A package of spiritual delights!
Learn the life-changing art of Vedic meditation with Michael Standish
Experience an enlightening Ayurvedic Consultation & Detox advice with Anu Paavola
Enjoy daily uplifting yoga & breath work practices
Explore how to balance your diet and manage your stress levels the Vedic way
Eat Ayurvedic – Seasonal, vegan-friendly & home-cooked food
Benefit from blissful Ayurvedic massages and treatments
Loose yourself in sound healing experiences
Delight in sauna, sea-bathing, walks in nature and breathing the bracing sea air!
A unique weekend experience combining the beautiful complementary practices of Vedic Meditation and Ayurveda
Anu Paavola from Jivita Ayurveda and Vedic Mediation teacher Michael Standish offer a unique weekend experience exploring all things Vedic.
This exciting weekend is tailored for those who find themselves interested in meditation or who would like to deepen their existing Vedic Meditation practice and are also interested in how to Integrate this practice with a transformative Ayurvedic diet, routines and stress relieving treatments.
New Student Meditators will learn the art of Vedic Meditation, understand its history and philosophy and be welcomed into the tradition with a puja (ceremony) to honour the journey they are about to embark on. They will receive their own personal mantra (ancient, non-religious and transcendent non-meaning sound) and establish a routine of two 20 minute meditations per day.
Michael will be a support and guide through this process.
Initiated Vedic Meditators will be offered the opportunity to deepen their practice, be guided into the inner depths of Vedic Knowledge, meditate as a group and be instructed in the ‘rounding’ technique. They will also be able to ask Mike any questions about their own practice, find kindred Vedic souls and join in with all other retreat weekend activities and treatments.
This will be a beautiful opportunity to upgrade, evolve and dive deeply into the benefits of meditation.
The Vedic sciences, such as yoga and Ayurveda, teach us how to care of the body as well as the mind in order to touch the soul with awareness. With these teachings in mind have incorporated a powerful package of Ayurvedic and other yogic routines, remedies and classes. These include yoga asanas, breathwork, sauna and sound healing, Ayurvedic treatments, delicious vegan food, discussions on Ayurveda and Vedic philosophy and how they relate to our modern lives, as well as time in beautiful nature.
All to support and enhance this life-changing spiritual journey.
What is Vedic Meditation?
Vedic meditation is a form of meditation rooted in the ancient Vedic tradition of India, which dates back over 5,000 years. It involves a simple, natural, and effortless practice designed to calm the mind and promote a focused & productive life.
This is a non-religious practice which requires only two twenty minute meditations per day. These become as natural & important in your daily routine as having a shower or brushing your teeth.
Practitioners sit comfortably with their eyes closed and silently repeat a personal mantra (a non-meaning sound given to them by their qualified teacher at initiation). This mantra is chosen for its resonance with the individual’s nervous system and personal needs and is used as a device to easily guide the mind to a quieter state of awareness. It is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds – anyone can do it!
Unlike some other forms of meditation, Vedic meditation does not require concentration, control of the mind, or specific postures. The primary goal is to transcend ordinary thinking and access a deeper state of pure awareness, leading to increased mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall well-being.
Scientific studies have shown that regular practice of Vedic meditation can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve cognitive functions. It also fosters a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment by allowing practitioners to connect more deeply with their inner selves. This ancient technique continues to gain popularity worldwide as a practical tool for modern life
With this practice you are also eligible to join group Vedic Meditations for free anywhere in the world along with further opportunities to expand your Vedic knowledge.
About Michael Standish
Michael Standish is a Vedic Meditation teacher based in West London and North Devon. Trained to the highest level to teach the practice he teaches Vedic Meditation to all those who willingly enquire.
Michael studied Fine Art, Valuation and Auctioneering which eventually led him into the film industry. He has built a career as an international film Set Decorator which he still does to this day. By his early forties, however, the pressure of film work was causing stress that resulted in sleeplessness and fatigue. He was guided towards Vedic Meditation by a friend which proved to be the beginning of a profound change that has shaped his life from that moment. For the last 10 years he has expanded his knowledge and attended numerous Vedic retreats in India, the source of the Vedas.
He took the leap to becoming a teacher (Initiator) of the Vedic practice with master Thom Knoles in 2017.
About Anu Paavola
Trained in clinical Ayurveda, Anu has created and nurtured since 2009 a wellbeing brand that is built upon the foundations of providing care, education, guidance and counsel to a wide spectrum of clients.
As a practitioner, Anu has had a chance to create healing opportunities for people who have not been able to find solutions through orthodox medicine and who suffer from conditions such as subclinical or undiagnosable conditions and chronic lifestyle disorders. Anu also tends to the needs of her community for stress management through body treatments from the Ayurvedic tradition. She is passionately dedicated to guide and educate people on their dietary choices and health management and provide them opportunities to learn both for self-development and for professional careers.
Anu’s first passion is to raise awareness of this ancient system of medicine and translate it to the language and practice of our modern days.
She is also the founder of Jivita Academy of Ayurveda and the author of Ayurveda Detox: How To Cleanse, Balance and Revitalise Your Body where she focuses on daily and seasonal cleansing practices that are the key in keeping healthy.
About Francesca Sanlorenzo
Francesca Sanlorenzo is a senior bilingual Yoga Teacher (Ita/Eng), International Teacher Trainer and Yoga Therapist who offers holistic non-dogmatic practices, accessible to all, that help cultivate body-mind strength and flexibility whilst restoring balance and wellbeing.
Francesca’s practice is rooted in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition and over many years has been influenced by Jivamukti, Scaravelli, Integral Yoga, Yin, Yoga Nidra, and LV Chair Yoga Method as well as Yoga Philosophy and Yoga Therapy Studies. Francesca is the co-founder of True2U, an evolving platform of Yoga practices, CPDs, resources, retreats and a community of like minded people seeking to share and learn from each other.
What is Included?
This four day retreat is full of wonderful healing and health promoting activities. Relaxation is the main focus in order to promote self-regulation, the body’s own innate ability to heal itself.
From morning until evening and overnight, all we do is create different experiences and learning opportunities to bring the body in a state of safety and comfort.
– Four day training & Initiation in Vedic Meditation for new students
– Continued support for initiated meditators including deeper dives into Vedic knowledge & instruction in the ‘Rounding’ technique
– Daily yoga asana and pranayama practice
– Ayurvedic Consultation & Detox advice
– 30 min Ayurvedic massage of choice
-3 nights luxury accommodation in beautiful Wraxall Yard, Dorset
-All delicious home-cooked vegan friendly food
-Seaside sauna, sound healing entertainment & all group activities
-Variety of Ayurvedic body treatments on request (priced separately)
How much does it cost?
Private Room from £1200
Shared Room from £1100
4 days (3 nights Friday to Monday)
Bring a Friend get 10% Discount!
Payment plans available (see FAQ below)
Deposit £500
A Typical Day
Wake from 6am and intake of warm water and herbal medication
- 7 – 8am Group Yoga & Breath work
- 8am Vedic Meditation Practice (after initiation this is done alone)
- 8.30am Breakfast
- 9 – 12 noon – Treatments, Rest or Activity
- 1pm Communal Ayurvedic Lunch followed by rest
- 2 – 5pm – Treatments, Rest of Activity (Seaside Experience)
- 5 – 7pm Group Meditation with Michael Standish followed by Talk on Meditation & Vedic Knowledge
- 7 pm Warm Nutritious Drink (Golden Turmeric Milk)
- Sound Healing Evening entertainment
- Lights off 10pm
Wraxall Yard
Wraxall Yard is a state of the art, beautifully renovated eighteenth-century dairy farm in the picturesque village of Lower Wraxall, Dorset. Wraxall Yard was nominated for a RIBA architectural award in 2024.
Shortlisted by RIBA as the best new building in Britain, this beautiful old dairy farm has been designed to cater for holiday makers in search for easily accessible luxury experiences within natural surrounding of the English countryside.
With great attention to detail, its owners have designed a place which is not only functional in terms of accessibility but where the nature blends in with the interiors seen in custom made furniture and natural building materials and soft furnishing.
Promoting sustainable, organic and local living, Wraxall Yard is a perfect match with Jivita Ayurveda’s ethos. We are proud to be collaborating with them, creating unique and authentic Ayurvedic healing experiences, unparalleled to anywhere in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deposit
To hold your reservation you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £500 unless you want to make a full payment immediately.
Full payment
Full payment needs to be paid 15 days before the start of the retreat.
Payment plans:
You can arrange a payment plan according to the time that is left between the first instalment and the retreat.
Our prices include VAT.
After booking in, you will receive a welcome email and request to fill in the consultations forms and a meeting set-up in zoom for the initial consultation.
You should also read the terms and conditions on our website.
This program is designed to be a state-of-the-art experience of Vedic meditation and Ayurveda.
We design the program to match the exact needs of the client.
Experience deep relaxation, rejuvenation, and holistic healing in a serene environment. Our expert instructors and therapists ensure a transformative journey, promoting well-being, balance, and inner peace. Rediscover your true self with us.
Added therapeutic services can be arranged at an extra fee.
The location, Wraxall Yard is custom made for wheelchair users with opportunities to enjoy many aspects of the English countryside classified as an area of outstanding beauty.
The arrival is on Friday afternoon. We can arrange a pick up from the nearest train station such as Crewkerne or Maiden Newton.
Generally speaking, be prepared to eat simple yet delicious foods. For this reason, it would be good to avoid heavy evening meals towards the start of the arrival.
You will need comfortable season appropriate clothing for day and night, toiletries to cater for your most basic needs.
Do not bring work with you and prepare to minimised online presence as much as possible. Bring a daily journal to write down your healing experiences.
The journey of healing is a full day activity. Come with an open and motivated mind, with an attitude of acceptance of what is and the potentials of when healing start manifesting. The program can bring up feelings and emotions that are lodged in the tissues and their release might be necessary for the recovery of the bodymind.
Wraxall Yard is located in a picturesque village of Lower Wraxall right in the heart of West Dorset.
Wraxall Yard, Lower Wraxall, Dorchester, DT2 0HL
The closest towns with train stations are Maiden Newton, Crewkerne, Dorchester and Weymouth.
We can arrange to pick up from the station or you can drive there by car, with normal traffic about 3h drive from London. The best route from London is on M3 – M27 – A31 to Dorchester – A37 – A356 past Maiden Newton – Turn right to Cattistock.
Alternatively, you can take the western road A303 to Ilchester and further, come off the road A356 towards Crewkerne.
After four days of meditation and ayurvedic living you can expect to be in a different place from when you came in. Having gone through a journey of learning through experience you should be able to carry the teachings with you to the life beyond the retreat with confidence.
Our aim is to prepare your bodymind to be more resilient and adaptable in the varying life situations, not just be well in the retreat but to thrive in everyday life situations.
Get the Ayurveda Detox book
Your practitioner Anu is the author of Ayurveda Detox: How To Cleanse, Balance and Revitalise Your Body, available from Amazon, Waterstones and Blackwell’s.
Her book will inspire you to try pace your daily and seasonal rhythms in a way that additional detox programs become almost redundant. Ayurvedic living is detoxifying per se and if you haven’t experienced it yet, learn from this book and create a new detox program for yourself that not only cleanses you but teaches you habits of a lifetime.
Find out more about Anu’s Ayurveda Detox book.