A Weekend of Immersion
Yoga & Meditation | Taijiquan
Special guest speaker : Stéphane Chollet
September 5 - 6, 2026
QIGONG and TAIJIQUAN: Calm and Strength - The art of taking action without losing yourself
An opportunity not to be missed!
We are pleased to announce two weekends of immersion in the arts of yoga and taijiquan in Montreal, with the exceptional participation of Stéphane Chollet, our special guest who will help us deepen our understanding and enrich practice!
A renowned educator, accessible and deeply human, Stéphane stands out for the clarity and precision of his explanations, making subtle and profound concepts understandable and vivid, without ever simplifying them. Each of his presentations is an inspiring encounter that helps us rise above difficulties, see more clearly who we are and where we are going, and acquire concrete tools to become freer and more in control of our lives.
Saturday, August 30, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Sunday, August 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Yoga and Meditation: Staying on course amid the storm
Stress, uncertainty, life transitions, or a search for meaning: deepen your practice of yoga, breathing, and meditation to cultivate stability and clarity, and rediscover a sense of purpose.
Context: In a world marked by acceleration, overstimulation, and misinformation, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a stable sense of direction and keep a clear head. Caught up in a frantic pace of life, driven to consume, fueled by dopamine, or overwhelmed by information, we struggle to slow down, take the time to ask ourselves the right questions, and return to what truly matters. This dynamic, amplified by our modern environment, can gradually lead to a loss of perspective, mental fatigue, or a vague sense of confusion or isolation.
Little known and rarely utilized, authentic yoga is in reality a science of consciousness. The yoga toolkit thus offers powerful concrete (mind-body) methods to help us regain control of our emotions and our minds, and respond to these modern challenges.
Drawing on his 40 years of experience in Asia studying with sages, as well as his own inner journey, Stéphane Chollet will guide us through an immersive masterclass to discover these unexpected aspects of authentic yoga.
Combining theory and practice, this weekend will equip you with the tools to:
- Breaking free from our automatic responses
Understanding the mechanisms of identification with the body, emotions, and thoughts to reclaim inner space - Regaining stable points of reference
Developing physical and respiratory stability as a foundation for balance - Calming the nervous system and reducing mental load
Breaking out of cycles of overstimulation and learning to regulate one’s energy - Clarifying the mind and developing concentration
Improving one’s ability to process information, prioritize, and act with discernment - Returning to a more balanced and nourishing way of life (rasa)
Rediscovering what truly supports balance, vitality, and meaning - Restoring meaning and direction
Taking a step back from one’s habits, choices, and lifestyle to move forward in a more aligned way.
If you are a yoga enthusiast or teacher, you will discover a perspective that will add a new dimension to your practice and bring it up to date in a modern way. With his extensive expertise and knowledge of yoga, Stéphane Chollet will tailor the practice to the participants’ level so that everyone leaves with a grasp of the essence of the practice—without overcomplicating it, yet without oversimplifying it. His broad perspective, knowledge, and experience make these sessions inspiring and uplifting moments, designed to enrich our lives and make us happier. He will guide us to look beyond beliefs, oversimplifications, and superficial approaches, returning to a nuanced, vibrant, and directly applicable understanding of yoga.
Who is this event intended for?
• Anyone who practices yoga and wishes to deepen the meaning of their practice,
• Yoga teachers seeking authentic resources,
• Professionals in the field of coaching seeking grounding,
• Or simply anyone looking for alignment and clarity.
Suggested program
Saturday
9:30 – 10:30 Yoga Practice
10:30 – 12:30 Introduction: Yoga and Ayurveda. How to cultivate RASA (the essence of life) in the various aspects of our lives. Theory, discussion, and practice
14:00 – 14:30 Student discussion (optional)
14:30 – 17:00 Reconnecting with our true nature and our connection to the environment. Theory and practice (including Yoga Nidra)
Sunday
9:30 – 10:30 Yoga Practice
10:30 – 12:30 Regaining stability and clarity. Theory and practice
14:00 – 14:30 Exchange between students (optional)
14:30 – 17:00 Rediscovering meaning. Theory and practice
Cost: $280 + tax for both days.
A $100 deposit is required at the time of registration (non-refundable); the balance is due no later than one month before the Masterclass.
Saturday, Sep. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Sunday, Sep. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Qigong and Taijiquan: Calm and Strength - The art of taking action without losing yourself
In a world where everything is moving faster and faster, we are often caught between two extremes: acting under pressure or withdrawing to preserve our balance.
How can we stay calm without becoming passive? How can we be powerful without getting lost in the chaos or the reaction?
Qigong and Taijiquan offer a unique path to answering these questions. At the intersection of martial arts, energy practice, and Chinese philosophy, they help develop a stable presence, available energy, and the capacity for appropriate action—in movement as well as in life.
An exploration between inner stillness and action
This weekend offers a progressive and integrative approach:
- understand and cultivate energy (Qi) to support your vitality
- develop inner stability so you are not overwhelmed by emotions
- learn to transform pressure into intelligent movement
- refine your relationship with others through partner work
- integrate calm and power into your daily life
Topics covered
- Qigong: understanding and developing energy
- Taijiquan: structure, fluidity, and coherence
- Strategy and managing emotions
- Partner work (Tuishou)
- Ecology
A living and deeply rooted tradition
Stéphane Chollet has practiced martial arts since childhood. Over the course of several decades, he has explored various traditions—from Thai boxing to Chinese internal martial arts—seeking to understand not only their techniques, but also their essence, cultural context, and philosophy. His journey has led him to encounter diverse cultures and approaches, offering him valuable perspective and a comprehensive understanding of the connections between body, energy, strategy, and inner transformation.
Today, he offers a vibrant synthesis of these teachings: a simple, modern, and effective approach that gets to the heart of the matter without sacrificing depth, and that allows for the practical integration of these principles into both practice and daily life. A Concrete and Dynamic Approach
This immersion alternates between practice and understanding to give meaning to each experience. The exercises offered allow you to gradually integrate the principles into your body, your relationships with others, and your daily life.
Who is this event for?
- for people who practice taiji, qigong, or yoga
- for those wishing to develop a mindful physical practice
- for movement professionals or coaches
- for anyone seeking to regain balance, stability, and clarity in their actions
What this immersion offers
- develop a more stable and grounded presence
- better manage emotions and pressure
- improve the fluidity of movement and energy
- refine your relationship with others and your environment
- act with greater calm, power, and precision
Suggested program
Saturday
- The Origins of Neigong (Internal Arts)
- Understanding the body’s energy pathways and developing them
- Benefits for your health and your perspective on the world
- Reconnecting with your human potential and Nature
Sunday
- Taijiquan applications: strategy, maintaining a sense of space, and managing emotions
- Tuishou (sticky hands): stability and fluidity in interacting with others and with life
Cost: $280 + tax for both days.
A $100 deposit is required at the time of registration (non-refundable); the balance is due no later than one month before the Masterclass.
Opportunity of an exceptional meeting in Montreal
Stéphane Chollet, founder of Surya World, has been exploring the great Eastern traditions for over 30 years, guided by a quest for meaning and truth. By exploring traditions from different countries and cultures he seeks to identify the common threads that lead to inner transformation.
Stéphane has been practicing martial arts since a very early age. From Thai boxing to Japanese swords, via the various styles of Taijiquan, he has studied numerous traditions, while pursuing a quest for meaning in India, China and other major teaching centers.
He discovered yoga at the end of the 1980s in the tradition of Krishnamacharya of Madras, and found himself definitively on the path of yoga after meeting Michel Coquet. He has traveled all over India, lived in the Himalayas, and received instruction from many exceptional masters, both in the direct transmission of the Yogis and in recognized schools and academies such as the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai (with T.K.V. Desikachar), the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore (with Pattabhi Jois), the Bihar School of Yoga (with Swami Niranjanananda), and renowned teachers such as B.K.S. Iyengar and Indra Devi.
Contact
903 Saint-Zotique Street East
Montreal, Quebec H2S 1M9
- (514) 431-5248
- montreal@surya-world.org
