Retreats — Olaveda Wellness

Living Ayurveda Day Retreats.

Step Into Yourself

Full AyurSpa Services

In partnership with Thermae Retreat

Assemble your deeply healing retreat from a variety of services or select the perfect fit from one our of harmonizing packages

Abhyanga, a traditional Ayurvedic massage, is a deeply nourishing practice where warm herbal oils are applied to the entire body. The choice of oil is carefully tailored to each individual's unique skin and body type, aligning with their specific dosha (body constitution) to promote healing, detoxification, and relaxation. This customization enhances the therapeutic benefits of the massage, helping to balance the body's energies, improve circulation, and soothe the nervous system.
In addition to Abhyanga, we offer a variety of massage therapies to cater to different preferences and needs. Our Swedish massage is perfect for those seeking relaxation and tension relief, while Deep Tissue massage focuses on releasing chronic muscle tension. Thai massage combines stretching and pressure techniques to enhance flexibility and energy flow. Cupping therapy is offered to improve circulation and relieve muscle tension. For those looking for gentle touch that supports the body's natural healing processes, we provide Craniosacral therapy. Each of these therapies can be an integral part of your wellness journey, enhancing physical and emotional well-being.
Topical Basti is a specialized Ayurvedic therapy that targets specific areas of the body to alleviate pain, reduce stress, and balance the Vata dosha. This treatment involves creating a dam on the skin using dough, which is then filled with warm, medicated oil or ghee. The oil is retained within this enclosure over key areas such as the lower back, knees, or heart, depending on the individual's needs.
This localized application of warm oil deeply penetrates the tissues, soothing and lubricating the area to relieve pain and inflammation. It's particularly effective for musculoskeletal issues like arthritis or back pain. By calming the Vata dosha, which often contributes to nervousness, anxiety, and other stress-related symptoms, Topical Basti enhances mental tranquility and emotional stability.
Additionally, the warmth and properties of the oil improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote better organ health by nurturing the tissues directly. This can also enhance flexibility and strength in the treated area, supporting better movement and physical stability. Overall, Topical Basti is a profoundly therapeutic treatment that integrates physical and emotional healing, making it a valuable component of holistic health maintenance and recovery.
Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic healing practice involving the gentle and continuous pouring of warm herbal oil over the forehead, specifically targeting the third eye area. This soothing stream of oil is profoundly relaxing and works to harmonize the mind and body.
Physical Benefits: Shirodhara is excellent for reducing headaches, hypertension, and symptoms of insomnia by soothing the nervous system. The warm oil also helps to nourish the hair and scalp, preventing dryness and improving follicle health.
Mental Benefits: This therapy excels in calming the mind and reducing stress. It directly impacts the mental sheaths, reducing anxiety and promoting deep relaxation. Many find it effective in enhancing mental clarity and concentration.
Subtle Benefits: Shirodhara is often described as opening the third eye, enhancing spiritual awareness and intuition. The consistent flow of oil on the forehead is believed to activate the Ajna Chakra, which governs intuition and foresight. This activation helps in balancing inner vision with outer reality, promoting a profound inner peace and heightened sensory perception. This practice is not just therapeutic but also deeply spiritual, aiding in meditative practices and promoting a profound sense of connectedness to one's higher self.
Ayurveda embraces an integrative approach to health, recognizing that the balance of mind, body, and spirit is essential for overall wellness. At our retreats, we offer a comprehensive array of Ayurvedic services designed to enhance and support one another.
Treatments like abhyanga (oil massage), basti (warm oil soaking), and shirodhara (warm oil flow over the 3rd eye point) work synergistically to detoxify, nourish, and calm the body.
These therapies are complemented by spiritual and mental practices including meditation, yoga, and pranayama (breath control), which help to quiet the mind and deepen self-awareness. Sound healing sessions add another layer, using vibrational energy to restore balance and harmony within the body’s energy fields. This holistic package encourages deep healing and rejuvenation, ensuring that you experience a profound integration of mind, body, and spirit, aligning you with nature’s rhythms and your own inner essence.

Herbal Facials

In Ayurveda, understanding an individual's skin type is crucial for customizing skin care treatments, such as herbal facials or lepa. The three primary skin types—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—are based on the dominant doshas in a person’s constitution. Vata skin, typically dry and thin, benefits from nourishing, hydrating herbs that prevent dryness and promote moisture retention. Pitta skin, which is sensitive and prone to redness, responds well to cooling, soothing herbs that reduce inflammation and calm irritation. Kapha skin, often oily and prone to congestion, requires stimulating and astringent herbs to enhance circulation and tighten pores. Fo each apooinnment, you will meet with an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner, clients receive personalized herbal formulations that address their unique ans specific skin needs, promoting a balanced, radiant complexion through the profound wisdom of Ayurvedic care.
The herbal facial lepa is a traditional Ayurvedic skin care treatment tailored to an individual's dosha and specific skin needs, using a blend of finely powdered herbs to create a potent therapeutic paste. The base of many lepas is Triphala, renowned for its antioxidant properties and effectiveness in reducing redness and acne by promoting detoxification and enhancing skin clarity.
For different skin types, specific herbs are chosen for their unique benefits:
Sandalwood is cooling and soothing, making it ideal for Pitta skin that is prone to inflammation and sensitivity. It helps in calming irritation and reducing blemishes.
Red Sandalwood, also cooling, is excellent for both Pitta and Kapha skin types, helping in managing oiliness and enhancing complexion.
Manjistha is celebrated for its ability to improve circulation and detoxify the skin, making it suitable for all skin types, particularly for revitalizing dull, congested skin.
Saffron, a luxurious herb, brightens the complexion and imparts a radiant glow, beneficial for all doshas but especially nurturing for Vata skin due to its hydrating properties.
Neem is antibacterial and antifungal, perfect for Kapha and Pitta skin types prone to acne and other skin infections.
Shatavari is another herb well-suited for all skin types, particularly for dry, Vata skin, due to its moisturizing and regenerative properties.
Additional herbs that can be incorporated include Aloe Vera, which is hydrating and healing for Vata skin, and Turmeric, which has anti-inflammatory properties ideal for Pitta skin. These herbs are chosen not only for their specific actions on the skin but also for their ability to harmonize and balance the doshas, ultimately promoting not just superficial beauty but also overall health. By consulting with an Ayurvedic practitioner, clients can receive a lepa that is perfectly matched to their skin's needs, ensuring effective, natural, and holistic skin care.
Reduces Redness and Acne: Balances oil production and detoxifies the skin.
Combats Dryness and Over-Oiliness: Restores the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Dark Spot Reduction: Helps in lightening and evening out skin tone.
Improves Elasticity: Enhances skin firmness and prevents sagging.
Anti-Aging Effects: Minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Promotes Relaxation: Uses soothing herbs that contribute to stress reduction and overall well-being.

Relaxing Saunas

The Finnish sauna, with its dry heat environment, can be an effective method of svedhana, a therapeutic sweating treatment in Ayurveda. This process helps in opening up the pores and channels of the body, facilitating the elimination of toxins through the skin. By promoting sweating, the sauna enhances circulation, soothes and relaxes the muscles, and calms the mind. It aligns with Ayurvedic principles by balancing the doshas, particularly Kapha and Vata, and by rejuvenating the body and spirit. Regular sauna sessions can be particularly beneficial during the cold, damp months when Kapha tends to accumulate.
An infrared sauna, which uses infrared lamps to directly heat the body, serves as an excellent form of svedhana or therapeutic sweating in Ayurveda. This type of sauna penetrates deeper into the tissues compared to traditional saunas, enhancing detoxification at a cellular level. It supports the elimination of toxins through the skin, promotes better circulation, and deeply relaxes muscles. Infrared sauna therapy is particularly effective in balancing Vata dosha by providing deep, penetrating warmth, and can also help in managing excess Kapha by reducing moisture and stagnation in the body. This gentle form of heat is also helpful for Pitta predominant individuals. Use of an infrared sauna can aid in rejuvenation and overall well-being, making it a valuable addition to Ayurvedic practices.
Deep Detoxification: Both types of saunas promote intense sweating, helping to flush toxins from the body and cleanse the skin.
Enhanced Circulation: The heat improves blood flow, aiding in nutrient delivery and metabolic processes.
Muscle Relaxation: Heat therapy helps to relax muscles, alleviate stiffness, and reduce pain, beneficial after a workout or to ease chronic conditions.
Improved Respiratory Function: The warm environment has been shown to clear nasal passages and improve overall respiratory health.
Stress Reduction: Sauna sessions provide a peaceful retreat, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm.
Boosted Immune System: Regular exposure to the heat can increase white blood cell count, boosting the immune system and improving overall health.
Skin Health: Opens pores and increases sweat production, which helps to clear pores and reduce acne, giving the skin a healthier appearance.
These benefits make Swedhana (sweating therapy) an excellent addition to holistic health routines, offering both physical and mental rejuvenation.

Nourishing Food

Ayurveda views food as a crucial element of healing and wellness, particularly during a cleanse or retreat. The focus is on consuming sattvic foods, which are pure, wholesome, and bring clarity and balance to both body and mind. Meals are typically light, easy to digest, and tailored to balance the individual’s dominant doshas. During a cleanse, foods like kitchari (a nourishing mix of mung beans and rice), seasonal vegetables, and healing spices such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander are emphasized. These foods help to gently detoxify the body, support the agni (digestive fire), and promote the elimination of toxins. Ayurvedic principles also stress the importance of how and when food is eaten. Eating in a calm, mindful manner and at regular times further supports digestion and detoxification. This holistic approach ensures that the food not only nourishes the body but also aids in spiritual and emotional rejuvenation, integral to the success of any Ayurvedic cleanse or retreat.
In Ayurvedic tradition, the vitality of food—its prana, or life force—is essential for promoting health and wellness. Local ingredients are particularly valued in this system because they are fresher, and therefore retain more prana than food that has traveled long distances. Fresh, locally sourced foods are more likely to be in sync with the seasonal rhythms and the specific needs of the local environment, which according to Ayurvedic principles, helps to naturally balance the doshas (body energies) of the people living in that environment. Consuming local produce not only supports the body's natural healing processes but also strengthens the local economy and minimizes environmental impact. By eating local, one can engage more deeply with the cycle of nature, leading to greater harmony and health.
A custom menu designed to cater to your specific dietary and lifestyle needs can transform your eating habits into a personalized nourishing experience. By focusing on your preferences, health goals, and any dietary restrictions, this tailored approach ensures that every meal not only delights your palate but also supports your overall well-being, making eating both a pleasure and a healthful journey.

Packages

Oil Massage (Abhyanga) 60-90 minutes
Shirodhara 45 minutes
Herbal Facial 45 minutes
Full Sauna Access
Warm-oil soak (Basti) 60-75 minutes
Sound Bath Massage (Water bowls) 60 minutes
Shirodhara with Sound Healing 60 minutes
Full Sauna Access
Oil Massage (Abhyanga) 60-90 Minutes
Shirodhara 45 minutes
Tranqulity Singing Bowls 60 Minutes
Guided meditation & Breathwork
Full Sauna Access

At our retreat, we understand that each individual's path to wellness is unique. To accommodate varying needs and preferences, all of our Ayurvedic services are available as individual and standalone treatment options. Whether you choose to indulge in a soothing Abhyanga massage, experience the profound calm of Shirodhara, immerse yourself in the resonant waves of a sound bath, engage in transformative breath work, or find peace through guided meditation, each therapy is designed to offer significant benefits on its own. These offerings allow you to tailor your healing journey to specific wellness goals, whether you're seeking physical relief, mental clarity, emotional balance, or spiritual growth. Our flexible approach ensures that you can create a personalized treatment plan that aligns perfectly with your individual needs and schedule, making each visit uniquely beneficial.