IN YOUR ELEMENT | A 10 DAY ELEMENTAL YOGIC ADVENTURE in INDIA
with MISCHA VARMUZA + LUCY HILL
4th - 14th February 2020
Honour the elements and realise your magic in incredible India, on our 10 day journey from Goa’s stunning beaches, to the spectacular wild mountains and jungle of the Western Ghats.
Through beautiful yogic practices, by bathing in the medicine of nature, by honouring the earth with ritual, by visiting ancient temples for blessings - and so much more… We will explore our inner and outer realms, connecting to and celebrating our natural state of being, within the magnificence of Mother India’s awe-inspiring beauty.
Be the force of nature you truly are.
We begin our retreat in our long-time home, one of Goa's most exclusive properties, 'Kaju Varo', nearby the beautiful Ashwem beach in north Goa. Alongside the pool-side yogic practices with Mischa, expect delicious, next-level menus, award-winning, luxurious accommodation, deeply healing therapies, inspiring workshops, fun cultural activities… And a whole lot of R&R.
Midway through the retreat, we’ll take a private transfer to the epic Swapnaghanda nature resort in the Western Ghats, an area of outstanding beauty and a biosphere of exquisite wilderness. We’ll swim in water falls, hike to sunrise mountain ridges and pray in powerful sacred spaces.
If you're new to solo travelling, how absolutely wonderful! Using our many years of Indian travel experience, we at Chaya dearly love to look after our guests. We can help with all your travel needs and will do our best to ensure you have a most relaxing, joyful and magical time. You just need to book your flight and let us take care of everything else.
LOCATION ONE | KAJU VARO
Set amongst cashew and mango groves and only minutes from the magnificent Ashwem beach, is one of Goa’s most well-loved eco retreats; Kaju Varo. Winning Conde Naste Traveler's award for best luxury boutique stay in Goa, this is a gorgeous home for Chaya. Each individually designed eco-lux villa demonstrates contemporary elegance and minimalist design, creating a perfectly private, serene and peaceful environment for our guests to unwind. The team, our dear friends at Kaju Varo, are amazing and will look after your every need.
Kaju Varo Website
YOGA | THE PRACTICE
We're incredibly excited to welcome back with open arms, the wonderful Mischa Varmuza, to share her vast knowledge, her incredible teaching and beautiful energy. Mischa will lead a twice-daily practice during the retreat, with two hours dynamic flow in the morning and a yin-energy focussed practice in the evening, incorporating pranayama (breath work), chanting and guided meditation.
Our retreats are open to all ages and levels of yogic experience, however, if you have any physical challenges or concerns you are working with, we are always very happy to discuss how we can support you on retreat. Please just drop us a line to arrange a call.
THE TEACHER | MISCHA VARMUZA
Mischa first experienced Yoga's capacity for transformation and self discovery over 12 years ago and has since remained dedicated to the study and practice of the ancient wisdom tradition. She is continually humbled by the practice; the way in which it inspires growth and invites a profound experience of the fullness of life itself. She is devoted to exploring the unfolding of the Self, to realising the innate freedom and Love that resides within each of us.
Mischa holds enormous gratitude for leading vinyasa flow teacher Claire Missingham with whom she completed her initial 200 hours TT with in 2012 and assisted for some time afterwards. Claire’s year long training was very influential in inspiring a sincere commitment to honour the roots of yoga whilst being relevant to modern times and practitioners.
Mischa met her main teacher and mentor, Sianna Sherman in 2013, a meeting which continues to shape, influence and guide her path. She completed a 300 hours TT with Sianna in 2015 and has since then been in apprenticeship with her, assisting on workshops and trainings globally. Mischa is now a lead teacher for Sianna’s school, Rasa Yoga. Alongside her yoga study, Mischa is also immersed in study of the Priestess tradition under Sianna's guidance, a path of embodied practice, wisdom and ritual and a sincere journey of reclamation of the Divine Feminine.
Mischa also has an Ashtanga and Iyengar Yoga practice within the foundation of her personal practice and has studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. She continues to spend extensive time in India visiting sacred sites and practicing under the guidance of true masters of yoga. In 2018 she began practicing Tantra under Guruji Rajkumar and studying at the Bihar School of Yoga within the lineage of Swami Satyananda at Rikhiapeeth Ashram and in 2019 will embark on a 2 year training to deepen her understanding and practice of mantra and chanting with Menaka Desikachar.
Mischa’s life is determined by her sadhana (spiritual practice). She has been exploring India’s sacred heart for over ten years and shares a layered and heartfelt practice which reflects the adventure and texture of this. The practice is 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. Mischa's teaching is passionate and authentic, her intention is to both inspire and empower whilst holding a space for individuals to open, reflect and restore. You will be taken on a joyful journey of internal and external unfolding.
IS THIS RETREAT FOR YOU?
YES! Our retreats are suitable for everybody - we welcome all ages and all levels of yogic experience. If you would like to discuss any area of your wellbeing or practice that you are specifically working with, or have any questions about the retreat, please do drop us a line, we're very happy to chat through ideas or concerns.
LOCATION TWO | SWAPNAGHANDA NATURE RESORT
A 3 hour drive from Kaju Varo, will take us to Swapnaghanda.
This peaceful haven, completely off the beaten path, offers an authentically wild experience of India, in comfort, safety and style. The beautiful reserve is situated in the Western Ghats and the region spans across the three states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The magical forests are part of the Mhadei Bio region. This area is home to tigers, leopards, gaur, chital, sloth bear, critically-endangered bats and scores of other species.
The waterfall facing eco-cottages celebrate exclusive views of the fabled Vazra Sakla waterfalls and its bio diverse forests. The whole valley is unobscured by any sign of the modern age and zero light pollution means for awe-inspiring night skies.
We will take exclusive occupation of Swapnaghanda for five days, where you can join us on jungle walks and waterfall swims, take local excursions and experience mind blowing Indian cuisine… Or just lounge by the unbelievably beautiful infinity pool, overlooking the valley.
FOOD + MENUS
Food is a really big deal to us at Chaya. It's such a joy to share our passion for incredibly good food, food which tastes as good as it looks, as good as it feels! The wonderful chefs at Kaju Varo and Swapnaghanda will work with our famed Chaya Kitchen menus and in-house team to bring you some seriously delicious feasts. Using local, seasonal and organic where possible ingredients to create delicious, and nutritious Indian-style regional multi-course menus, which will balance, nourish and delight.
WELLBEING FOOD + WORKSHOP
Chaya’s Lucy Hill will be bringing her knowledge and understanding of wellbeing food to the retreat; ensuring a healthy and inspiring, not to mention super tasty menu. The food will refer to the pillars of a therapeutic diet to best support you during retreat. With juices and homemade plant-based mylks, two delicious plant-based Indian style (unlimited!) meals per day, free-flowing coconuts, fresh fruits and herbal teas… All designed to leave you feeling nourished on every level.
Lucy will host a 2 hour workshop, covering wellbeing topics such as nut and seed milks, raw chocolate alongside other healthy and delicious ways to upgrade the way you eat - and the way you feel.
WORKSHOP: BREATH EMPOWERMENT with DAISY ELLISON (Breath Body Balance)
A two hour exploration of the potent power of our breath. Discover what your personal breath reveals about you and your experience of life and discover the key tools of breath mastery. Empower yourself to tap into the subconscious and transform deeply rooted beliefs and patterns. Awaken and release suppressed emotions, past trauma and latent stress held within the body. Experience how it feels to be your most vibrant and vital self.
Daisy has trained with Inspirational Breathing, The Wim Hof Method and Biodynamic Breathwork, alongside having a traditional pranayama practise for 20+ years. Her workshops are a fusion of all these invaluable practises.
TREATMENTS & THERAPIES
We are incredibly blessed in Goa to work with an outstanding selection of personally curated healers, therapists and practitioners, working across a broad spectrum of treatments.
Our in-house practitioner Daisy Ellison, aka Breath Body Balance, will be consulting throughout the retreat, to enable you to experience the treatment best aligned with your needs.
Our therapists cover the following areas: All massage disciplines, (examples include holistic, aromatherapy, Swedish, intuitive, deep tissue, sports and remedial, stomach and internal), reflexology, breathwork, kinesiology, ayurveda, past life regression, voice coaching, reiki and energy work, life coaching, nutritional therapy, plus many more.
Included in the retreat will be a 1 hour treatment of your choice with one of our resident therapists.
Breath, Body, Balance Website
TYPICAL DAILY RETREAT SCHEDULE
07:30 - 08:00 Herbal teas, coconut water
08:00 - 09:30 Dynamic flow vinyasa class + meditation (2hrs)
10:00 - 11:00 Buffet brunch
11:00 - 16:00 Treatments, free time
16:00 - 18:30 Evening practice
19:00 - 20:30 Dinner
20:45 - 21:30 Yoga Nidra or Guided Meditation (1 per week)
We dearly love to share our many years of Indian travel and Goan love with our guests, which we hope makes for a very unique experience. If you have any questions at all about India, Goa, travelling solo, safety, what to expect, where to go afterwards or before... Just drop us a line or give us a call.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
For those that want to get out and about, there are so many fun and inspiring things to do in Goa, with lots of lovely beaches and natural local sights; you can easily hire a moped or a driver for the day and explore. Or maybe take a trip to the local market town and soak up the crazy sights and sounds of a real Indian hub. We love to visit the magical perfumer Ramakrishna and receive a blessed personalised scent. There’s also the famed, lively night market for the shoppers, one of many shopping opportunities! There are many beautiful restaurants for the foodies. And those who need more action, there's great water sports nearby. Come and chant in the local temples with us, buy crystals from our resident crystal expert. And on the therapies and treatments front - there are a bounty of amazing healers, therapists and body workers. Let Chaya be your local guide and we'll tailor your experience exactly to your needs and desires.
INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT
Inbound airport transfer, transfer to Swapnaghanda, return transfer to Ashwem beach
Twice daily yoga and meditation classes, guided meditations with Mischa
Full board, including 2 x multi-course gourmet meals, afternoon tea, unlimited teas, fresh fruit and mineral water
1 x 1 hr treatment of choice with Chaya in-house practitioners
1-2-1 consultation and dosha analysis with Ayurvedic doctor
Breath Workshop with Daisy Ellison
Wellbeing food and self-care workshop with Lucy Hill
Shamanic elemental rituals, sharing circles and talks
Sacred ancient temple visits and blessings
Guided hikes with professional tour guides
Local folk dance and song demonstration
Optional additional activities such as spice plantation visits, bird watching, temple explorations and watersports
NOT INCLUDED IN THE RETREAT
Flights and onward transfer from Ashwem
COST PER PERSON
Option 1) £1661 | Three person sharing suite, with ensuite
Option 2) £1881 | Two person sharing suite with ensuite
Option 3) £1991 | Solo room with double bed, sharing a bathroom with one other
Option 4) £2442 | Solo suite, entirely private large suite with ensuite bathroom
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Arrival airport is Goa Dabolim.
Check in at Kaju Varo in Ashwem is from 5pm and check out at 11am from Swapnaghanda, when we will transfer all guests back to Ashwem at the end of the retreat.
Should you wish to arrive early or extend your stay we can happily assist with recommendations and arrangements.
PAYMENT PLANS
We are always open to discussing ways to make our retreats accessible to everyone - please get in contact if you would like to discuss how we can make it work for you.
To book a place on this retreat or for any further details, please contact us via the link below or email: info@chayayogaretreats.com
