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Ashram Guidelines

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Practical Information For Your Retreat

Kailash Ashram is a quiet and peaceful environment for retreat, spiritual practice, contemplation and introspection.

In order to support and honour this, we ask that you respect the space as you would a sacred space from any tradition, such as a temple or church.

The Journey as a Soul

The Ashram is an ideal environment to retrain the mind to be internally oriented and the rules are here to assist in that process.  

Meditation can surface unconscious patterns obstructing you from a deeper connection to yourself (what we refer to as your Soul.)

Please be aware that the practices of meditation and yoga that are shared at the Ashram require a mature disposition.

As you learn to foster a ‘soul based’ connection, we ask that you be internally focused which will assist other guests in feeling comfortable and at ease during their stay.

We understand that having ‘rules’ may be new for some guests, please let us reassure you that they are shared in the spirit of supporting your spiritual growth whilst you stay with us.

They are not at all judgements about your personal life or choice of activities that you engage in outside of the Ashram!

Guests who break the Ashram rules will be asked to rectify their behaviour immediately. Management reserves the right to ask any guest in breach of the rules or guidelines to leave immediately and without refund.

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Ashram Rules

Yes

NO

Retreat Guidelines

Check-in

SOUL RETREAT CHECK IN TIMES

Between 5pm & 6pm on the first day of your retreat

 

Check Out

Guests are required to clean rooms and bathrooms prior to checking out. 

SOUL RETREAT CHECK OUT TIMES

Rooms clean and vacated by 12pm, departure by 2pm

Retreat Program

 

Soul Retreat

Attendance at programmed activities is compulsory unless exemption is granted by prior arrangement. The Soul Retreat is a closed camp and all guests are required to remain on the premisis until the conclusion of the retreat.

Retreat Personal Pack List
(All Students + Guests)

  • Enclosed shoes suitable for walking (runners are fine)
  • Clean house slippers (no outside use)
  • Toiletries incl soap
  • Towel for indoors
  • Beach towel for outdoors
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Day bag / small backpack
  • Warm jacket
  • White Pants and Top (or dress) for TraditionalFire Ceremony
  • Rain jacket
  • Long pants
  • Shorts
  • T-Shirts
  • Swimming attire (optional)
  • Comfy attire for yoga
  • Personal art supplies (optional)
  • Torch
  • Blanket / shawl
  • Outdoor cushion (optional)
  • Ear Plugs (for light sleepers)

Retreat Meals

The ashram provides 3 nutritious and healthy vegetarian meals per day, at set meal times. The ashram food is here to support the activity and practice of meditation and yoga and is restrained in spice / salt.

NOTE: Guests are not allowed to bring food items unless by prior arrangement (strictly vegetarian, no eggs.)

 

Dietary Allergies

Please notify us at time of booking if you have a significant allergy; eg celiac, lactose, nuts.

 

Dietary Preferences / Intolerances

The Ashram is unable to modify meals to suit individual preferences regarding taste, or for the exclusion of minor intolerances. There is ample plain rice, bread and fruit at each meal for those students and guests. 

 

Mauna (Silence) 2100 - 0730

Mauna (silence) is observed to assist in keeping one’s attention internally focused between 830pm (after meditation) and 730am each day. Please assist us in reminding guests in the event they forget. 

Silence, as a practice is beyond simply not talking; it is about avoiding outside distractions and keeping one’s chitta (attention) on the inner realm.  

 

Families

Mature children are permitted on our retreats subject to prior arrangement and discussion with the ashram managers. 

Children are to be supervised at all times and no responsibility can be taken for their safety (there are unfenced water courses on the property.) 

Please ensure that your children are well behaved and that other guests are not disturbed.

Note for other guests: Requests for children are infrequent. We do not discriminate our sharing of the practices based on age, though it is exceedingly rare for them to attend. 

 

Access for Guests with Disability

Our lodge has ground floor access and can accommodate wheelchairs. The bathrooms have grab rails in the showers but not on the toilet. 

To enter the practice space there are 3 steps without ramp.

We are happy to do a video walkthrough for guests wanting to see if the venue is suitable for their needs.

More information for NDIS participants here;

Public Transport

There is a V-Line and Bus combination departing several times per day from Southern Cross station to Horsham, the nearest regional centre. Subject to availability, and prior arrangement we may be able to organise a pick up or drop off for $100 each way (it is 50km one way.)

This is strictly by prior arrangement and agreement. 

 

Driving Instructions

Address: 31 Wartook Rise, Wartook, 3401 Vic

Lodge: Please drive up the driveway, the lodge is 300m and on your left. 

Parking: Next to (not in front of) the lodge

Wartook Rise is a signposted dirt road off of the Northern Grampians road between Halls Gap and Horsham.

The route through Ararat to Halls Gap and then Wartook is more scenic but has many bends and avoids some time on the Western Highway, though at dusk and dawn it is advised to keep it to 70km/h because of kangaroos / emus.

Guests wishing to avoid the windy mountain or in large vehicles are advised to take the rought through Stawell and Roses Gap Rd.   

Gurukarya

Gurukarya is the yoga of embodied service. 

During retreats we mindfully tend to the space and as a group assist in keeping the space tidy and the land maintained. 

It is a great opportunity to cultivate care of the environment and foster connection between guests.

Activities can include; gardening, landscaping, maintenance, cleaning, creative projects. 

Booking Terms

All Ashram and retreat bookings are subject to the following terms.

Cancellation

1. Cancellations made 90 days before the retreat start date;
a. will receive a full refund minus a $250 cancellation fee
b. can opt to have a voucher for a future retreat, valid from 12 months from the date of the retreat able to be transferred once.

2. Cancellations made between 90 and 45 days prior to the retreat will result in a loss of 50% of the trip price.

3. Cancellations made less than 45 days prior to the retreat will result in a total loss of funds.

Transfer to another participant
4. If you are able to find a replacement for your booking then the cancellation fee will not apply.
a. Kailash Ashram is not responsible for finding a replacement, it is the responsibility of the ticket holder
b. Transfers must be made greater than 2 weeks prior to the retreat start date
c. The transfer will incur a $150 transfer fee, and is subject to Kailash Ashram approval that the new participant is a suitable fit for the retreat.

Suitability

5. We connect to all retreat participants prior to the retreat. If we find that the retreat program is not suitable for your current situation, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation, in which case your payments will be fully refunded.

Retreat Minimum
6. We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it does not meet the minimum numbers. If we do so, you will be refunded in full.

Medical Cancellations
7. If you are unable to attend the retreat due to a personal medical issue, no refund will be given.

Force Majeure
8. If the change or cancellation is due to force major (i.e. political unrest, war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, closure of airports or ports, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, Acts of God, adverse weather or other similar events beyond the control of Kailash Ashram, there will be no refunds given.

 

Karma-Free Guarantee 

9. If you attend a Soul Retreat in full, and complete our online course Elements of Yoga and can demonstrate participation in the program, and feel that the program was not worth the price that we have charged, we are happy to refund you in full or to your perceived value. 

 

$300 Registration Fee

10. A $300 registration fee is charged to secure your place on retreat. This fee is charged to cover administration and advertising costs and is non-refundable and non-transferrable under any circumstance.  

 

**** Please ensure your travel insurance policy covers you for any cancellations.****

Transfers

A guest may transfer their booking to another person, subject to approval by Kailash Ashram that the new guests is a suitable guest. The responsibility for finding a suitable guest is the responsibility of the guest, not Kailash Ashram.

 A transfer fee of $150 will be charged in situations requiring a transfer of booking.

 

Refunds

If eligible, refunds will be processed within 30 days of notification.

 

NDIS Retreats

Fees charged for retreat are as per the guidelines in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

Please email [email protected] to organise an NDIS funded retreat.    

Self Managed – Normal cancellation terms apply 

Plan Managed – Short Notice Cancellations within 7 days of the retreat will be charged. 

Privacy Policy - Opt out

All data and guest personal details are stored securely and will not be shared with other guests.

 During the conduct of the retreat, the Ashram reserves the right to use photography and video capture which is disseminated privately to retreat guests. If you wish to be excluded from this, our policy is to OPT OUT at the start of the retreat.

If you wish to have your images exempt from being used in the sharing of the Ashram’s activities online and on social media, please let management know at the commencement of the retreat and we will notify other guests.

GDPR Data Protection Rights:

We want to ensure that you are fully informed about your data protection rights. As a user, you have the following rights:

  • The right to access: You can request copies of your personal data, and we may charge a small fee for this service.
  • The right to rectification: If you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request corrections.
  • The right to erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data under certain conditions.
  • The right to restrict processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • The right to object to processing: You can object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • The right to data portability: You can request that we transfer the data we have collected about you to another organization or directly to you under certain conditions.

We have one month to respond to any request you make regarding these rights. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information):

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California consumers have the following rights:

  • The right to request that a business disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data collected about consumers.
  • The right to request that a business delete any personal data collected about the consumer.
  • The right to opt-out of the sale of personal data.

We have one month to respond to any request you make regarding these rights. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

Questions

Please feel free to contact management with any questions or requests via our webform.

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Friends of Kailash

Ashram Membership is currently transitioning to Friends of Kailash.

Please check back here soon or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Ashram Membership Terms

GENERAL: 

Members are required to abide by the Ashram rules and guidelines.

PAYMENT: 

The yearly price is $249 for a 12 month period commencing the date of payment. Payment entitles the member to 12 months of Ashram Membership.

Payments are subject to yearly review and confirmation (by email) and indexation of no greater than CPI.

 

CANCELLATIONS:

Members are free to cancel their membership within 30 days and are entitled to a 100% refund.

Cancellations after the 30 days will incur a $100 processing fee with the remaining time of the 12 month period pro-rated and offered as a refund minus the processing fee. 

 

GURUKARYA on KAILASH RETREATS:

Members are able to support Kailash retreats on Gurukarya positions. Placements are at the discretion of management and are decided up based on experience, availability and requirements for the retreat. 

PERSONAL RETREATS 

Members are able to book to stay at the ashram when the centre is not in use for retreat. Members are able to bring immediate family and children so as they are well behaved.

The guidelines outline a suggested donation rate which is to be paid in person at the ashram.

Management reserves the right to block dates to meet a variety of needs such as repair and maintenance.

UPDATES TO T&C:

Members will be updated via email with amendments to the T&C. The membership is currently in it’s infancy and we appreciate your understanding as we roll out the systems including your online members area.

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