Retreats

In our time together we will consider our relationship to food and how to use food as medicine; learn Ayurvedic body-centered practices; do experiential breathwork and meditations that support psychological health and enhance spiritual practice; and cultivate daily and seasonal routines to help balance our lives. 

We hope you will leave the weekend with a new perspective of your life and health, practices to experiment with and integrate into your life, and a sense of rest and connection with nature and community.

Vishnu Dass, AD, LMT
Vishnu Dass is an Ayurvedic Doctor, clinical herbalist, Vedic astrologer, massage therapist, author, educator, and mentor with over two and a half decades of full-time clinical experience. He studied and trained under the guidance of Dr. Vasant Lad and serves on the faculty of the Ayurvedic Institute. Since 1992, he has been a devoted student of Baba Hari Dass and maintains a deep interest in yoga and meditation. He was also initiated into Kriya Yoga by Roy Eugene Davis and has taught introductory Ayurveda classes at CSA for week-long Kriya Yoga Initiation Retreats. 

He is the founder and director of Blue Lotus Ayurveda in Asheville, North Carolina since 2001. Drawing from his extensive clinical experience and deep knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga, Vishnu Dass brings a practical yet inspired approach to his teaching. He is the author of Ayurvedic Herbology East & West and Vishnu’s Kitchen, A Practical Guide to Ayurvedic cooking.

Cricket Greer AP, RN, MA, LMBT

Cricket has over 25 years of experience in the healing arts, integrating studies of Ayurveda, psychology, nursing, massage, yoga, herbalism, and movement. She is an Ayurvedic Practitioner at Blue Lotus Ayurveda in Asheville, NC and serves on faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute as an instructor and clinical supervisor. She was initiated into Kriya Yoga by Roy Eugene Davis 13 yrs. ago. 

Cricket has a master’s degree in psychology and ran a private practice as a psychotherapist, with a focus on somatic and Buddhist psychology. She is also a registered nurse with experience in cardiac, psychiatric, hospice, and primary care nursing and has had a massage therapy practice for over 20 years. She completed yoga teacher training in 2000 and has shared the practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation in various capacities for the past 25yrs. including working with children and teaching yogic practices in the acute psychiatric setting and in her clinical practice. 

Program Schedule

Thursday, June 18th

Check-in before 4:00 pm, Settle in and Rest

6:30-8:30 pm Orientation/Intro (2hr) Introduction to Ayurveda: overview of the flow of the Weekend and Foundations of Ayurveda: Bhutas (5 elements); gunas (qualities); 3 doshas (organizing principles); agni (digestive fire); ama (metabolic waste).

Friday, June 19th

7:00-7:45 am – Pranayama/Meditation Sadhana

8:00-8:30 am – Breakfast

10:00-12:00 pm – session (2hr) – Foundations of Ayurveda – Understanding Prakruti (Constitution) & Vikruti – (Imbalance)

12:00-12:30 pm – Lunch

2:00-4:00 pm – Session (2hr) (Break 1.5 hrs in) – Managing Dosha: Living a Life of Balance. Daily and seasonal rhythms and routines. Part 1

Dinner Break

6:30-8:30 pm- Session (2hr) – Healing in Community & Chanting/Mantra

Saturday, June 20th

7:00-7:45 am – Pranayama/Meditation Sadhana

8:00-8:30 am – Breakfast

10:00-12:00 pm session (2hr) Managing Dosha: Living a Life of Balance. Part 2

12:00-12:30 pm – Lunch

2:00-4:00 pm – Session (2hr) Bridging the Sister Sciences: The Interweaving of Ayurveda and Kriya Yoga.

Dinner Break

6:30-8:30 pm – Session (2hr) – Healing in Community & Chanting/Mantra.

Sunday, June 21st

7:00-7:45 am – Pranayama/Meditation Sadhana

8:00-8:30 am – Breakfast

9:30-11:30 am – Closing Session (2hr) Exploration of the Clinical Practice and Traditional Therapies of Ayurvedic Medicine & Navigating Healing Through the Seasons of our Lives