Retreat
Practical Ayurveda with daily Yoga Nidra, asana and pranayama, in the Satyananda Bihar tradition.
Starting dates
Arrival Saturday, departure Friday. If you want to arrive earlier or depart later, please contact us.
Introduction
The retreat combines practical Ayurveda with Hatha Yoga and Yoga Nidra. Ayurveda (the traditional Indian science of life) is taught in a daily theory class: how to know your constitution and take conscious care of yourself at home. The week includes a personal consultation to identify your doshas (constitution), daily check-ins, two Ayurvedic treatments, and daily Yoga Nidra, asana and pranayama as taught in the Satyananda Bihar tradition. Treatments are tailored to you, with a focus on detox, stress management and self-care.
We are not a resort, we are not a guest house, we are an ashram, living simply on an organic farm with a play school. Life here runs much like a spiritual family: we eat, chant, meditate, sing, learn, work and play together.
Fees cover
Your teachers
Yolanda trained as an Ayurveda therapist in Kerala and apprenticed with Dr Ashwin Sastry (Karnataka) and Dr Raveendranath (Kerala). She is a Pancha Karma (cleansing) specialist. Born and raised in the Netherlands, her background is in behavioural science and social work.
Swami Yogaratna was trained as a sannyasin (renunciate) disciple of the Bihar School of Yoga, founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. With over 40 years’ experience as a sannyasin, she teaches the Yoga Nidra, asana and pranayama sessions.
Location, stay & food
The ashram is in the village of Bankikodla, Karnataka. Gokarna, an ancient temple town, is 5 km away: temples, beaches and a weekly market.
Twin shared room with attached bathroom. Rooms are in heritage buildings surrounded by gardens and the ashram’s organic farm, with twin beds and an attached bathroom with toilet and shower. Bed sheets and pillows are provided.
Dormitory with shared bathroom. The dormitories are in the century-old heritage house. They sleep between 2 and 5 people on sleeping pads. Clean toilets and bathrooms are shared. Bed sheets and pillows are provided.
Three vegetarian meals are served daily, with tea or coffee. Meals are cooked here — traditional, local vegetarian food. Shankar Prasad grows its own rice and many of its vegetables on the fully organic farm; what is not grown on the land is bought from organic farmers in the village and neighbouring town.
Dabolim (Goa) is about 3 hours by taxi, Manohar (Mopa, Goa) about 5. We can arrange a trusted village taxi: send us your flight details and it will be waiting.
Any train on the Konkan line. Gokarna Road is 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw; from Kumta or Ankola take a bus or taxi. Overnight buses also run often from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Gokarna Cross. Full routes on the How to reach page.
Fees
Booking / cancellation policy: A reservation requires a 10% deposit, which is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled. The balance is paid on arrival.
Booking
Tell us your dates and we’ll confirm availability, fees and how to hold your place.
