13-Day Yoga Intensive Ayahuasca Retreat
This retreat is designed for yoga enthusiasts who are interested in the combination of a comprehensive yoga program and traditional Amazonian plant-based healing practices. The integration of these two ancient pathways to healing and self-discovery offers a powerful opportunity for lasting transformation.
During this retreat, you will be guided by yoga teachers Marta Wanderlust and Juliana Bizare, facilitators Públio Valle and Jessica Begin (also yoga teachers), and one female Shipibo maestra and one male Shipibo maestro from our amazing team of healers. This retreat will combine five intimate ayahuasca ceremonies for groups limited to 12 people only with a comprehensive yoga program during the daytime.
This 13-Day Yoga Intensive Ayahuasca Retreat will run from October 17th to 29th and costs $1,750.
The combination of intensive yoga and ayahuasca healing creates an extraordinary synergy where dedicated participants can accelerate their own learning, personal growth, healing, spiritual awakening and integrative process. The Temple of the Way of Light has significant experience over the last 5 years working with unique and highly qualified yoga teachers who not only bring their individual gifts and proven teaching methods but who have extensive personal experience working with ayahuasca in a responsible and sacred way.
An Intensive Yoga Retreat:
With a comprehensive yoga program led by Marta Wanderlust and Juliana Bizare.
An Ayahuasca Retreat:
With 5 intimate ayahuasca ceremonies and healing led by one male and one female Shipibo shaman. Ceremony groups limited to 12 guests only.
Additional Components to Support Healing and Integration:
All the above is combined with Kirtan, chakra balancing, meditation, pranayama, individual consultations, group processing meetings, time to reflect in the Temple grounds, floral baths, steam baths, traditional plant remedies, and vomitivos.
Program Philosophy and Guiding Principles
Yoga literally means ‘to yoke or join.’ It is a path of integration, uniting the personal, individual self with the Universal Self. The aim of the practice of yoga is the movement from a state of separation towards that of our inherent connectedness, or from dualism towards non-dualism. Similarly, ayahuasca also potentializes our capacity to dissolve boundaries of separation and access the states of deep connection and unified ‘beingness’ that are the very aims of yoga.
By bringing the millennial science and art of yoga into working with the vast, natural intelligence of the plant realm we have the opportunity to understand and feel the essential design, effects and benefits of yoga at a much deeper and more expansive level than we might otherwise attain with ordinary awareness.
Ayahuasca can reveal and unlock the subtle realms of energetic experience described in some of the most ancient yogic texts, assisting the yoga practitioner to deeply anchor his/her practice into embodied experience. Yoga teaches us to inhabit our bodies and to become increasingly aware of the life-force within and around us. Through this awareness we develop the capacity to sense where and when the energy within us is not flowing freely and we become empowered to dissolve blockages as well as to consciously invite and conduct life-force-energy to serve the natural intelligence within us.
Ayahuasca works in a similar and complementary way, enhancing our natural energetic sensitivity and helping us to tangibly sense blockages in our bodies and subtle energy systems. Ayahuasca often also facilitates intuitive, self-corrective movement – guiding us to move and breathe in ways that assist us in balancing the flow of prana within us. Essentially, ayahuasca can be invaluable in connecting us to a spontaneous ‘inner yoga’ that is born of increased sensitivity and awareness.
In our experience, the integration of ayahuasca and yoga have greatly supported our guests to access states of deep inner sensitivity invaluable to their personal yoga practice. We have found that the medicine greatly assists in accessing the high levels of awareness cultivated by yoga and its related practices, helping the practitioner to have greater body consciousness and an inner understanding of posture and anatomy, increased sensitivity to subtle energy and energy meridians and an increased capacity to concentrate and focus the mind. The combination of ayahuasca and yoga can facilitate outstanding healing outcomes including lasting mental clarity, a more balanced lifestyle and an overall sense of wellbeing.
The Onanya, Ayahuasca, and the Master Plants
We deeply honor and respect the indigenous healing traditions of the Amazon that have evolved over thousands of years and offer the most effective ayahuasca healing experience. We work with some of the most respected, kind-hearted, and powerful healers (Onanya) from the Shipibo tribe, who are experts in ayahuasca healing and plant-spirit shamanism of the Amazon.
Our team of healers has been carefully selected over many years to work at the Temple. They bring a rich cultural and medicinal legacy, time-honored rituals, intricate practices, an expansive cosmology, an encyclopedic knowledge of medicinal plants of the Amazon and a far-reaching ancestral lineage to the healing process. In the Shipibo tradition, the healing process is focused on cleansing and purifying the energy field that surrounds us – or niwe in their language – which can pick up toxic energies from the environment and the traumatic issues of our past.
The Shipibo healers’ encyclopedic knowledge of medicinal plants (rao) of the Amazon Rainforest allows them to heal a huge range of psycho-spiritual, emotional and sometimes physical conditions. They do this through ancient healing practices involving incredibly beautiful ikaros (songs of the plants), intense perfumes, individually prescribed plant remedies (available on our 12-day and 3-week programs) and powerful energetic work.
The Shipibo tradition is a system of plant-spirit shamanism that facilitates healing from a vast number of different plant and tree spirits, who transmit healing energies through the ikaros sung by the healers in ceremonies. The Onanya see ayahuasca as a nexus to the plant-spirit worlds, and is not the only plant spirit they work with. The key to the depth and efficacy of this ancient healing system is to call in and work with a plethora of other plant spirits in each ceremony, alongside ayahuasca, to affect deep healing. Without bringing together a team of plant spirits, the healing work of ayahuasca alone would be more limited.
To be clear, the only plant brew guests drink in ceremony is ayahuasca, although you will receive energetic healing from many different plants spirits in every ceremony. We provide potent and visionary ayahuasca sourced from deep in the rainforest of the Shipibo territories. Our ayahuasca is made from cielo (sky/heaven) ayahuasca and chacruna with no admixtures. The ceremonies led by our healers offer the highest levels of shamanic mastery available in the Peruvian Amazon combined with an exemplary track record in terms of safety, protection, care for and support of our guests.
Marta Wanderlust
Marta is a gifted, passionate, and highly experienced teacher and student of yoga and the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. She has been practicing yoga for over 16 yrs. She began her professional training with a Jivamukti Yoga immersion, under the guidance of Yogeswari – one of the most senior teachers of the method. Marta was certified as an Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow instructor with Sampoorna Yoga, a traditional Ashtanga School in Goa, India. In India, she also had the privilege to meet her Spiritual teacher Rishi Sadihir of Timivannamalai, a renowned practitioner of Advaita Vedanta with decades of experience in pranayama, meditation, and with a depth of vedic knowledge. She also spent time at the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharishi, set at the foot of the sacred mountain Arunachala.
Marta’s love for the practice of being, Yin Yoga, comes as a result of her training with Joshua Summers, an experienced teacher of Yin Yoga and one of the original students of Paul Grilly and Sarah Powers. Her studies with Joshua initiated her into the system of meridians and Chinese Medicine. Marta has also undertaken numerous meditation retreats, including Vipassana and mindfulness trainings organized by the London Buddhist Centre.
She has taught at diverse centers in Europe, Asia, and South America and served as a 200 hr YTT teacher training instructor at Sampoorna Yoga, in India. Currently, she leads personal yoga retreats internationally. She has a passion for culture and tradition and travels extensively in her mission to experience, grow, and develop a platform to share with others, spreading the message of love and compassion.
In the last couple of years, Marta has been studying with the plant medicines and traditions of Central and South America. She has had the opportunity to study under the guidance of shamans and medicine people from various traditions, including Shipibo, Mexica, Lakota, and Kogi. Her studies across diverse traditions devoted to understanding both our human physicality and the pathways to Spirit have led her to understand that all paths are complementary, and ultimately lead to the very same realization of Unity. She is deeply grateful to all of her teachers, past and present, human and non-human, for shining their light under her stumbling feet.
Juliana Bizare
Juliana was born in Brazil, and spent most of the last 18 years of her life living in different countries. Traveling has always been a fun possibility of learning more about herself, and has extended her sense of connection with others.
Juliana started practicing yoga and meditation about 17 years ago. She took a 2-year Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation training in California with Katchie Ananda, and extended this study to Spirit Rock, where she did regular retreats and workshops. She spent almost two years in India and Nepal, and started teaching Yoga at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamansala, India in 2010. She has also studied with renowned Yoga and Buddhist masters like The Chanchani, Usha Devi, Tenzin Palmo, and others.
Being Brazilian, ayahuasca has always been present in her life one way or another. She started her relationship with ayahuasca in the Santo Daime tradition over 20 years ago. To Juliana, ayahuasca is a powerful female teacher, who can show us the real potential of an expanded awareness. Currently what is present in her heart is a deep yearning to really understand what it is to be human. Whenever she finds herself in the role of a teacher, she tries to bring an element of humanity, teaching from a place where being vulnerable and real is ok. She brings this same intention to her relationships in general.
Here is a video of Marta at the Temple presenting our first ever Yoga Intensive Ayahuasca Retreat, held in March 2017.
Although this will be a longer retreat of 13 days and will include 5 ceremonies and 24 guests (split into two groups of 12 for ceremonies), the core components will be the same and the invitation from Marta in this video is still relevant to the upcoming 13-day retreat in October.
Guest Reviews from our Yoga Intensive Ayahuasca Retreat in March 2017
Yoga Program
- Comprehensive Yoga Instruction: including theory, practical workshops, mindfulness & meditation.
- Yoga Classes Suitable for all People: regardless of physical condition. The program’s highly skilled teachers are able to make everybody feel comfortable, welcome, and safe. Appropriate variations are made available to students for all physical postures and movement sequences, as well as during other techniques or exercises and whenever necessary.
- Emphasis on Physically Gentle Yoga: more exploratory, creative, bio-energetic (pranayama, mantra, mudra, yantra, visualizations-nada/sounds-chakra) and restorative inspired styles (or softer expressions of some of these styles of yoga) including: Vinyasa Flow, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Integral, Sivananda, Anusara, Iyengar, and Kundalini Yoga. This program does not focus on the more physically demanding and intense practices such as Power Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, or some of the “hot” yogas.
- Mindfulness/Meditation Practice includes: Advaita Vedanta inspired techniques, conscious breathing with Metta Bhavana, Heart-Centered methods, Vipassana, and Kirtan Kriya.
- Yoga Nidra & the Art of ‘Yogic Psychic Sleep’: It has been said that 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra equals 2+ hours of good sleep! You will learn through direct experience how deeply restorative and rejuvenating the practice of Yoga Nidra is.
- Pranayama (Breathing Exercises): the retreat includes systematic, safe, and progressive pranayama training. Major classic pranayamas such as Dirgha, Kapalabhati, Ujjayi, Anuloma Viloma, Bramhari, and the cooling pranayamas will be thoroughly explained, taught, and practiced according to traditional protocols.
- Mantra (Sacred sound) & Healing Songs: Students will learn various forms of vocal meditations, including the practice of bija mantra (seed syllable chanting), sound breathing meditations and chakra alignment meditations that combine body awareness, visualization, breath, and the use of powerful sound vibration. These practices literally tune up the practitioner by calming, relaxing, focusing, and amplifying felt states of consciousness. They assist to align bio-energies as well as to facilitate a stronger, more consistent concentration optimal for meditation. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn and practice one or more mantras and healing medicine songs. Ayahuasca greatly enhances one’s ability to feel deeply connected to healing music/songs/sounds, and thus this retreat places special emphasis on this aspect of yoga (Nada Yoga).
- Yoga Postures (Asana), Movement, & Stillness: Vinyasa Yoga is the creative linking together of asanas (postures) synchronized with and guided by breath. This can involve ‘slow flow’ with detailed somatic exploration of the relationship between deep breathing and movement or more dynamic or artistically expressive postures and explorations in ecstatic breathing.
- Yin & Restorative Yoga to Compliment Ayahuasca Ceremonies: Yin Yoga was created from an understanding of Chinese Medicine & Qi (or Chi) and the subtle energy pathways of the human body known as meridians. Yin yoga is passive and receptive and targets the internal tissues of the body: the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, fascia, and organs. The practice is incredibly nourishing and restorative to these deeper internal tissues and encourages the fresh flow of vital life force energy through the energetic channels that pass through them. The four main sequences of Yin Yoga will be covered. Restorative Yoga involves the passive stretch response of muscles and connective tissues for deeper myo-fascial release. The result is profound relaxation of the nervous system and innumerable mental, physical, and energetic benefits. These practices specifically assist the body and mind to let go and release blockages at the physical, emotional, and energetic levels, removing the obstacles that impede optimal wellness and human potential.
- Practical Workshops: Teaching about asana families, their general physiological and energetic benefits, alignment principles, safe exploration of variations, and how the posture affects and relates to the chakras (energy centers). Also, detailed posture clinics with an in depth experience of the most common asanas.
Plant Spirit Healing
Ayahuasca Ceremonies
The 5 ayahuasca ceremonies are intimate, with two Shipibo healers (one male and one female), one facilitator and a group limit of 14 guests. All ceremonies are held in a maloka dedicated to the guests of the Deep Immersion Program. The maloka is completely screened from mosquitos with toilets just outside. Mats are provided and arranged in a circle facing the healers and the facilitator in the center. A ceremony assistant is present in front of the bathrooms to lend a hand or light as needed.
Jain Póiti (Floral Baths)
A Jain Póiti is a floral bath that forms a vital component of the shamanic healing process through cleansing heavy energies and blockages, clearing negative thoughts and emotions, purifying the mind and body, and promoting transformation through the properties of the specific plants and flowers used in the bath. Quite literally, it assists with the blossoming and flourishing of life. Traditionally, healers take floral baths either immediately before or after a ceremony. Floral baths also help to bring down a strong ‘mareacion’ – the effect of ayahuasca. Floral baths are given at midday on almost every day of the retreat, for all guests.
Vomitivo
Upon arrival, all guests participate in a vomitivo, or stomach cleansing. This involves drinking a strong herba luisa tea followed by water, which induces purging and begins the process of physically and energetically clearing the body in preparation for the first ceremony. This practice gives the medicine more direct access to deeper issues as it is less occupied with the physical cleaning that takes place in the earlier ceremonies.
Individual Consultations
Within the first few days of arrival, each guest has an individual consultation with the healers and facilitator. This is an opportunity for the healers and facilitator to get to know you; the challenges that you are facing in your life and the difficulties you have had in the past. Consultations are an important starting point for guests to set intentions and to share them with the healers, as well as begin the process of getting to know the healers and establishing trust. The consultation will then be expanded on significantly when the healers look into the energetic system of each guest in ceremony.
SAMPLE Schedule:
Day One
| 11:00 pm | Arrive at the Temple, Floral Baths and Lunch |
| 2:00 pm | Group Meeting: Opening Circle, Orientation, and Introductions |
| 4:30 pm | Vinyasa Flow |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Guided Meditation |
Day Two
| 6:45 am | Cleansing Kriya |
| 7:15 am | Vomitivo |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Group Meeting: Discussion about Ayahuasca, Ceremonies, and Intentions |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm | Group Consultation |
| 4:00 pm | Gentle Flow |
| 6:00 pm | Pre-Ceremony Yin Yoga |
| 8:00 pm | 1st Ceremony |
Day Three
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Individual Physical Consultations |
| 10:30 am | Pranayama: The Science of Breathing |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm | Individual Physical Consultations |
| 4:30 pm | Chakra Balancing |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Yoga Nidra |
Day Four
| 6:45 am | Meditation & Pranayama |
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Orient Yourself |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | The Path of Mindfulness |
| 6:00 pm | Pre-ceremony Yin Yoga |
| 8:00 pm | 2nd Ceremony |
Day Five
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Self Inquiry |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | Group Meeting: Sharing Circle |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Guided Meditation |
Day Six *SILENT DAY*
| 6:45 am | Meditation & Pranayama |
| 7:15 am | Intuitive Yoga |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Cosmic Vibration: Mantra |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | Working With Your Soul: Meditation & Creative Writing |
| 6:00 pm | Pre-Ceremony Yin Yoga |
| 8:00 pm | 3rd Ceremony |
Day Seven
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Orient Yourself |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | TCM Meridian Practice |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Guided Meditation |
Day Eight
| 6:45 am | Meditation & Pranayama |
| 7:15 am | Partner Yoga |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Ayurveda: Conscious Nourishment |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | Chakra Balancing |
| 6:00 pm | Pre-Ceremony Yin Yoga |
| 8:00 pm | 4th Ceremony |
Day Nine
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Group Meeting: Sharing Circle |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | Restorative Yoga |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Guided Meditation |
Day Ten
| 6:45 am | Meditation & Pranayama |
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 8:00 am | Plant Remedies |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Yoga Philosophy: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali |
| 12:00 pm | Floral Baths |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm | Group Meeting: Arkanas, Post-Diet, Integration |
| 6:00 pm | Pre-Ceremony Yin Yoga |
| 8:00 pm | 5th Ceremony: Arkana |
Day Eleven
| 7:15 am | Asana |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:30 am | Kirtan: Sacred Chants |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 4:00 pm | TCM Meridian Practice |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Yoga Nidra |
Day Twelve
| 6:45 am | Meditation & Pranayama |
| 7:15 am | Partner Yoga |
| 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Shipibo Market |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 3:30 pm | Group Meeting: Closing Circle |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Sacred Dance |
Day Thirteen
| 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am | Departure to Iquitos |
Cost
| USD | $1,750 |
A portion of the income from our ayahuasca retreats funds critical projects on environmental justice, sustainable development and intercultural education run by our Peruvian NGO, The Chaikuni Institute, partnering with Indigenous People in the Amazon.
Payment Terms
| Deposit | $875 USD |
| Final Installment | $875 USD – Due 6 weeks before the start of the retreat |
Transferring your payment in installments is for your convenience only. It is possible to pay the retreat cost in one full amount if you prefer to save on transfer fees.
Terms and Advice
- We accept payments via credit card and PayPal. Credit card payments are made during the online booking process. If you select to pay via PayPal, we will issue you an invoice after your medical questionnaire has been approved. If you have made a credit card payment and later learn that you are not cleared to come for a workshop per your medical history, your payment will be fully refunded.
- Payments are only refundable provided we have a minimum of 8 weeks notice prior to the start of a workshop. Any refunds given will occur a $100USD cancellation fee. You may change your workshop reservation to another date at no cost or transfer your payment(s) to another participant, provided said participant has been approved to attend a workshop and that it is a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the start of the workshop.
- If original payment was made with a credit card, any refund will be credited back to the card originally charged. We are only able to refund via PayPal for other forms of payment.
- For cancellations within 8 weeks of the start of a workshop, payments will only be refunded, credited to a future date, or transferred to another participant if we can fill your place in the workshop. We will try our best to do so.
- We strongly recommend that you take out adequate travel insurance for any cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances. Squaremouth is an insurance service we can suggest that can cover not only retreat costs but the possibility to recover airfare costs too.
Availability and Booking
All registrations must be made from a computer as we do not have mobile capability for our medical forms at this time.
Once you have completed your booking and your medical information has been reviewed by our team, we will be in touch with you to confirm your booking.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Please do not book flights or make any travel arrangements until your registration and medical information has been reviewed and you have been approved to attend a workshop.
| Dates | Availability | Register |
|---|---|---|
| October 17 - 29, 2018 | Open | Register now |
