The offerings at Vedanta Spiritual & Holistic Retreats in California encompass a range of enriching programs bridging the wisdom of the traditional Yogic Sciences to the modern lifestyle. We feature expert Breathwork/Pranayama Retreats designed to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression as well as a variety of modern conditions including chronic pain, fatigue and PTSD.
Studying scripture and concepts are very important on the Yogic path of Self-Study. At Vedanta we go one step further to curate deeply experiential programs so that you will leave with applicable knowledge and skill to take into your daily life. Each instructor we invite is a living example of their teaching and personal transformation, which shines through in our programs.
The retreat setting is the Perfect Pause to activate your journey of personal transformation. What you seek is inside of you and the setting of nature has been the chosen background for deep spiritual and personal work through the ages. Our Land and Programs provide the perfect landscape and teachings to assist you in your personal Blossoming.
The Universe curates the perfect blend of individuals on each retreat. The artistic weaving of this process brings together like-minded individuals on a similar path, who continue to create meaningful relationships far beyond the retreat. Many return to Vedanta each year for spiritual rejuvenation and growth, like coming home to themselves and a reminder of what is essential: Self, Community and Nature!
Nature is always a co-creator on our retreats. We are nestled in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Our property alone is a wild natural oasis of 240 acres of mountainous Oak Woodlands, with gorgeous landscaping and a Lavender Farm. We are a short drive to the Trail of 100 Giants: a secluded and majestic grove of Giant Sequoia Trees offering the perfect Forest Bathing excursion.
Our meals are most Beloved by guests. We are primarily Vegan yet cook with nourishing Ghee. We are sure to provide highly delicious and nutritious food sourced organically. On many retreats we observe Yogic or Silent Eating; a Mindful attention and honoring of each bite, to enhance the quality and digestibility turning our food into pure Prana, or Life-Force.
We are proud to offer an extremely integral line-up of Master Teachers both east and west. We have a partnership with, and enjoy visiting Masters in Yoga and Ayurveda, from one of the oldest Yoga Institutes in India, Kavailadhama. Another growing partnership is with our Board Members who have spearheaded such projects as our Lavender Farm – which is enriching our landscape, bringing beauty and diversity to the land. We look forward to forging more meaningful relationships toward the common goal of healing for self, nature and community
Rooted in diverse life paths, our founders and board members collectively boast centuries of experience across various domains. United by a shared commitment to seeking truth, they embody a yogic lifestyle. Vedanta, born from their collective vision, is orchestrated to be a sanctuary—a haven where tranquility reigns, self-healing unfolds, and profound experiences and insights are cultivated. This endeavor is not merely managed; it’s nurtured with a dedication to providing a space where individuals can discover inner peace, engage in transformative self-healing, and attain profound understanding. Vedanta’s essence lies in the fusion of wisdom drawn from the varied journeys of our leaders, converging into a purposeful initiative aimed at fostering a haven for spiritual growth and well-being.
Vedanta proudly presents a distinguished cadre of Master Teachers, individuals with a profound mastery of Sanskrit and an extensive immersion in the wisdom contained within ancient scriptures. In their educational journey, these adept instructors not only convey knowledge but also preserve the essence of the original understanding, ensuring an authentic transmission of timeless wisdom.
Collectively, these educators have left an indelible mark on the academic landscape, having shared their expertise with over a million students. Beyond the classroom, they have contributed significantly to the scholarly domain by authoring numerous books that delve into the depth of their subjects. Furthermore, their influence extends to the highest echelons of academia, where they have served as mentors to Master’s and PhD candidates, guiding the next generation of scholars.
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Dr. Omanand Guruji is often called as a born Yogi with various virtues. His teachings come from the heart not from the head. Often students felt his presence itself brings compassion, pure love, peace, serenity and bliss.
For over 46 years he has been sharing the wisdom of Yoga, Meditation, Tantra, Shakti, Chakras and The Knowledge for the wellness of mankind, world over.
His students came to the Ashram from 98 countries. He travelled to 66 countries. He has authored 65 books, and knows 6 languages.
He has received numerous Awards and is E-RYT, C-IAYT, M.Com. M.Phil. PhD in Yoga & Meditation. He is Chairman of Parmanand University Trust, a non profit organisation a Leading accredited Yoga Institute.
A 200 bed Yoga Therapy hospital and research center is upcoming in Ujjain, India under his patronage.
Dr. Jagdish Bhutada is a highly qualified and experienced Ayurvedic doctor from Pune India, now the Founder and Head of the residential “Ayurveda Panchkarma with Yoga” program in Kaivalyadhama. Dr. Jagdish finished his studies from Pune University, and later completed Ayurvedacharya (B.A.M.S.) and Panchakarma Specialist (D.P.C.), Ayurved Snatak (Gurukul method). Kaivalyadhama is one of the oldest and foremost scientific Yoga research institutes in the world hosting Yoga Teacher Trainings, Higher Education in the Yogic Sciences and having a Healing Center based in Yoga/Ayurveda, Dr. Jagdish is also running Ayurveda Therapy at their Mumbai location as well as in his own clinic in Pune & Mumbai. He has visited most of Europe and the Pan-Asia region as a sought-after figure on Ayurveda, giving workshops, lectures, boot camps, and short courses in universities, hospitals, and among private groups, hundreds of people have benefited from his unique way of not only treating Ayurveda as a prevention on disease base, but aiming more on the holistic approach to a well-balanced living. It is blended with Ayurvedic principles, ancient Indian philosophies, and his own understanding of life.
Lee Majewski, MA, DYEd, C-IAYT is an author and founding director of Yoga for Health Institute, a non-profit organization located in Toronto, Canada. She is also a visiting Senior Yoga Therapist at Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in India. Her own journey through cancer brought home the value of ancient Yogic methods and resulted in creating a unique healing, residential and online, retreat Beyond Cancer. As a result of program effectiveness and being the first of its kind, Beyond Cancer has received an influx of international recognition. Apart from India, the Beyond Cancer retreat is offered in Australia, North America and Europe.
Lee is recognized internationally as an expert yoga therapist in cancer care and psychosomatic chronic diseases. Apart from conducting the workshops and retreats personally and online, she travels internationally sharing her expertise and running Beyond Cancer retreats.
Lee is a passionate advocate for Yoga therapy in healthcare and in the community worldwide.
Her expertise in Yoga therapy is captured in “Yoga Therapy as a Whole Person Approach to Health”, and available on Amazon.
Lee lives and has a private yoga therapy practice in Toronto, Canada, serving clients internationally via online platforms . She can be contacted via email info@yogaforhealth.
Academic Qualifications
M. Com. (Advanced Accounting and Costing),
D.M.S. (Diploma in Management Studies)
M.A. (Philosophy)
Ph. D. (Philosophy)
D. N. (Diploma in Naturopathy)
D. Y. Ed. (Diploma in Yoga Education)
M.Y.S.C. (Madhyama Yoga Siksha Certificate)
Specialist Instructor in First-aid and Home Nursing.
Yoga Experience
Dr. Rao is a highly acclaimed and inspiring name (one of the 100 most inspiring Yoga Teachers in India! Ref: Hellomyyoga.com) in the field of Yoga having conducted all over the world till date more than 20000 sessions in Yoga (including specialist Workshops, presentation of Papers in National and International Conferences, Counseling & Therapy sessions, etc.) covering all its aspects, theoretical and practical.
Author
Dr. Rao has authored and co-edited several books besides publishing innumerable Articles in Newspapers / Journals and has recorded CDs for Yoga Nidra and Panchakosha Dharana, Yogic Counseling, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Samkhya Philosophy.
1.“The ‘Zen’ith of Football”; 2. “A Matter of Perspective (An Account of a Strange Outsider)” 3. “Meditation in Yoga” (in “Meditation: Oriental and Occidental”)
1. “Universal Brotherhood Through Yoga”; 2. “Essentials of Yoga”.
Positions Occupied
Professor & Ph. D. Guide in Yoga & Philosophy (8 students have received Ph.D. under Dr. Rao) in KKKSU & Mumbai University.
Technical Expert for Yoga Certification Board (YCB).
Ex-Secretary of Certification Committee and Technical Expert (Yoga) with QCI (for all matters pertaining to Yoga and Yoga Audit of Pr. CBs and Yoga Schools).
Member of Selection Panel with ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations).
Member of Board of Studies of Kaivalyadhama & Sri Sri University, Bubhaneshwar.
Visiting Faculty in K. J. Somaiya Institute, Mumbai University, Kaivalyadhama (Mumbai and Lonavla), CDM (College of Defense Management, Secunderabad), Yoga alliance (USA), Sri Sri University, Bubhaneshwar and ITM (for Western Philosophy).
Work Experience
Dr. Rao resigned as Finance Executive from Tata Motors Ltd. after a distinguished service spanning two decades.
Sports Excellence
Dr. Rao has carved a niche for himself in the field of Sports. With a rare combination of extreme physical fitness and exquisite skill, he has excelled as a professional soccer player for more than 17 years at the National level representing reputed teams like Tata Sports club, Air-India, Orkay Silk Mills Pvt. Ltd. and others. He has represented Maharashtra State Football Team in National Championships for six years and was part of the National Camp for Selection of Indian Team for Asian Games, 1982. Dr. Rao was honored by Tata Sports Club with the Special Award for Contribution to the Cause of Sports for the year 2003-04. He has coached Maharashtra State Teams, Mumbai University Teams, Maharashtra State Police Football Team, Mumbai Port Trust Football Team and others. As Chief Football Coach of PDP Sports Complex, Mumbai for 20 years (1991 – 2010), he has coached / trained more than 5000 players of all age groups!
Passion
Dr. Rao continues to be a regular high-altitude trekker in the Himalayas and Sahyadri mountains since past 25 years.
A Journey of Healing and Sharing
A Vision for a Better World
Deepak Swarup’s story is one of personal evolution. A realization of the profound impact of lifestyle choices on his own health became a catalyst for his transformative journey. This epiphany led him to transition from the business world to the realm of the Ancient Yogic Sciences. Motivated by a desire to share his deepening insights and contribute to positive change, he now runs a nonprofit organization. Vedanta Spiritual and Holistic Retreat Center is a beacon of hope for those seeking healthier and stress-free lives.
He shares his own experiences and empowers others to make informed choices to embark on a journey of holistic well-being. Deepak envisions a world where individuals are empowered to make conscious lifestyle choices, leading to improvement in health, wellness and relationships. His commitment to share is not only a personal journey but a shared mission to create a positive impact on the lives of those ready to embrace a healthier, more harmonious way of living.
Kristin aims to be “In Service of Life.” Devoted to the process of Transformation, she loves being a guide for anyone on the path of Enriching, Healing and Deepening into the gift that is our Human Life.
In an era geared toward a sedentary lifestyle, Kristin is committed to sharing Conscious Movement as a key to personal Health as well as collective Harmony. She co-guides all of her programs With and In the profound Heart of Mother Nature while sharing the experience of nature’s principals. Her offerings are infused with a Deep Experiential Knowledge born of her decades of devotion to the lifestyle and study of the Yogic Sciences, Vipassana Meditation, Natural Movement and modern Biomechanics.
Guiding retreats has become her passion. In holding intentional space she curates expert experiences that skillfully guide one out of the endless chatter of the Mind and into the Embodiment of a Relaxed state of Being. Harmonizing the Heart and the Mind brings us to an Inner Stillness and Wisdom which is Inherent in all of us. Join her in Remembering who you are and Co-Create a more Masterful Human Life.
She is currently living in the Sierra Nevada mountains enjoying her time as the Director of Programs and as a Host and Guide for VSHR. She is an E-RYT 200/RYT 500 registered instructor with Yoga Alliance, a certified Yoga Therapist with the IAYT, and a Restorative Exercise Specialist in Katy Bowman’s “Nutritious Movement” program.
Nayano is the head and senior most teacher of Ipsalu Tantra International School of Transformation. She has extensive experience in leading personal development groups and trainings globally since 2002. In addition to being a Medical Massage Therapist and Reiki Master since 1996, Nayano has trained extensively in Primal work, Bioenergetics, Somatic therapy, Tantra Kriya Yoga, Hatha Yoga and many Shamanic traditions.
Dr. Alice Kerby specializes in Somatic Experiencing Trauma Therapy and Resiliency Coaching. She holds a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is an expert in movement and working with the nervous system and body to unwind past patterns of trauma and chronic stress. Dr Alice helps her clients and students to gently touch into past trauma patterns that are stored in the body. This leads to restored resiliency in the nervous system, offering a greater ability to make choices from a place of one’s essential self. As a sober woman, she is passionate about bringing these tools to women in recovery to facilitate an engaged life that is hallmarked by ease. She is a teacher, clinician, freelance writer, lover of nature, and adventurer living in San Diego, California.
She is an avid outdoors woman and adventurer, and is the creator and founder of The Sober Girls Hiking and Adventure Club. Her work and presentations have been featured at The YogaVille Ashram, The Huffington Post, She Recovers, the annual Women for Sobriety Conference, The Amazon Corporation and The Holistic Immunity Summit.
Learn more on Kerby Method Consulting.
Our in-house teachers bring a wealth of experience cultivated over numerous years of dedicated personal practices, fostering a profound understanding of the subjects they passionately share and teach. Immersed in daily Sadhana, their continuous spiritual practices contribute not only to their personal growth but also enhance their insightful teachings. These teachers undergo comprehensive training under the guidance of Master Teachers and Gurus, ensuring that their knowledge is deeply rooted in tradition and wisdom. The combination of their personal commitment, daily spiritual practices, and rigorous training equips them to impart not just information but a holistic and authentic understanding of the subjects they specialize in.
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My life has definitely been transformed since learning the Breathwork retreat. I saw some changes immediately during my first retreat 18 months ago. I came to the retreat with a host of health issues: I had insomnia and was pretty reliant on sleep aids, including sleeping pills. I suffered from IBS, having had it since I was a teenager. And I had various bad habits (like biting my nails/fingers) that had also plagued me for most of my life. While at the retreat, every one of these issues markedly improved or disappeared. I couldn’t believe it; when I got home, my family couldn’t believe it. I was so encouraged that I have kept up the breathwork daily ever since. Some people take medicine every day to maintain their mental and physical health; I just do the breathwork. It centers me, helps to quiet my racing mind, and it quells much of the low-level anxiety that was causing all those health issues. I have gone back repeatedly to Vedanta for other retreats and every time I come away with new perspectives not just on my health but also on my relationships with others. Because of the things I have learned at Vedanta, I am calmer and more forgiving, and this has really improved my relationship with my spouse, my child, my colleagues, my neighbors, with everyone. Like everything in life, you have to keep up with the practice regularly to reap the benefits. But when the benefits are so clear, it’s a no-brainer, for me, to keep doing it.
What Giselle says about Art of Breathwork
Pranayama has enabled me to understand how much unnecessary tension I’ve been carrying in my body. It’s a defensive reaction, as if turning myself into a single piece of rock will protect me from everything in the world that might try to hurt me. I used to be white-knuckled on flights, for example, thinking I could affect the airplane’s motion. With the pranayama practices I’ve learned at Vedanta, I’m developing relaxation as a skill, recognizing when I tense muscles that aren’t involved in whatever I’m trying to do. Instead of trying to fight the motion of the world around me, I’m learning to let myself be carried by it.
What Brandon says about Art of Breathwork
I recently attended Dr. Rao’s workshop in Oct 2023: Excellence in Holistic Health for Corporate Leadership. Dr. Rao is extremely knowledgeable, caring and patient. His curriculum interweaves Indian philosophy -yoga sutras and the application to effective leadership in corporate life . I have taken many courses in leadership over 25 years but this is the first time the experience has been so enriching, practical, and life changing. The environment of Vedanta is also spectacular – the highest quality lodgings, yoga facilities and food: every detail is pure perfection.
Thank you Deepak and Jocelyn for your lovely hospitality and Dr. Rao for allowing me the opportunity to learn from you. I am looking forward to my next retreat at Vedanta.
What Vicki Camilleri says about Dr. Rao's workshops
My retreat experience at Vedanta, led by Kristin and Deepak, was nothing short of extraordinary. The care and effort they invested in making us feel welcome, nourished, and supported created an atmosphere that I will forever cherish. Here are a few highlights:
Kristin’s Intuitive Guidance (5/5)
Powerful and Soothing Practices (5/5)
Nourishing Food and Conversations (5/5)
Heart-Mind Focus (5/5)
Vedanta Spiritual & Holistic Retreat
501 (c) (3) Nonprofit Organization
