Tiruvannamalai, India
February 01 - 08, 2026
You're invited to join Louise Kay in Tiruvannamalai, India for a 7 day Embodied Awareness meditation retreat.
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This retreat is an opportunity to spend 7 days deepening into the stillness of the present moment.
Embodied Awareness is a practice which supports the direct recognition of one's True nature, as well as the integration of unprocessed energies and emotions held in the body. This practice allows one to live fully in presence and to become a vessel through which higher consciousness can flow freely, bringing joy to every aspect of life. Alongside like-minded community you will be supported to surrender fully into the now, dis-identify from the conceptual self and open up to your True nature, pure consciousness, to discover a deep, lasting peace and love. Whatever emotions or sensations arise in the body will be met with unconditional love under Louise's gentle guidance, allowing for deep healing and transformation to take place on the level of form. Meetings will consist of guided meditations followed by Q&A sessions and silent meditations. All participants will receive downloadable video recordings of the guided meditations and group sessions. |
"When we recognise our true nature, a process of deep inner healing begins to take place. We are able to see unconscious patterns playing out, and limiting beliefs and destructive behaviours naturally begin to fall away as we align with a higher consciousness." - Louise Kay
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The retreat will be held at Shivalaya in Tiruvannamalai. Renowned for its palpable, intense energies, this area draws hundreds of spiritual seekers and pilgrims every year. The ashram is surrounded by nature, with views of mount Arunachala on one side and beautiful gardens on the other, the perfect place to immerse yourself in divine presence. |
The retreat center is located close to Arunachala mountain, one of the five main holy places in southern India. Over the centuries many sages and saints have been drawn to Arunachala, which is said to be the physical incarnation of Lord Shiva. The beloved Indian sage Sri Ramana Maharshi's ashram is located in the nearby town. |
Schedule
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Sunday February 1st 4:00pm - 5:30pm - check-in 5:30pm - 6:15pm - welcome and guided meditation 6:30pm - 7:30pm - dinner Monday February 2nd - Saturday February 7th 6:30am - 7:30am - Havan (traditional fire ceremony: optional) 7:30am - 9:00am - Yoga (optional / pay at the door) 9:00am - 10:00am - breakfast 11:00am - 12:30pm - group meeting with Louise 1:00pm - 2:00pm - lunch 3:00pm - 4:30pm - group meeting with Louise 6:30pm - 7:30pm - dinner 8:00pm - 8:30pm - guided / silent meditation Sunday February 8th 9:00am - 10:00am - breakfast 10:30am - 11:45am - group meeting with Louise 12:00pm - check-out. The schedule is subject to change without notice. |
In order to support the deepening and integration of the teachings, full silence will likely be observed for most of this retreat.
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Accommodation and Food
Please be aware that the standards in India are not the same as in the West and the rooms are very basic. Hot water and electricity may not be available all the time. Also, your room may differ from how it's shown in the photos below.
Shared rooms will be allocated by gender and we will allocate rooms to participants (you are not responsible for finding someone to share your room with).
If you wish to share a room with a friend, please send an email to [email protected] with the name of your friend so that we can do our best to accommodate your request.
Vegetarian meals (including eggs and dairy) will be served.
Specific individual dietary needs cannot be accommodated, so if you have a food allergy or intolerance, you are welcome to supplement your meals by bringing some of your own food items. There is a refrigerator available for guest use.
Specific individual dietary needs cannot be accommodated, so if you have a food allergy or intolerance, you are welcome to supplement your meals by bringing some of your own food items. There is a refrigerator available for guest use.
Single room with double bed and private bathroom (10 min walk from retreat center)
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These rooms are brand new. They are located in a traditional ashram and guests staying here are requested not to drink or smoke within or around the premises.
Single room with single bed and private bathroom (10 min walk from retreat center)
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These rooms are brand new. They are located in a traditional ashram and guests staying here are requested not to drink or smoke within or around the premises.
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This rustic single room is very basic and exposed to nature and the outdoor elements. The garden hut shares the common bathroom next to the meditation hall, 30 meters away. There is no AC in the hut.
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Triple room with private bathroom (males only)
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Five bed room with private bathroom (males only)
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Commuter including breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Commuter including lunch and dinner
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Booking
PRICES INCLUDE: accommodation, 3 meals per day (unless stated otherwise), all sessions outlined on the schedule and downloadable recordings of the sessions.
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: flights, airport transfers, optional yoga classes.
Ticket Information and Cancellations
Early-bird tickets are available until November 15, 2025.
Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Balance payment for early-bird tickets is due before November 15, 2025.
60% of balance is refundable if cancelation is made before December 1, 2025.
For late-bird tickets, 60% of the amount paid after subtracting a $400 non-refundable portion is refundable if cancelled before December 1.
There are no refunds for cancelations made after December 1, 2025.
Tickets are non-transferable.
Ticket sales close on January 31, 2026.
Early-bird tickets are available until November 15, 2025.
Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Balance payment for early-bird tickets is due before November 15, 2025.
60% of balance is refundable if cancelation is made before December 1, 2025.
For late-bird tickets, 60% of the amount paid after subtracting a $400 non-refundable portion is refundable if cancelled before December 1.
There are no refunds for cancelations made after December 1, 2025.
Tickets are non-transferable.
Ticket sales close on January 31, 2026.
In the unlikely event that the retreat is canceled, your payment will be transferred to an online retreat ticket and you will receive a full refund of the remaining balance.
Scholarships are available. If you feel strongly that you would like to attend this retreat but are truly not able to meet the financial requirements, you can apply for a reduced price scholarship here.
Location
Arriving by Plane
We recommend searching for flights using Kiwi or Skyscanner. You can fly to Chennai or Bangalore. The closest airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA). From here you can take a taxi, train or bus. For more information you can check the Chennai airport website here.
To arrange a shuttle transfer from Shivalaya retreat center please contact Mr. Suresh on WhatsApp: +91 94432 21272. Prices can be found here.
Additional Information
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Visas: Please check entry requirements to India for your nationality before booking your ticket. It is very likely that you will need a visa to enter India. Commuter Information: The retreat center have suggested Vinayaga Residency, Athena Hotel and Anukraha Home Stays for commuters. There are plenty more hotels and guest houses in Tiruvannamalai. It is easy and cheap to travel to and from the retreat center by rickshaw.
What to Bring:
Comfortable, loose clothing Slippers or indoor shoes Mosquito repellent Any medicines that you take Alarm clock Flashlight Silence:
Please be aware that the majority of this retreat will be in full silence, including time between group sessions. Additionally, you will be strongly advised to avoid use of cell phones and laptops during the retreat. |
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Join via Livestream
If you can't make it to the retreat in-person you can join us via livestream from the comfort of your own home.
The retreat has been designed to enable participants from all over the world to join. You will receive downloadable recordings of each guided meditation and meeting session with Louise so if you are unable to attend any sessions live due to the time difference, you are invited to watch the recording of the missed session at a time convenient for you during the week. Also, the schedule includes additional group silent meditations, which are exclusively for livestream participants.
The retreat has been designed to enable participants from all over the world to join. You will receive downloadable recordings of each guided meditation and meeting session with Louise so if you are unable to attend any sessions live due to the time difference, you are invited to watch the recording of the missed session at a time convenient for you during the week. Also, the schedule includes additional group silent meditations, which are exclusively for livestream participants.