A spiritual holiday that will deeply purify, nourish & replenish body, mind & soul through
Ayurvedic & Yogic (Sattvic) lifestyle practices
An opportunity to learn Shakti Mantra (Vedic) Meditation - the effortless technique of transcendence
A holistic experience for women seeking to cultivate a more conscious way of living
Our typical day-to-day, stressful lifestyle leaves us felling depleted, exhausted and spiritually bereft. To live consciously, enjoy life, create happiness and fulfilment we need to find balance and a way to take care of all aspects of ourselves; mind, body & soul. This retreat has been carefully curated to offer you a holistic experience with Ayurvedic lifestyle practices, yoga, pranayama, meditation & diet including yogic knowledge and philosophy. This is an invitation, an opportunity to reset. You will come away with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate these practices into your everyday way of living.
Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self ~ Bhagavad Gita
A spiritual life is lived from the soul perspective knowing that we are here to fulfil our divine purpose. From the point of view that the soul is eternal whilst our life here on earth, in this body, is limited. When we shift our focus and begin to see ourselves as spiritual beings, we understand the need and significance for cultivating a spiritual life. We see that when the soul in nourished our lives are enriched with spirit, vitality, clarity, creativity & purpose, from here we can begin to live intentionally.
Daily Retreat Schedule (guide only)
(includes 4 x Rounding & Meditation sessions each day
6 AM : Morning Elixir
6:30 - 8:30AM : Rounding (Yoga & Meditation Practice & Ayurvedic Ritual)
9 AM : Breakfast
10 - 11AM :Rounding (Yoga & Meditation Practice)
11:00 - 1:00PM : Meditation Workshop/Activity including Morning Tea
1PM : Lunch
2 - 4PM : Rest & Reflection including Afternoon tea
4 - 5:00PM : Rounding (Yoga & Meditation Practice)
5 - 6PM Rest/Walk
6 - 7PM : Rounding (Yoga & Meditation Practice)
7PM : Dinner
8:00 - 9:30PM : Satsang (Gathering & Chai)
9:30PM : Bedtime
INCLUSIONS
Shared Accommodation - amidst nature in a tranquil purpose built retreat centre in the pristine rain forests of the Yarra Valley (90 minutes from Melbourne) - most of the bedding is in king singles, in shared rooms.
Shakti Mantra (Vedic) Meditation - is the effortless technique of transcendence. This meditation course will be delivered over the duration of this retreat. Daily, 2-hour, knowledge and meditation practice sessions will cover the science & how to practice Vedic meditation using your personal mantra. This includes INITIATION where you will be given your personal mantra in a ceremonial puja.
Meditation Refresher - If you are already a Vedic meditator this will be a great opportunity for you to refresh your training and knowledge and even correct (if necessary) reset and deepen your practice.
Daily Rounding (Yoga & Meditation Practice) – Four (4) x daily ‘rounding’ sessions. Rounding is a well-balanced, powerful practice that is part of the Vedic tradition & usually done on retreat. Rounding practice includes gentle movement (yoga asana), pranayama (breathwork), kriya’ (subtle energy body activation), mantra meditation followed by deep relaxation to help with purification and integration of the whole experience. Rounding is suitable for all abilities when done under the supervision of an experienced teacher. Release of physical & emotional tension and stress from the nervous system and body can be a powerful experience during this process.
Ayurvedic Sattvic (Vegetarian) Meals – all meals (3 x fully catered) will be catered for by an Ayurvedic Consultant & Chef and will be Sattvic . This diet is designed for purification and optimal digestion to support your meditation practice.
Satsang & Kirtan Bhajan - Daily gatherings after dinner, Q & A knowledge sessions, Chanting mantra and Kirtan (sing-along) around the campfire on our final night.
Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practices - learn about the ancient practices Ayurveda that you can implement in your lifestyle and daily routine (Dinacharya) to live in harmony with nature including, dietary and nutritional advice, cooking demonstration, self care eg: abhyanga, oil pulling, tongue scraping etc.
Ayurvedic Relaxation Massage - a full- body relaxation oil massage by an Ayurvedic Therapist is included in the price of this retreat
About Vedic (Shakti Mantra) Meditation
Vedic (Shakti Mantra) Meditation is a simple, effortless technique that stems from the 5000-year-old body of wisdom known as the Veda from where Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation originate. A personal mantra is used to allows the mind to settle down to quieter and more subtler states. This settling of the mind triggers profound levels of rest in the body allowing stress and fatigue to be released from the nervous system, the mind and body to enable healing.
Practicing Vedic Meditation is easy. There's no concentrating, no focusing or trying to stop thoughts. Vedic Meditation is for everyday people who need a technique to reboot, to de-stress and get the most out of life.
This meditation technique will be taught in a traditional format which has been passed down orally from teacher to pupil. It comes from one of the oldest living lineages of yoga.
The Meditation course will run over 4 – separate sessions and Initiation will take place in a sacred puja; a traditional ceremony during which you will receive your personal Mantra for meditation and be shown how to meditate. This is truly a gift that lasts a lifetime.
The cost of this Meditation Course & Initiation is included in the total retreat cost at a discounted rate (usually costs $1200). We create the optimal environment and conditions to enable new meditators to embody the knowledge and learn how to meditate during this retreat. Our deepest desire and intention is to pass on this healing knowledge & technique of mediation to you as taught by His Holiness, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
About your facilitators :
Avril Bastiansz
Creator of Become YOU. Teacher of Shakti Yoga & Vedic Mantra Meditation with a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutrition & Natural Medicine, Mental Health Aware Yoga Training and currently completing Counselling & Psychotherapy. You can read more about Avril here:
https://www.avrilbastiansz.com/aboutavrilbastiansz
Raelene Campbell
Raelene is a certified Career & Leadership Coach, Positive Psychology Practitioner and Meditation & Yoga Teacher. You can find out more about Raelene at: https://www.careertake2.com.au/about
Phillipa Joy :
Phillipa Joy is a qualified Ayurveda Practitioner from the Australasian Institute of Ayurvedic Studies (AIAS). As a chef and event coordinator by trade before transitioning to Ayurveda over a decade ago, she has worked in seven different countries serving meals for people from diverse backgrounds. You can read more about Phillipa at: https://www.ayurvedajoy.com/
About the Amarant Retreat Centre
Amarant is an architectural treasure perched on Mt Ben Cairn, amidst 25 acres of pristine rainforest in the heart of the Yarra Valley. Built to feel like a treehouse, it takes advantage of the panoramic views down the valley while being at one with nature. Relax in comfort and privacy with generous facilities for up to 12 guests or workshop participants. Enjoy our secluded forest with many walking paths, gardens, abundant wildlife, picnic areas and our beautiful spring, or venture out into the Yarra Valley for all it has to offer. https://www.amarant.com.au/
This is a spiritual retreat for women seeking all things that heals the heart & soul, including time for rest, reflection & rejuvenation !
Further Details & Costs
The full cost of this all-inclusive, 4 night/5 day, Retreat is :
$2, 300 for NEW Meditators
$1,900 for Meditation Refresher
Information about what to bring and other details will be provided on request to participants attending. A deposit payment of $500 is required to hold your spot with full payment required by 18 November 2022.
Enquiries :
Please contact me in person for a brief phone consultation if you are keen to join in this Retreat by emailing me to arrange a time : info@avrilbastiansz.com or call 0418 527984
Read about the Yoga Australia interview with Avril Bastiansz on Retreats here:
Earlier Event: 28 August
Kirtan & Chai - Women In Solidarity (WIS) Fundraiser for Sri Lanka
Later Event: 9 February
R E T R E A T to Sri Lanka - Spiritual Journey for Women (Yoga, Meditation & Ayurveda)