You are invited to join for a deep dive into yoga, tantra, meditation, nature and ayurveda high up in the mystical Himalayan Mountains for 10 days over Navratri, The nine nights celebrating the Divine Feminine Principle, The Goddess in the form of Durga Ma, this Autumn 2024 .
Durga is aspect of consciousness that moves as the power of Love, the fearless heart and the fortitude of the heart. It is the energy that seeks to bring balance, equality and justice to the structures of our world and that asks each of us to look deeply within, to track and transform our shadows and to discover our authentic power, in service of our lives, our collective heart and our earth.
Our time together will include extensive daily practice and sādhanā in yoga and tantra, Ayurvedic wisdom and treatments (provided by the in-house team), stillness and time in nature, mountain hikes and visits to sacred sites, temples and magical corners of this part of Northern India. We will journey towards a deeper connection within and with the Divine Feminine Enery
You will be led by myself, Mischa, throughout the 10 days of immersive and exploratory practice and I will also be joined by Sulochana. Sulochana and I met in 2019 at the Tantric ashram of our guru in India and connected instantly through our devotion and love for India, Spirit, Goddess and the Tantric Path. We offered our first collaboration in Yoga and Tantra later that same year! Sulochana will be supporting the Tantric Rituals and also be further sharing her wisdom of Yoga and Tantra and her gift of music during our time together!
Our very special guest is Guurmaa Dipit Baswar, the Shakti of our Traditional Tantra Lineage, who will be with us for 4-5 days to guide the Traditional Tantric Durga Sadhana as we journey together.
Gurumaa is the wife and Shakti of Guruji and it is largely through her dedication and devotion that the teachings of the lineage are available to us. Through her feminine presence, strength and discernment she serves to bridge the teachings of the Bhairavanand lineage to all those who access this path of awakening.
Gurumaa is also deeply inspired by Bharatnatyam Indian classical dance. Her teaching combines the wisdom of Tantra with Indian classical dance. Gurumaa shares the esoteric history of this dance with the knowledge of Tantra that has much been lost.
During the retreat Guruma will be guiding a 3 day Traditional Tantric Durga sadhana including yantra, mantra and yagna with mantra diksha (initiation), sharing Navratri stories and ritual and offering the beautiful Bharatanatyam Temple Dance.
This is a special opportunity to experience traditional Tantric Sadhana with the guidance of Guruma who will be supported by Mischa and Sulo who have been committed to the lineage since 2018.
THE EXPERIENCE:
Daily Yoga & Tantric Practices:
Cultivate daily sādhana through mantra, mudra, pranayama and kriya
Practice immersive Rasa Yoga with attention to alignment and biomechanics, intelligent sequencing through both stillness in held postures and creative flow.
Traditional Tantric Ritual including Yagna, fire ceremony and Yantra making (from the Sri Bhairavanand Tantra Lineage of which I have direct initiation and permission from Gurujii Maharaj and Guruma) Gurumaa will be joining us for this part of the retreat which is an incredible gift for our practice and to receive mantra initiation.
Explore facets of Tantric philsophy through teachings and practices
Deeply rejuvenate with restorative yoga sessions
Open your heart with devotional chanting and the power of mantra and voice
Codes of Divine Feminine:
Invoke the Energy and awaken the consciousness of the Tantric Deity Durga Maa
Connect to the supporting energies of the Nav Durgas, the nine forms of Durga celebrated during Navratri
Explore practices including asana, pranayama, kriya, mantra and mudra to tap into Truth and awaken courage and bravery, inner strength and the power of Love
Celebration & Offering:
Activate the vibration of joy through devotional practices, ritual, prayer and community
Wellness & Rejuvention:
Be supported by Ayurvedic treatments, nourishment (diet and herbs) and wisdom to balance and energise your body, mind, heart and soul.
Immersion in Nature:
Spend 10 days in the lap of the Himalayas, the Land of the Gods, majestic views, clean air, simplicity, endless walks. Discover inner and outer spaciousness.
Experience Sacred Sites & Yatra (pilgrimage):
Visit and spend time at powerful and ancient temples and shrines and experience the local Kumaon culture.
WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?
Anyone who is serious about diving deeper into yoga and exploring traditional tantra, whilst immersed in the land and culture of India!
Yoga teachers who want to learn and refine the practices of yoga including mantra, mudra, pranayama and kriya in more depth (50 HRS CPD is available on request).
All levels, bodies, genders and ages (above 18yrs) are invited - the goddess welcomes you all!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
9 nights accommodation, options for single or shared (unless you are non-residential)
Wholesome vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Daily sadhana & yoga practices
Devotional Navratri practices & Tantric ritual
Meditation, Pranayama & Chanting
Mythic yoga flow
Naadi Parikshan (pulse diagnosis) & consultation with in-house doctor
4 sessions of Ayurvedic treatments
One-to-one Ayurvedic advice on lifestyle & diet
One group session on Ayurvedic Wellbeing by in-house Vaidya (doctor)
Visits to powerful temples (as a group, and accessible by foot so available to visit in your free time!)
Moutain hikes
50 HRS CPD Certificate, available on request for Yoga Alliance Teachers.
Additional group activities and excursions during the trip, to be revealed once you arrive!
NOT INCLUDED:
International and domestic flights
Transfers to and from the retreat, although I can assist in booking these for you.
Hotel stays in Delhi
Additional ayurvedic treatments or medicines
Meals taken outside of the retreat
Donations at temples and sacred sites
Visas & travel insurance, please check requirements in advance.
Personal shopping
TRAVEL
Arrival: Please arrive in Delhi by 2nd October Evening (Delhi Accommodation not included, however once you confirm your booking, I will connect you with the group and make suggestions so that, if you wish, you can gather and travel together).
TRAIN
There is an Express Train which departs from Delhi to Kathgodam approx 6 AM on 3 October. I will arrange your tickets and recommend travel as a group, unless you are planning to arrive in the mountains at an earlier date. You will be met by a minibus at Kathgodam Station for travel from Kathgodam to Kasar Devi.
Departure: There are trains departing Kathgodam both AM and PM on Saturday 12th October. I would advise travelling on the PM train and booking your return flight on Sunday 13th October to keep your travel spacious.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
You may also fly from Delhi to the closest airport, Pantnagar, from which it is about 4 hours taxi drive.
VISAS & TRAVEL INSURANCE
Your are responsible for arranging your visas and checking any additional travel requirements from your country.
More details coming very soon. If you have questions or would like to claim your Super Early Bird space (limited availability until 1 April or sold out), send me an EMAIL and I can’t wait to welcome you to this magical corner of India for a transformative journey together.
OTHER
Are you an Indian National or Resident? Please contact me individually for the price.
PAYMENT
EARLYBIRD VALID UNTIL 1 JUNE, 2024. SOLD OUT
STANDARD. Shared Starting at £1345 | Single Occupancy £1745
NON-RESIDENTIAL options available. Please CONTACT for details.
A DEPOSIT OF 25% confirms your booking. The remaining balance is due 2 months before by 2 August, 2024.
CANCELLATION POLICY
ALL DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
THE REMAINING BALANCE IS DUE 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE RETREAT START DATE.
BOOKINGS WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS MUST BE PAID IN FULL AT TIME OF BOOKING.
50% BALANCE (NOT INCLUDING THE DEPOSIT) WILL BE REFUNDED 30-60 DAYS BEFORE THE RETREAT START DATE.
NO REFUND IF LESS THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT.
*PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY.
YOUR GUIDES:
MISCHA
Mischa, is yoga teacher, a practitioner and sādhak of Traditional Tantra, a Transpersonal Coach and a guide.
Mischa's personal exploration began with yoga, almost 20 years ago, and has taken her study and practice into many fields of personal growth, wellness, spirituality and healing. She has over 12 years teaching experience and although she is a certified E-RYT 500 and YACEP Yoga Teacher with over 1000 hrs of approved Yoga Training it is many years of additional practice, study and sādhanā which deeply informs the work and practice that she shares. A huge part of this has been initiation and committment to the Traditional Tantric path within the Bhairavanand Tantra Lineage since 2018 under the extraordinary guidance of Guru-ji Rajkumar.
Mischa is continually humbled by the power of yoga, tantra and sādhanā and how, when rooted in devotion, they invite such a profound experience of life, inspiring radical growth and transformation.
She shares a layered and heartfelt yoga practice, rich with mantra, philosophy, myth, chanting, meditation and ritual. Classes are immersive and include creative sequencing, a deep focus on breath and alignment and combinations of strong steady flows and longer holds to both uplift and tap into the stillness whilst allowing for deep listening and integration. Longer immersions and retreats are rich with ritual, workshop and tantra ritual.
Her intention is to empower you, through deep devotional practice, inquiry and connection to the Sacred, to radically transform your experience of self, others and life.
Read more about Mischa’s journey HERE.
SULOCHANA
Sulochana, known affectionately as “Sulo,” is passionate about exploring the beauty of the human experience through song and devoted spiritual practice. She guides practitioners in connecting with their own divine expression through devotional music and traditional tantric sadhana, under the guidance and permission of her esteemed teacher, Guru-ji Raj Kumar.
She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher in traditional tantric hatha, which integrates asana, meditation, and pranayama to awaken the energetic centers and cultivate a deep stillness in the body. She received her 200-hour certification in tantric hatha yoga from the Kaivalya Yoga School in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and her 300-hour certification in traditional and therapeutic hatha yoga from the Mahi Yoga School in Dharamsala, India. She has spent many hundreds of hours studying and assisting teacher trainings with her mentor, Radasi, of the Satya Loka Centre of Traditional Yoga and Tantra.
Since 2018, Sulo has been dedicated to the traditional tantric teachings and practices of the Shivoham lineage, which include japa (mantra meditation), yagna (sacred fire ritual) and yantra (geometric forms of cosmic energies). Her passion for pilgrimage has taken her to sacred sites around the world. She is currently living between India and North America with her husband, Rajaram, a teacher and practitioner in the same lineage. Through her devotion, Sulo aims to share transformative practices and help others discover their own paths to joy and awakening.
