Past Retreat

Food Sadhana

Historical retreat description

Food Sadhana: The Essence of Purity

In the quest to understand the Self, it is essential to begin with the obvious and progress to the finer aspects. The most essential element of our overall existence is food; it influences not just our physical body, but also our energetic self and mind! However, despite the essential role food plays in our physical and spiritual health, it frequently gets neglected or overshadowed by the demands of contemporary life. Food Sadhana encompasses a collection of spiritual practices and a lifestyle that acknowledges the sacred essence of our food – including what we consume, how it is prepared, how it is ingested, how it is processed, and how it exits the body – aiming to transform the individual into a living temple of the Self; a temple that is pristine and pure, where devotion and meditation continuously and effortlessly thrive.

When integrated with the principles of Ayurveda, Food Sadhana transforms into an intensely personal experience, yet a thoughtful, knowledgeable one.

Come and participate in the esteemed Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village in Kerala for a 9-day immersive Food Sadhana retreat. Pandit Dabral will lead you into the profound realm of the practical philosophy of Food Sadhana through daily satsang rooted in the Himalayan Tradition’s oral heritage. Pandit Tejomaya will lead you in the physical exercises that promote a clean and healthy body for a Food Sadhaka. The expert team of Ayurvedic doctors and personnel from Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village will provide customized therapies and amazing meals to make all of the practices a reality in your life!

This is a unique chance to elevate your sadhana to a level you never thought could be achieved.

Retreat Includes:

• Daily Dhyana (Meditation) Practice
• Daily Asana (Posture) Practice
• Daily Pranayama (Breath) Practice
• Daily Satang (Teachings) on Food Sadhana
• Daily Ayurvedic Treatment
• Delicious Ayurvedic Meals

Typical Daily Schedule:

• 6:00 AM – Tea and Morning Cleansing
• 7:00 AM – Asana
• 8:00 AM – Pranayama
• 8:30 AM – Meditation
• 9:00 AM – Breakfast
• 10:30 AM – Morning Satsang
• 12:00 PM – Food Sadhana Kriyas
• 12:30 PM – Lunch
• 1:00 PM – Rest/Ayurvedic Treatment
• 4:00 PM – Tea
• 5:00 PM – Asana
• 6:00 PM – Pranayama
• 6:30 PM – Dinner
• 8:00 PM – Evening Satsang
• 9:00 PM – Bed

What To Expect From The Retreat:

If all spiritual practices were reduced to a single word, it would be “purification”. Participants in Food Sadhana retreat will acquire the practical skills to intelligently, yet simply purify their lives by harmonizing the spiritual qualities of food with the essential nature of ourselves as spiritual beings.

Attendees of the Food Sadhana retreat will gain practical abilities to thoughtfully, yet straightforwardly, cleanse their lives by aligning the spiritual attributes of food with our fundamental essence as spiritual beings.

Our practical satsang sessions and physical practice sessions will explore such topics as:

“The Spiritual Purpose of Life Itself”
“Ayurveda for Daily Living: Understanding Your Constitution”
“What To Eat: The Practical Side of Purification”
“How to Cook: Techniques, Attitudes and Mantras in the Kitchen”
“How to Eat: Practices in Mindfulness”
“How to Digest: The Science Within You”
“Seasonal Cleansing and Purification Practices”

Every lesson from the retreat, every practice, every technique, and even all the recipes from the meals provided during the retreat will be featured in our book “Food Sadhana.” Every participant of the retreat will get a complimentary copy of the book once it is released in spring 2018.

Highlights:

The 2017 Food Sadhana Highlights:

• Daily Teachings
• Daily Practices
• Asana (Postures)
• Pranayama (Breath)
• Dhyana (Meditation)
• Food Sadhana Kriyas (Practices)
• Ayurvedic Physician’s Assessment
• All Ayurvedic Meals
• All Prescribed Ayurvedic Treatment
• Ground Transportation to The Ayurvedic Healing Village

About: Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village

The Ayurvedic Healing Village is located amid 65 acres of vibrant greenery in Palakkad, Kerala. It features 30 unique villas, all adhering to “Vastu Shastra” design – the Indian interpretation of feng shui. The retreat is enveloped by herbs and trees that possess great healing and rejuvenating properties, creating the perfect tranquil haven for relaxation! There is a large swimming pool, tennis facility, library, and gym amenities.

The retreat provides top-quality Ayurvedic therapies and therapeutic massages, featuring highly skilled massage therapists and physicians. They provide numerous therapies, such as Abhyangam, Pizhichil, Shirodhara, Panchakarma, and more.

Retreat Does Not Include:

• Airfare to from New Delhi and Return
• Transportation from Airport to Palakkad and return
• Personal incidentals such as souvenirs and Ayurvedic products

Location: Ayurvedic Healing Village, Palakkad, Kerala

Yoga Teachers:

Pandit Hari Shankar Dabral,

Ph.D is the Spiritual Director of The Himalayan Yoga Meditation Centre (HYMC) in Calgary.

Panditji is an experienced teacher in the Himalayan Tradition who is capable of bringing the authentic teachings of the yoga masters to all types of students. People of all ages enjoy his accessibility and humor. His knowledge of Sanskrit and the Yoga Scriptures is vast and comprehensive, yet he is able to explain complex ideas in ways that are easy to understand and apply to daily life. He brings the experiences and knowledge of the Himalayan Sages to life.

Where we are

Kairali sits in Palakkad district, inland Kerala, in the south west of India.