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Ashtanga yoga Weekend Retreat with Mark Ansari 24-26 October

Weekend retreat from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.  Ashtanga yoga all levels, and softer yoga, pranayama and yoga Nidra.

About Mark

Born in London in 1960, Mark has been teaching Ashtanga yoga since 1995.
He was introduced to this traditional
dynamic form of hatha yoga by the inspirational Derek Ireland who encouraged him to study with Sri K. Patthabi Jois in Mysore, India.
He then went on to teach in London for 13 years.
In 2008 Mark decided to start teaching teacher training courses in exotic locations around the world including India, Thailand, Bali and Spain.
In 2018 Mark settled in the south of Spain where he now teaches training courses, retreats and specialised workshops in English, Spanish and German.

“My motivation in my teaching is to encourage students to realise the true essence of the practice which becomes a meditation in movement.”

Mark is one of the most experienced Astanga yoga teachers in the U.K., so this is a great opportunity to study with him

 

Description

Weekend runs from Friday late afternoon arrival to Sunday late afternoon departure

Address Ashley Court, Ashley, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5PD

Contact hello@ashleycourtdevon.co.uk– 07725950683

2 nights fully catered, inclusive of all tuition

House and Grounds
Ashley Court is a Regency country house, which has been largely unaltered since the early part of the 20th century, and was lived in continuously from 1946 – 2014 by a Mrs Yolande Shrubb.  It was a children’s hospital during the war and prior to that a home to several of Tiverton’s great and good including 3 of its Mayors! We are in the long process of restoring the house and gardens as lightly as possible to maintain the authenticity and character which we found so appealing on our first visit here.,    In it’s hay day it would have been staffed by numerous servants, you can switch between’ upstairs and downstairs’ experiences as you move through the building.  You will find open fires, grand hallways, servants bells and stable yards. The grounds are extensive and include formal areas, a large walled kitchen garden, 15 acres of woodland and fields, with some huge old specimen trees. We use the Drawing Room for our yoga studio and meals are served in the Victorian dining room, or outside on the terrace if weather permits.

Directions
Driving: From Tiverton take the A396 signposted Bickleigh. After approx. 1 mile turn right at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately to your left, you will see the small white gatekeepers Lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.

From Exeter take the A396 to Tiverton. Turn left at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately left again, you will see the gatekeeper’s lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.

The house is at the top of the 200metre driveway. (Do not head on up Ashley Back Lane to the right of the cottage where the Sat-Nav might try to send you!)

Train: From Paddington to Tiverton Parkway – takes between 2 and 2 and a half hours.  Trains run very regularly.  If you are coming by train, please book a local taxi in advance as Tiverton Parkway station is rural and miles out of the town, .  Early booking recommended for cheaper fares. You can also take a National Express or Mega Bus from London to Tiverton.

Menu
All food will be seasonal vegetarian and /or vegan, predominantly organic, low food miles, locally sourced and actually grown in our walled kitchen garden where at all possible.
Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, we are happy to adapt for you.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms
Ashley Court was built in 1805 and has a clear division between the ‘front’ formal rooms and the ‘back’ service areas. We have a range of bedrooms available from grander front ones to the smaller servants quarters. Each one is decorated and furnished uniquely and in keeping with the period feel of the house.  One large room has en-suite shower room, the rest  share  shower rooms / bathrooms.  Most bedrooms have the original 1930’s sink in them.

Pets
No pets allowed I’m afraid.  We have  cats, sheep, chickens and tortoises, you are welcome to play with them!

Smoking
No smoking anywhere on the property, please – inside or out

Pricing

£500 per person for a private room with separate shower room shared with one other bedroom.

£375 per person for a shared room  (twin or double)

Some non-residential places available at £250 per persons

Additional information

Room

Holly Room (twin room with shared shower), Monkey Puzzle Room (single room with shared shower), Laurel Room (twin room with shared shower), Wisteria Room (double room with shared shower), Oak Room ( double or twin room with en-suite), Acacia Room (double room with shared shower/bath)

Event Details

This retreat runs from Friday late afternoon until Sunday afternoon.  Yoga sessions will be a mixture of ashtanga yoga all levels, softer yoga, pranayama and yoga Nidra.  Vegetarian meals with fruit and vegetables grown in the Walled Kitchen Garden.  Yoga tuition from Mark.

All levels of experience and ability catered for.

Prices for the weekend is £375 per person for a shared bedroom, or £500 for single occupancy.

For more details and to book, please contact Mark on markansari@hotmail.com

For details of the venue, contact Nigel on hello@ashleycourtdevon.co.uk

Start date: 24 October 2025

End date: 26 October 2025

Start time: 16:00

End time: 16:00

Venue: Ashley Court

Phone: 004407958270528

Email: markansari@hotmail.com