Ancient Yoga Center (400, Barsana Rd. Austin, TX-78737 – just 17 miles from downtown Austin) is a world away from the demands of daily life. The natural landscape, spread over 250 acres, creates ideal areas for outdoor fun activities, Yoga and meditation. Enjoy Ashram life, peach orchards, walking trails, healing, wildflower fields, a natural stream, hills, clean air, the shade of live oak trees, colorful peacocks, outdoor dining and more (http://www.ancientyogacenter.org/)

REGISTRATION

Full Price: $350
Early Bird Price (prior to February 29, 2012) –
For a limited number of people: $290
$250 for each person if two or more people are signing up together.
You have the option to stay together or in separate rooms, as per your own choice.
(Please pay non-refundable $75 now and the balance amount by March 20, 2012.)

ACCOMMODATION Rates (healthy vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Rooms with shared hall bath: Per person/per day
4+people - $80
3 people - $90
2 people - $100
1 person - $115

Rooms with private attached bath: Per person/per day
4+ people - $90
3 people - $100
2 people - $110
1 person - $125

Payment

Payment should be made online or by check in favor of Jogi Bhagat and can be mailed to the following address:
10008, Mount Rainier Drive,
Austin,
TX-78747

Please enter the amount -

SCHEDULE

Following is the schedule of our last 2011 retreat. The schedule for our Om Shanti Yoga Retreat - 2012 will be posted in next few weeks.

Following are the details of our presenters and their classes and workshops:

Jogi Bhagat, (RYT 500)
Jogendra “Jogi” Bhagat, RYT(500), a Certified Yoga Instructor and Yoga Therapist, has attended many Yoga courses and retreats in India, Europe and US during the last 28 years, including residential courses at Svyasa University, Bangalore and Teacher Training in Yoga Therapy at Yoga Vidya University, Nasik in India. He had the honor of studying Yoga therapy from some of the best living Yoga Masters, including T.K.V. Desikachar and Swami Ramdev. He has been teaching in Austin since 2005. He works with people of all ages, sizes, challenges and various ailments. He conducts classes and workshops at Yoga studios, wellness centers, retreats and conferences for general fitness as well as for different ailments like back pain, arthritis, hypertension, asthma, digestive disorders, depression and diabetes etc. Students tend to stick to his classes as they discover more benefits than they expected. Click here to read more.

Warm Up Yoga
If you can breathe and smile, you can practice Yoga in this class. The class has been designed to make Yoga easy, gentle and accessible to all. The emphasis is on the balanced development of strength, stamina and flexibility along with deep relaxation. To help you achieve your personal best, Yoga poses are modified.

Yogic tools for Stress Management - a talk by Jogi Bhagat
Stress is a blight on modern day life - a consequence of over-burdened, over-ambitious and fast-paced living. It is the root cause of many diseases in this modern day world. Constant stress damages more than just the health. It negatively affects our decision making, ability to concentrate, memory and efficiency. Studies have shown that Yoga practice significantly lowers the level of Cortisol, major stress hormon and raises the level of Serotonin, a "feel good" hormone in our body. In this workshop, we shall discuss and practice some simple, but very effective tools that have helped millions of people to manage their stress.

Merging Mantras, Movement, Meditation and Mudras - a gentle Yoga class by Jogi Bhagat
What we seek is naturally within us. Travel deep inside your Self and discover a state of total bliss by merging powerful chants, Mantras, gentle movement in harmony with breath, deep relaxation, meditation and Mudras. Enjoy the effects of vocalized sounds on the body, mind and spirit. Emerge from inner clouds and experience a new blissful you!

The workshop aims at creating awareness about the power of Mantric sounds and discover our personal relationship with them. Sounds have a big influence on our body, mind and consciousness. This is the reason why the use of Mantras is widespread throughout various spiritual movements. They help us to stay positive even if there is negativity around us. Drawing from the ancient Yogic practices, the workshop will also feature different Mantras for healing, wellbeing and spiritual light.

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Gina Caccavalla AHPI, PRYT, ERYT 500
Nationally Registered, Multi-Certified, Ayurveda Health Practitioner Intern, Mind & Body Yoga Therapist Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher. She is a graduate and clinical intern of the California College of Ayurveda and member of N.A.M.A., the National Ayurveda Medical Association. As a holistic health care practitioner and expert in preventive medicine, Gina specializing in the fields of Stress, Weight , Pain Management. She has over 30 years professional experience sharing this work, blending contemporary health, beauty, fitness and wellness with ancient healing wisdom. Her compassionate and inspiring style is respectful, safe, self-paced, educational, transformational and fun! Gina is the founder of AyurYogaSpa a multi-destination wellness spa offering a wide variety of ongoing Holistic Liifestyle Programs, Transformational Retreats, Sense Therapy Products and Healing Spa Services for individuals, couples and groups. Gina lives and loves this work, it gives her the greatest joy to share it with you. For more details, please visit AyurYogaSpa.com.

Intro to Ayurveda Diet, Nutrition & Lifestyle - A Diet, Nutrition and Lifestyle Workshop, led by Gina Caccavalla
An experiential exploration with lecture inviting question and answer for supporting a natural “Holistic Mind & Body Make-Over” blending the ancient yogic healing science of Ayurveda with modern day health, beauty, fitness wellness. Ayurveda, the art of living in harmony with nature, emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, and self-care in achieving balance According to Ayurveda, each of us are made up of a combination of three mind/body constitutions commonly called Doshas, known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Come with any health or life interest and enjoy learning more along your journey in living a happy healthy life in Mind, Body and Spirit. The workshop includes a personalized mind body or dosha assessment, plus discussion on mind body specific techniques based on group interests and intentions like: improving the pillars of health, digestion, sleep and energy, conscious eating/ versus unconscious eating and more. Receive effective guidance with the AyurYoga of Food Tips for Conscious Eating Handout, offering healing mind body specific diet, nutrition and lifestyle practices. Also included are food relationships, food combining, games, seasonal cleansing and rejuvenation. This workshop is very popular for stress, weight and pain management while maximizing overall awareness, health and healing.

Partner Yoga Workshop- A Yoga class, led by Gina Caccavalla
A mind, body, spirit, partner friendly, touch assisted yoga class, uniquely suited for all levels of beginner to intermediate students, yogis and yoginis .Includes both verbal and demonstrated instruction with simultaneous, all levels, self-paced, mind/body specific, dosha appropriate, custom tailored practice. Instructor guided, partner stretches, acupressure, gentle traction using static or very slow flowing yoga poses, yoga therapy with breath work, meditation & relaxation. Through the practice and process of partner yoga the two physical bodies experience support, resistance, giving and receiving while the subtle, psycho- spiritual body increases awareness, appreciation greater communication with self and others. Great stress and tension reliever for both of you! This workshop is safe, respectful, engaging, lighthearted and fun. Always Appreciated! Everyone Welcome!

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M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D
M. Mala Cunningham, Ph.D. is the President of Positive Health Solutions and is the Founder and Director of the Cardiac Medical Yoga Teacher Training Programs and Medical Yoga for Sleep Enhancement. She also works as a Counseling Psychologist in private practice in Charlottesville, Va. Dr. Cunningham previously worked in academia where she taught Complementary and Alternative Medicine courses for 12 years at the University of Virginia Medical School and has worked in the field of Behavioral Medicine for over 25 years. Dr. Cunningham has been teaching and practicing yoga for over 35 years and has been featured in print, radio, and TV focusing on Medical Yoga, Yoga & Psychotherapy, and Cardiac Yoga. She is the author of Medical Yoga, and has produced CD’s entitled Healing Journey and Before and After Surgery: Guided Imagery & Relaxation for Surgery Patients. Dr. Cunningham is an author, educator, psychologist, yoga teacher trainer, and entrepreneur. She studied yoga in India in 1973 and again in 1986 and also lived at Satchidananda Ashram in Buckingham, Va. for several years. She can be reached through her website: www.cardiacyoga.com

Techniques for Handling the Mind and Emotions - A workshop by Dr. Mala Cunningham
The mind and emotions can be our best friend or our worst enemy. In this workshop students will learn how the mind and emotions work together and how negative and positive patterns get established in the psyche. Our relationships and the way we feel about ourselves are determined by unconscious patterns that get played out in our everyday lives. Students will learn how the techniques of Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation can be used to heal negative patterns and emotions so that healing can take place within the psyche. You will leave this workshop more fully informed and confident in how to heal and process emotional and psychological patterns and issues.

Workshop Objectives - Participants will learn:

• How the Mind-Body Connection works
• How to identify emotional stress
• How emotional patterns and core beliefs impact on the psyche
• How yoga, mindfulness, and meditation can be used to heal our unconscious patterns and issues

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Ben Heath
Ben Heath has been doing yoga for several years and has recently completed 250 hours of training in Kundalini Yoga. In addition to Kundalini Ben teaches several other Hatha based yoga practices. Ben has traveled around the country doing yoga and has had formal training from many different teachers. Before practicing Yoga Ben practiced martial arts and the cultivation of Qi which has helped his meditation practice and his ability to teach Kundalini Yoga.

Kundalini Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline for developing and tapping into inner energy and awareness. It can be practiced through the physical and meditative techniques found in all the main branches of yoga. Practitioners call Kundalini yoga, the yoga of awareness because they claim it directly affects human consciousness, develops intuition, increases self knowledge, and unleashes the unlimited creative potential that exists within every human being.

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Anoop & Shraddha Iyer
Anoop and Shraddha are instructors for the YesPlus program of the Art of Living Foundation. They started volunteering with the Foundation over 7 years ago, and they continue to be inspired by Sri Sri's teachings and message of love. They have led several workshops and seminars in Austin over the last two years, including for corporate audiences and university students. They are both in engineering professions, and they live in South Austin.

Stepping Into The Big Mind - A talk, led by Anoop & Shraddha Iyer
"Stepping Into the Big Mind", is from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's commentary on the Ashtavakra Gita. The Ashtavakra Gita documents the unveiling of the highest knowledge in the form of a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and the wise King Janaka many thousands of years ago. It is one of the most profound discourses that exists. H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shows how, step-by-step, King Janaka is taken to deeper levels of understanding and how we too can apply this knowledge to our own lives.

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Ginger McGilvray, Certified Yoga Instructor, LMT
Ginger studied to be a yoga teacher in 2004 with Living Yoga Program. In 2006, she studied Thai Massage in Chiang mai, Thailand and the following year received her massage therapy license. Her yoga and bodywork comes from her own authentic expression, inspired by her whole life. She is a dancer, runner, meditator, explorer, daughter, sister, laugher, builder, seeker and friend. She is glad to explore yoga with you all.

Witnessing and Moving: The Edge of Transformation - A workshop by Ginger McGilvray
What is transformation? What is being transformed? What is it being transformed into? This workshop will explore our concepts of transformation and practical tools and skills we can use as we transform in the direction we desire. We will work with journal writing (journals will be provided to all participants), simple movement, meditation, and discussion.

Authentic Asana, Common Way - A genle Yoga class, led by Ginger McGilvray
With the curiosity of a beginner’s mind, we will explore our own unique expressions in our yoga practice. Influenced by alignment and core stability techniques as well as improvisational dance and meditative awareness, this class provides the space to move in new ways, to discover more possibilities, as well as a defined container of instruction and support. It is through the union of experimentation and structure that we discover ourselves – always discovering, never completing.

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Rev. Jim Rigby
Jim is pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church, and was recently named Texas Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.
Sprituality & Activism- A talk by Rev. Jim Rigby
Yoga is often thought to come from the same root word for “yoke”. Like the word “religion” it can mean anything that holds our world together. For many, Yoga is apolitical, but that puts yoga in the same category as mere exercise. When a person is genuinely spiritual, he or she must care about the rest of the world. Every thought, every breath, every motion must carry some intent to bring happiness to other sentient beings. It was Gandhi who said that those who don’t think religion is political don’t know what religion is. You are invited to meet at Ancient Yoga Center (upstairs) at Radha Madhav Dham to discuss the relation of spirituality and activism. Rev. Jim Rigby will use Gandhi’s commentary on a Hindu scripture addressing this very issue.

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Shriram Sarvotham, PhD
Shriram Sarvotham is a Yoga Teacher with the Art of Living Foundation, and teaches the “Sri Sri Yoga" Workshops. Shriram began learning Yoga at the age of ten, and has been sharing the joy of Yoga in the role of a Yoga Teacher for the last 19 years. His workshops offer a holistic experience of Yoga with equal emphasis on postures, breath-work, meditation, and wisdom from classic Yoga texts. Shriram has a deep understanding of the Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and he shares this knowledge with students in his workshops. Shriram has conducted several yoga workshops across the USA at educational institutions, corporate offices and YMCAs. He regularly gives talks and lecture-demonstrations on Yoga. He is a Yoga Alliance registered Experienced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT). Shriram Sarvotham holds a PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Rice University, Houston, TX. He works in the Energy Industry as a Principal Research Scientist.

"Burn the seeds of disease before they sprout: Yoga for prevention of illness" - A talk by Shriram Sarvotham, PhD
Yoga is a powerful discipline that destroys disease while it is in the subtle nascent form, thereby preventing the disease from taking roots in the body and mind. Maharishi Patanjali, in his treatise on Yoga, talks about this important aspect of Preventative Care. Patanjali describes how disease first impacts the system - in the subtle layers of our existence. When unattended or ignored in the subtle stages, the disease may grow into full blown manifestation in the body and mind in due course of time. Patanjali mentions 5 indicators that one can use to detect the illness while it is still in the subtle stage. The power of Yoga comes from detecting the disharmony early on where corrective steps can easily be put into place.
In this talk, we look at the Sutras (aphorisms) of Patanjali that talk about Preventative care (including the 5 indicators mentioned above), and how we can use these principles in daily life. Additionally, we will do some simple but powerful Yogic practices to increase our sensitivity to the body-mind complex. As a result, we can easily detect any disharmony while it is still in the subtle stage and respond to it with awareness.

"Synergy of Asana, Pranayama and Meditation" - A Sri Sri Yoga class, led by Shriram Sarvotham, PhD
The practice of Yoga is Holistic: it attends to our system as a whole. The practice involves attending to all levels of our existence including the body, breath, mind and the spirit, using postures, breath-work, meditation, and so forth. While many practitioners place exclusive focus on only one aspect of the practice (like doing postures only and disregarding breath-work and meditation), the quality of the practice can be greatly enhanced by combining all the elements of Yoga.
The combination of postures, breath-work and meditation is extraordinarily powerful. When we introduce this combination in our daily life, it provides a strong foundation for health and wellness. It also lays the platform for enormous personal growth. In this session, we will experience the power of the synergy of postures, breath-work and meditation; we will enjoy the benefits of the holistic "complete" practice of Yoga. Get ready to enjoy peace and tranquilty combined with energy and enthusiasm.

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Leah Tunnell
Leah Tunnell is a Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor and a Motivational Speaker in the Austin area. She's a proud promoter of mirthful silliness and the mental and physical benefits of intentional joy. As a motivational speaker, "Leah has the ability to lift groups from a state of gloom and doom, to bring it on". Her personal goal is to someday share a laugh with everyone in the world ...all at the same time.

Laughter Yoga is a deceptively simple yet very powerful and potentially even life-changing form of exercise that anybody can do. Its core premise is that your body can laugh, regardless of what your mind has to say. Laughter boosts your immune system, promotes healthy cell growth and lowers your blood pressure. It's been proven to help people with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, heart conditions and after 10 minutes of laughing endorphines are released.

Laughter Yoga is non-political, non religious, non-racial, non-threatening, non-competitive. It comes with no strings attached. There are no jokes or comedy, therefore there is no judging. No mind = no ego, no room for conflict or power struggle. Laughter is a universal language that transcends all barriers: language, age, gender, social or racial background. It improves inter-personal relationships and enhances communication. It interrupts the power struggle and breaks down the instinctive barriers between people. It teaches you to make happiness a choice and not a consequence.

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Our Kirtan Team

Ganesh Viswanathan
Lifelong engineer, passionate about software and technology.
Writer and poet, when planets align.
Hobbyist musician - singer, composer and guitarist.
Family man, blessed with a lovely wife and two beautiful kids.
Spiritual seeker, looking for nothing.




Matt Hakala
Music has its place in everyone’s life. And music as a tool for healing and returning to the Source has been recognized and appreciated by cultures around the world for time immemorial. Years ago Matt traveled to India and studied Tabla, Indian hand drums. Since then he has been delving into the mystical world of Kirtan. The powers of this form of musical therapy are just beginning to be recognized by the western world. He looks forward to being a part of this sacred exploration during the Om Shanti Yoga Retreat.




Andrea Cortez, MM, MT-BC
Andrea is the founder of Music Therapy Innovations, Inc. She completed her Bachelor's and Master's degree in music therapy at Colorado State University. The Master's program included training in neurologic music therapy, a specialized training focused on relating brain function and music with the rehabilitation of cognitive, motor, and communication skills. She is currently working in the Austin area providing services at St. David's Hospital and other places. She is passionate about music since her childhood. Her Kirtan concerts help people to connect with their inner Self.





Mamta Ganesan
Mamta started singing Bhajans at Radha Madhav Dham Ashram ten years ago. She feels the deeper connection with the Divine thru Kirtan meditation. She teaches Aroma Yoga and continues her search for alternative health maintenance with Yoga and Aroma therapy.

Aroma Yoga - a gentle Yoga class by Mamta Ganesan
Yogis throughout the ages have practiced Pranayama, the art of breathing well. Prana means "breath", "vitality" or "energy"; ayama means "to stretch". Pranayama extends and regulates the energy flow throughout the body. As we inhale the essential oils, the tiny molecules of the oil enter through our nasal passages, into the lungs, and then into our bloodstream, helping increase the uptake of oxygen, among the many benefits the oils provide.
The cold air diffuser, used in Aroma Yoga, is a good way to energize the room and make breathing deep and relaxing. The different oils, smelled during the class, help in relaxation and bring the awareness to a higher level. Come and enjoy the therapeutic quality of the different oils.

Kirtan Meditation

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Please bring the following:

• A Yoga mat and any props that you may need
• A blanket, comfortable cushion or blocks for sitting comfortably on the floor
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• Water bottle with lid
• Notebook and pen, if you like to take notes
• Extra cash or check if you are interested to purchase gifts from Radha Madhav Dham shop and on-site massage etc.
• Flashlight
• Comfortable shoes if you would like to enjoy walking at Radha Madhav Dham
• Please leave valuables at home

Help us to spread the word about this Retreat
(Download Flyer...)

Refund Policy

You can receive full refund of your payment minus $75, if you inform us 30 days before the starting of the retreat. $125 will be deducted from your payment in case cancellation is done 15 days before the retreat. There will be no refunds for no-shows or cancellation after April 11, 2012.

Continuing Education Units

Yoga Alliance CEUs are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Yoga Retreat/Vacation?
Usually when we go for holidays for recreation, we become so tired that after coming back, we need another holiday to rejuvenate. A retreat should rejuvenate us while also giving us practical techniques for physical, mental and emotional well-being.

It is time to step back from everyday stresses and strains and put things back into perspective. A retreat is good for recreation, but it is more about "re-creation". It gives you the perfect environment to relax, rethink the direction of your life and enjoy great activities. It is an opportunity to spend time with oneself, and reconnect with nature while enjoying the company of like-minded people - a wonderful long-term friendship can spring from such retreats. More importantly, a Yoga Retreat provides a clearer direction towards a peaceful way of existence. It develops an increased capacity to resolve the inner turmoil and anxieties that are experienced every single day.

What is the difference between a Yoga Class and Yoga Retreat?
Have you ever felt peace, serenity and sense of well-being after attending a Yoga class? If your answer is "yes", it is time to learn more tools of transformation in a retreat that can extend "after Yoga class" peace and joy in your day-today activities. It is an opportunity to leave behind clamors of daily life to deepen your Yoga practice, build true strength and enlighten your spirit.

Who is organizing this Retreat?
Jogi Bhagat, RYT(500), Certified Yoga Instructor, Therapist and Teacher Trainer is organizing this Retreat. He has studied with renowned Masters in India, Europe and US, including TKV Desikachar and Swami Ramdev. ( http://medicinalyoga.com/about_teacher.html ) If you have never attended his classes, you are welcome to try out a free class and this will give you an idea of this retreat.

What is special about Radha Madhav Dham Ashram?
Not everyone has the money or time to take a Yoga Retreat in Fiji, Hawaii or Bali. Sometimes paradise can be found right at home. To this end, we created Om Shanti Yoga Retreat at Radha Madhav Dham Ashram. This Ashram's serene and beautiful environment provides an ideal location for a lot of fun filled and stress busting activities.

Can I attend the Retreat without staying at Radha Madhav Dham?
It is better to stay at Radha Madhav Dham Ashram for a true immersion experience. But, staying at Radha Madhav Dham during the retreat is optional.
In case, you decide not to stay at Radha Madhav Dham during the Retreat, you will only need to pay for your meals plus a $15 per person/per day commuter fee that Radha Madhav Dham charges us. The cost for each meal is $ 10. If you wish, you can bring your own vegetarian meals and keep in a small refrigerator at Ancient Yoga Center. There is a microwave also for warming up food.

Can I attend the Retreat just on Friday, Saturday or Sunday?
Yes, it is possible. Following are the rates, including meals and commuter fee:
Friday, April 13th: $85
Saturday, April 14th $185
Sunday, April 15th: $ 130

Don't miss this powerful opportunity to leave behind clamors of daily life,
and engage in a weekend of connection and renewal.

For questions and concerns, contact Jogi 512-963-8364 and yogasolutions@gmail.com