shakaizen
Yoga & Meditation Retreats In India & Japan
Escape the noise and distractions of modern life with our yoga and meditation retreats, designed to teach you the classical authentic foundations of yoga free from new age influence, help you develop a strong practice, and offer a holistic experience that nurtures your body and mind in India and Japan.
"Yoga is the stilling of the mind - Yoga Sutra 1.2"
Yoga is when you stop the thought process and achieve the stillness of the mind. This is it, simple and without gimmicks. Being able to bend as a pretzel does not make you a yogi, neither does wearing white clothes, mala necklaces, and throwing namaste to strangers in Bali.
Yoga is not something that can be practiced, it is the end goal. What you practice is asana, yoga postures for physical conditioning, pranayama, breathing exercises for breath control, and concentration techniques as a preparation for meditation.
At Shakaizen, we embrace the true essence of yoga, far removed from the modern misconceptions of yoga as merely physical exercise or a trending lifestyle full of new age pseudo-beliefs. Our teachings are rooted in the classical scriptures of yoga, backed by over a decade of real-life experience, focusing on the profound philosophy and spiritual discipline that guide the mind toward stillness.
With our yoga and meditation retreats in India and Japan, we redefine the retreat experience by returning to yoga’s true essence, by putting the teachings and students first, providing a transformative journey that goes beyond superficial pleasures to foster inner peace and mental clarity.
If you seek a deeper, authentic yoga and meditation retreat that transcends the physical and superficial, you have found your sanctuary.
Authentic
Retreats that do not involve new age pseudo practices, focusing solely on the classical teachings of yoga to ensure an authentic experience.
Intimate
Retreats limited to a maximum of 4 persons, ensuring personalized attention and a more meaningful experience.
Pragmatic
A pragmatic approach, with an emphasis on learning through observation, reflection, critical thinking and practical applications.
Experience
Yoga and meditation retreats led by a highly experienced teacher who bring a wealth of knowledge and real life experience.
About
Hi, thank you for dropping by, my name is Alexandre Latour, and I’m the teacher behind Shakaizen.
Fifth generation Indian, I was born and raised in Mauritius by my single mother who lulled me with stories from the Mahabharata, an epic of ancient India, and exposed me to yoga from an early age.
I grew up an introvert more interested in knowledge regarding the meaning of life and death than in earning a university degree. I dropped out of high school, started studying yoga philosophy, and practiced yoga postures rigorously.
I found myself teaching “yoga” at the age of 21 when yoga certifications were not common and that the only way you could be taken seriously as a “yoga” teacher was by showing proof of dedicated practice, and from having spent time practicing in one of the classical schools in India.
what you get from doing a retreat with me
a teacher who is Knowledgeable And experienced
"The sources of right knowledge are direct perception, inference and scriptural testimony - Yoga Sutra 1.7"
The yoga industry has reached a point of over-saturation with hundreds of thousands of undertrained yoga teachers, and more being rapidly certified in just 5 weeks through the Yoga Alliance’s 200-hour and 500-hour yoga teacher training courses all over the world. In my case, I consider myself lucky to have been exposed to a purer form of yoga very early and to have clocked close to 10000 hours of practice and teaching over 15 years, way before the quick certification programs became popular.
In me you’ll find a teacher whose knowledge of yoga has not been diluted by the industry, whose experience of the practice has been gained from years of real-life commitment, and whose pedagogy has been polished over thousands of real classes.
Teachings that are Authentic And new age free
"Misconception occurs when knowledge of something is not based upon its true form - Yoga Sutra 1.8"
Modern yoga and yoga teachers are often intertwined and lost in new-age pseudo-practices that have no relation or utility whatsoever with yoga and meditation. Crystal healing, sound healing, ecstatic dance, full moon ceremonies, chakra alignment, these have become common offerings in yoga retreats. I’m a musician and dancer myself, but when I make music, I make music. When I dance, I dance. When I teach about yoga, I teach about yoga, not music or dancing. There is so much already to learn about yoga, yet so little time to practice what we have learned. I won’t add further distractions.
an environment for inner growth
"The yogi should concentrate constantly on the Self, remaining in solitude, alone, with controlled mind and body, having no desires and free from material acquisitiveness - Bhagavad Gita 6.10"
My retreats are designed to connect you with the authentic teachings of yoga and meditation and to provide a close-to-ideal environment for inner growth. For that to happen, I consciously limit every retreat to a maximum of four participants and will still conduct it with equal passion even if there is only one person.
Joining a retreat with me means you won’t be treated like a number or a face in a group of 15+ persons that you’ll feel forced to interact with at times. Instead, you’ll receive personalized attention, meaningful interaction, and a high level of commitment from someone genuinely interested in your learning experience and progress.
an approach that makes you autonomous
"Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, with reverence and without break - Yoga Sutra 1.14"
My teaching philosophy is centered on empowering you to become self-reliant in your practice. Unlike most yoga classes where you just follow the lead of an instructor for an hour or so, without gaining no real understanding of the practice, the classes in my retreats are conducted in a way to provide you with the tools, knowledge, and techniques necessary to continue your journey independently.
You will leave the retreat not only with enhanced skills and understanding but also with the confidence to maintain and develop your practice on your own. This self-sufficiency is a crucial aspect of the learning experience I offer, ensuring that the benefits of the retreat extend well beyond our time together.