Advanced Chakra Sadhana Immersion (2) - Orientation & Preparation
August 1 - 8, 2020
Namo Narayana!
We are very excited to have you at 'Niwas as part of our Advanced Chakra Sadhana Immersion Training & Retreat. Below is some information and guidelines that we hope helps you prepare and get the most out of your time at Ishtadev Niwas Ashram.
Schedule
ARRIVAL TIME - Please aim to arrive to 'Niwas any time between 2-3 pm on Saturday, August 1, 2020. This will allow for ample time for unpacking and settling in to your sleeping space. If you have never been to the Ashram before and are arriving by vehicle, directions can be found here. If you are arriving by plane, please arrange your Ashram arrival/departure times and an airport pick-up for a fee of $20 each way with the office manager at time of registration.
RETREAT START TIME - 4pm sharp on Saturday, August 1, 2020
DEPARTURE TIME - 2pm on Saturday, August 8, 2020
RETREAT SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Saturday (arrival)
4.00 pm - Introductions, Intentions and Orientation
5.30 pm - Dinner
6.00 pm - Clean-up
6.30 pm - Introductory Session
8.00 pm - Retire & Mouna (Silence) Practice
Daily Schedule (General, subject to change)
6.30 am - Mantra, Asana (warm-up only)
8.00 am - Breakfast
8.30 am - Karma Yoga teaching and allocation
9.00 am - Session 1
12.00 pm - Lunch
1.00 pm - Session 2 / Karma Yoga (3.00 pm Chai time)
5.30 pm - Havan
6.00 pm - Dinner
7.00 pm - Evening program, when available
8.00 pm - Mouna and Personal time
Karma Yoga
What exactly is Karma Yoga?
The definition of Karma Yoga is “meditation in action.” It is an opportunity to learn and practice skills of being 100% present, in the moment, watching the mind, and not being attached to the fruits of your actions, even though you apply 100% effort. The result of Karma Yoga is the experience of innate joy throughout your day regardless of what task you are doing. It gives you a wonderful opportunity to watch the mind through its emotional pull of likes and dislikes, or “raga-dwesha,” and to witness these into an equilibrium. Karma Yoga is considered to be one of the highest purification techniques in Yoga. If you would like to learn more about Karma Yoga teachings prior to your retreat, here is a great article.
Optimizing Your Stay
Meals & Nourishment
Ishtadev Niwas is 100% vegetarian. We love to cook healthy Sattvic Yogic food, baking our own bread on-site in our wood-fired bakery and the occasional brownie/cookie. While we can and will accommodate any severe food allergies (ie. peanuts), we are unable to cater to food “intolerances” and/or dietary restrictions. Please inform us of any food allergies as close to the time of registration as possible so we can plan our meals accordingly.
A note on food in the Ashram:
Ashram life is a spiritual community of like-minded individuals on a similar path. We share the same schedule, and as such, eat meals together. Please refrain from bringing personal snacks unless it is pre-arranged and offered as Prasad to the kitchen (and can be shared with the group).
Tea/Coffee:
We do not serve coffee at ‘Niwas but we do serve black tea. A donation of herbal tea is always welcome. If you are addicted to caffeine, we suggest that you moderate and cut down your intake before you get here so as to make your stay more pleasant. You are also welcome to bring your own milk substitute for your tea.
Accommodation & Facilities
In accordance with Yogic lifestyle, the accommodation and facilities at 'Niwas are simple. This is by design to support you getting into the flow of "living Yoga" and Ashram life as seamlessly as possible. Only when our formal accommodation is booked up do we open up possibilities for camping.
Showers:
We have 1 outdoor cold shower available in summer months and traditional indoor bucket baths available in shoulder seasons.
Sauna:
'Niwas has a wood-fired sauna that will be an optional part of your retreat experience on certain days. Please bring your swimsuit and an extra towel if you wish to participate.
Phones & Internet
'Niwas does not have any phones or internet for guest use. The purpose of being at an Ashram is to disconnect from the outside world, so you can have an opportunity to reconnect to your inside world. We ask that you check in your phone and keys when you arrive (as you do in Vipassana
retreats). You are welcome to give your loved ones the head resident number +1-250-602-9091, or office contact at +1-250-344-1394 / office@ishtadevniwas.ca if for any reason they needed to contact you in an emergency.
Coming and Going
While your are at 'Niwas, please consider yourself “at 'Niwas.” By this we mean that in order to create a holistic retreat environment for people here, it is not an option to “pop out for a morning coffee” to the nearest town, or head out tonight for a steak. We ask that you fully immerse yourself in the Yogic lifestyle while you are here for you to be able to receive the full benefits of your efforts.
What to Bring
Clothing
If you are initiated, please wear the colors of your initiation. Beyond this, please no black clothing and wear clothes that you are comfortable in both Asana class as well as getting dirty as you are on a working farm.
Other Items to Bring
Donations
The Living Yoga Society's Outreach, Scholarships and Karma Yoga Programs run by donation. If you are inspired by the teachings and would like to help people who are unable to afford it, please consider donating to help these programs run. Please make all cheques out to “The Living Yoga
Society.” We are happy to make a receipt of payment to you, but please note that we are a registered non-profit, not a charity, and therefore personal receipts cannot be used against your taxes. Only companies and sole proprietor receipts can be 'written off’. We also have a PayPal
system that charges an amount of your choosing to your credit card every month.
If you have any questions regarding the above we would be happy to chat to you, so you get the most out of your time here.
With much love. Namo Narayana,
Sn Shivani, Sn Paramjyoti, and the team at Ishtadev Niwas Ashram
For General Contact & Enquiries, see here.
We are very excited to have you at 'Niwas as part of our Advanced Chakra Sadhana Immersion Training & Retreat. Below is some information and guidelines that we hope helps you prepare and get the most out of your time at Ishtadev Niwas Ashram.
Schedule
ARRIVAL TIME - Please aim to arrive to 'Niwas any time between 2-3 pm on Saturday, August 1, 2020. This will allow for ample time for unpacking and settling in to your sleeping space. If you have never been to the Ashram before and are arriving by vehicle, directions can be found here. If you are arriving by plane, please arrange your Ashram arrival/departure times and an airport pick-up for a fee of $20 each way with the office manager at time of registration.
RETREAT START TIME - 4pm sharp on Saturday, August 1, 2020
DEPARTURE TIME - 2pm on Saturday, August 8, 2020
RETREAT SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Saturday (arrival)
4.00 pm - Introductions, Intentions and Orientation
5.30 pm - Dinner
6.00 pm - Clean-up
6.30 pm - Introductory Session
8.00 pm - Retire & Mouna (Silence) Practice
Daily Schedule (General, subject to change)
6.30 am - Mantra, Asana (warm-up only)
8.00 am - Breakfast
8.30 am - Karma Yoga teaching and allocation
9.00 am - Session 1
12.00 pm - Lunch
1.00 pm - Session 2 / Karma Yoga (3.00 pm Chai time)
5.30 pm - Havan
6.00 pm - Dinner
7.00 pm - Evening program, when available
8.00 pm - Mouna and Personal time
Karma Yoga
What exactly is Karma Yoga?
The definition of Karma Yoga is “meditation in action.” It is an opportunity to learn and practice skills of being 100% present, in the moment, watching the mind, and not being attached to the fruits of your actions, even though you apply 100% effort. The result of Karma Yoga is the experience of innate joy throughout your day regardless of what task you are doing. It gives you a wonderful opportunity to watch the mind through its emotional pull of likes and dislikes, or “raga-dwesha,” and to witness these into an equilibrium. Karma Yoga is considered to be one of the highest purification techniques in Yoga. If you would like to learn more about Karma Yoga teachings prior to your retreat, here is a great article.
Optimizing Your Stay
Meals & Nourishment
Ishtadev Niwas is 100% vegetarian. We love to cook healthy Sattvic Yogic food, baking our own bread on-site in our wood-fired bakery and the occasional brownie/cookie. While we can and will accommodate any severe food allergies (ie. peanuts), we are unable to cater to food “intolerances” and/or dietary restrictions. Please inform us of any food allergies as close to the time of registration as possible so we can plan our meals accordingly.
A note on food in the Ashram:
Ashram life is a spiritual community of like-minded individuals on a similar path. We share the same schedule, and as such, eat meals together. Please refrain from bringing personal snacks unless it is pre-arranged and offered as Prasad to the kitchen (and can be shared with the group).
Tea/Coffee:
We do not serve coffee at ‘Niwas but we do serve black tea. A donation of herbal tea is always welcome. If you are addicted to caffeine, we suggest that you moderate and cut down your intake before you get here so as to make your stay more pleasant. You are also welcome to bring your own milk substitute for your tea.
Accommodation & Facilities
In accordance with Yogic lifestyle, the accommodation and facilities at 'Niwas are simple. This is by design to support you getting into the flow of "living Yoga" and Ashram life as seamlessly as possible. Only when our formal accommodation is booked up do we open up possibilities for camping.
Showers:
We have 1 outdoor cold shower available in summer months and traditional indoor bucket baths available in shoulder seasons.
Sauna:
'Niwas has a wood-fired sauna that will be an optional part of your retreat experience on certain days. Please bring your swimsuit and an extra towel if you wish to participate.
Phones & Internet
'Niwas does not have any phones or internet for guest use. The purpose of being at an Ashram is to disconnect from the outside world, so you can have an opportunity to reconnect to your inside world. We ask that you check in your phone and keys when you arrive (as you do in Vipassana
retreats). You are welcome to give your loved ones the head resident number +1-250-602-9091, or office contact at +1-250-344-1394 / office@ishtadevniwas.ca if for any reason they needed to contact you in an emergency.
Coming and Going
While your are at 'Niwas, please consider yourself “at 'Niwas.” By this we mean that in order to create a holistic retreat environment for people here, it is not an option to “pop out for a morning coffee” to the nearest town, or head out tonight for a steak. We ask that you fully immerse yourself in the Yogic lifestyle while you are here for you to be able to receive the full benefits of your efforts.
What to Bring
Clothing
If you are initiated, please wear the colors of your initiation. Beyond this, please no black clothing and wear clothes that you are comfortable in both Asana class as well as getting dirty as you are on a working farm.
Other Items to Bring
- 4 sacred objects - 3 of these you will be able to take home with you, 1 of these you will LEAVE at 'Niwas. All objects must be able to be left outside in the elements.
- Sleeping bag and pillow
- Water bottle and travel mug
- Warm clothes as it can get nippy at night
- Bug repellant (different times of year have different bug flows)
- Sun hat/ Warm hat
- Any prescription medication you might need. INCLUDING EPI PEN if you are allergic to bees or other.
- Yoga mat
- Meditation cushion /Blanket (if you need to lift your bottom for seated meditations)
- JOURNAL
- *Flashlight* or head lamp
- *An alarm clock* that is NOT your phone
- Clothes you're OK with getting dirty and moving about in
- Slip-on shoes for outside (we go in and out a lot, and laces are time consuming and laborious
- Towel and toiletries
- Indoor Footwear - Please note: We have a "no shoe policy" inside our space. Options other than bare feet are socks, socks with leather soles, or moccasins with leather soles. Kindly refrain from wearing any “indoor footwear” with solid/rubber soles.
- Please no black clothes. Let your inner light shine! Shivani will be happy to explain this to anyone curious while you are here.
- Chewing Gum
- Cigarettes, Alcohol and Drugs (this includes marijuana)
- Pets
Donations
The Living Yoga Society's Outreach, Scholarships and Karma Yoga Programs run by donation. If you are inspired by the teachings and would like to help people who are unable to afford it, please consider donating to help these programs run. Please make all cheques out to “The Living Yoga
Society.” We are happy to make a receipt of payment to you, but please note that we are a registered non-profit, not a charity, and therefore personal receipts cannot be used against your taxes. Only companies and sole proprietor receipts can be 'written off’. We also have a PayPal
system that charges an amount of your choosing to your credit card every month.
If you have any questions regarding the above we would be happy to chat to you, so you get the most out of your time here.
With much love. Namo Narayana,
Sn Shivani, Sn Paramjyoti, and the team at Ishtadev Niwas Ashram
For General Contact & Enquiries, see here.