THE HEART OF TRANSFORMATION

BALI 2017

Yoga . Meditation . Healing . Ritual . Dance

Sacred Sound & Earth Prayer

with Mischa Varmuza & Amisha Ghadiali

Join us in the beautiful and sacred land of Bali where we will dive deep into the heart of transformation, exploring movement, stillness and healing practices. We have designed this retreat to reawaken our connection with ourselves, each other and the earth.

The journey of transformation calls for us to make time and space for ourselves to nurture and strengthen our body and be boldly curious of our inner world. Over the week the practices will be both deep and challenging and quiet and nurturing as well as joyful and light to strengthen, open and harmonise the body, mind and heart. We will go deep into the exploration of yoga asana, meditation techniques and conscious breath to guide us towards more presence, connection and freedom.

Venturing beyond the yoga practices to find greater awareness and understanding we will share stories and intention, join in sacred ceremony with the medicine of cacao and sound and enter ritual under the new moon. The new moon is a perfect time for new beginnings and to sow seeds and prayers of intention. This particular new moon will be in Aries, the first sign of the zodiac and a fire sign, supporting us with strength and courage to be our most authentic self and follow our deepest hearts desire. We will work with these energies to reflect on our journey so far and burn away anything that no longer serves us. We will open ourselves to our greatest dreams and possibilities, blazing a new trail to where we have never dared go before.

A retreat offers a safe and supported environment to open new spaces within your practice and it is always a dream come true for Mischa and Amisha to have the opportunity to offer the work that they themselves have found so extraordinarily powerful. Nestled in the foothills north of Ubud with views of rice fields and the ocean, we will be on the tip of an ancient valley. This is the perfect place to let go and truly connect. We will be supported by our hosts in this beautiful eco-boutique hotel, and will take time to explore the nearby water temple and other sacred sites. The Heart of Transformation offers a week of discovery, healing, new friends and delicious food in a safe and beautiful space. We hope you will join us to dance in the heart-fire and under the sun and beneath the stars.

The retreat includes:

• Morning meditation
• Daily yoga sessions including mantra, mudra, pranayama and asana
• Restorative & yin yoga
• Yoga nidra
• Guided journaling and self-inquiry practices
• Energy healing with Amisha
• Yoga assist and massage workshop with Mischa
• Cacao and Sound Healing Ceremony
• New Moon Ritual
• Ecstatic dance party in Ubud
• Day trip shopping and exploring Ubud
• Trip to the water temple
• Trek to stunning hot springs
• Time to explore sacred sites and nature
• Hanging out by the spa pool with views of the valley and ocean
• Space to relax, read, write, rest
• Optional: Massages, intuitive energy healings and spa treatments

Example of a typical day:

7.30 am Meditation

8.30 am Morning tea and fruit

9am Yoga practice

11.30 am Brunch

1.00 pm Free time for exploring, relaxing, healing, treatments or group excursion

4.00 pm Afternoon workshop

6.15 pm Sunset

7 pm Dinner followed by free time under the stars or evening sharing circle, singing circle, yoga nidra

The Details:

Monday 27th March til Sunday 2nd April, 2017.  Arrive for 3pm on the Monday we end at noon on Sunday.

No experience necessary, all are welcome.

The Accommodation:

Our home for the week will be a beautiful eco-boutique hotel village nestled in the foothills of Munduk Andong Kelod, just one-hour northwest of Ubud. The ‘village in the clouds’ is perched on the tip of an ancient valley sprinkled with terraced fields of rice, flowers and vegetable gardens and breathtaking views all the way to the Indian ocean. It is a perfect place to relax and unwind, breathe in the air, space and nature and enjoy the nearby hot springs, bamboo forest and water temple. The environment invites you to to reconnect to the simplicity of natural living and dissolve the hardness and stresses of work life.

We will have the retreat space exclusively to ourselves.

The Price:

Prices start at just £850 per person as we have done our best to create something more affordable than most Bali retreats without compromising on the experience and beauty. If you are coming in a group of four or more, please contact us as we may be able to reduce the costs further with extra beds in your room.  

Double Room (2 sharing): Earlybird £925 per person / Standard £995 per person

Double Room (1 person):  Earlybird £1425 / Standard £1495

Kingsize Loft Double (1 king bed): Earlybird £925 per person / Standard £995 per person (2 sharing)

Kingsize Loft Triple  (1 King bed & 1 single bed, 3 sharing): Earlybird £850 per person / Standard £920 per person

Bungalow Loft Twin (1 King bed, 1 single bed, 2 sharing): Earlybird King £925 per person / Standard £995 per person & Earlybird Single £895 per person / Standard £965 per person

Bungalow Twin (2 single beds, 2 sharing): Earlybird Single £895 per person / Standard £965 per person

Early bird prices until 15th January 2017.

Booking can be secured by paying full price or a non-refundable £250 deposit.

This price includes accommodation, food and listed activities above. Transport to the retreat centre is not included. We will help arrange for people to share taxis from either Ubud or the Airport to reduce costs and our environmental impact. Money shouldn’t come in the way of wellbeing and fun, if you would like to pay in instalments this is possible.

The Food:

Each morning there will be tea and fruit served between meditation and yoga practice and then we will sit to share a delicious brunch around 11.30 am. There will be a light snack and refreshments during the afternoon and dinner will be served after sunset at 7 pm. The vegetarian meals will be prepared by the kitchen team and abundant with fresh local ingredients, fruits, salads and traditional indonesian dishes. There will be vegan and gluten free options available.

The Replenish Effect:

It is important that our retreats bring benefit and expansion to all who are involved. We don’t just want you to fly in, taxi straight to the retreat centre and then leave the country. We make our retreats meaningful in the local community by building partnerships, supporting independently run businesses and doing all the little things that make a big difference, like helping you offset the carbon for your travel. You can also make a voluntary contribution to The Replenish Project. Find out more about it here.

Optional Adventure // Transformative Festivals in Bali:

This retreat is timed perfectly between Bali Spirit Festival (19th-26th March) and the very first New Earth Festival (5-9th April), if you wanted to come early, stay after or go to both festivals!

Your Hosts

Amisha & Mischa met through an advanced teacher training with Sianna Sherman and teaching in London studios. They first bonded over nearly having the same name, and then as their journeys unfolded found a mutual love and motivation towards the discovery of yoga as both dedicated teachers and students. They have spent time in India together visiting temples and deepening their practice and continue to inspire and compliment one another with their passion and curiosity to challenge themselves, each other and their students towards growth.

About Mischa:

“The retreat was a sweet breath of fresh air. Mischa is a truly inspiring teacher who in four short days has helped me deepen my relationship to yoga and further the spiritual connection to my physical practice.” Loren, Music Producer

“I can’t express the transformation I experienced in both body and mind the retreat with Mischa.  She truly is an inspirational teacher.  What a blessing to have a whole week with her!  As a teacher myself, I recognise the hard work and dedication that goes into these retreats and I can only say that Mischa has a true gift for sharing her strong, soulful yoga in a way that truly connects you back to your root and to the universe as a whole.  I learnt so much about myself and about the beautiful gift that is Yoga.  Her energy is so nurturing and her passion and dedication to the practice shines through. I cannot wait for the next one! Thank you Mischa, for continuing to inspire me on my journey.” Sally-Anne, Yoga Teacher

Mischa’s yoga journey began over a decade ago and slowly began to weave its way through her life; she is continually humbled and inspired by the potential of yoga to transform, expand and heal and is devoted to sharing the practice with others.  She is a 500 hour trained teacher, most recently finishing a 300 hour training with her teacher Sianna Sherman who is of enormous influence and inspiration to her. She has now stepped into apprenticeship with Sianna and assists on her workshops and trainings. Mischa has spent over a year in India studying, practicing and visiting sacred sites and it holds a special place in her heart.

Her teaching is heartfelt and creative with a deep focus on breath and alignment and a combination of strong steady flow and longer holds to both uplift and tap into the stillness. She practices both the Astanga Mysore method and Iyengar to support her asana practice, but is most inspired to share the creativity of vinyasa and hatha flow which allow her the freedom to explore the infinite possibilities of the practice. She draws her understanding from a number of styles and traditions, particularly inspired by the philosophy and practices of the Tantric lineage. Her classes are woven with philosophy, myth and stories and include music, chanting and ritual.  She is also influenced by her studies and training in the Priestess tradition and extensive travels to both Asia, Indonesia and South America.

Mischa works with Ayurvedic Yoga Massage, a beautiful combination of deep tissue massage with assisted yoga stretches and alignment, and Reiki to support the physical and energetic healing process. She is also fully trained in Naturopathy and Nutritional Therapy which she integrates into her holistic approach in practicing and sharing the teachings and supporting individuals on their journey towards greater wellbeing.

Mischa is currently based in London teaching across some of the leading studios but continues to travel for study, practice and teaching. Her teaching is passionate and knowledgeable, her intention is to both challenge and restore, holding a space for individuals to open, reflect and absorb and you will be taken on a journey of self inquiry and unfolding.

About Amisha:

“I came to Amisha’s retreat to learn more about the practice of YOGA. She taught me how to open up more and be in the moment. I loved how she created a space for the whole group to feel at home and safe. She really made me fall in love with Yoga. I will take her knowledge with me for the rest of my life. She is warm, wise and lovely.” Aemilia, Film Producer

“Amisha is a gifted yoga teacher that shows her knowledge of both the spiritual and the physical side of yoga, and teaches both brilliantly. This retreat was life changing and I still hear her voice singing mantras in my head!”  Paul, Entrepreneur

With a love of yoga and meditation that has spanned over a decade, Amisha Ghadiali’s own “burn out” led her to train as a teacher, which in turn opened a giant rabbit hole into the mystical realms. Her classes are strong yet relaxing, focused on clear alignment and moving from the heart. She has a calming presence and uses playful theming, mantra and experience of exploring world wisdom traditions, to leave her students with inspiration, grounding and joy they can bring into their daily lives.

Amisha is a 500 hour certified Yoga teacher after completing her advanced teacher training with Sianna Sherman, and is a modern day priestess, reiki master and intuitive energy healer. Her background is in politics and sustainable fashion, and since 2006 she has been designing jewellery for her own label with the tagline “elegance rebellion.” She creates meaningful pieces such as malas for chanting, made with precious gemstones. She brings all this awareness and her fascination with the relationship of our inner and outer worlds, to her work.

Amisha has used these practices in her own life to work with trauma including recovering from being run over by a pick-up truck. She has lived that typical stressful city life, and found that bringing a soulful healthy approach to her every day made things much more rewarding and balanced. She recently founded Replenish, where she leads retreats and works one-on-one through her mentoring programme to assist you in creating space to show up for yourself each day and to facilitate the formation of lifelong habits that will support and nurture your inner and outer connections.

Amisha is also a writer and speaker on all aspects of conscious and green living. A big part of her ‘yoga’ is exploring how we relate to the world around us and embody our values.  She edited the collaborative book, The Future Is Beautiful – A Collection from Think Act Vote, coining the term Creative Activism and bringing together ideas and artwork from over two hundred contributors to inspire a brighter future. Her words have appeared in publications including The Huffington Post, Rebelle Society & Ecouterre and she has spoken at events and festivals around the world such as TEDx Oxbridge, Sunday Papers Live & Burning Man.

How to Book:

If you have any questions or like to reserve your place, please contact Amisha on takeamoment@amisha.co.uk or Mischa on info@mischavarmuza.com