Bhaavanaa Retreat
Our Bhaavanaa retreat is a beautiful opportunity to connect with oneself and our sense of community simply by walking in nature and practicing yoga.
Happening in a serene complex in the mountains of the lower Himalayas, this retreat is an opportunity for you to disconnect with your routine, unwind, and connect to yourself. It wishes to give you a safe space to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health in a cozy and relaxed ambiance.
In this 8-day retreat, we will experiment with the basic principles of yoga's physical and mental practices, such as Asana and Pranayama, Yoga Therapy, and Yoga philosophy.
The Yogic exploration will be enriched by the beauty of the Indian Himalayas during an accessible but impressive trek to the Chandrashila summit at sunrise. Not only will you have the chance to be surrounded by stunning landscapes, but you’ll also experience how contact with nature can have a magnificent effect on your physical and mental well-being.
Our activities for the retreat
Yoga
Our Bhaavanaa Retreat incorporates a simple and enjoyable yoga routine to the daily life at the Dea Avnova.
Each day will start with a Pranayama session followed by a Hatha Yoga class. We'll then share a good and healthy breakfast together and will digest our food while having an open discussion about yoga philosophy.
That will be followed by free time to enjoy the complex and do what feels good for you. The interested participants will enjoy a private Yoga Therapy session with our trained teachers to assess a health management subject of their choice.
After lunch, we'll go for a nature or village walk, and then have our second Hatha Yoga practice.
We'll share a dinner in the evening and have some time to discuss all together and create community.
Chandrashila trek
The trek to the Chandrashila summit is a 2,5-day experience which will definitely ground and connect you with nature.
We'll be walking in the midst of the Indian lower Himalayas and discovering a multitude of various landscapes, from a superb alpine lake to a lush forest, and the 3 700m altitude Chandrashila summit at sunrise.
The trek will be enriched by outdoor Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, and small Hatha Yoga practices to ground yourself a bit more in the beauty of the Earth.
**The trek is accessible, but steep. We recommend that our participants are generally active in their day-to-day lives to ensure a pleasant trek. (Get more details on the trek)
Our accommodation for the retreat
Dea Avnova
Located in the heart of Mandal Valley, the Dea Avnova complex sits amidst the farmlands, with the river on one side, the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary on the other, and the Himalayan ranges all around.
Within walking distance from us are natural swimming spots, waterfalls, unexplored hiking and trekking routes, and local villages.
It is the perfect place to experience nature in its most pristine form, and rejuvenate and transform ourselves by connecting with the healing energies of Himalayan mountains, rivers, and forests.
The permaculture garden that surrounds the location houses a food forest where flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables grow organically.
The rooms have been built using natural materials like stones and earthbags. We also do our best to reuse everything generated within the premises and encourage our guests to experience and follow the same.
The local community is at the heart of the vision. For this reason, the Dea Avnova works with the less privileged locals, particularly women and youth.
The meal's ingredients, such as milk, fruits and vegetables, are sourced from the local villages, besides what is cultivated in locally in the farm.
Our teachers for the retreat
Himanshu Joshi
Having completed a master's degree in Yogic Science in 2020, Himanshu is teaching yoga and practicing yoga for more than 7 years now.
He teaches Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga Therapy, Shatkarma, and Pranayama classes at our studio in Tapovan, Rishikesh. He knows yogic philosophy very well and will assist you in understanding the deeper meaning and objectives of yoga.
He'll be your guide for the trek, as he is also passionate about adventure and nature. He has completed a training at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in 2021 and he'll guide you through the experience with his ever-lasting smile and positivity.
He is also the owner of Japam Yoga Treks and Tours.
Sarah-Jeanne Baron
Sarah-Jeanne is originally from Montreal, in Canada, and lives in India for more than two years now. She has worked in the field of physical therapy for more than five years in Canada, practices yoga for many years now, and has a training in Yoga Therapy and integration of yoga in Western medicine.
She teaches anatomy and back pain management workshops at our studio in Tapovan, and sometimes gives yoga classes.
She also loves trekking, especially in the Indian Himalayas, and she'll be joining the trek as a second guide.
She is an owner of Japam Yoga Treks and Tours and manages the media and business development.
