Read about our Diwali retreat - The Festival of lights in Rishikesh & Varanasi India

Life is for Exploring

Explore Retreats

Dear Ones,

Welcome to the NAMASTAYZ RETREATS newsletter.

Thank you for signing up, you have taken the first step toward your next spiritual adventure!!

I thought I may introduce you to our upcoming retreat to India in November during the spectacular festival of Diwali. You have until August 30 to book!

Diwali is considered the biggest annual festival in India - it attracts millions of pilgrims and spiritual seekers, many of which converge on the banks of the river Ganges in Varanasi - which is exactly where we will be this year! Diwali, is called the festival of lights, because every Hindu home, temple, and spiritual place is adorned with as many little lamps as possible, to signify the victory of light (good, wisdom, collective consciousness) over dark (bad, ignorance, and egoism). It is the triumph of Divine Energy over the separate Self - a unification of all pervading love, forgiveness, gratitude & grace. Experiencing India during this time is a mind blowing dive into the heart of being Hindu; the stories, beliefs, practices & rituals.

We start our retreat in the yoga hub of the world Rishikesh, a beautiful little city set along the banks of the Himalayan Ganges. Rishikesh is so pretty and very quirky. There are wonderful markets, lots of little shops, cows on the pathways, ashrams, temples, & stunning green mountains. The river Ganges that flows through Rishikesh is perfect (if not a little frosty!) for a snaan (purifying dip) as the water flow is fresh from the Himalayan mountains, clean, and safe. I have taken a snaan in the Ganges here many times, and every time I feel purified, sanctified, and truly blessed. 

When we are in Rishikesh we have time to explore the river bank markets, wander the street shops and spend time in local temples. We can eat at a local ashram, visit a community dog shelter, explore the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Vedic meditation) Ashram - drive to the village Devprayag; the sacred confluence of 2 rivers and the birth of the Himalayan Ganges, visit Sage Valmiki's Cave (author of the Ramayana), drive to Haridwar (another Ganges sacred city) for the markets, temples, ghats and Ganga aarti (fire ceremony), visit an auspicious Shiva temple and temples for devotees of the Ramayana.

Half way through the retreat we say goodbye to Rishikesh and fly together to Varanasi. In Varanasi we explore the ancient cobbled alleyways, take time to sit on the ghats and watch life go by, meet Sadhus, meditate in auspicious places, visit the ancient city of Sarnath - where Buddha Gautama delivered his first teachings to his deiceiples after reaching enlightenment, visit the Aghori ashram, visit temples, make offerings at Yagyas (fire ceremonies) and pujas, drift on Maa Ganga for sunrise and sunset, visit the cremation ghat, & cross the Ganga to the silk weavers village.

And each day is grounded in yoga practices - mantra, meditation, pranayama, asana, and the story of the Ramayana as authored by Valmiki in his 6 book epic. 

Included in the retreat is your flight Rishikesh to Varanasi, 6 nights hotel in Rishikesh and Varanasi, many meals, all tours and transport, airport transfers. Not included - your international flights, India evisa, travel insurance, spending money, some meals, alcohol. 

Read about & Book INDIA here What about retreating to a tropical oasis - stunning beaches, lush green mountains, monks and nuns in orange robes, delicious fresh food, elephants on the road side, swimming with turtles, balmy sunsets? If this sounds more your calling then your retreat to Sri Lanka in Jan/Feb of 2027 is ready to be booked. Start your year with a fabulous travel treat and practice yoga everyday in the most beautiful of settings. We begin our journey at an Ayurvedic retreat just north of Colombo, head further north east to Sigiriya, down into a Buddhist meditation centre in Kandy, all the way to the south coast to the national park, and then a little west to a yoga retreat by the beach. Spend lots of time connecting with nature and visit sacred Buddhist and Hindu places.

Read about & Book SRI LANKA here

And if you are still not sure, how about flying over Mount Everest to land in the magical kingdom of Bhutan where national wealth is measured by the happiness factor! Bhutan is truly a beautiful land. The maximum speed limit is 60km/hr and the national animal is the truly unique takin (which we visit at a reserve). This is an active retreat and we hike up into the mountains at gentle altitude. Hike up to Tiger's Nest Monastery, visit a village dedicated to the penis (yes thats what I said), walk the Dagala trek - 5 days of trekking and sleeping in camps in the mountains, stay in an active monastery lodge for the night, and visit some of Bhutans most sacred sites. 

Read about & Book BHUTAN here

A Namastayz yoga retreat offers you an opportunity to experience a part of the world that may have intrigued you for many years yet somehow seemed just out of reach on your own for whatever reason. Gathering with a like minded group of people to share daily practices and explore new and exciting places makes travel so much more fun, and theres always a different lens showing up to help you see life from a different perspective. The coming together of like minded hearts on a journey is one of my favourite parts of each retreat, and I always look forward to feeling the groups energy merge into a fluid stream of conscious connection. 

Every retreat i curate has its own theme - based in Hindu or Tibetan Buddhist philosophy depending on where we are in the world. I like to offer a wide variety of yoga practices - flows, ashtanga, hatha, yin, & yantra asana, with mantra practices, pranayama and meditation instructions. Visit sacred sites, temples and monasteries, explore breathtaking natural landscapes, receive blessings and enjoy authentic ceremonies - you are absolutely guaranteed to fill your spiritual cup. 

If you have any questions or just fancy a natter about anything yoga or travel feel free to give me call 0405116211.

with love  Becci xxx

Explore Retreats