Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat

This Ayurvedic Massage Rejuvenation Retreat is a weekend ayurveda retreat at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California. It is meant for anyone who wants to step away from daily life, rest, and learn the basics of Ayurveda, the ancient healing science of India, alongside yoga, breathwork and meditation. Beginners are welcome, as are people with some experience.

The weekend is built around Sivananda Yoga and the ashram's daily rhythm. Ayurvedic practitioners offer workshops, consultations and traditional body treatments, so you can go as far into the Ayurvedic side as you wish.

What to Expect

Each day begins early with satsang from 6:00 to 7:30am: a guided silent meditation practice, chanting and a lecture. A gentle yoga class follows from 8:00 to 9:45am, then a vegetarian brunch at 10:00am and karma yoga, the ashram's practice of selfless service, at 11:00am.

At noon, a workshop on Ayurvedic lifestyle and routines runs until 1:00pm. Talks cover topics such as Ayurvedic constitution, signs of imbalance and balancing therapies, guidelines for proper digestion and healthy eating, and seasonal and daily routines. The afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00pm is free for rest and nature walks. An asana and pranayama class runs from 4:00 to 5:45pm, followed by vegetarian dinner at 6:00pm and a closing satsang of meditation, chanting and a lecture from 7:30 to 9:00pm.

Two optional offerings carry an additional cost and have limited appointments, so they are best arranged in advance.

Ayurvedic consultation. You explore your own constitution and the tools for keeping body, mind and spirit in balance through diet and lifestyle. It includes a detailed history intake, pulse and tongue analysis, and a diet and lifestyle evaluation. Intake forms are completed before your appointment.

Ayurvedic body treatment. A full body treatment that begins with abhyanga, a herbal oil massage. Shirodhara follows, a steady stream of warm herbal oil poured over the forehead to calm the mind. It ends with swedana, a full-body herbal steam that helps the oil and herbs nourish the skin and release toxins.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm, a rural ashram in Grass Valley, in California's Sierra foothills. The pace is quiet, with unscheduled afternoons for walking the grounds.

Accommodation ranges from bringing your own tent (separate women's and men's areas) to shared or private rooms in the Om, Siva and Krishna cabins and the Deluxe Shanti rooms. Options include private rooms, rooms to share with a friend, family or a couple, and shared dorms with another guest. Rooms have twin beds, and the Deluxe Shanti private room has a queen bed and a futon. Meals are vegetarian.

Check-in is at 2:00pm. Arriving by 4:00pm lets you join the asana class, followed by dinner at 6:00pm, a welcoming orientation at 7:00pm and satsang at 8:00pm. Check-out is at 12:00pm, and you are welcome to stay on the grounds through the afternoon.

Before You Go

No prerequisite is listed, and the gentle yoga and general asana classes suit all levels. Tuition covers the workshops and lectures, yoga classes, satsangs and meditation practice. Accommodation is priced separately by room type, and the listed accommodation options include two vegetarian meals, two yoga classes and two satsangs. Consultations, body treatments and the course book are extra.

The course text is Practical Ayurveda: Find Out Who You Are and What You Need to Bring Balance to Your Life, from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, and it can be bought in the ashram boutique.

Pack slip-on shoes, loose comfortable clothing, writing materials, a meditation shawl or blanket, a yoga mat, a flashlight and a water bottle.