Retreat
With Asanas & Pranayamas in our ashram, learn and practise Yoga Nidra as taught in the Satyananda Bihar tradition.
Starting dates
Arrival Saturday, departure Friday. If you want to arrive earlier or depart later, please contact us.
Introduction
Learn and practise Yoga Nidra as taught in the Satyananda Bihar tradition, with daily asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation. Alongside the daily classes we offer a range of optional workshops. 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.
Itinerary
The retreat schedule includes Yoga Nidra, Hatha Yoga, mantra chanting and meditation. Classes are suitable for all levels, whether you are starting a daily practice or deepening one. Mornings are asana and pranayama; afternoons Yoga Nidra.
Yoga Nidra (psychic sleep) is the hallmark of the Satyananda Bihar School of Yoga and the best known of the Meditations from the Tantras. It is a lying-down relaxation meditation. Step by step it leads you from outer sounds through body, breath and mind to the deeper layers of consciousness.
The morning is an ideal time to connect with the body and breath, and to calm the mind through asana. Asanas build fitness, strength and flexibility, and suit beginners, experienced practitioners and therapy students. Pranayama (breathing practice) settles and focuses the mind. You will get a daily practice, adapted to your needs, that you can continue by yourself at home.
Morning and evening mantra chanting sessions steady and focus the mind. In the evening there is a short group meditation followed by kirtan (singing spiritual songs) or satsang (spiritual discussion). All are welcome to join, or simply to sit and listen.
In this session you take an active part in ashram life – in the garden, in the kitchen, helping in the office, housekeeping. “To find the Higher Self you must lose yourself in the service of others” – this is Karma Yoga, seva (selfless service).
A day here
In the ashram we maintain silence from 9:00 pm to the next morning 9:00 am to help us be more aware of our inner consciousness. Please cooperate.
Alongside our daily classes, we offer a wide range of workshops for a reasonable extra cost: Chakra Sadhana, Meditation medley, Yoga therapy, Kriya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga. Please inquire.
Through the week
Fees cover
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.
