Kailash Ashram's Meditation & Yoga Retreats

Retreats are ‘in’ right now, and one need not look far to find many different offerings.

Prior to being blessed by Swami Shivkrupanand as an Ashram, Kailash was a retreat centre. 

We hosted many other facilitators and got to peak behind the curtain.

We can’t claim to have ‘seen it all,’ but we saw a lot; watered down practice being shared without much understanding or care given to the traditions from which they were taken. Some were simply made up hocus pocus deliberately employed to pull the wool over the participants eyes.

Most were a jumbled assortment of new age, neo-shamanism, with a sprinkling of yoga as exercise. The retreats lacked a common, uniting message and were without substance.

We suspect these retreats were more about serving the ego’s of the facilitators rather than the wellbeing of their students, but only God knows the truth.

We saw participants left high and dry, often retraumatised and left without grounding and guidance.

Thus, we closed our doors to hiring our space as a Venue and sought our Guru’s blessing to become an Ashram.

Retreats are Kailash Ashram’s bread and butter.

We have run several dozen since 2018 and offer traditional yogic and meditative practice, tied to lineage, embodied through our experience.

As an Ashram we are a community, an organisation and a school of yoga with a proven track record and many happy students. 

Students are drawn to Kailash Ashram for David and Rajni’s real, raw and honest take on life, and for their ability to make traditional teachings relevant to modern times and minds. 

Most certainly, please read through this page in full and if your question hasn’t been answered, call the Ashram on 0415703324. 

Yes. No prior experience is required. It is common for us to have both beginners and teachers on the same retreat and all experience levels have benefitted from our more traditionally oriented program.

Rooms are booked on a first come, first serve basis. Retreat fees are by donation and we encourage those booking a single to consider donating more.

We have a mix of twin share rooms, small private rooms and private glamping tents. Our retreats are very active, and we only utilise the bedroom for sleeping so for most students, twin share is adequate.

We ask you book a small private room or private glamping tents only if you are a light sleeper or snorer. Twin-share rooms are same gender.

We find that though sharing may present some initial nervousness, a great friendship is formed between roomies.

We teach traditional yoga in alignment with the traditions to which we belong.

This draws upon ancient Indic systems and schools of philosophy and practice such as Vedanta, Advaita Vedanta, Samkya and Classical Yoga.

The meditation we practice and teach is a Himalayan Meditation called Samarpan Dhyan Sanskar, and the Hatha Yoga we share is from the Shadow Yoga school which follows the Nath Sampradaya.

If this makes little sense to you; worry not! As you can probably tell, Yoga is a lot more than the simple stretching it has become in the west.

We make this ancient knowledge accessible to modern minds, and the meditative practices we share assist body, mind and Soul.

Many students choose to drive, and we frequently arrange ride shares between participants. You will be asked if you require this. For interstate students, flying into melbourne and either ride sharing or booking a hire car is best.

– 3.5 Hours from Melbourne via car, allow 4 if you are planning on stopping.

– 5 hours from Adelaide

– Public transport is available to Horsham by VLine train and bus from Southern Cross Station (book at least 3 days in advance.)

– Transfer to the Ashram is 50km and can be arranged by taxi, we can organise a pick up for $100 one way (subject to availability and with prior confirmation only.)

Yes, all meals are vegetarian and vegan friendly, whole foods as standard and snacks are included.

We are able to accommodate dietary allergies, but not taste preferences. Meals are nourishing and one of our most common requests is for a retreat cookbook (we are working on it!)

Arrival time for all retreats is between 5pm and 6pm on the day of arrival, and departure is by 2pm on the final day of the retreat. We are unable to take early arrivals or late departures due to activity set up and pack down.

Our retreats are covered by our Pay-it-Forward system where you are able to contribute according to your means and capacity.

We welcome mature Souls above 12 years of age, though for any minor we ask for a call prior to discuss suitability.

No, we are unable to accommodate pets or companion animals. Due to the unfenced nature of the property and local wildlife, we are hesitant to allow service animals other than those that are for the aid of mobility.

We are able to accommodate a wide variety of physical situations and can substitute activities for those with mobility issues and ask that if you have an issue, to consult with your doctor prior.

The physical component of the retreat is only a small portion of the yogic practice we share.

Yes. You are free to explore the Grampians prior and after the retreat, however during the retreat times, it is a closed camp and you are asked to stay on the Ashram’s property.

Yes, we have all equipment but you are welcome to bring your personal yoga or mediation equipment if you would like.

You are invited to participate in all sessions as the retreat weaves together as one whole. If you are unable to attend a session, you are required to notify the instructors prior.

Yes. Past retreat students are welcome back to support the retreat but you must first attend a retreat as a participant.

Yes, we cap our retreats at 15 participants.

We open our retreats for bookings 90 days in advance of the retreat.

Yes, this is a strictly drug and alcohol free event, including plant medicines, cannabis and off premises consumption.

No. We are a traditional Yoga Ashram and the facilities are centred around yogic practice.

Yes. Many like-hearted Souls are drawn to our retreats and there is a family vibe throughout the experience. If you prefer to have time for you and do not wish to connect with other participants, you are free to keep to yourself.

Yoga is a system of practice and philosophy that has it’s roots in ancient India. We do not require you to change or alter your beliefs, but we share a traditional approach including teachings from the sacred texts of the Vedas and other Yogic masters. We makes this knowledge applicable to modern times, and enjoy the beauty of a multi-faith friendly environment.

Yes. For those students unable to afford to Pay-it-Forward, it is better to attend the Ashram via a scholarship as opposed to attending a retreat, and not donating due to a lack of financial means.

Yes. We are technically a no smoking venue, but for those students unable to fully quit prior to retreat, we have a dedicated place and etiquette regarding smoking, but this is by prior arrangement and agreement.

– The lodge has ground floor access to shared rooms and grab rails in the showers.

– The yurt has 3 stairs to enter and as of yet, no ramp access (which is in the pipeline.)

– We have successfully hosted retreat participants with power assisted wheelchairs.

No; though as an Ashram we are oriented to helping you transcend the physical and mental aspects of life. The Yogic practices shared are at our retreats are simple, practical tools that can be used in a variety of ways (to enhance well-being, to investigate one’s experience or to worship the beyond.) For some, including us, they are deeply spiritual, for others they are practical.

Yoga is centred on a universal, inward connection to ‘life.’ We call this the Soul. 

The practices of yoga and meditation have their origin in ancient India (in the Himalaya and Nepal) and this means that in some sense, traditional teachings are inseparable from the culture that gave rise to them (much like the fact that ideas are expressed in language.) As such, we celebrate and share the cultural origins of these practices such as Sanskrit mantra and nature based fire ceremonies, but endeavour to make the practices relevant to modern people from a variety of belief systems.

We have shared retreat with Catholics, Buddhists, Jewishs, Orthodox, Atheists, Agnostics and Hindus alike. All have benefitted from our unique program.

We present all knowledge for your consideration and participation in activities is not mandatory (though highly encouraged.) We endeavour to demystify the yoga practice and help you understand the relevance of meditation, yoga and fire ceremony in modern life – though sometimes in order to fully ‘get it’ you have to let go of the mind, and just feel!

– No. All of the practices shared are about your connection to yourself and there is a strict no-touching policy for all guests and staff at all times.

– Guests wishing to give each other a hug must ask permission of other guests first (please do not assume that it is accepted!)

– Intimate partners are required to refrain from intimacy during the retreat

– There is a strict no-fraternisation policy during the retreat which includes ‘hitting-on’ or ‘making moves on’ anyone at all.

– If you wish to pursue a connection in this regard, please exchange details and do so after the retreat.

We endeavour to make the Soul Retreat as accessible as possible and are happy to discuss directly with you if the event is suitable. Please organise a time to call us prior to booking, and also ask for guidance from your mental health care provider.