July 11-14, 2024:
Ashtanga Yoga Retreat
with Anya Contrera
at Evergreen Farm
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JUNE 28, 2024
Join Miami-based yoga teacher Anya Contrera for this peaceful retreat in the heart of historic New Hampshire. This long-weekend program is for those who wish to deepen their yoga practice, relax in nature, and cultivate community. All levels welcome!
Retreat highlights include:
Daily yoga & meditation practices
Posture clinics
Yoga lectures and discussions featuring Special Guest Speaker: Swami Chidananda
Journaling and gratitude practices
Nature walks and immersion
Satsang gatherings
Sound healing, live music, & poetry in the barn
A visit to the charming local waterfront town, Downtown Portsmouth!
Opportunities to book on-site massages
Enjoy a summer retreat in beautiful New England!
July 11-14, 2024
Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to yoga, this retreat is a great opportunity to deepen your practice and nourish your soul. Over the course of the weekend, we will explore our understanding of both the Mysore Method and the half-primary series of Ashtanga yoga, with posture clinics each day. Anya will lead daily yoga lectures and discussions, with plenty of opportunities for questions and journaling. With delicious farm-to-table meals, and hundreds of acres of lush nature to explore, this retreat is not to be missed! We can’t wait for you to join us.
Featuring Guest Speaker:
Swami Chidananda
The Fundamentals of Yoga Philosophy
Led by Swami Chidananda, we delve deep into the spiritual teachings that underlie modern day yoga practices. You will gain a deeper understanding of the rich history and philosophy of yoga, including the principles of karma, dharma, and the ultimate goal of enlightenment. Through lectures and guided meditations, you will learn how to integrate these principles into your daily life and develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
OM Meditation and Satsang
Through the collective vibrations of OM, participants come together to send positive energy and healing vibes to Mother Earth. The vibrational waves, created by the OM Chanting circle and facilitated by Swami Chidananda, spread out in a 2-mile radius, establishing a harmonious, peaceful environment and fostering unity between humans and nature. The positive energy from the meditation continues to resonate in participants' bodies, allowing them to carry and share this inner light and love with others.
Retreat Schedule
The schedule below is an example of how the days will flow and what to expect (subject to change slightly). The retreat schedule is curated based on the needs of our participants. Each day includes opportunities for rest and time with nature in between activities!
Thursday
4:00 pm: Welcome! Arrive at the farm and settle in
5:30 pm: Farm-to-table dinner
6:30 pm: Sound healing & opening circle
Friday
Morning practice begins at 8:30 am. The breakfast fueling station is available throughout the morning, beginning at 7:30 am.
8:30-11:00 am: Guided yoga practice, posture clinic (standing poses), Q&A time with Anya Contrera
11:00-11:30 am: Break
11:30-1 pm: The Fundamentals of Yoga Philosophy with Swami Chidananda
1:00-3:00 pm: Lunch, followed by afternoon break (relax, take a swim, enjoy a nature walk, book a massage)
3:00-5:15 pm: Yoga practice, posture clinic (seated poses) with Anya Contrera
6:30-7:30 pm: Cocktail hour in Downtown Portsmouth, hosted by Evergreen Farm! (transportation provided)
*7:30 pm: Free time for dinner in Downtown Portsmouth (our team can recommend great dinner restaurants)
Saturday
Morning practice begins at 8:30 am. The breakfast fueling station is available throughout the morning, beginning at 7:30 am.
8:30-11:00 am: Guided yoga practice (handstands and headstands), Q&A time with Anya Contrera
11:00-11:30 am: Break
11:30-1 pm: The Fundamentals of Yoga Philosophy with Swami Chidananda
1:00-3:00 pm: Lunch, followed by afternoon break (relax, take a swim, enjoy a nature walk, book a massage)
3:00-5:00 pm: Yoga practice, posture clinic (closing sequence) with Anya Contrera
6:00 pm: Dinner in the barn
7:30-9:00 pm: Music & Poetry in the barn🎵 with Emmy McDonnell & Sarah Ross
Sunday
Morning practice begins at 8:30 am. The breakfast fueling station is available throughout the morning, beginning at 7:30 am.
8:30-11:00 am: Guided yoga practice, Q&A time with Anya Contrera
11:00-11:30 am: Break
11:30-1 pm: OM Meditation and Satsang with Swami Chidananda
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Departures
Your Retreat Details
Meals:
All meals are provided to overnight retreat guests except for dinner on Friday night (enjoy a night out in Downtown Portsmouth!). For breakfast, the kitchen is equipped with delicious staples and local favorites. Tea, coffee, water, and other refreshments are always available. Lunch and dinner feature locally catered meals and homemade meals. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated. Just let us know!
*The breakfast fueling station and lunch are provided to all local commuter guests (dinner is not included).
Location & Travel:
This retreat occurs within three abutting farms that expand across hundreds of lush, historic New Hampshire farmland. Highlights include a pond to dip in, a swimming pool, walking trails, and gardens.
Evergreen Farm is located at 67 Stratham Heights Rd., Stratham, NH 03885. Parking is available throughout your retreat!
For guests flying in from out of state, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is the closest major airport (~50 miles south of Evergreen Farm).
Car rentals, shuttle services, and the C&J Bus Line are available for transportation from the airport. We will provide complimentary pick-up from the nearby C&J Bus Station in Seabrook, NH.
Accommodations:
Charming and private farmhouse bedrooms. Access to numerous comfortable common areas, including a full kitchen.
Additional Options:
Are you interested in an additional day or two on the farm? We can accommodate early arrivals and late departures. Don’t hesitate to contact our team to discuss the possibilities.
Retreat guests have the option to book on-site massages. These are booked at an additional cost.
Register now to reserve your spot!
Space is limited, and early
registration is recommended.
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JUNE 28, 2024
Full Retreat
with Overnight Stay
(3 nights):
*Double occupancy in King Rooms is available for an additional fee.
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Our King Room options allow for SINGLE or DOUBLE occupancy! You may add an additional retreat participant for $775.
INCLUDES: Private room with king-sized bed and private bathroom. Accommodations for 4 days/3 nights. Daily yoga classes and workshops. All meals (excluding dinner on Friday).
Click here to register!
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INCLUDES: Private room with a queen-sized bed and shared bath. Accommodations for 4 days/3 nights. Daily yoga classes and workshops. All meals (excluding dinner on Friday).
Click here to register!
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INCLUDES: Twin-sized bed in a shared room with shared bath. Accommodations for 4 days/3 nights. Daily yoga classes and workshops. All meals (excluding dinner on Friday).
Click here to register!
Options for Locals!
Discounts are available for local yoga teachers (RYT). Please email our team at hello@evergreenyoganh.com to inquire.
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INCLUDES: Breakfast fueling station and lunch. Daily yoga classes and workshops, from 8:30 am - 5:15 pm. The Music & Poetry event in the barn on Saturday night. *Please note that this retreat package does not include dinner or an overnight stay. It begins on Friday at 8:30 am.
Click here to register!
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INCLUDES: Friday retreat itinerary from 8:30 am - 5:15 pm., breakfast fueling station and lunch, and the Music & Poetry event in the barn on Saturday night. *Please note that this retreat package does not include dinner or an overnight stay.
Click here to register!
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INCLUDES: Saturday retreat itinerary from 8:30 am - 5:15 pm. breakfast fueling station and lunch, and the Music & Poetry event in the barn on Saturday night. *Please note that this retreat package does not include dinner or an overnight stay.
Click here to register!
Your Facilitators
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Lead Facilitator
Anya is a passionate yoga practitioner, student, and teacher. She began her yoga studies over 11 years ago with traditional Hot Yoga and Bikram Choudhury, which launched her into a journey of traveling the world to study and practice with various yoga communities. She is now a full-time yoga teacher. In addition to her Hot Yoga experience, Anya has also been studying and teaching Ashtanga Yoga for over 5 years. She believes in the power of yoga and teaches that a sustained practice can truly transform one's life. Anya currently lives in Miami with her 5-year-old daughter (her “little guru!”). She is forever a student, whose passions also include reiki healing, plant medicine, books, mindfulness, and meditation.
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Guest Speaker
Swami Chidananda is a spiritual educator and monk initiated in the Hari Bhakta Lineage, holding the distinguished title of Swami. With guidance from his teacher, Paramahamsa Swami Vishwananda, and the study of scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Swami has gained a deep understanding of the science of Yoga and has devoted his life to helping others on their inner journey.
Before entering the spiritual path, he had a successful career as an investment banker and entrepreneur. Now, he uses his experiences to convey the ancient Yoga Systems in a relatable and accessible way for those seeking to reconcile Western and Eastern philosophies. When Swami is not traveling, his home is at the Paranitya Narasimha Ashram in West Elmira, New York.
Learn More:
Follow @swami_chidananda on Instagram
Listen to the “Path of a Swami” Podcast
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Featured Musician (Music & Poetry in the Barn Event, Saturday Evening)
Emmy is a Burlington, Vermont-based musician, Radio DJ, and bedroom producer. She's created music for film, worked with friends on various music projects, and released her first single, “Cheers to Feeling Stuck” this Spring. Emmy is also the host of 99.3 WBTV-LP's "Are You Okay?", a music and talk show about nostalgia. Emmy believes that the kind of music we listen to at different points in our lives tells a story of who we are. She explores this in her show and through her own music.
Music Feature Article: Emmy McDonnell Explores Music and Nostalgia With Her Radio Show 'Are You Okay?'
Listen to Emmy on Spotify: 🎶Cheers to Feeling Stuck
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Featured Poet (Music & Poetry in the Barn Event, Saturday Evening)
Sarah is a coastal Maine-based educator, writer, and poet who spends much of her time teaching the values of critical thinking, creativity, and self-advocacy as a learning specialist at the University of New England. For over twenty years as an educator, she has helped her students identify and attend to what most deeply motivates them, toward greater creativity and joyful, lifelong learning.
Sarah’s poetry and writing, sometimes a vehicle for her teaching, reflects the often harsh, direct lessons of the natural world and of human relationships, and also the hope and joy present in our simple existence, breathing, and in letting go. Sarah holds a M.Ed. in Reading and Writing from UMASS-Amherst where she was a student in the Language, Literacy, and Culture program; and a B.A. with Honors in English from William Smith College, where she was advised by poets Deborah Tall, James Crenner, David Weiss, and Rosanna Warren, received multiple writing awards, and where her collection of poems, When Everything Becomes Poetry, lives in the Warren Hunting Smith Library. Her writing has been published in Seneca Review and in various local publications.
Interested in holding your event at Evergreen Farm?
Please contact Katherine McDonnell at kat@evergreenfarmnh.com