DATES 23.1. – 3.2.2025 (11 nights)
LOCATION Private Island
CAPACITY 10 Guests
LEADER Adam Phillips
AUDIENCE Women and men Age 12 – 70
PRICE 2450 EUR
NOTE (If you have any concerns about doing the course please get in touch with Adam for a call)
Kalari is unique! Why? Because no other practice, not even yoga, embodies the art of connection to the human organism as deeply and totally as Kalari. It is both a yogic and a healing art. A practice of posture and a practice of hands-on bodywork. It engages with all systems of the body: the musculoskeletal, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive, circulatory, nervous and energetic. It balances the Vayus, the Tridosha, the Siva/Sakti and the elemental makeup of the body itself. The individual purifies the organism through movement and massage. The fascial lines of the body are recognised and exercised, strengthened, lengthened and stabilised. Through both training and treatment, the individual is brought into the centre.
RETREAT PROGRAMME
PART 1: MARTIAL ART
- The principal Vadivu (postures) – the transformative and shamanic elements
- Cheru thozhil (grounding warm-up exercises)
- Kalugal (kicks to improve flexibility and flow)
- Ground exercises (for upper body strengthening and stabilisation)
- Pila Tangi and Arrapukai forms of Northern style (balance power & release).
- Stick rolling ( improve proprioception and shoulder strengthening)
- Vandanam prayer form (Northern style) for aligning the spine and readying the body for practice
- Vannakam forms (Northern style) to develop devotion, body control and sensitivity
- Empty-Hands forms from southern style Kalari
- Footwork patterns from central style Kalari
- The hidden martial applications behind the forms – known by very few teachers
PART 2: HEALING ART
- Complete stage 1 of the training in Kalari massage
- Learn traditional massage techniques used for revival from injury
- Leave the course equipped to help others with what you have learnt
- Begin our in-depth and certified training program in Kalari Marma treatment
PART 3: THEORY
- History and Philosophy of Kalari
- The design of the Kalari and the way of the Abhyasi (practitioner)
- Anatomy of the Fascial body and the Energetic body (Nadis & Marma)
- How Breathing and the Spine behave in motion
- How to restore balance through exercise and treatment
- How Kalari links to Yoga
- Sports Science principles in Kalari
- Principles of tissue healing and exercise rehabilitation
- An Intro to Ayurvedic principles and to understanding constitution (from Dr. Caoru Osani)
EXAMPLE DAY
Training
Kalari training is done twice a day for 60 minutes, in the morning and evening, when the sun is not hot. We will be training for 5 days a week – the days of rest are important in preventing a build-up of lactic acid in the body and allowing your fascia to rehydrate. We use traditional Kalari and Ayurvedic medicines for training, including oil for you to put on the body which has many benefits in itself: insulating the body to keep the blood within the tissues warm prevents injury, sweating out of toxins prevents blood diseases, introducing medicinal herbs to the bloodstream reduces toxicity and inflammation.
Yoga
You shall have two additional 45 minute sessions on each of the training days in Yoga Nidra and Meditation/Pranayama. This shall be taught by Victoria. Regular practice of yoga nidra, meditation and breathing techniques reduce the production of cortisol (stress hormone) and improve the circulation of immunoglobulins in the blood, which strengthens the immune system. With the practice of yoga nidra, pranayamas and meditation, one can significantly improve health indicators by eliminating and reducing symptoms that cause suffering. By devoting time to body and breath practices one can quickly recover physically and mentally.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga nidra, also known as yogic sleep, is a very useful guided meditation.
By relaxing the body with breath and attention, directing it to let go of control and tension, you enter a state of consciousness that is on the edge between wakefulness and sleep.
These steps will allow you to achieve deep relaxation of the body and clear the mind of unnecessary information, and you will be able to hear yourself better and gain strength without creating tension.
Meditation
Meditation will help you record all your experiences, regulate the energy in your body and help your psyche and mind to record the physical workouts without feeling stressed in your body and mind.
Pranayama
Breathing practices will help improve blood chemistry, allowing you to unload the nervous system, tuning the hormonal system to work properly, filling the whole body with oxygen and allowing the muscles to be freer practicing Kalari.
Treatment
Each day we will have 60 minute practical session on Kalari treatment in which you will observe, assist and learn how to give treatments to yourself and others.
Theory
Understand the history and background of Kalarippayattu and how it has developed over its 5000-year history. Learn how Western scientific research is now validating the practice. Study both the system of Fasciology and the science of Marma, to understand the connections between the two.
Although we shall train together mornings and evenings, as your teacher I shall design for you your own individual training program, suitable to your current level and training goals. My main focus is for you to take away a personalised program to continue independently. Should you have any injury or impairment in your body, the forms and exercises can be adapted to suit you better.
RETREAT LEADER Adam Phillips
Adam has been learning, teaching and researching Kalaripayattu for 25 years, first encountering the practice as an actor in training. In 1999, he visited India and became a student of Gurukkal CM Sherif at Malabar Kalarippayat Academy (MKA) in Kerala.
Since then he has become a senior teacher of the school, and is now one of the most experienced non-Indian practitioners of the art, leading workshops in UK, Poland, Serbia, Czech Republic, Russia, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Mexico, USA and India. Alongside his practice of Kalarippayat and the healing art Kalari Chikitsa, he has trained as both
an actor and physiotherapist and has used Kalari in both disciplines to gain deeper understanding of the psyche-physical process involved in body conditioning and re-education. In 2023, together with Sherif Gurukkal and Massimo Capuana, Adam established the International Academy of Kalarippayat Studies in Apulia, Southern Italy. A centre of teacher training, treatment and research. Over the next 5 years they plan to revolutionise the way Kalari is seen internationally; and through evidence based research and a diligent study of fasciology, provide solid proof on how Kalari works.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalarilab/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalarilab/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KalariLAB
TEAM
Victoria Phillips & Caoru Osani
Victoria Phillips has been teaching yoga for seven years with a focus on pranayama and meditation. She was trained and certified in Dubai and Moscow by the best instructors in those cities. Victoria’s personal yoga practice experience spans over 17 years allowing her to sensitively guide the mind, body and consciousness into the practices she has mastered throughout her lifetime. Victoria provides morning classes in pranayama and meditation and evening classes in yoga nidra whilst also supporting Adam and Caoru in running the retreat.
Dr Caoru Osani (MD,BAMS,PGDY) is a fully qualified Ayurvedic Doctor who trained in Rajasthan, India. She is also a student of Kalarippayattu since 2003, also of MKA in Kannur.
As a member of KalariLAB she offers Ayurvedic consultation and prescription of medicines and diet/lifestyle indications to all students partaking in the immersion courses. She also offers consultation to clients outside of these courses, on request. Later in 2025 she shall be leading the Masterclass : An introduction to Ayurveda, with both theory and practical classes in Puglia, Italy and also Pinang island, Indonesia.
PRICE 2450 EUR
Includes
- 40 hours of training in Kalari and Yoga
- Your own individualised training program to take home with you
- A course manual explaining the theory behind the practice
- Traditional training dhoti and Kalari Lab T-shirts
- Laundry services so you can always be fresh for classes
- Airport transfers from / to Nias, Gunungsitoli Airport (GNS)
- Accommodation in bungalows
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All-day water, coffee, tea and fruits
- Daily cleaning service
- Fresh towels and linen every week
- Starlink Satellite and 4G Wi-Fi
- Snorkelling, fishing, spearfishing, SUP, kayak and castaway lifestyle
Does NOT includes
- Flights to and back from Nias
- Overnight wildlife trip to Bangkaru Island and other excursions
- Fishing / snorkelling boat trip around Pinang (max 3 hours)
- Beers, soft drinks, snacks
- Retreat Photo and Video Package
- Please note: There will be an additional fee for those wanting to receive or learn Chikitsa treatment.
TO TAKE HOME
- You will have your own 90-minute training programme that you can repeat independently and continue to improve on your own.
- You will be qualified and certified to Level 1 in Kalari Chikitsa: a vocational training that will allow you to give treatments to others and earn money as a Kalari therapist.
- You will receive internationally recognised certification from UNESCO CID recognising your training in Kalarippayattu and Kalari Chikitsa.
- You will be provided membership to the ‘KalariLab Online Virtual school’ which will allow you to continue learning in the future, with regular updates from me and other teachers and discounts to attend future courses, including masterclasses with my Gurukkal and his most senior students.
