APRIL 13–18, 2027

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter

Learn and practice Asana, Spinal Breathing Pranayama, Deep Meditation, and Samyama to cultivate stillness and ecstasy. Discover the guru within you.

Nights
5
Saunas
5
Yoga Classes
11

A RETREAT FOR YOU

About the Retreat

The AYP Practice

This retreat focuses on the AYP practices of Asanas, Mudras, Bandhas, Spinal Breathing Pranayama, Advanced Pranayamas, Deep Meditation and Samyama, and how to become self-directed in one’s yoga practice, independent of any external teacher. These practices act directly through heart, mind, body and breath, regardless of metaphysical beliefs.

AYP (Advanced Yoga Practices) is a complete system of yoga practices that are easy to follow, easily accessible and can be incorporated into an active life style by everyone. Regular practice will infuse life with inner silence, bliss, equanimity and ecstasy. Something that thousands of practitioners have reported over the past two decades in the public AYP forum.

Newcomers will learn these practices through guided instructions during the first Yoga sessions and deepen their understanding during the lectures and Q&A that are part of the twice-daily Satsangs. If you are new to AYP, you will learn how to become self-directed in your practice.

All the techniques you will learn during the retreat and much more, are also available on aypsite.org, so that at home you know how to continue with your practices at your own pace.

For the experienced AYP practitioner, this retreat offers a structured, accelerated path to deepen inner silence, manage ecstatic energy, and integrate these qualities into daily life, all within a supportive community environment. A special focus will be placed on Mudras, Bandhas and Advanced Pranayamas, which can be incorporated into our usual practice without much extra time while enhancing further its effectiveness. Clear instructions on self-pacing these advanced techniques will ensure comfort during and after the retreat. The combination of increasing the number of practice sessions to three, and doing all sessions in the group will be the most significant contributor in boosting spiritual progress, often clearly noticeable in the weeks and months after the retreat.

Light physical activity, such as walks in the forest or swimming in the lake, will be encouraged to support the integration of stillness and ecstasy on all levels.

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin

Meals and Diet

We will be cooking our own food during this retreat. This makes the retreat very affordable and is an effective and fun way to explore karma yoga. Each day different teams of participants will be in charge of preparing the meals. Sufficient time, recipes, ingredients and guidance will be provided.

Food will be vegetarian, and in support of a yoga and meditation practice. We can also cater for vegan diets and special diets such as dairy or gluten free, if you let us know in advance.

There will be two meals served each day (brunch and dinner), and fruit and hot drinks will be available all day.

Silent Periods

The silent period is between the end of the evening satsang (21:30) till brunch starts (10:30). The intention to be silent allows us to more easily notice the lingering abiding inner silence and integrate it during activity.

RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

What Awaits You

Each day is designed to nourish body, calm mind, and awaken your senses to the beauty of the Swedish wilderness.

Daily Yoga

Guided morning and evening yoga sessions, comprised of Asana, Spinal Breathing Pranayama, Deep Meditation and Samyama.

Satsang

Coming together to learn about the finer points of the practices and Q&A. Diving into theory and practice of “stillness and ecstasy”. Hands-on training on using all AYP resources (books, online lessons, forum and AI tools) to become self-directed in one’s yoga practice.

Meals prepared together

This is a beautiful and natural form of Karma Yoga, that is both grounding and social, and where “stillness in action” can be perceived. Mornings: cold buffet (müsli, fruit, bread, etc.). Evenings: simple yet delicious vegetarian/vegan warm meals.

Silent Periods

An important ingredient for inner silence and bliss becoming palpable outside of the yoga sessions. Outside the silent periods there will be dedicated silent areas available.

Wood-Fired Sauna

Traditional Swedish sauna sessions overlooking the lake. Release tension, cleanse deeply, and let the heat do its ancient healing work.

Free optional afternoon activities

Sound baths, nature walks, swimming and sauna.

Being guided by Michael was a beautiful experience. He shares his knowledge with such humility and presence, and made me feel safe, inspired, and motivated to continue exploring meditation on my own.

— Sandra Andreis, Previous retreat guest

YOUR DAYS

Retreat Schedule

The schedule is organic and subject to change.

Check-in is on April 13, from 14:00 until 15:00, and check-out is on April 18, at 12:00 noon.

07:15 – 08:50

First Yoga Session

09:00 – 10:00

Second Yoga Session

10:00 – 10:30

Silent period / Karma yoga morning team

10:30 – 11:30

Brunch

11:30 – 12:00

Break / Karma yoga morning team

12:00 – 12:30

Satsang

12:30 – 15:30

Free time

15:30 – 17:00

Third yoga session

17:00 – 18:00

Break / Karma yoga evening team

18:00 – 19:00

Dinner

19:00 – 20:00

Break / Karma yoga evening team

20:00 – 21:30

Evening Satsang

21:30

Silent Period

ALL-INCLUSIVE

What's Included

Not Included

per person · all-inclusive · private room
7200 kr

Booking for two people in a shared twin room? Apply the coupon code TWINFORTWO at checkout to receive a discount of 400 SEK

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin

YOUR GUIDE

Michael Kopp

Michael Kopp has a Doctoral Degree in Physics (PhD) and has been doing research and teaching for 20 years. What’s more, he is also passionate about Yoga and its teaching, and has completed his AYP teacher training 2024. Michael has organized many retreats in the past 3 years where he taught Yoga and meditation. He also taught several AYP evening courses in Stockholm. Michael also teaches in the Sound Therapy Training in Sweden, where he guided sound therapy students to a better understanding of the physics of sound and introduced them to the scientific research methods. It is this combination of scientific and yogic training that is mostly appreciated by his students, as he naturally strives for intuitive and clear instructions and explanations.

After experiencing bliss and inner silence “out of the blue” for a few hours about 6 years ago, he became fascinated with the possibility to enter such states through one’s own will. This let him on a quest of trying out self-directed yogic and meditative practices, including Wim Hof,  Reggie Ray’s audio courses on Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, and finally Yogani’s AYP.
AYP aims to make the student self-directed right away (“The guru is in you”), and everything essential can be learned for free by just reading at one’s own pace on aypsite.org. This resonated deeply with Michael’s desires and inclinations, so that AYP became his sole spiritual practice. This produced fascinating results unexpectedly fast. Only a few months after switching to AYP, he realized that AYP indeed provides a reliable way into bliss states. But much more was waiting he didn’t expect: ecstasy in and outside of meditation, and the gradual and ongoing integration of bliss, inner silence, equanimity, joy, love into everyday life.

Michael lives in Stockholm, where he also gives sound baths in yoga studios and to private clients. 

Yoga

Meditation

Wim Hof

AYP

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin

YOUR GUIDE

Pieter Scheffe

Pieter Scheffe has been dedicated to the path of yoga and meditation for over twenty years. What began in his late teens as a quiet longing to understand the deeper nature of life soon led him to the Indian yogic tradition—where he experienced a profound sense of homecoming.

Growing up with a mother who was also his spiritual teacher, Pieter was immersed in inner work from a young age. Her guidance laid the foundation for a lifelong inquiry into truth and freedom.

Over the years, Pieter immersed himself in various trainings across Holland, France, and India. And eventually choosing to fully dedicate himself to practice, study, and teaching. A year-long sadhana in India became a pivotal point, and since then, daily spiritual practice has been the backbone of his life.

He has taught yoga and meditation for two decades, led numerous teacher trainings, and owned a yoga and meditation school for twelve years. He later co-founded and ran a retreat centre, offering space for sincere practitioners to dive deeper into their own sadhana.

His teaching is rooted in a clear and experiential understanding of yogic technology—not as abstract philosophy, but as a living, practical path toward the direct discovery of self and reality. Influenced by both classical traditions and integrative systems like AYP (Advanced Yoga Practices), Pieter supports students in building a stable, transformative practice. He enjoys guiding the process of discovering the nondual reality of life and integrating that realization into the dual nature of our everyday existence.

Today, he lives in nature in Spain, where he offers online classes, guides retreats, and is preparing to open his home for individual retreats and guided sadhana for dedicated yogic practitioners.

Grounded, precise, and deeply committed, Pieter holds space for sincere seekers with clarity, care, and a quiet reverence for the mystery of the path.

www.deva-deva.nl

Yoga

Meditation

AYP

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
Warm wooden dining hall with long communal tables and cozy retreat atmosphere
People sitting in a warm meditation class during a peaceful wellness retreat session
Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
The Lakeside Sanctuary

GUEST EXPERIENCES

Words from Past Retreats

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
“I’ve attended several of Michael’s meditation retreats and have become a true fan. He is an excellent teacher—deeply knowledgeable and experienced in meditation. As a retreat organizer, he’s meticulous and attentive to detail, creating an atmosphere where the whole truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts. He’s also a gifted musician, playing the gong and singing bowls in a way that feels almost celestial. Most of all, Michael is a kind, trustworthy person. I look forward to joining many more retreats with him.”

R
Richard Uski
Previous Retreat participant

“I recently had the privilege of attending a weekend Deep Meditation retreat led by Michael, a truly remarkable teacher of Advanced Yoga Practices. Michael’s depth of knowledge is matched only by his dedication to making profound meditation techniques accessible to everyone. Even if you’re new to meditation, he has this gift of making complex concepts feel easy and inviting. The retreat itself was a serene and well-structured experience. We had two meals a day, and each day included three meditation sessions—two in the morning and one in the afternoon. Even with years of meditation experience, I found new insights and depths thanks to Michael’s guidance. In short, if you have the chance to learn from Michael, you’re in for a deeply enriching and surprisingly accessible journey into meditation.”

S
Sami Hakala
Previous Retreat participant

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
“It has been 2 weeks now since the retreat ended and I am still experiencing the “after glow” of the retreat. There is more inner silence in my day-to-day life than before the retreat, and I am doing a fairly good job of maintaining a twice-daily scheduled of the full spinal breathing, deep meditation, and samyama. In summary, this was a wonderful retreat true to the teachings of Yogani and in the spirit of the friendship of the AYP community. I am very glad that I attended.”

B
Burton
Previous Retreat participant

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin
“Michael has a gift for creating an intriguing and inspirational space. With his calm approach he gathers people to look curiously at themselves which creates a harmonious environment of heartful sharing. I really enjoy his curious and direct approach to yoga and meditation, and always leave with new ideas to explore.”

J
Josefin Ekman
Previous Retreat participant

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

The journey from Arlanda to Shambala (Skinnskatteberg Station) takes around 3 hours and is quite straightforward. You can search for and purchase tickets at www.sj.se.

Please note that the full train schedule is usually available only 2–3 weeks before your intended travel date, so there’s no need to book earlier than that. There are several route options.

As there are no direct trains, you’ll need to take a combination of trains and/or buses. Once you arrive at Skinnskatteberg Station, we’ll pick you up — it’s just a 7-minute drive to Shambala.

Comfortable yoga clothing, a warm layer for the evenings, earplugs and an eye mask for the bright summer mornings, sturdy shoes for forest walks, and a journal if you enjoy writing. Yoga mats and props are provided. Swimwear for the sauna is optional. We’ll send a full packing list after booking.

Our kitchen is designed to avoid the most common allergens. That said, please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or specific dietary needs, and we’ll take them into account when planning the menu.

For guests with multiple allergies, we offer a simple daily meal option of steamed vegetables and boiled rice.

While we aim to keep our kitchen as gluten-free as possible, trace amounts of gluten may still be present. Our meals are generally suitable for those with gluten intolerance, but we cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination for guests with celiac disease.

At Shambala, beyond being a retreat space, we cultivate a way of living deeply rooted in the yogic values of simplicity, presence, non-attachment, contentment, and communion with nature. Rather than luxury, what we offer is intimacy and a sense of belonging. Therefore, our accommodations are simple and mostly shared, with a variety of twin rooms, triple rooms, and glamping tents.

The guiding ethos is one of community and sustainability, creating a vibe that is understated, modest, welcoming, and easy. If you do feel a strong need for a single room, you can write to us. A single room may be available for an additional fee.

All accommodation options have access to shared showers and bathrooms.

Yes. Michael and Pieter teach to all levels. Yoga asanas are used as a preparation for sitting practices and won’t be athletic. Whether you’ve never touched a yoga mat or you’ve practiced for decades, you’ll feel welcomed and supported. The more advanced practices of mudras, bandhas and advanced pranayamas won’t take up extra time during our sessions, so that as a beginner you can always seamlessly fall back to the baseline practices if you want to.

Retreat Pricing & Terms

Bed linen and towels are included with your booking. You may opt out of both for a 350 SEK discount. To do so, please apply the coupon code ‘ECOLAUNDRY’ at checkout.

  • 50% of the total booking amount is non-refundable from the time of booking.
  • Cancellations made more than 90 days before the check-in date: 50% of the total booking amount is refunded.
  • Cancellations made within 90 days of the check-in date: no refund is available.
  • Booking transfers: Bookings may be transferred to another person at any time, as long as you, as the booking holder, arrange the transfer.

 

We kindly ask all guests to arrange a travel insurance before booking a retreat with us. As a small retreat centre, we are unfortunately unable to make exceptions to our cancellation policy, even in cases of illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance helps protect you should your plans need to change unexpectedly.

    • If you cancel more than three months before the retreat, the balance will be refunded (minus the deposit).
    • If you cancel within three months of the retreat start date, no refunds can be issued.

The retreat cost does not include travel insurance. Travel insurance is recommended for all participants.

Advanced Yoga Practices (AYP) with Michael and Pieter Shambala Admin

The Forest Awaits

7,200 kr · full payment · private room

Booking for two people in a twin room? Apply the coupon code TWINFORTWO at checkout to receive a discount of 400 SEK.

Join us April 13–18 for five days of Asana, Spinal Breathing Pranayama, Deep Meditation, and Samyama to cultivate stillness and ecstasy.

Or write to us directly: hello@shambalagatherings.com

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