Aligned Equestrians: A Non-riding Retreat for Horse Enthusiasts

Date
April 10 - 13, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Heart-focused meditation & yoga horsemanship connection session
  • Exploring HeartMath techniques with biofeedback monitoring
  • Mindfulness and coherence practices for enhanced horse-rider connection

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

This is a non-riding retreat and does not include interactions with equine
This program is for equine enthusiasts, horse lovers, riders & non-riders, Equestrians of all disciplines, equine-facilitated therapists and anyone who wants to enrich their relationship and communication with horses and the natural world.

We invite you to embark on a unique journey that blends the art of mindful and heart-based horsemanship with enriching yogic and HeartMath® experiences. This is not just a program; it's an opportunity to deepen your connection with yourself, the majestic equines, and the vibrant world around you.

Imagine spending your days in a serene and sacred ashram setting, where you can relax, renew, and rediscover your inner self. As you engage in this transformative experience, you'll explore the many facets of horsemanship that foster mindfulness and heart-centered connections.

Don't miss this chance to cultivate a profound relationship with nature and the equine spirit while enhancing your personal growth. Join us for an unforgettable experience that promises to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul!
This retreat will include:

Gentle yoga classes for riders
Breathwork and meditations for equestrians
Workshops on the topics of mindfulness, energy, and the parallels of yoga & horsemanship
Practical yogic teachings and philosophy to incorporate into horsemanship and daily life
Exercises to connect energetically with your horse, regulate emotions, and improve health and well-being
Exploring HeartMath® techniques with real-time, biofeedback monitoring with HeartMath’s Inner Balance Technology
Understanding what meant by is “Coherence”, how does it relate to Heart-Rate Variability (HRV), and how the whole of Yoga can enhance and elevate coherence
Tapping into the power of our heart’s intelligence to access intuition, improve communication, improve self-awareness, and manifest positive outcomes

Schedule





Thursday



3:00–6:00 pm
Registration


5:00–6:30 pm
Hatha Yoga Mixed Level: Recommend to retreat participants


6:30–7:15 pm
Supper


7:30–8:00 pm
Yogaville Welcoming & Orientation


8:00–9:30 pm
Opening Circle – heart-focused meditation & the yoga horsemanship connection


10:00 pm
Lights out in dorms and quiet in all accommodations (please minimize talking between 10:00 PM & 8:00 AM)



Friday



5:00–6:15 am
Group Meditation


6:30–7:50 am
Yoga for Riders gentle, morning yoga class with Cathy


8:00–9:00 am
Breakfast


9:30–11:30 am
Morning Session: Parallels of Yoga & Horsemanship and Breathwork for Equestrians - Pranayama & HeartMath


12:00–12:30 pm
Group Meditation


12:45–1:30 pm
Lunch


2:00–5:00 pm
Afternoon Session: The Physiology of Coherence and Energy Matters


5:00–6:30 pm
Hatha Yoga Mixed Level


6:00–6:30 pm
Group Meditation


6:30–7:30 pm
Supper


7:30–9:00 pm
Simple Kirtan & Meditation: An evening session with Cathy & Kansas



Saturday



5:00–6:15 am
Group Meditation


6:20–7:50 am
Hatha Yoga Level 1 or Level 2


8:00–9:00 am
Breakfast


9:30–11:30 am
Morning Session: Mindfulness in Horsemanship and Handcrafting Your Horsemanship


12:00–12:30 pm
Group Meditation


12:45–1:30 pm
Lunch


1:45–3:15 pm
Ashram tour


3:30–5:30 pm
Afternoon Session: Coherent Communication - The energy of non-verbal communication + journaling


5:30–6:15 pm
Supper


7:30–9:30 pm
Satsang: Kirtan, DVD and Speaker



Sunday



6:00–7:00 am
Group Meditation


7:15–8:15 am
Yoga for Riders gentle, morning yoga class with Cathy


7:30–9:00 am
Breakfast


9:30–11:30 am
Session: Installing an Operating System of Compassion - Creating a Personal Practice and Closing Circle


12:00–12:30 pm
Group Meditation


12:45–1:30 pm
Lunch







Testimonials
“The Yoga of Horsemanship with Cathy Woods was truly an enjoyable and enlightening experience. Bridging the concepts of yoga with the wisdom and spirituality of the horse enables self-discovery and awareness. You don’t have to be an expert at either discipline to be able to take away new concepts and core benefits from this program. Both my husband and I truly enjoyed and learned from this experience.” - Mary Connaughty-Sullivan
“I was part of a HeartMathⓇ course that Kansas organized. It was a game changer. Her ability to explain the concepts and information and guide you through learning the practice of heart field mediations was deeply fulfilling. It gave me a finer appreciation of the heart's creative capacity, and practical eye opening tools for making positive change in my life, the lives of the people and animals around me, and very much with my horse. These are life changing tools that anyone can incorporate into your every day, for all scenarios. Thank you Kansas for your dedication and passion to making lasting progressive change in the hearts of many, one heart at a time.” - Jayne Sportelli

Getting Here

Location icon Yogaville

Directions

Yogaville offers transportation from the airport, train and bus stations in Charlottesville, VA. If you are driving Google Maps has reliable turn-by-turn directions.

Accommodation

Availability of complimentary accommodations is determined by the order of booking.
Dormitory

The most popular accommodations we have are Dormitory Accommodations – shared room and shared bath. We have two dormitories, Vivekananda Vihar and Ramalinga Nilayam, which are centrally heated and air-conditioned and convenient to meals and programs.
Lotus Guest House (Private Room)

Each room in our six unit guest house is equipped with a small refrigerator, queen size bed and full bath. Each room in our nine unit guest house is equipped with a queen sized bed and full bath, and no refrigerator.

Tenting
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are twelve campsites. Campers have use of the bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities nearby Vivekananda Vihar dormitory. Camping is available from March 15th to December 1st.

Shared Dormitory: Bottom Bunk

Accommodation
Bottom bunk in a shared dorm room. Dorm rooms contain 4-8 beds. Shared bathroom Dorm rooms are not coed Availability is Gender Specific

Private Dormitory

Accommodation
This is a private room with a shared bathroom in our Ramalinga Nilayam Dorm - Females Only

LGH: Full Bed

Accommodation
Private room and Private Bath. A single Full bed and a private bath designed for those seeking peace in solitude.    

LGH: 2 Twin beds

Accommodation
Private Room and Private Bath. Two twin Beds and a private bath that is ideal for friends looking to experience the bliss of Yogaville.  

LGH: Queen Bed

Accommodation
Private Room and Private Bath. A queen bed or a queen with two day beds and a private bath that is perfect for couples and families searching for a peaceful time together. Please put in the personal comments if you need a room that includes trundles.  

Tent-Site

Accommodation
Open from Mar. 16–Nov. 30. Closed from Dec. 1–Mar. 15 Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are Eighteen campsites. Campers have use of the nearby bathhouse as well as laundry facilities at the LGH Building 3.   Also, all tent sites have tent platforms for a more comfortable and dry tenting experience.  Fires and Stoves are not Permitted. Price is per person per night. Please bring your own tent, tie downs, tarp (weather protection). bedding and towels.  

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Yogaville is home to the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). The LOTUS is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world faiths and spiritual paths. The vision, design and inspiration of Sri Swami Satchidananda, LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. It demonstrates, “Truth is One, Paths are Many.” In the peaceful countryside of Virginia, the doors of LOTUS are open to welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Meals

Menu Types

Organic, vegetarian/vegan food Labeled ingredients Lacto-vegetarian Gluten-free and vegan options Salad bar Large herbal tea selection Coffee is available for purchase at Mandala Cafe

What's Included

  • Accomodations
  • Meals
  • Meditation Sessions
  • Yoga Classes

What's Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Airfare

Customer Reviews

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