Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat

The Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat is a weekend ayurveda retreat at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California, led by Nitya (Hoa Tran). It suits anyone who wants to rest, detoxify and learn how Ayurveda, the ancient healing science of India, can shape daily life. Yoga, meditation, talks and optional Ayurvedic treatments fill the days within the rhythm of an ashram.

What to Expect

The weekend pairs the ashram's yoga routine with teaching on Ayurveda. Guests practice asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing) and meditation twice daily, and attend workshops on Ayurveda and health. Talks cover Ayurvedic constitution, signs of imbalance and balancing therapies, guidelines for proper digestion and healthy eating, and Ayurvedic lifestyle with seasonal and daily routines.

Arrival is on Friday. Check-in opens at 2:00pm, and guests are encouraged to arrive by 4:00pm for the asana class. Dinner is at 6:00pm, followed by a welcoming orientation at 7:00pm and satsang at 8:00pm.

Saturday carries the full schedule:

- 6:00 to 7:30am: satsang with guided silent meditation, chanting and a lecture
- 8:00 to 9:45am: gentle yoga class
- 10:00am: vegetarian brunch
- 11:00am: karma yoga
- 12:00 to 1:00pm: workshop on Ayurvedic lifestyle and routines
- 1:00 to 4:00pm: free time and nature walks
- 4:00 to 5:45pm: asana and pranayama class
- 6:00pm: vegetarian dinner
- 7:30 to 9:00pm: evening satsang with meditation, chanting and a lecture

Sunday begins with satsang and gentle yoga, then brunch, with check-out at 12:00pm. Guests are welcome to stay on the grounds through the afternoon.

Two optional offerings are booked separately and have a limited number of appointments. The Ayurvedic consultation helps you discover your personal constitution, with a detailed history intake, pulse and tongue analysis, and a diet and lifestyle evaluation. The Ayurvedic body treatment is a full-body sequence of Abhyanga (a herbal oil massage), Shirodhara (a steady stream of warm herbal oil poured over the forehead) and Swedhana (a full-body herbal steam). Booking ahead is needed for both.

About Nitya (Hoa Tran)

Nitya Hoa Tran is a Sivananda yoga teacher, Ayurvedic Health Counselor and Ayurveda body treatment therapist. She serves as Director of the Ayurvedic Therapy Training Course and the Ayurveda Panchakarma Program at the Sivananda Ashram in Vietnam, and she serves each year in the Well Being Center of the Yoga Farm.

The Setting

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm sits at 14651 Ballantree Ln in Grass Valley, in California's Sierra foothills. Lodging ranges from bring-your-own tent sites, offered separately for women and men, to cabins and a deluxe room. Om Cabin, Siva Cabin and Krishna Cabin have twin beds and can be private, shared with another guest, or booked with a friend where offered. Deluxe Shanti offers a queen bed with futon for individuals or couples, twin-bed rooms for two or three people booked together, and shared dorms. Meals are vegetarian: brunch and dinner each day.

Before You Go

No particular level of experience is required. Gentle yoga is offered each morning and asana with pranayama each afternoon, so newcomers and regular practitioners can take part. The retreat is held in English.

Tuition, accommodation, the vegetarian meals, yoga classes, satsangs and daily workshops are included. Consultations, body treatments and the course book, Practical Ayurveda, are extra, and the book is available for purchase at check-out. Bring slip-on shoes, loose comfortable clothing, writing materials, a meditation shawl or blanket, a yoga mat, a flashlight and a water bottle. The ashram boutique stocks books and other materials.