SHAKTI RETREAT
5 DAYS - WITH DR. RAJ BALKARAN
20-24 AUGUST 2025 - CASA CORVO, SOUTHERN SWITZERLAND
Ancient teachings for modern yogis.
Connect with and learn from Dr. Raj Balkaran in person, deepening your connection to Shakti and Indian Wisdom, and raising your spiritual consciousness. Stay in a unique space, tucked away in a serene natural setting.
A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WITH
VEDIC RITUAL, STORYTELLING, MANTRA, DIRECT TRANSMISSION & WISDOM TEACHINGS -
FOR THE CURIOUS YOGI
For a maximum of 15 attendees
WHAT IS SHAKTI?
What is Shakti? What role does it play in your life? What developments would you like to see? What role does Shakti play in the world? What role does Shakti play in these times?
STORYTELLING
Dr. Raj's powerful storytelling will nourish you and provide deep understanding of Shakti and Indian Mythology, on many layers. Drawing on primary source Sanskrit texts Dr. Raj Balkaran expertly decodes key Hindu myths.
ACADEMIC LECTURES
Along with ritual, meditations and mantra, we will recieve academic lectures on themes realted to the importance of scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Sutra of Patanjali.
COMMUNITY TIME & DISCUSSIONS
Everyday we will allow time for open discussions with Dr Raj on the Key Themes of the Retreat and on the Wisdom Teachings offered.
Immerse Yourself in a Life-Changing Experience with Dr Raj Balkaran.
Enjoy a peaceful, beautiful, grounding, natural setting by woods & mountains.
Nourish all layers of your being: physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual.
Connect with a delightful group of supportive, spiritual people.
Recenter. Recharge. Reconnect. Rejuvenate.
MEET DR. RAJ BALKARAN
Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Hindu mythology and author of The Stories Behind the Poses (2022), The Goddess and the King in Indian Myth (2018) and The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth (2020). He holds advanced degrees in Hinduism from the University of Toronto and University of Calgary.
Alongside his academic training, Dr. Balkaran apprenticed with an Indian master for twelve years as part of a living oral tradition dedicated to the preservation and application of Hindu philosophy. He therefore brings hundreds of hours of traditional transmissions of yoga philosophy to the table, which he dovetails with academic rigour and captivating storytelling.
A seasoned educator, Dr. Balkaran also teaches online courses on his School of Indian Wisdom Platform and at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Beyond teaching and research, he enjoys a thriving life consulting practice and hosts the New Books in Hindu Studies Podcast.
SHAKTI RETREAT
ABOUT OUR VENUE CASA CORVO
Casa Corvo is a stunning eighteenth-century building that used to be a small convent. Later it became the village mayors house and since 2017, after a careful and respectful renovation, is a boutique retreat and yoga center.
There are two adjacent buildings offering occupancy for 13 guests and an extra building just minutes away offering space for 4-5 more guests. The venue includes a spacious dining room and communal spaces, a professional kitchen, yoga shala, finnish sauna, dreamlike courtyard and lush gardens.
SCHEDULE FRAME
You will get a full day programm starting
with space for your own self-practice and a breakfast in the morning.
After that, from 9am Dr Raj Balkaran will guide us in Ritual, Chanting, Meditation, Mantric Intitiation, Consecrating Goddess Altar & Nyāsas. The mornings will end with an open discussion about Shakti: What is Shakti? What role does it play in our lives? How to use the ancient scriptures concepts and key ideas in our modern lives?
After a wonderful vegetarin Lunch at 12 you will have some free time to enjoy nature or the in-house sauna, then we will meet with Dr. Raj again at 3pm for a Academic Lectures on the Devi Mahatmya - followed by Storytelling. Around 4pm there will be Group Discussions on Key Themes and Wisdom Teachings.
Vegetarian Indian-inspired Dinner is at 6.30pm and after that more Storytelling with Dr Raj .
On the last morning, we will have a rich brunch and our programm will end at 11am for individual travels.
INVESTMENT
Prices, what is included and Conditions
EARLY BIRD UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2024
Double room (twin beds) 1050 CHF
Single room 1310 CHF
REGULAR PRICE
Double room (twin beds) 1150 CHF
Single room 1440 CHF
Accommodation will be in our 5 apartment units: Casa Corvo, Casa Volpe and Casa Lucertola. single rooms are limited and will be assigned first come first served.
The cost of this 5 days (4 nights) RETREAT with full program guided by Dr. Raj Balkaran includes:
- 4 Night accommodation in chosen category
- All meals (4 light breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dnners) by highly praised Mike the Chef. Meals are vegetarian (lacto-ovo), Vegan options are available.
- All beverages (water, coffee and tea), snacks.
- Full retreat program
- Personal one-to one meet ups with Dr. Raj available
Extras (not included)
- Travels
- Travel insurance
Cancellation policies
With the filling of the Registration form/ purchase of the retreat package you are officially registered to the retreat. We highly recommend you add a travel insurance. If for any reason you will need to cancel your participation following policies apply:
- Cancellation up to 4 months before retreat start: refund minus 200 CHF fee
- Cancellation up to 2 months before retreat start: refund minus 300 CHF fee
- Cancellation up to 1 month before retreat start: refund minus 600 CHF fee
- Cancellation less than 30 days before retreat start: no refunds.
CLICK ON FOLLOWING ROOM OPTIONS TO REGISTER TO THE RETREAT
THE STORIES BEHIND THE POSES
In 2022 Dr. Raj Balkaran published The Stories Behind the Poses.
Join Dr Raj Balkaran in this beautifully written and majestically illustrated introduction to Indian mythology and explore the unforgettable tales behind 50 key yoga poses, such as: Vīrabhadrāsana II, the original warrior pose, Tāḍāsana, mountain pose, Bhujaṅgāsana, cobra pose, Garuḍāsana, eagle pose, Padmāsana, lotus pose, Vīrāsana, hero pose, Śavāsana, corpse pose.
Meet iconic Gods and Goddesses, from Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, to Śiva, Lord of Yogis, and Kali, goddess of mind, body, soul and death.
Enhance your practice by reading one story before or at the end of class, and incorporating the poses and their teaching into your life, as well as your yoga practice, and transform the way you view and practice this timeless art.
The book is available for order on all main online bookstores.