Harumi's Staff Pick

The Mysteries of Sanskrit Week Retreat: Learn the Alphabet, Mantras and Chants

Name: The Mysteries of Sanskrit Week Retreat
Start: 2026-11-09
End: 2026-11-13
Location: Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp
Rating: 4.33

4.333 reviews

Nov 9 - 13, 2026

Retreat Highlights

Learn the basics of the Sanskrit alphabet
An introduction to mantras and chants from the yogic canon
Sanskrit as the key to the yogic scriptures and to the ideas of yoga, Ayurveda and more
A way to add richness and authenticity to a yogic lifestyle
Open to all

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

The Sanskrit language is considered to be one of the most ancient and sacred languages of the world. It opens the door to the yogic scriptures and to the subtle world of spirituality. Sanskrit is an eternal, vibrant ancient language and learning it is a fulfilling experience that adds richness and authenticity to a yogic lifestyle and is the key to a conceptual understanding of India’s tradition of sacred knowledge, unlocking the ideas and insights of Yoga, Ayurveda and more. During this retreat, you will learn the basics of the Sanskrit alphabet and an introduction to mantras and chants from the yogic canon. Open to all!

REGULAR SCHEDULE check in - 3pm/check out - 11am

6am - Satsang (meditation, mantras chanting-kirtan & lecture)

8am - Yoga asana class (Sivananda sequence)

10am - vegetarian meal

11am - karma yoga (selfless service)

12pm - conference (no conference on Sunday, Monday and Friday)

1pm to 2:30pm - sauna for women (only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)

2:30 to 4pm - sauna for men (only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)

4pm - Yoga asana class

6pm - vegetarian meal

7:30pm - Satsang

Les mystères du sanskrit

du 9 au 13 novembre - retraite en semaine

Le sanskrit est considéré comme l’une des langues les plus anciennes et les plus sacrées du monde. Elle ouvre la porte aux écritures yogiques et au monde subtil de la spiritualité. Le sanskrit est une langue vivante et son apprentissage est une expérience enrichissante qui ajoute profondeur et authenticité à un style de vie yogique et est la clé d’une compréhension conceptuelle de la tradition indienne de la connaissance sacrée, libérant les idées du yoga, de l’ayurveda et plus encore. Au cours de cette retraite, vous apprendrez les bases de l’alphabet sanskrit et une introduction aux mantras et aux chants du canon yogique. Ouvert à tous!

HORAIRE RÉGULIER arrivée 15h/départ 11h

6h - Satsang (méditation, chants de mantra-kirtan & lecture)

8h - classe de yoga asana (séquence Sivananda)

10h - repas végétarien

11h - karma yoga (service volontaire)

12h - conférence (veuillez noter qu'il n'y a pas de conférence le dimanche, lundi et vendredi)

13h à 14h30 - sauna pour les femmes (seulement le mardi, jeudi et samedi)

14h30 à 16h - sauna pour les hommes (seulement le mardi, jeudi et samedi)

16h - classe de yoga asana

18h - repas végétarien

19h30 - Satsang

Schedule

3:00 pm Check-in (arrival day)
6:00 am Satsang (meditation, mantra chanting, kirtan, lecture)
8:00 am Yoga asana class (Sivananda sequence)
10:00 am Vegetarian meal
11:00 am Karma yoga (selfless service)
12:00 pm Sanskrit lesson (not on Sunday, Monday or Friday)
1:00 pm Sauna for women (Tuesday and Thursday)
2:30 pm Sauna for men (Tuesday and Thursday)
4:00 pm Yoga asana class
6:00 pm Vegetarian meal
7:30 pm Satsang
11:00 am Check-out (departure day)

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp

Directions

By car: take Route 15 North from Montreal to Exit 76 (Val-David, Val-Morin), then Route 117 North for 200 metres and turn right toward Val-Morin. Follow the blue road signs for "Camp Yoga Sivananda".
From Montreal-Trudeau airport (YUL), the drive takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
By bus: take the 747 bus from the airport to downtown Montreal, then Autobus Galland from the Montreal bus terminal Berri-UQAM to Val-Morin.
Reception can pick you up at the Val-Morin bus station: call 819-322-3226 ext 314 or write to yogacampreception@sivananda.org.

Accommodation

Single rooms in the Lodge have a bed, a chair, shelving and a private bathroom, or a shared bathroom at a lower price. Double rooms have an armoire and a private bathroom with a shower. We also have shared rooms with 3 to 4 beds and, from June to September, a dormitory with curtained cubicles. In summer you can pitch your own tent on the wooded grounds. Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am.

Lodge Single Plus

Les chambres de cette catégorie sont dotées d'une salle de bain privée, d'un lit simple, d'un bureau et d'une chaise ainsi que d'une grande armoire. Elles sont spacieuses, douillettes et confortables. Elles sont situées dans le Lodge, où se trouvent également la réception, la bibliothèque, la salle à dîner et la boutique ainsi que les 15 autres chambres que nous offrons dans ce bâtiment. Le bâtiment principal a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. The rooms in this category have a private bathroom, a single bed, a desk and a chair as well as a large wardrobe. They are spacious, cozy and comfortable. These rooms are located in the main LODGE, where you can find the reception, the library, the dining room and the shop as well as the other 15 rooms we offer in this building. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

PanchaKarma Single Plus

Les chambres de cette catégorie sont dotées d’une salle de bain privée, d’un lit simple, d’un bureau et d’une chaise ainsi que d’une grande armoire. Elles sont spacieuses, douillettes et confortables. Ces chambres sont situées à la clinique ayurvédique Panchakarma qui est un peu plus loin, près de la forêt et l’espace est partagé avec seulement 4 autres chambres qui offre plus de tranquillité. The rooms in this category have a private bathroom, a single bed, a desk and a chair as well as a large wardrobe. They are spacious, cozy and comfortable. These rooms are located the Ayurvedic Panchakarma clinic which is a little further back, near the forest and the space is shared with only 4 other rooms which offers more tranquility.

Chambre privée (salle de bain partagée) / Single room (shared bathroom)

Les 4 chambres sont confortables et accueillantes avec une armoire. La salle de bain est partagée sur l'étage avec un maximum de 4 personnes. La bâtiment Ayurvédique située un peu plus loin, près de la forêt et l’espace est partagé avec seulement 4 autres chambres qui offre plus de tranquillité. The 4 rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire. The bathroom and shower are shared with a maximum of 4 people. These rooms are located the Ayurvedic clinic whisch is a little further back, near the forest and the space is shared with only 4 other rooms which offers more tranquility.

Chambre privée / Single

Les chambres de cette catégories sont comfortables et accueillantes avec une armoire et une salle de bain privée. Elles comprennent 2 lits simples mais peuvent être réservées en occupation simple. Elles se situent dans le Lodge principal. Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna, la bilbiothèque, la boutique et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment principal a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. The rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire, private bathroom and shower. They have 2 beds but can be booked in single occupancy. There are in the Main Lodge. The Lodge is in the same building as the reception, the sauna, the library, the boutique and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

Chambre partagée (2 lits) / Double room (2 beds)

Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. Les chambres doubles de la Lodge se partagent à deux et sont douillettes. Chacune d’entre elle comprend 2 lits simples, une armoire et une salle de bain privée. The Lodge is in the same building as the Reception, the sauna and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits. The double rooms in the Lodge are each shared by two people. Each room has two single beds, armoire and a private bathroom.

Chambre partagée (4 lits) / Quad (4 beds)

Dans une chambre partagée au lodge, il y a deux lits à deux étages, pour un total de 4 personnes du même sexe. Les chambres sont comfortables et accueillantes avec une armoire et une salle de bain privée. Réservations disponibles seulement pour un groupe de 2 personnes au minimum participant au même programme. Dans ce pavillon se trouvent aussi la réception, le sauna, la bibliothèque, la boutique et la salle à manger. Le bâtiment a été conçu dans le respect de l’écologie pour un confort optimal : murs de paille crépis, chauffage radiant au plancher, mezzanine ensoleillée, terrasses extérieures avec vue sur les jardins. The shared rooms in the lodge consist of two sets of bunk beds, and can be filled with up to four people (same sex accommodation). The rooms are cosy and warm, with an armoire, private bathroom and shower. Booking available only for a minimum of 2 people group coming for the same program. The Lodge is in the same building as the reception, the sauna, the library, the boutique and the dining room. It is a comfortable ecological building made of straw bales. The underfloor heating system diffuses heat evenly throughout. The building has a comfortable seating area and roof terraces overlooking the gardens where guests can enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits.

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

The ashram sits on wooded land in the Laurentian Mountains, about an hour from Montreal, with forest trails down to the lake, a wood-fired sauna and an outdoor pool in summer. When the weather allows, yoga classes are held outdoors on the platform by the pond, otherwise in the Mataji Hall or the Annapoorna Building. The Lodge, an ecological straw-bale building with underfloor heating, holds the reception, the library, the sauna and the dining room.

Daily schedule
06:00am Satsang (Meditation, Kirtan Chanting, Lecture, or Silent Walk)
08:00am Asanas and Pranayama (All-Lervels Yoga Class)
10:00am Vegetarian Brunch
11:00am Karma Yoga (Selfless Service)
04:00pm Asanas and Pranayama (All-Levels Yoga Class)
06:00pm Vegetarian Dinner
07:30pm Satsang (Meditation, Kirtan chanting and Lecture)

Programs are subject to change or cancellation.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

We serve two vegetarian meals a day, brunch at 10 am and dinner at 6 pm, balanced and nourishing with plenty of local vegetables. Following yogic tradition, our kitchen does not use meat, fish, eggs, garlic or onions. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs are not allowed at the ashram.

What's Included

4 nights of accommodation in the room type you choose
Two vegetarian meals a day (brunch and dinner)
Two yoga classes and two satsangs a day
Sanskrit alphabet lessons and an introduction to mantras and chants
Use of the grounds, the trails and the wood-fired sauna

What's Not Included

Transport to the ashram
Shuttle from the Val-Morin bus station (arrange it with reception)
Massages and Ayurveda treatments booked at reception
Laundry (coin-operated)
Boutique purchases
A yoga mat (please bring your own)

Customer Reviews

4.33 out of 5.0 average rating

Harsh • Jan 05, 2025

5.0

Verified

Great

It was great experience at Yoga camp.I would revisit again.

Anonymous • Feb 17, 2023

3.0

Verified

Love the yoga, the food and the people I meet.... But please :

The Sivananda Val-Morin Center is well located, surrounded by plenty of land to roam and meditate. The yoga sessions are good, but repetitive and that is the Sivananda way. The Satsang is good and the speeches are interesting / informative. The food is GENEROUS and usually quite tasty ! But venerating of ''Vishnu''devananda should be removed from the beginning and ending of each yoga session. it is disturbing to me. His pictures should be removed from everywhere. There should be a sign outdoors to warn that Vishnu devananda's pictures still are hanging on the walls that is a big NO NO for anybody looking for inner peace, which is the sole purpose of yoga. Feeling safe and I think more respect should be shown towards the victims. Nobody wants to venerate ''JAI'' a predator. So very sad because I love the place but it's hard to dissociate the negative from the positive.

Doug • Sep 19, 2021

5.0

Verified

The Gift

At first I found the routine quite difficult, but like other retreats, I was settled in by day two. Fairly repetitive which is no coincidence. I was lucky enough to have 5 days there and even though the huge hours put in daily and the five thirty wake up, I had far more energy than usual. Call it prana? The food was excellent and the small group of friends I made had our daily ritual of a noon sauna. The staff were focused and open, some more than others but on the whole, a good team. The last Friday morning yoga class was devine in the fall air and first rays of sunshine. I intend to make this a yearly event. Nameste. 🙏

The Mysteries of Sanskrit Week Retreat: Learn the Alphabet, Mantras and Chants

Retreat Highlights

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Schedule

Getting Here

Directions