Transform Yourself, Transform Your Health
Who is this program for?
How does it work?
Is English the only language the program is available in?
What is the program’s syllabus?
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
If I still am undergoing treatments can I come?
If I didn’t go through with chemotherapy or radiation, can I still come?
What cancers do you work with?
What stages of cancer do you accept?
What are the age limitations?
Can you provide cure for cancer?
I had cancer 10 years ago but I would like to enroll in the program – can I be accepted? Why this program is so long?
Can I come for one or two weeks only?
Do I need to know yoga or be yoga practitioner to take the program?
What is asana class?
What is pranayama?
What is Yoga Nidra?
What is meditation class?
What is the diet?
Access to Internet
This program is designed for anyone who has or had cancer and would like to rejuvenate the energy, deal with side effects of medical treatment and learn yogic approach to preventing reoccurrence of cancer. This includes the role of nutrition and environment.
This program is perfect if you:
The program is highly experiential. Through the use of yogic science, it addresses the needs of the whole person – body, mind, emotion and spirit. At the end, the program provides individualized take-home yogic practices to sustain or even deepen the positive changes achieved during the program.
The program is residential, which means that you stay at the center for full 21 days. It is based on Yoga science, which means that we use evidence-based yoga practices to help participants to heal. When we say yoga, we mean not only gentle body postures but also more importantly breathing techniques, meditation, yogic relaxation techniques as well as chanting (repetitive singing).
The program progresses from day one to twenty-one, developing participants’ skills in yogic practices, awareness of the body and connection to your true Self. Because of that, there is no option of taking 2 or 1 week of the program. The vegan meals are provided 3 times a day and the herbal tea and fruits in the afternoon. The price includes room, board and all the classes.
The schedule is very intensive but not taxing. The groups are no more than 8 participants and there is a room for individual modification of program according to the level of energy and physical skills of participants. The classes are from 7:00 am till 8:45 pm 6 days a week. Sundays are off and available for visiting local tourist attractions.
If you have, please bring your laptop and memory stick (pen drive). During the retreat it will be recommended that you keep an electronic diary after each class and at the end of the day. At the end of the retreat, you will receive a number of electronic files, which you will be able to use at home.
There will be times available for personal electronic communication and the Internet is available at no extra charge. In the hall/class room the phones are banned.
Yes – at the moment the retreats are available only in English.
This three-week yoga intensive retreat aims at cancer patients who finished chemotherapy and/or radiation. The goal is to:
Week 1
Lectures:
Introduction of yogic techniques – asanas, pranayama, meditation, restorative yoga, yoga Nidra and chanting – as effective and research based ancient science both on practical level and through the lectures on anatomy and physiology of yoga.
Practical:
Week 2
Lectures :
Introduction of endocrinal and nervous human physiology. We teach about carcinogenic factors in patient’s diet and life style and the environmental toxicity with emphasis on natural detoxification. Patients prepare an individualized “Fridge List” of 24 health-promoting changes they will implement at home after the retreat.
Practical:
Basic work with emotions and thought processes:
Week 3
Group work:
Life Mandala – a meditative process of reexamining the core belief system and reconnecting with one’s heart calling through the process of mapping the changes on Mandala drawing
Practical:
Deepening work with emotions and thought processes
Daily schedule:
7:00 – 8:15 – Yoga – Gentle Asana/Pranayama
8:30 – Breakfast
9:30 – 11:00 Lectures/Group Activity
11:00-12:00 – Pranayama/Meditation
12:30 – Lunch
3:00-4:30 – Meditation with mudras
4:45 – 6:00 – Yoga Nidra
6:30 – Dinner
8:00-8:45 – Chanting/Meditation
Upon completion of the retreat patients will:
Yes, however please keep in mind that we do not provide facilities for intravenous chemotherapies nor can we provide supervision in any allopathic treatments your oncologist prescribed for you.
Yes – any cancer patient can come regardless of treatment taken.
We do not work with cancers – we work with people who have or had cancer. Our focus is on holistic approach using yoga science to bring the body to balance and strengthen the immune system. We also educate participants with regards to carcinogenic factors in our daily lives and how to prevent them. Finally, we provide the tools, which participants can use in their daily lives at home.
We accept patients with all stages of cancers.
We accept patients with all cancer stages providing they are self-sufficient and can move around without any help. For stage four we usually advise the participant to obtain doctor’s approval before coming.
The retreats are designed for mature participants. Therefore, we accept adult from 21years old, providing that you are able to move around without any help.
We do not focus our work on cancer. We work with people who have or had cancer respecting their physical limitations. Our focus is on holistic approach using yoga science to heal through bringing the body to balance and strengthen the immune system. We also educate participants with regards to carcinogenic factors in our daily lives and how to prevent them. Finally, we provide the tools, which participants can use in their daily lives at home.
Yes – providing that there is space available.
Retreat last 3 weeks. Participants are taken out of their normal surroundings and placed in high energy, healing environment where they are introduced to healthy habits and diet. It takes 3 weeks for yogic practices to start taking effect and result in positive transformation, which participants can clearly feel. This positive transformation becomes a major motivation for continuing the practices at home and to make healthy change within themselves and in their home environment. It also takes 3 weeks to develop basic yoga skills, which participants then can use confidently on their own at home.
We do not accept participants after the program has started. From day one the participants develop close relationships and the group becomes a major support factor in individual transformation, for the duration of retreat. Therefore, it is very important for all to attend the retreat from day one and participate in all activities.
Each week we progress to the next level of yoga skills and self-development in our program. Therefore, we ask that you to participate from the beginning to the end in order to gain all the benefits of the retreat.
Each week we progress to the next level of yoga skills and self-development in our program. Therefore we ask that you to participate from the beginning to the end in order to gain all the benefits of the program.
No, you do not need to know anything about yoga or be yoga practitioner. The practices you will be doing are introduced slowly and always matching your level of skill and ability. The main goal of yoga practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting and yoga Nidra) is to facilitate the healing of your body, your emotions and your mind. Since cancer does not discriminate, in our retreats we have those who have never done yoga, sitting next to experienced yoga teachers. All those who apply themselves to the program benefit from it equally.
In the morning you will have 1 hour of class where you will do some stretching and body relaxation postures. The specific body postures in yoga are called asanas. We base our asana class on classical Hatha Yoga and use simple, easy to do asanas. We make sure that you do them only to the level of your ability and if you have any specific limitations, we do modify postures for your needs.
Asanas, or yogic postures, differ from normal stretching exercises in the way they are performed. In our morning asana classes the emphasis is on relaxation, reduction of stress, awareness and connection to the body and emotions. After the class you feel refreshed and ready for the day.
We base our program on classical Hatha Yoga and use simple, easy to do asanas. We make sure that you do them only to the level of your ability and if you have any specific limitations we modify postures for your needs.
Asanas, or yogic postures, differ from normal stretching exercises in the way they are performed. In our morning asana classes the emphasis is on relaxation, reduction of stress, awareness and connection to the body and emotions. After asana class you feel refreshed and ready for the day.
Pranayama comprises of the breathing techniques where the inhale and exhale are managed in a very specific way. Pranayama is very powerful in its healing effects and aims, among other things, at controlling our autonomous nervous system (ANS). The pranayama practices are easy to perform and can be done by everyone under proper guidance.
“Nidra” in Sanskrit means sleep. It is an old yogic deep relaxation practice, which in last few decades was adopted by Dr.R.Miller, PhD, a clinical psychologist, author, researcher and yogic scholar, to present day needs (see https://www.irest.us/projects/irest)
Yoga Nidra is integrative, in that it heals the various unresolved issues, traumas, and wounds that are present in the body and mind. It is restorative in that it aids its practitioners in recognizing their underlying peace of mind that is always present amidst all changing circumstances of life. Extensive research has shown also that effectively it supports the healing process across a broad range of populations.
Yoga Nidra is integrative, in that it heals the various unresolved issues, traumas, and wounds that are present in the body and mind. It is restorative in that it aids its practitioners in recognizing their underlying peace of mind that is always present amidst all changing circumstances of life. Extensive research has shown also that effectively it supports the healing process across a broad range of populations.
In general terms the meditation is the process of inner exploration or inner journey. Since most of our participants do not have established meditation practices or perhaps never meditated before, at the beginning we teach guided yogic meditation. One sits in comfortable position with closed eyes and is guided by the facilitator’s voice. The instructions are easy to follow and there always is an individual attention and guidance when needed.
Our meditations are always preceded by either pranayama or chanting. This prepares you by creating a favorable state for meditation and/or contemplation
If you have your own established meditation practice you will be able to choose what you want to do.
There is a large body of research documenting positive changes in those who practice meditation. As people practice with time they are able to change the physical and the functional structure of the brain. This can result in positive changes in perception, ability to focus, stress release, increased inner peace and joy and other positive emotions.
Our meditations are always preceded by either pranayama or chanting. This prepares you by creating favorable states for meditation and/or contemplation
If you have your own established meditation practice you will be able to choose what you want to do.
We provide 3 wholesome vegan meals. We buy the produce from local growers with as much organic produce as is available.
If you let us know ahead of time on your dietary restrictions, we will make every effort to meet your requirements to the best of our abilities. You may contact us ahead of time to check if you have any specific allergies.
There is free access to Internet at designated area where you will be able to connect with the world.