Ayurveda Immersion: A 5 Day Retreat For Body, Mind and Spirit
Maitreya House, Herefordshire
June 25 – 29, 2026
Balance. Heal. Transform. Thrive.
Step into the heart of Ayurveda with this deeply nourishing 5-day retreat set amidst the natural beauty of the Herefordshire countryside. This immersive experience invites you to live the Ayurveda way—gently aligning body, mind, and spirit with nature’s rhythms.
Each day will unfold with the grounding support of Ayurveda Yoga, meditation, and healing mantras, designed to awaken your inner intelligence and deepen your connection to self. Daily talks on Ayurveda will offer practical wisdom and insight, while guided inner enquiry practices create space for reflection, clarity, and renewal.
You’ll be nourished with delicious seasonal Ayurveda meals, lovingly prepared to balance your unique constitution, and have time to reconnect with nature through peaceful countryside walks.
On the final day, you’ll be supported in crafting your own personalised 6-step Ayurveda Living Programme—a holistic plan including tailored yoga postures, breath practices, mantra, meditation, lifestyle habits, and dietary guidance, designed to integrate seamlessly into your daily life.
This retreat also nurtures a sense of community and connection, offering ongoing support to continue your Ayurveda journey beyond the retreat.
Whether you’re continuing your journey with us through Module 3 of the Ayurveda Living Immersion Programme, or simply seeking a standalone experience of balanced, wholesome living in harmony with spirit, this retreat offers a sanctuary for restoration, insight, and transformation.
This retreat is where ancient wisdom becomes lived experience — awakening your intuition, grounding your knowledge, and anchoring your path as a practitioner of conscious, Ayurvedic living.
“My deepest wish for these retreats is that all participants leave inspired, and take home life-enhancing knowledge to support their health and happiness long after the retreat is finished”.
Sara
“I thoroughly enjoyed my week with you and very much appreciated your energy and enthusiasm, and indeed, your passion for Yoga and Ayurveda philosophy…I loved the way you taught us in your calm manner to meditate”
Jane Southworth, Oxford
Retreat Itinerary
A gentle rhythm of the day — subject to refinement up to two weeks prior to the retreat
6:30am Wake up tea and Ayurveda Self-Practices
7:30am – Pranayama & Meditation Clsass
Begin the day in stillness, connecting to and resting in your own essence.
8:00am – Nourishing Breakfast
Wholesome seasonal food to gently awaken the body.
10:00 .Ayurveda Yoga Class
11:30am – Herbal Tea Ritual
Pause for a calming infusion, shared in silence or soft reflection.
12:00pm – Yoga Class Debrief and Ayurveda Talk
1:00pm – Seasonal Ayurveda Lunch (Two Courses)
Delicious plant-based fare, lovingly prepared in harmony with the Summer season.
2:30pm – Ayurveda Talk
3.30pm – Afternoon Tea & Light Snack
A gentle return to the day with something warm and comforting.
4.00pm Practical Application of Learning for Ayurveda Living Course Participants/Free Time
5:15pm – Ayurveda Restorative Yoga
A soft, embodied practice to unwind and settle into the evening.
6:30pm – Light Supper
Simple, seasonal food to end the day with care and balance.
8:00pm – Meditation & Sacred Chant, Outdoors weather permitting.
Enter the quiet of the evening with meditation and sacred sound.
9:15pm – Goodnight Drink
A warm herbal cup to soothe you toward sleep.
10:00pm – Recommended Bedtime
Allow your body and mind to rest deeply in the stillness of Herefordshire night.
Retreat Itinerary
-
The Ayurveda Way of Seeing –
Here we pepare to dive into the spiritual and energetic map of Ayurveda. Discover how the workings of the universe within you mirrors the workings of the cosmos — how we work with both in Ayurveda, and how this understanding deepens your journey of self-healing.Ayurveda & the Mind
Uncover the subtle layers of the mind through the Ayurvedic lens. Learn how thoughts, emotions, and mental patterns relate to the doshas — and how to create lasting balance through 6 Points: aligned lifestyle, diet, movement, breath, sound and conscious awareness.The Path of Inner Enquiry
Step into the heart of Ayurvedic wisdom — knowing thyself. You’ll be gently guided through practices of self-reflection and awareness that support deep personal transformation and inner clarity.Sacred Breath (Pranayama)
Discover the vital role of breath in Ayurvedic healing. Learn specific breathwork practices that balance the doshas (humours) and the gunas (psychological attributes), calm the nervous system, and reconnect you with your inner stillness.Sacred Sound (Mantra)
Experience the healing power of sound through mantra. Explore how sound vibrations affect your energy field and emotional state, with mantras prescribed for balancing each dosha.Meditation in Ayurveda
Meditation is medicine for the mind. You’ll be introduced to guided meditations tailored to each Ayurvedic type, helping you cultivate peace, focus, and emotional harmony from within.Ayurveda & Yoga: Where Two Sciences Meet
Explore the beautiful overlap between Ayurveda and Yoga — and how these sister sciences, when practiced together, create a complete system of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.Tongue Diagnosis Basics
Learn how to read the subtle signs of imbalance through the tongue — a powerful diagnostic tool in Ayurvedic assessment that reflects the health of your internal systems.Reviews of Prakriti Assessment
Deepen your skills in identifying constitutional types through observation and guided questioning — giving you the confidence to recognize individual needs with clarity and compassion. For Ayurveda Living Course participants.Design a Personalized 6-Step Ayurveda Living Program
Pull everything together into a practical, step-by-step plan. You’ll learn how to design a holistic, personalized Ayurveda lifestyle program — for yourself, your clients, or your community — that supports long-term balance and thriving..
What’s Included:
-
-
Accommodation: 4 nights in shared, cozy accommodations with a shared bathroom. (Single accommodation available upon request for added privacy and comfort.)
-
Meals: Enjoy nourishing, seasonal vegan meals, including breakfast, lunch, and supper, with vegetarian options available. Morning and afternoon tea breaks are provided for moments of rest and reflection.
-
Yoga & Meditation: Two Ayurveda yoga sessions daily, each class carefully crafted to work with balance for an individual dosha.
-
Sacred Chant: Daily sacred chant and healing mantras, to balance the body, heart and mind.
-
Ayurveda Talks: Two Ayurveda talks daily
-
Practicums: Time to explore putting your learning into practice in interactive class sessions.
-
Nature Walks: Daily walks in the surrounding natural beauty, allowing time for quiet reflection and connection with the land.
- Creating Your Own Ayurveda Living Programme By the end of this retreat, you will be able to create your own 6 step Ayurveda programme of Yoga posture, breath, mantra, meditation, lifestyle and nutrition for balance and vitality.
-
What’s Not Included:.
- Travel to and from venue.
- Sheets, duvet cover, pillow cases, and towel. Duvets and pillows are provided.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for anyone longing to reconnect—with themselves, with nature, and with a way of living that feels grounded, meaningful, and whole.
Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or have been exploring its wisdom for some time, this immersion offers a welcoming space to deepen your understanding and experience of this ancient healing system. You may be:
-
Seeking balance in your health, lifestyle, or emotional wellbeing
-
Feeling burnt out or overwhelmed, and yearning for deep rest and restoration
-
Curious about Ayurveda, and wanting to explore it through lived, embodied experience
-
Interested in holistic living, conscious movement, seasonal eating, and inner enquiry
-
A yoga or wellness practitioner looking to enrich your personal or professional path with Ayurvedic principles
-
Craving time in nature and a more spiritual, heart-connected way of being
-
Wanting to connect with like-hearted others and be part of a supportive community
-
Or simply needing space to breathe, reflect, and realign with what truly matters to you
This retreat meets you where you are. No prior experience with Ayurveda, yoga, or meditation is necessary—just an open heart and a willingness to explore.
Whether you’re joining as part of the Ayurveda Living Immersion Programme (Module 3), or simply called to take part in this unique 5-day experience, you’ll be held in a supportive and nurturing environment that honours your individuality and encourages your growth.
Accommodation and Food:
- Accommodation is basic on this retreat, and this is reflected in the retreat price.
- Rooms are mostly twin shared, with a few single rooms.
- There are rooms in the main house, and cabins in the gardens with heating.
- There is also the option to camp on this retraet.
- Bathrooms are shared.
- There is a bathroom in the main house and three bedrooms.
- There is a shower block in the grounds near the huts.
- Meals are prepared for us by a vegan chef.
- They are always vegan and seasonal, with the optional use of ghee (clarified butter) for non-vegans.
Your Retreat Host:
I’m Sara Palmer, also known as Shama, and I am the founder of Heart of Ayurveda. The English countryside holds a special place in my heart, and I have only recently discovered the peaceful beauty of Herefordshire. I am beyond excited to host this retreat in such a serene part of the world, especially during the Winter season.
As an Ayurveda practitioner, I’ve come to truly appreciate the unique gifts and messages each season offers. Winter, in particular, has become a season I cherish deeply: its soft light, its invitation to pause, reflect, and rest, and its call for stillness and introspection are elements I find deeply nourishing. It’s a season that encourages us to slow down and restore our energy, and I can’t wait to share this experience with you.
I am also a Senior Yoga Teacher, and my approach to yoga is one of gentle strength and profound healing. I believe the true power of yoga is found in the subtleties – in the way a posture, breath, or meditation can shift your energy and bring peace to your mind and body. My practice and teachings are always rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda, which allows us to align more deeply with the rhythms of nature and the seasons.
On this retreat, we will explore yoga, breath, and meditation techniques that rejuvenate the body, lighten the mind, and nurture the heart and soul. Each practice will be thoughtfully informed by Ayurvedic wisdom, particularly focusing on the Spring season and how we can best support our well-being so that we can make the most of the longer, warmer days and the light and blossoming that nature invites us to enjoy in the Spring.
I truly believe that Yoga, the healing power of Mother Nature, and the joyful presence of dogs (yes, they always seem to know how to make us smile!) bring out the best in us. Two of these will be plentiful during our retreat, (my old rescue dog has to stay home I think this time!) helping us to prepare our whole being to enjoy attune to the spirit of the Spring season, and it’s themes of light, blossoming,and revival.
I’ve been teaching yoga for over 20 years, starting my journey at a residential yoga ashram in the Bahamas. From the very beginning, I was captivated by the transformative power of yoga, watching it change the lives of hundreds of people who came to the ashram seeking peace, healing, and connection.
My passion is to share this same transformative experience with you on retreat, in the gentlest and most respectful way. In my experience, less effort often leads to more release, renewal, and deep healing.
It would be my absolute honour to guide you through this full immersion into Ayurveda Living in the beautiful, tranquil Herefordshire countryside. I look forward to welcoming you to this nurturing space, where we can rest, reflect, learn and reconnect with ourselves and the natural world around us – all in the spirit of Ayurveda.
What my guests are saying:
RETREAT INVESTMENT:
June 25-29, 2026
Early Bird:
£995.00 paid in full by Jan 31st.
OR
Three Instalments of £399.00
One due on booking to secure your place.
The second by April 25th.
The final payment is due one month before the start of the retreat, by May 25th.
SINGLE ROOMS:
A limited number of single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.
£1295.00/room
PLEASE ENQUIRE ABOUT SINGLE ROOM AVAILABILITY BEFORE BOOKING
Please book a retreat call to ask all your questions and find out more about the retreat.
Arrival and Departure Times
Please aim to arrive by 3pm on Thursday June 25th when we will welcome you with a seasonal tea and snack, before you settle into your room and prepare for the first practice session of the retreat.
Departure will be after lunch, approximately 2.30pm on Monday 29th June.
The Venue
Our venue is Maitreya House, an established, dedicated Buddhist retreat centre. We are honoured to be given this venue for our weekend retreat. Simple as it is, it is a venue only for sincere sadhana (spiritual practice). The trustees of the house only offer it to those who will respect its purpose and values.
I am sure we can all be respectfully mindful of this during our stay. Maitreya House is located in the village of Lower Maescoed, which is about 10 miles from the towns of Abergavenny (Wales) and Hereford (England).
The centre’s address is:
Maitreya House, Lower Maescoed, Hereford HR2 0HP
Google maps locator: https://goo.gl/maps/3zTNbrXrDC6W4fea7
The location is very quiet and remote, in one of the most mature and unspoilt landscapes in Britain that is perfect for country walks.
The nearby villages of Ewyas Harold and Longtown have small shops.
The nearest railway stations are Hereford and Abvergavenny.
