Retreats
January 2024
Our India Yoga retreat, in stunning natural surroundings, will give you space to
rest, reflect, reset, and restore.
Read on to discover more:
about the retreat, venue, excursions,
when will it take place, investment,
About the retreat
The retreat will take place over 7 full days and 8 nights in an authentic Indian ashram, where you will be invited to experience the beautiful rhythm of ashram living.
It will be a complete break from the usual routine, a chance for your body to reset, and for you to receive nourishment in mind, body, and spirit. With daily Yoga classes, meditation, free time to relax, and excursions.
This pause from the usual routines can provide a refreshed perspective on life.
It will give you the space to plant and nurture seeds of self-care, which will continue to flourish long after the retreat has finished.
This retreat is for you if you are looking for an immersive Yoga experience. The chance to spend a complete week marinating in the various practices of Yoga, on and off the mat, and discovering the benefits of a Yogic lifestyle.
Suitable for all levels of Yoga experience, including beginners.
Retreat venue
The retreat venue is a Yoga ashram situated in a peaceful rural location surrounded by majestic countryside, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra.
The grounds have many plants, trees, and shady spots to sit and take in the scenery. There is a lake, vegetable gardens, and a dedicated meditation space for you to visit if you wish.
There will be other activities taking place at the ashram during the time of the retreat.
In addition to the retreat schedule, you will have the opportunity to participate in Yoga lectures which are being offered as part of the courses running at the same time as the retreat.
You will also have free time to relax by the swimming pool, rest, or receive an ayurvedic treatment in the Ashram treatment centre.
There is a small shop (usually open after lunch and dinner). Here you can find many interesting trinkets, clothing items, Yoga books, natural handmade body-care products (made on-site), essential oils, wholefood items (nuts, dried fruits), delicious homemade snacks, and much more.
Food and accommodation
You will be provided with three delicious wholesome vegetarian meals per day, prepared according to ayurvedic principles, an early morning herbal drink, and a light afternoon snack.
Accommodation is in shared rooms (male / female), with people from the same retreat. There is usually a maximum of 4 people per room, and there is one bathroom in each room.
Sharing living space like this can be a powerful and enriching part of the retreat experience.
Excursions
During the retreat there will be an excursion to the close-by holy shiva temple, in the village of Trimbak.
The temple is a special place and quite an experience to visit early in the morning.
You will also be able to witness rural Indian village life at its truest.
This excursion is included in the retreat price and will usually take place early morning, returning in time for breakfast.
There will be the option to participate in an additional excursion mid-way through the retreat, which is not included in the retreat price but payable individually if you decide to book.
These are examples of excursions:
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A day in the ancient holy city of Nashik: where you can wander the old town, explore riverside temples, experience a taste or Indian life, and go shopping for gifts or souvenirs. Nashik is approximately 45-minutes by taxi from the retreat venue, and the estimated cost is £10. To go on this excursion, it would be possible to leave after breakfast and return in the afternoon.
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Trip to Ellora Caves: this is a UNESCO world heritage site. It features monolithic Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain caves, impressively carved out of the rocks. Ellora is approximately 3.5 hours by taxi from the ashram (each way). The estimated cost is £50. To go on this excursion, it would be necessary to leave at around 6am and return in the afternoon.
When will the retreat take place?
Tuesday 16th - Tuesday 23rd
January 2024
There will be an introductory session for the retreat on the afternoon / evening of Tuesday 16th January, (from around 5pm onwards). Please arrive in time for this.*
The retreat schedule will begin on Wednesday 17th January in the morning, and finish on Tuesday 23rd January in the evening.
For those departing when the retreat finishes (see other options below), you can organise this for any time on Wednesday 24th January (you may be required to vacate your room that morning).
*(For arrival at the retreat a complementary taxi collection will be organised for you from Mumbai International Airport).
Mumbai airport is approximately a 4+ hour taxi ride (depending on traffic)** from the retreat venue. This taxi journey is part of the adventure, you will see a lot of India on your way!
**(Please factor this timing in when booking your flight.
You can arrive at the retreat venue any time before 5pm on Tuesday 16th January ready for the retreat introduction).
If you decide to spend time in Mumbai before coming to the retreat, you can come back to the airport for taxi pickup on the morning of 16th.
Yoga festival
After the retreat a Yoga festival will take place at the ashram, between 25th – 31st January.
The festival is a wonderful opportunity to meet Yoga practitioners from all over the world, and to participate in many Yoga classes with international teachers, workshops, talks, learn about Ayurveda the tradition medicine system of India, Indian culture, and much more.
You are welcome to stay for the festival after the retreat finishes. Please select festival or non-festival at time of booking, and the price will reflect this.
The festival fee includes accommodation (you may be required to move rooms and share with different or more people), 3 meals per day, and all Yoga classes and workshops.
Please note: Would you like to attend the festival but can't stay for all of it? No problem!
You can stay for as many day of the festival as is possible for you (the ticket price remains the same).
Example Daily Retreat Routine
5.45am wake-up
6.00am herb drink
6.15am mantra chanting
6.30 – 8.15am* Yoga session
8.30am Karma Yoga
9.30am breakfast
11.00am – 1.00pm workshop,
optional lectures,
or free time
1.30pm lunch
4.30 – 6.00pm* Yoga session,
workshop, Yoga Nidra,
or free time
6.30pm Havan fire ceremony
7.30pm dinner
8.30 - 9.30pm* group check-in,
questions, or free time
10.00pm bedtime
This is an example of a typical day. It includes additional activities not specific to the retreat which you are welcome to attend.
The schedule is subject to change according to excursions or other factors.
*daily activities specific to retreat group.
Investment
EARLY BIRD
without festival £444
with festival £666
(early bird ends 30 September 2023)
FULL PRICE
without festival £555
with festival £777
Please see below for details of
what is it included in the price (and what's not included).
To book your place
click here to be taken to the booking form.
For any questions about the retreat please feel free to be in touch here. We will be happy to answer any queries you may have regarding any aspects of the retreat, and will get back to you as soon as we can.
Once you have completed the booking form you will be sent a payment link to pay your retreat deposit of £111. Once your deposit has been paid your place on the retreat is reserved, yay!
All remaining payment is due by 16 December 2023 (in instalments or one lump sum).
You will be sent details of how to pay after booking, along with additional helpful information about visas and what to bring.
I am really looking forward to sharing this with you!
Everything on the retreat is offered as an invitation.
Nothing is obligatory.*
To receive the deepest benefit from the retreat experience, you are encouraged to participate in scheduled activities.
However, feel you need to skip something? That's fine too. You can use your own discernment to decide.
*The only requirement is to respect the guidelines of the venue where we will be staying for the retreat.
These include:
accommodation arrangements, swimming pool,
silent times (usually between 10.30pm and 6.30am), no use of drugs, alcohol, or meat.
It is a non-smoking premises.
Questions about the retreat?
What is included
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Taxi pickup: from Mumbai Airport to Ashram (pickup on Tuesday 16th January)
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8-nights’ accommodation at retreat venue (shared room)
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3 meals per day: delicious freshly cooked vegetarian food served at each meal, many of the vegetables are organic grown in the gardens. Morning herbal drink, and afternoon snack.
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Daily Yoga Sessions: exploring warm up movements, asana, kriyas, pranayama, meditation, Yoga philosophy and psychology, Sankalpa (positive intention setting), self-reflection, silence.
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Yoga Nidra: yogic sleep / guided relaxation practice
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Thai Yoga massage workshop: learning a simple routine of techniques to practice on friends and family
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Yogic Cleansing practices: you will be invited to participate in two simple Yoga cleansing practices
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Mantra chanting: there is usually a morning mantra chanting session which you are welcome to join if you wish before we begin our retreat Yoga session
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Havan (fire ceremony): usually daily in the evening, this includes mantra chanting and fire ceremony
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Karma Yoga: daily opportunity to practice selfless-service with your fellow participants
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Excursion: to Trimbak holy temple
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Time in nature: the surroundings are beautiful and you can spend spare time enjoying the scenery. There will be at least one Yoga session at sunrise or sunset outside in nature
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Kirtan: Bhakti Yoga at least one session to chant together and raise the vibration before we depart
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Yoga Festival ticket: if you select festival at time of booking then your festival ticket will be included in the price
What’s not included:
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Flights and relevant visas: a tourist visa is necessary to travel to India, a tourist e-visa can be purchased online for around £25. You will be sent links about where you can apply for this once you have booked your place. You may also be able to ask a travel agent to organise the visa for you
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Travel and health insurances: it is recommended that you organise your own comprehensive travel and health insurance as soon as you have booked your place on the retreat
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Taxi from retreat back to Mumbai airport: this can be organised for you by the retreat venue, but because participants may depart on different days the cost will be yours to cover. You may take a shared taxi if other people are travelling at the same time as you. The taxi cost is approximately £40 per person (equivalent in Indian Rupees)
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Optional day excursion mid-retreat: to Nashik city or Ellora caves
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Tips: (for taxi drivers)
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Souvenirs: Shop Items in retreat venue (billed and payable at end of your stay)
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Any meals outside of retreat venue
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Bottled drinking water: filtered drinking water is provided at the retreat venue but if you choose to drink bottled water this is chargeable and payable on your shop bill at the end of the retreat