A residential retreat exploring creative practices for body-mind connection and enhanced well-being. No special artistic skills required, just a willingness to connect to our innate human capacity to create.
Overview
Program type: Residential retreat
Topic: Body-mind harmony for well-being
Dates: 9-16 June, 2025
Language: English
Facilitator: Kanika Singh
Key features of the course:
This program offers a unique exploration of creative practices to nurture the body-mind connection, with the intention to expand our capacities to navigate life with greater ease.
The body and mind are not separate - they are inextricably linked. Our thoughts can affect the feelings and sensations in the body and vice-versa. The wisdom of body-mind connection has been alive in indigenous cultures since ancient times, and has also been recognized through modern scientific approaches such as Polyvagal theory (Dr. Stephen W. Porges) and Somatic Experiencing (Dr. Peter Levine).
When stress takes over the mind, connecting to the body can be a powerful way to regulate our emotions. Nurturing a connection with our bodies can be a portal to emotional resilience and inner harmony.
This program will help in cultivating the following qualities though body-mind connection:
Mindfulness: Giving rest to a cluttered or overthinking mind, by anchoring awareness into the present moment
Relaxation: Releasing stress and building a sense of calm and joy
Contemplation: A reflective space for gaining insights about one’s inner world
Program approach: Expressive arts
While there are different pathways for body-mind connection, this program will focus on expressive arts practices.
All humans have an innate potential for creativity, and this creative expression can help us get in touch with deeper levels of consciousness. Expression through art can help in connecting with emotions which are held deep within, and may be difficult to express only through words. Creativity in any form helps us connect to the body, engage the senses, and discover fresh perspectives of looking at any situation in a playful and gentle manner. It can help a person understand their inner world, and improve their mental health and well-being.
The program will offer a safe space for our creative explorations, where we can express ourselves freely, without any fear of judgement.
No prior experience with arts is required. We’ll only explore the creative process as a way to understand ourselves better. Aesthetics of the art are not important. All we need is curiosity, and the willingness to play!
Overview of the main themes and activities we’ll explore:
We will explore different creative practices involving visual arts, movement and storytelling, as tools to engage our senses and connect with our bodies.
Some of the broad themes include:
Meditative art for mindful breathing
Coping with stress through playing with colours, voice, rhythms, and gentle movements
Deepening self-care by tuning into body sensations
Honouring the body as a wonder of nature, and connecting to our unique natural pace and cycles
What kind of experience to expect:
Two of the keys to happiness are: (1) to have realistic expectations to begin with; and (2) not to be too attached to those expectations, but rather to stay flexible as life unfolds. With that in mind, here are some of the things participants can expect (while remembering to keep a flexible attitude):
Full-time programme focus: For this immersive residential programme, the point is to be completely focused on the experience of being here. While there will be some time for rest, reading, journaling, and personal reflection, there won’t be time for pursuing other activities unrelated to the programme. While you’re here, the expectation is that your full attention will be focused on the programme experience.
Emotional work: In a contemplative programme such as this where we’re exploring some of life’s big questions, it is normal for a range of emotions to come up, and for many this is a necessary part of the process. We encourage all participants to prepare yourselves to welcome whatever you and others might experience and hold a supportive space to move through it without judgment and learn all we can from it.
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, outdoor activities, discussions, and silent meditation time.
Natural simplicity: Rustic accommodations in natural earthen buildings or comfortable tents in a beautiful forest setting.
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cleaning, washing dishes, etc.
Healthy food: Natural and mostly organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan). No junk food or packaged snacks, etc.
Digital detox: In support of the immersive experience, there will be no use of mobile phones or internet from the start of Day 2 until the end, so that it is easier to be present with one another — and with our own experience. It may take some adjustment at first but soon you’ll be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature and fulfilling activities with good people rather than the screen.
Who is this programme for?
This programme is open to anyone wishing to:
build a healthy and compassionate relationship with their body
exploring gentle and effective practices to improve their well-being
develop a deeper understanding of themselves and nurture self-compassion, creativity and self- expression
Dates & times
Start and end dates and times
The programme will begin at 10.30am on Day 1. All newly arriving participants will be required to arrive at 10am on Day 1 itself (we will provide detailed timing, instructions, and travel tips after confirming your registration). On the arrival day, you’ll be settling in and getting oriented, with introductions and an overview of life at Dharmalaya Institute in general as well as an overview of the programme.
The programme will conclude on Sunday morning. Participants who are leaving after the programme should plan to depart by 4:30pm.
Daily schedule: What will the flow of the days be like?
Although the day-to-day schedule will vary a bit, the schedule for a typical day during this programme would more or less as follows:
6:00 Wake
6:30 Morning practice
8:00 BREAKFAST
9:30 Morning session
12:30 LUNCH
2:30 Afternoon session
5:00 Personal time
6:00 DINNER
7:00 Evening session: meditation and often a short talk or discussion
8:30 Quiet time for journaling, reading and personal meditation
9:30 Lights out
About your facilitator: Kanika Singh
Kanika is an artist and a certified Expressive Arts Therapy practitioner.
She facilitates creative spaces, where people can freely express themselves, connect to their authentic selves, and improve their mental well-being. She has facilitated expressive arts workshops for adults and children, on various themes including connection to nature, body-mind harmony, creative thinking, processing difficult emotions, women’s leadership, etc.
Cost
Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for everyone to donate according to their means. Total fees for the retreat (including shared accommodation, three meals daily, material costs and tea) are as follows:
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
Rs 9,700
For transparency: This subsidized rate is below our break-even rate, which means it is not enough to cover the Institute’s costs in providing the programme, though that shortfall might be covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ to the right.
Standard rate
(For most participants)
Rs 14,400
For transparency: This standard rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s total average monthly costs in providing this service-learning opportunity.
Supporter rate
(For those who can afford to help subsidize lower-income participants)
Rs 19,000
For transparency: This supporter rate is above the break-even rate, and 100% of that surplus will be used to support lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, so if you have exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford even the lowest subsidized rate, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs and we’ll be happy to discuss options for work-study scholarships (subject to limited availability).
A very limited number of private rooms are available at extra cost. Please contact us for details.
In addition to the base fee, there will be an opportunity to offer dana (an optional, voluntary offering of support), as per tradition, to Dharmalaya Institute.
Application & payment
Participation in this programme is by application and subject to acceptance.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Click the button below to complete and submit the application form here on our website and then wait for our reply. We may email you to ask follow-up questions if necessary.
STEP 2 — ACCEPTANCE: If you are accepted for the retreat, then at that time we will send you an acceptance letter by email, which will include more detailed information about the programme and how to prepare.
STEP 3 — DEPOSIT: You will then have one week from the date of acceptance to make your nonrefundable payment to hold your place in the programme. Once we have received your payment, your registration for the programme will be complete.
We look forward to connecting with you!