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 JOURNEY TO THE SELF
India Retreat Diwali 2023

RESET, RESTORE, EXPLORE AND REDISCOVER 

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

02 - 14 November 2023

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Asana I Pranayama I Meditation I Ayurveda

Join us for a 3-day tour of Mumbai followed by 10-day yoga retreat at Govardhan Ecovillage - one of the best wellness ashrams in India - located at the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain ranges.

 

 A place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self, Govardhan Ecovillage is crafted in colours of the Earth and in harmony with the land that nurtures her. It is an ideal environment for the Yoga Retreat that will nourish the body, mind and soul. 

Our retreat is designed for holistic and transformational experiences in a space where the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and Yoga embrace you to rejuvenate body and spirit.

The retreat comprises meditation, asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), ayurveda (wellness treatments), spirituality, healthy vegetarian yogic diet, vedanta talks, sattvic cooking workshops, and sustainable exploration of local villages, ancient temples, valleys and mountains.

Mumbai Tour

We arrive in India to acclimatise to what is described by many as a 'feast for the senses' and get down to explore Mumbai - the Indian city of dreams, and also Bollywood, over 3 days.

Our stay in Mumbai will be in a safe and secure 5-star rated hotel (breakfast included) and we will explore various parts of this megacity, its rich history, diverse cuisine, industry, community and so much more over three action-packed days. 

Expect to come on plenty of walks, tours (such as Mumbai by Dawn, Colonial Walk, and more), eat finger-licking delicious food, mingle with and live life just like the 24 million+ 'Mumbaikars' that call this city home! 

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RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

From Mumbai, we then embark on our yoga retreat which will take place at Govardhan Ecovillage - a lush green, quiet abode of natural beauty, situated 1.5 hours from Mumbai. It is a place that houses several eco-friendly initiatives spread over 100 acres and has been awarded by United Nations for its various sustainable development initiatives. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON) have built the Ecovillage and are led by the principles of humility and sustainability - their mission being to serve and propagate the benefits of India’s age old traditions of Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda to the whole world.

What comprises in our Yoga Retreat?
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KRIYAS

Kriyas are a way to cleanse the physical body. These processes cleanse and activate the vital organs of the body, especially the digestive, respiratory, circulatory and the nervous systems. We will help you to learn and master few of these techniques that you can bring back home to practice on your own, for a healthier you.

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ASANA, PRANAYAMA, MEDITATION

  • Daily Hatha / Vinyasa yoga taught by Radhika followed by Pranayama session.

  • Yin / Restrorative yoga taught by Amanpreet Bakshi - renowned yoga teacher from India.

  • Different kinds of Meditation sessions covering various techniques to improve concentration, to help you relax, and, to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.

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MEALS

Food includes simple, locally grown, nutritious and delicious, freshly-prepared meals straight from farm to table. Prepared according to yogic dietary principles, two lacto-vegetarian meals are served daily. Tea and snacks are also provided daily. Our menu of 'sattvic' dishes supports self healing of the body, enhances detoxification and leaves you feeling health and rejuvenated.

 

Absent from the menu are meat, fish, fowl, eggs, garlic, onions and coffee. This ensures the food is suitable for a mindful yoga practice and encourage a calmer and clearer personality. 


No smoking or consumption of alcohol is allowed inside the wellness retreat.

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ACCOMMODATION

Accomodation at Govardhan Ecovillage is equipped to provide you the mesmerising experience of living in nature without compromising the basic comforts of modern life.

 

The stay here is characterised by healthy living amidst serene natural environment to heighten your journey to explore the inner peace.

 

The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable and modern conveniences such as air-conditioning, heating, electric kettles, etc. are provided in each room.

 

Majority of the rooms are twin-share (i.e. two single beds) with an attached, private bathroom. House-keeping is provided daily. Single rooms are also available on request (at an additional charge).


The retreat has multiple yoga and meditation halls, study areas, an Ayurveda wellness and massage centre and much more. Laundry service is also available. There is free WiFi available but it is recommended that participants limit the usage of mobile devices during the retreat.

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AYURVEDA: WELLNESS & MASSAGE

Ayurveda is a system of alternative medicine developed in India nearly 3,000 years ago. 
Our expert Ayurvedic doctors will be available for consultation and will help to determine your 'dosha' (body type).

Ayurveda teaches that if the 'doshas' in the body are brought to a balance, it becomes easier to rebuilt a healthy body mass for a sustainable lifestyle.

 

Experienced massage therapists will also be available for a range of treatments and massages.

One fully-body Ayurvedic rejuvenation / massage treatment is included in your Retreat cost.

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WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

The retreat includes workshops and activities that are fun learning experiences and a chance to explore the local environment.

 

Activities during our stay: 

  • Diwali celebrations at the ashram - Immerse yourself in Indian culture and experience the light-filled celebrations of the festival of lights (Diwali),

  • Govardhan Eco village tour/Vrindavan Forest tour,

  • Experiential learning Session,

  • Talk on Yoga philosophy,

  • Village visit,

  • Goshala visit,

  • Pottery class,

  • Hike,

  • Sound Bath Meditation,

  • daily 'satsangs' and 'chants' in the Ecovillage temple,

  • daily morning 'yagya' followed by 'aarti' - traditional rituals at the Ecovillage temple, 

  • visit to Ayurveda herbal garden, 

  • Volunteer at SEVA - Cow feeding/Serving food/Tree plantation.

and much more...

DAILY SCHEDULE

A typical day at the retreat will look like this (detailed schedule, comprising a mixture of activities highlighted above, will be provided closer to the retreat):

  • 04:30 AM - Temple 'Yagya' followed by 'Aarti' - Optional

  • 06:00 AM - Watch the sunrise, followed by meditation, chants or silent walks

  • 07:00 AM - Kriyas

  • 07:30 AM - Asana & Pranayama class (Hatha Yoga or Vinyasa Yoga)

  • 10:00 AM - Brunch

  • Scheduled activity/workshop or free time

  • 12:00 PM - Talk/lecture or workshop

  • 02:00 PM - Mid-day light snack

  • 03:00 PM - Optional workshops/special asana class/Ayurvedic consultation

  • Free time or participate in local exploration activities, ashram activities or an Ayurvedic massage

  • 04:00 PM - Asana & Pranayama class (Yin or Restorative Yoga) 

  • 06:00 PM - Dinner

  • 08:30 PM - Evening meditation or evening walks or chanting session

  • 09:30 PM - Return to room and lights out

LOGISTICS

We will organise your airport pick-up and drop-off so you only need to organise air travel. All ground transport will be taken care of by our team.  

 

Plan to arrive in Mumbai on: 02 November 2023

Plan your departure from Mumbai on: 14 November 2023

Reviews from previous retreats

“You and Jay welcomed us so warmly and gave us a wonderful experience at your retreat. We have been talking about it with utter delight to anyone who will listen!

We really enjoyed the whole schedule, especially the kriyas, pranayama, the meditation sessions (candle gazing, silent walk, mandala workshop). We also loved some free time to enjoy the beautiful venue and to just ‘be’ and ‘settle'. We tend to prefer more energetic yoga though the balance was great. 

Thank you so much Radhika and Jay for the experience at your retreat. From the warm welcome, the perfect balance of yoga, pranayama, and meditation; and being with like-minded people meant it was a really memorable and rejuvenating few days. The beautiful venue and bush location, having the opportunity for calm and peace, and eating incredible food all means we can’t wait for your next retreat!

Also, we’d love the recipe for Jay’s Masala chai tea”

 

Vicky & Nick (April 2021 retreat @ Noonaweena)

“There was much that I liked and would recommend- The integration of breathing, meditation, kriyas, asanas and diet to build a wholistic approach to living a good life. The longer yoga classes. Learning new kriyas and meditation techniques. The location/setting, which complemented our program. It felt ‘isolated’ which helped to block external distractions and it provided other activities (walks, pool, spa, tennis, reading/lounge room) for our down-time. Fabulous food.  An added bonus was meeting and spending time with a lovely and supportive group of people.”

 

Sue (April 2021 retreat @ Noonaweena)

3-DAY MUMBAI TOUR COST

'Bring-a-friend' price: $990 per person (twin-share) or $1590 (single-room) 

*price valid only when 2 x bookings are made together at the same time* 

Standard price: $1190 per person (twin-share) or $1790 (single-room)

What's included: accomodation (including breakfast only) in a 5-star hotel, local tours and taxis, airport transfers, sightseeing, all local taxes and tips. 

Not included: meals excluding breakfast and any other personal expenses outside the planned local tours / sightseeing trips.

10-DAY RETREAT COST

'Bring-a-friend' price: $1990 per person (twin-share) or $2690 (single-room) 

*price valid only when 2 x bookings are made together at the same time*

Standard price: $2290 per person (twin-share) or $2990 (single-room)

What's included: 

  • Accommodation for 9 nights / 10 days in retreat centre (Govardhan Ecovillage) 

  • All meals (daily brunch, dinner and snacks) 

  • Airport transfers to and from Mumbai airport (in an A/C taxi)

  • All local taxis and transfers

  • All Yoga, Pranayama, Kriya, Vedanta classes, tutorials and lectures

  • All local sightseeing (hiking through nearby mountains, tours of local villages, temples, etc.)

  • Ayurvedic consultation / lectures

  • 1 x full-body Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment (massage)

  • All local taxes

  • A Welcome bag (comprising local, handcrafted goodies) on arrival

Basically, everything at the yoga retreat after you arrive into Mumbai until you depart!

 

Not included: 

  • Visa & Insurance costs

  • Flights

  • Any additional or personal expenses outside the retreat program.

We can guide you with the visa process and which flights to choose/book. 

Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to this link for details. 

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