7 Days Ayurveda, Nutrition, and Yoga Retreat in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Facilities

Led by the author of The Yoga Lifestyle, Doron Hanoch, you will be encouraged to explore the negative patterns that are holding you back from integrating these healthy habits into your life. In addition to daily pranayama, Zen meditation, and yoga asana practice, the program will include afternoon workshops on specialized topics such as Ayurveda, nutrition, and Zen mindfulness.

Finally give your body and mind the attention they deserve. Spend a week living among the abundant natural beauty of Lake Atitlan, eating homemade vegetarian food, and enjoying the company of a supportive yoga family. This retreat is a perfect a way to reset from the stress of your everyday life, and provides practical steps to move forward with a new perspective of joy and gratitude.

Yoga

The Doron yoga method (based in Ashtanga from primary through third series) mixes Yin and Yang, core work and strengthening, with deep stretching. The class offers a challenge and movements, but the flow is slow, mindful, and focused. You will work hard, and laugh at the same time. There are lots of tips and teachings that will help you advance rapidly.

Doron Yoga is a sustainable yoga system, where safety comes first and foundations of correct alignment specifically for each individual. Then, based on that they build up to the most advanced practices according to each student’s level and needs. Receive amazing hands-on assists from a loving, compassionate, enthusiastic, and energetic teacher with more than 25 years of yoga practice and studies around the world.

Itinerary

Your days begin with pranayama (breathing practices), meditation, and yoga asana. This practice, which lasts a total of 2.5 hours, is the perfect way to start your day from a place of bliss. Practice is followed by a yummy, nutritious, super food breakfast. You then get a break to relax, read or go explore. Doron Yoga is happy to help with arranging activities such as stand up paddle, massage, market visits, Volcano hikes, and more.

It is also fun to just sit on your hammock, relax by the river on the property, or chat with new friends. It is also an easy walk to the lake, where you can enjoy swimming or sitting on the dock by the water.

In the afternoons, you will deepen yoga practice, dance, sing, and play. We will soften into yin, relax into yoga nidra and understand better how to make resolutions actually work. Doron will guide you through meditations and intentions setting, that will actually help you reach your goals. Prepare to laugh, dance, practice some powerful yet loving yoga, focus your mind like a Jedi, and love yourself and others like never before!

Afternoon workshops

This inspiring workshops, which are an opportunity to dive deeper into the practice, gain more knowledge from an expert leader, and have time to ask specific questions.

Ayurveda

Learning your body type (dosha) and what it means. How to balance your specific dosha, what are your strengths and where do you tend to slip. This is a very empowering session where you will comprehend how to not only balance your health, but even relationships and communication in life.

Yoga lifestyle practices

Morning routine - tongue scraping, oil pulling, nauli, and more. Night routine - intermittent fasting. Sleep habits. Intentions versus resolutions, gratitude meditation.

The food and nutrition sessions

What to eat and drink according to your body type, using a variety of systems - Ayurveda, raw food, macrobiotics, the flexitarian method, and new diet researches. Understand what are nightshades, should you eat raw food, fermented food, or soy. Which dairy is better? Learn about dairy substitutes, oils that heal, and the most important veggies in your diet.

You will also learn about some basic recipes and many cooking tips that are practical and quick for you to improve your eating habits in an easy way.

Yoga and your body

Q&A regarding your poses and practice, when to practice, how much to practice, what kind of practice for your dosha, alignment, and some of Doron’s special secrets to make your practice shine.

Zen Mind

How does your mind influence your happiness? Tips regarding meditation, walking meditation, improving how your mind functions during the day, and how to use it have a blissful life.

Doron Yoga and Zen Center is a spiritual eco village, based on permaculture principles with touches of Zen. It manifests the power and energy of the magnificent Lake Atitlan. The lake can be majestically viewed from the grounds, with volcanoes and local villages perfectly framing the scene. They are part of the Maya village of Tzununa in Guatemala.

Located seven-minute walk from the lake, you can enjoy hammocks hang by the river and gardens, and connecting paths are all paved with local stone.

Yoga shala

Doron Yoga and Zen Center may have one of the most beautiful yoga spaces in the world, consisting of a sprawling cypress floating floor, surrounded by large glass sliding doors, held up by huge bamboo pillars, and featuring jaw-dropping views. High ceilings with extra insulation keep the temperatures perfect year round.

It is a temple sitting along the Tzununa River, allowing for the sound of water to flow softly and soothingly into your practice. Unlike many ashrams, they did not cut corners, and you can see the beauty in the details. The place is kept very clean and has a wonderful vibe to it. The cane, Cyprus, pine, and rocks used in the construction are locally sourced, where local community workers built each house with care.

Permaculture principles are followed to ecologically enhance the quality of the construction, garden, and design functionality of the center.

Buddha café

The Buddha café is a wonderful meeting place. It hosts a large deck with a variety of seating options and a gorgeous view of the lake. It serves super nutritious, delicious gourmet, vegetarian food. One of its primary highlights is the great company. Travelers meet to share stories, experiences, a cup of tea, and a hug. It offers a place to rest, connect with new friends, read, and have some delicious food.

Grounds

Permaculture principles are followed to ecologically enhance the quality of the construction, and design functionality of the center. They grow coffee, bananas, avocados, lettuces, beans, yams, radishes, herbs, and around 30 other fruits and vegetables (yum, guacamole!).

They have a beautiful fire pit under the grand Jocote tree (which you may want to climb). Additionally, they have built a natural, large, ceremonial-grade sauna to help with detoxing and cleansing. They offer massages and can organize tours around the lake for you.

The Doron Yoga and Zen Center was built on a high-frequency vibration land. They are sure you will feel it as you come stay with them. As one guest stated: “center” doesn’t seem to be the most fitting word - maybe something like dream village, or yoga farm, or riverbank Zen oasis.

Three vegetarian meals will be served each day with a mix of international, Guatemalan, and Doron’s special healthy, yummy, and Mediterranean touch. These are made from fresh local produce, organic when available. Gluten-free and vegan diets can be accommodated upon request. Each meal is substantial, varied, and nourishing, to energize you through your practices, without leaving you feeling too heavy.

All food at the Doron Yoga and Zen Center is prepared as healthily and nutritiously as possible, under the guidance of the founder and director, who is also a trained chef and certified nutrition consultant. To the greatest extent possible, food is organic and locally sourced, including from their own blossoming gardens.

You will get a great balance of raw food, cooked food (with healthy oils), fermented foods, healthy sauces and condiments, homemade jams and peanut butter, fresh homemade granola, baked sourdough bread, fresh made tortillas on wood oven, pizza from their clay and wood burning pizza oven and so much more.

They offer snacks and drinks for a pick-me-up or dessert. Try their chocolate chip banana muffins, vegan power super food rich bliss balls (made with local Mayan raw cacao), vegan black bean brownies, or one of their drinks: kombucha or probiotic ginger.

Be mindful of food and water hygiene, as travelers’ diarrhea is not uncommon in Guatemala. This can be quite challenging when embarking on a yoga program. Bring some grapefruit seed extract and for daily maintenance, add of seven to eight drops in water or juice. Remember to bring along any other supplement that helps soothe your tummy.

During your free time, you can enjoy some these activities:

• Fire night with Zen talk
• Get a massage in the “by the river” room
• Hike The San Pedro Volcano (with guide)
• Join an acro / silk yoga class (when available - fee)
• Kayak in San Marcos or San Pedro
• Sit by the river, or on a hammock, and relax
• Sit on a rock in the river and meditate or read a book
• Stand up paddle, in Panajachel or San Marcos
• Swim in the lake or chill out on the dock with awesome views
• Venture by boat, tuk-tuk, or foot into neighboring towns for some shopping for traditional textiles, paintings and crafts, sight seeing, and a feel for some local Mayan villages
• Walk / hike around Tzununa, up the mountains or to next-door villages
• Waterfall hike (when available)

• 6 nights accommodation
• All yoga instructions
• Pranayama (breathing exercises)
• Zen meditation
• Tips and tricks on mastering yoga
• Yoga guidance from a well-seasoned international teacher
• Tips on integrating the Yoga Lifestyle into your life at home
• Guided meditations, programs, and workshops
• Retreat to build a holistic yoga lifestyle, integrating mind, body, food and nutrition
• 3 daily vegetarian meals, locally-sourced food, all cooked from scratch with quality ingredients
• Filtered water, herbal tea, and coffee
• Time to explore the distinct and charming towns of Lake Atitlan
• Hammocks, chill out benches and spots around the property
• Live in a spiritual community

• Excursions
• Extra snacks and beverages
• Transportation and transitions to and from the retreat (they can organize it for a fee)
• Massage therapies or other consultations with the experts

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 60% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 45 days before arrival.