A journey to India is like no other journey. India is not just a destination, it's a calling of the heart. A place where you see, feel, and experience real truth. This coming January, you will join a few friends along to recreate the Akasha experience from the hills of Transylvania to the beaches of Goa, India. A journey of the heart and spirit, with sunshine, coconuts, and dolphins.
For those unfamiliar with Goa, this is a little corner of paradise on the west coast of India, where the magic happens, literally. South Goa, in particular, is dotted with quaint traditional fishing villages, former Portuguese settlements, Catholic churches and Hindu Temples, turtle nesting beaches, and the most incredible sunsets you've seen in your life and abundant beauty in all its glory.
Part I: January 7 to 13, 2018 - Yoga alchemy to release and let go, facilitated by Krishna Khunti, Irina Raileanu, and Kate Smith
A six-night retreat to kick off the new year, release the tension of 2017, release constraints held tightly in your being and restart your system gently. Everyone has expectations and daily stresses that create negative emotions in their physical body which then create a cycle of frustrations and bad habits.
Quite often, instead of taking more energy in, they need to clear all of this saturated energy before. A chance to detox the subtle body and to give it a good foundation for the year ahead.
Part II: January 14 to 20, 2018 - Yoga alchemy to energize and awaken, facilitated by Krishna Khunti, Irina Raileanu, and Kate Smith
For those that have joined the retreat in part 1, this will be your chance to offer a further glimpse into the deeper dimensions of yoga and philosophy, offering in-depth sessions to discover your vast potential for greater consciousness, empowerment, and connection. Guided by the beautiful energy of the first New Moon of 2018 on January 17 and using this to reignite your passion and love for life.
In this retreat, the focus is to strengthen the body through energizing yoga flows, the mind through clear intentions and the soul through an awakened and revived spirit. A chance to write your own start, to begin again, a new chapter in the book of life.
January 28 to February 3, 2018 - Six stages of the journey inward, facilitated by Elaine Kelly, Irina Raileanu, and Kate Smith
This retreat is geared towards the yogi who wants to expand their understanding of practice as a means to optimize their individual well-being and how to act ethically towards oneself with practical applications within your daily life on and off the mat.
Throughout the retreat, you will be guided on a creative exploration and design of your yoga practice as an approach to sustainable living and intelligent lifestyle flow. Practitioners are invited to explore the balance between theory and practice, recharging, and exploring new dimensions of wellness and self-care in a regenerative and luxurious environment.
Ayurveda and yoga holiday
This retreat includes daily yoga flows and meditation classes featuring Ashtanga and Yin postures blended in creative thematic flows and suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners guided by the exceptional Akasha teachers. Some yoga sessions will be in the shala, some by the pool, and some on the beach at sunset.
You will be pampered by boutique luxury accommodation and setting, exotic vegan meals with the Akasha touch, relaxing massages, Ayurveda consultations, ocean stand up paddle boarding sessions, sound healing sessions, mandala and sacred geometry workshops, Agnihotra Havan (sacred Vedic fire ceremonies), and excursions to beautiful beaches and sacred sites.
The place is limited, it consists of a small group of people with similar interests with 10 to 14 guests maximum and three facilitators to support and guide your progress during the retreat.
Sunset yoga and dinner on the beach
On two evenings, you will be practicing yoga and meditation on the beach at sunset. The location is the less frequented Galgibag Beach in South Goa. It is perhaps one of few hidden treasures that Goa has left.
The beach is known as one of the three places in Goa that form nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley turtles, a protected species. The northern portion of this beach is protected as the turtles nesting grounds and gives the beach its nickname, the Turtle Beach. The pristine stretch of golden brown sand is lined with coconut palms and other beautiful trees, and above all, it is a peaceful and quiet area.
Local Hindu temples
On one morning per week, you will visit one of the local Hindu temples. A beautiful and short trip by rickshaw to attend the morning sunrise rituals are at the temples.
Dolphin spotting on stand up paddle (SUP) or kayaking
One morning, you will wake up bright and early and head to Palolem Beach. Here, each of you will have a board to play and head out to sea (for those that don't fancy this, kayaking is also available). Early in the morning, the sea is calm as there are no fishing boats and very often you will spot dolphins swimming freely in the bay. It is a beautiful experience that also works the core muscles and balance.
Workshops and talks
There will workshops and talks during the retreat.
Om healing session
Om is the primordial sound creating and pervading the whole universe. The sound of Om belongs to all humanity, to all nations, and to all religions. Om healing through chanting can balance you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When you go through this simple but powerful process, emotions are released and inner peace and love arises. It leads to a more joyful life and supports your health and your meditation practice.
Reiki session, mandala making, and sacred geometry session
The word mandala means "circle" in Sanskrit and represents wholeness, a cosmic diagram reminding you of your relation to infinity, extending beyond, and within your bodies and minds. The mandala appears to you in all aspects of life, the earth, the sun, the moon, and more obviously the circles of life encompassing friends, family, and communities.
Mandalas are used for meditation and healing purposes, allowing the individual working with them to dive into the depths of self-discovery. The process of creating this sacred geometry allows access to the deeper levels of the unconscious mind and promotes release, harmony, and unity with the cosmos.
Ayurveda consultation and workshop
You will have a special guest from India who will be giving a practical introduction to the ancient Indian health science of Ayurveda. The guest will be sharing his knowledge of Vedic science, health, art, and culture with a specific focus on Ayurveda and health. Private consultations will also be available on request.
Chakra balancing talk
An insight into the meaning, locations, and significance of the seven main chakras and demonstration on how to check for imbalances, using a pendulum. You will also give advice on ways to balance each chakra using methods including yoga asanas, nutrition, colors, chanting, massage, and other holistic therapies. Each person will be given this information to take away and incorporate into the wellness and self-care practice.
Themes
- January 7: Yoga alchemy to release and let go (part 1)
- January 14: Yoga alchemy to energize and awaken (part 2)
- January 28: Yoga alchemy to energize and awaken
This is the format for the full retreat days, see below for activities, trips, and workshops. Please note that this itinerary is subject to change.
Schedule
Day 1: Arrival day
- 15:00 Arrival, retreat introduction, and house tour
- 18:00 Evening yoga and meditation practice
- 19:30 Candlelit dinner
- 20:30 Opening circle and intention setting
Day 2 to 6: Full retreat days
- 06:00 Optional sunrise Agnihotra Havan
- 07:00 Wake up gong
- 07:30 Morning yoga practice and meditation class
- 09:00 Breakfast
- 10:00 Relaxation time, poolside, or optional beach trip and massage
- 14:00 Lunch
- 15:00 Relaxation time, poolside, or optional beach trip and massage
- 18:00 Evening slow flow yoga and meditation practice
- 19:30 Dinner
- 20:30 Evening group activity
Day 7: Departure day
- 06:00 Optional sunrise Agnihotra Havan
- 07:00 Wake up gong
- 07:30 Morning dynamic yoga flow with meditation
- 09:00 Breakfast
- 10:00 Closing circle
- 12:00 Departure
Akasha Wellness Retreat practices a digital detox retreat, this is to allow your mind to disconnect from the overload of digital communications and listen more deeply to life, connect with others on the retreat and live in the present moment.
