Life as Sadhana: The Four Yogas Retreat

(formerly Soul Retreat Level 2, now open to all students)

Are you ready to deepen your practice of Traditional Yoga?

During the The Four Yogas Retreat we will explore the 4 branches of traditional Yoga so that your growing seed of soulfulness can blossom into the tree of Self-Realisation.

Traditional Yoga utilises 4 distinct paths to attain a life of inner peace and freedom from suffering. It enhances the sense of connection to oneself, as well as bringing about a state of equanimity.

The key takeaways that you will receive from The Four Yogas Retreat;

• a comprehensive understanding of how the branches of Traditional Yoga come together to form a whole of being approach to life
• A personalised game-plan so that you will leave the retreat with clarity about how to implement the practices across the 4 aspects
• Participation and immersion in traditional practice
• Progression for your Hatha Yoga sequence
• Participation in Sound Meditation, Yagya and Collective Soul Art

Traditional Yoga’s 4 branches are Bhakti, Jnana, Raja and Karma.

Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion, and during the retreat we will explore how simple gestures can be incorporated into your life to help awaken your inner 'devotee.' We are not here to tell you ‘what’ to be devoted to; if you have an existing deity or a connection to God, or a Saint, this is a good start but not required. We will help you find what is resonant with you (even if this is simply an aspect of nature or love.)

Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge. You will be guided to begin the path of self-guided study and practice so that your wisdom emerges from within, realising that your Soul is your Guru. This practice helps pacify the mind and it's insatiable desire for 'understanding.'

Raja Yoga is the ‘royal path’ and is sometimes called Kriya Yoga (kriya means process or action.) This path entails the cultivation of an stable and balanced mind through meditation and internal energetic practices, such as Hatha Yoga and Samarpan Dhyana that are taught on the Soul Retreat. During the retreat we will continue to progress the Hatha Yoga from the Shadow Yoga school, as well as to sit for twice daily 30 minute collective meditations.

Karma Yoga in our tradition is called Gurukarya (or selfless service.) During the retreat we will guide you in the process of ‘giving back’ from a sustainable place from within. We will guide you through an interactive workshop to develop a plan going forward, so that you can support the community around you through your practice.

Weaving these paths together is the best recipe for success on the path of Traditional Yoga, as at various stages of our life, certain practices can be leaned on to ensure our balance and harmony. If you find the heart a little blocked, Bhakti... If you find the mind clouded, Raja... and so on.

As Swami Vivekenanda put it

"Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all of these -- and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.”

Here the great Saint Swami Vivekenanda is referring to the selfless work for others through Karma Yoga, the loving worship of the divine through Bhakti Yoga, the psychic control through the meditation of Raja Yoga and the clarity and wisdom of the philosophy of Jnana Yoga.

The Four Yogas Retreat is your opportunity to try all of these, and incorporate what resonates into your daily life.

This is a tried and true Yogic path that was pointed out by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, and one that is a daily, lived reality at Kailash Ashram.

Eligibility

All souls are welcome to join. We will not be instructing Himalayan Meditation on this retreat, so those students new to Kailash Ashram will be required to undergo a short online training before the retreat (included for free) so that you can join us for our collective practice.

Rooms

Private rooms are on a first come, first serve basis so please book in now if you'd like to secure your spot (it is the same cost as twin share.)

Retreat fee

Kailash Ashram is a registered charity.

Your retreat fee is used to cover the direct costs of hosting you on retreat, the maintenance of the Ashram's facilities and the Ashram's charitable programs shared through the Kailash Foundation, including scholarships for those in need.

All retreat fees are retained within our organisation to support our charitable purpose.

All facilitators are volunteers and support the Retreat as an act of selfless service (karma yoga).

or;

Flexible Payment Plan
$2200 per person

If paying the retreat fee in one larger balance doesn’t suit your circumstances, you can spread the cost over four simple monthly payments.

4 x monthly payments of $550

Your first payment is made when you book and secures your place.

The remaining three payments are automatically processed each month.

Depending on when you book, some payments may fall after the retreat has taken place. This means that even a last-minute retreat booking may still be more accessible on a payment plan.

$550 today

+ 3 monthly payments of $550

$2,200 total

There is no need to apply for the payment plan. Simply choose the payment option that works for you when you book.

If the fee is beyond you right now, apply to the Kailash Foundation Retreat Access Program.

Karma-Free Guarantee

After 8 years and 50+ retreats with over 500+ happy participants, we stand behind our retreats.
Ou guarantee to you:

If you attend a retreat and it fails to deliver exactly what you were seeking, for whatever the reason, we are happy to offer you a refund to your perceived value (excluding your deposit).

Why?
Simply: we dont want the karma of a single unhappy retreat student. We trust that for those who are unsure, nervous or a little sceptical, that the Karma Free guarantee enables you to book with confidence knowing that there isnt much to lose (and so much to gain!)

Questions

Please email admin@kailash.co if you have any questions.

Closest airports to fly in

Melbourne Airport

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 road or in large vehicles are advised to take the route through Stawell and Roses Gap Rd.

What does the fee include?

Accommodation for the length of the retreat, all meals, the full teaching program, and teaching materials.

Is the $500 dollars the cost of the retreat?

No. The registration fee covers the direct cost in promoting and administering the retreat with a large portion going directly towards online ads.

As such, your $500 Registration Fee is a deposit to hold your place and is refundable for 7 days.

Can I still use the payment plan if the retreat is soon?

Yes. The four payments do not need to be complete before the retreat starts. You can attend partway through the plan and finish the payments afterwards.

Is the fee per person or per booking?

Per person. Couples booking together each pay the full fee.

Can I move my registration to a later retreat?

Yes, you may change your retreat dates once, for a $250 transfer fee. Everything you have already paid carries across.

The transfer has to be arranged at least 45 days before the retreat starts.

Inside 45 days your place cannot be moved due to the low likelihood of finding a replacement.

If you can see a date becoming difficult, tell us early rather than waiting to be sure.

Are your facilitators paid for by the retreat contribution?

No. David and Raya are the full time Sevadari (service givers) of Kailash Ashram and they offer their time on retreat as an act of karma yoga and devotion.

All profits are retained within our registered charity, the Kailash Foundation and your donated funds are used to cover both the direct costs of the retreat, as well as the essential maintenance and costs associated with managing a retreat centre.

We are registered as a Charity with the Australian Not-for-profits and Charities Commission.

Are you a not-for-profit or registered charity?

Yes!

Kailash Foundation is a not-for-profit and is a registered Charity.