent value each and every one of us is born with. The retreat is an opportunity to come back to their truth, to be themselves and accept themselves just as they are - always whole and complete, not contingent on anything. The sparkle in one's eye, the love in one's heart and the laughter in one's belly.

To do so, and with the rolling Anti-Atlas Mountains surrounding Tamazirt by Amayour as the backdrop, Gill will encourage participants to be present and enjoy being present. The day starts with the joy of moving the body during energizing morning flows, before enjoying three fresh meals that nourish the body, uninterrupted reading and writing on the sun terraces or cozy nooks, or simply lying by the pool doing absolutely nothing. Then returning to the rooftop yoga shala for an evening restorative yoga class will reinforce the reminder to remain focused and present as night falls.

About Gill

Gill completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2013 in beautiful McLeod Ganj, Northern India, home of the Dalai Lama. Since then she has continued as both a student and teacher, always deepening her practice and understanding of yoga and its philosophy through workshops, courses and the teachings of the yogis she practices under.

She currently splits her time teaching in either Dublin, Ireland or in sunny Morocco where she is passionate about helping her students to experience a deeper connection to their bodies and to build mental resilience against the pressures of modern life through meditation, connection to the breath and learning to be present. Gill's style of teaching includes slow flows for beginners, strong dynamic vinyasa flows to get you sweaty, yoga for surfers and restorative for deep relaxation and to still the mind. 

For details: The Wild Figg

EXPAND FROM WITHIN  

Seven-night retreat 15 - 22  June 2019 with Francesca Sloan at Tamazirt by Amayour

An auspicious summer strawberry full moon provides the perfect opportunity for harvesting new intention and sowing the seeds for the future as Francesca Sloan leads Expand from Within, a seven-night yoga retreat from 15 - 22 June 2019 at Tamazirt by Amayour near Taghazout, Morocco.

Throughout the retreat, Francesca will lead two workshops around rejuvenation and working with what serves participants while releasing what doesn't. 

Spectacularly, the last evening of the retreat falls on the summer solstice and participants will move through special rituals throughout the day to create a completely connected feeling to this special time of year.   

Prices from £695 in a six-bed share room.

About Francesca Sloan

Francesca found yoga in her early twenties, developing a strong practice to release the body and mind from the anxieties of city life. Experimenting with many types of yoga she found a passion for the playful and invigorating Rocket created by Larry Shultz. The need to practice daily and relieve herself from the fast paced nature of her job as a womenswear designer, eventually lead to her first 200 hour teaching training at The Yoga People in India, and then on to complete her 500-hour advanced training in 2018. She now is both the student and the teacher, offering dynamic vinyasa, ashtanga vinyasa, and Rocket, mandala & yin classes to all levels.

Influenced by her teachers past and present, Francesca teaches a playful practice, with attention to sequencing, fluidity and a focus of breath with movement.  Students are encouraged to search deeper into themselves, whilst always maintaining an open heart and mind on and off of the mat, promoting balance and ease for the individual to feel lightness and relief.

More details: Mineral Yoga

About Amayour Surf and Yoga Hostel and Tamazirt by Amayour

A former London-based photographer, filmmaker and director of photography, Shiraz Ksaiba developed a love of surf that deepened during a solo holiday in 2010, the first she had ever been on, in Taghazout. It was during an almost month-long stay with her two children in 2014 that she met M'hand Naciri, a local surf instructor, who would become co-owner in their first business together, Amayour Surf and Yoga Hostel. The property opened in 2015 when Shiraz and her daughter Matilda came to live in Taghazout. Tamazirt by Amayour opened in October 2018 as a direct response to guests' requests for a dedicated yoga space in the Taghazout region and driven by Shiraz's passion for yoga, having practiced for 15 years. Tamazirt by Amayour, sat in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, can accommodate up to 15 guests with a separate apartment for retreat leaders, yoga instructors, chefs and assistants. Tamazirt by Amayour was named as one of The Guardian's 20 best yoga holiday destinations worldwide in October 2018.

For more information, interviews, press images, and press trips, please contact Mandy Sinclair,

Say Something Communication in Marrakech Morocco at +212622536436 or mandy@saysomethingcommunication.com.