APRIL 27 ~ Reclaiming Our Sacred Wisdom: A South Asian Women’s Healing Retreat

You are warmly invited to a day of restorative healing, deep connection, and solidarity building with other South Asian women. Through ancestral healing practices, embodiment, ritual, and relaxation, we will weave together our common threads of sacred wisdom.

This daylong retreat will focus on creating a safe space to reconnect to our collective strength, while providing tools for personal healing. We welcome you to this beautiful opportunity to remember your wholeness, activate wellness, and fill your cup – while tapping into our shared ancestral strength and joy.

Our day will include:

Circles with the opportunity to share from the heart in a safe space
Ancestral ritual and practice
Breathwork and other nervous system regulation tools
Movement including asana
Storytelling and reflective writing
Delicious and nutritious lunch, chai, and snacks
A beautiful and sacred earthen studio setting
An opportunity for a follow up zoom call to support integration

This intentional gathering is a rare opportunity to reflect on your connection to your roots, share challenges and celebrate growth – while exploring the many facets of who we are, and how we want to evolve.

If you are on a journey of healing, self-growth, ancestry, and creativity – this will be a nurturing space to go inward and share in a supportive community.

Our intention is to facilitate a healing space for women to come home to themselves, connect to sacred cultural practices, and feel nourished. Being a part of the South Asian diaspora comes with unique challenges, and together we can start to unravel our struggles, release what no longer serves, and reclaim the gifts of our heritage – to bring upliftment and balance to our whole selves.

Dharti Mata Centre is located on 5.5 acres in a natural forest and farmland setting – just 15 minutes from the main ferry terminal – on the outskirts of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, BC.
There is now an express passenger ferry that connects downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo. See the current schedule here.

YOUR RETREAT FACILITATORS

Satya Amrita Kumari Jehman (Vedic Priestess Temple)

Born into the Vedic lineage, Satya has been living the traditional path of yoga all her life – with a more concentrated practice over the last 22 years. Satya carries the gift of fire ceremony and ritual by the grace of her ancestors from North India. She completed a year-long Yoga Apprenticeship in 2015 (Vijnana Yoga RYT200), and a deep dive study into jnana yoga (Vedic scripture study/self inquiry) with her teacher in her ancestral homeland of India amid a trio of winters from 2011-2013. While there in 2016, Satya was initiated into the Sidh Kunjika Stotram – the highest call to Maha Shakti (Divine Mother). She has been furthering her yogic studies in India with regular trips there for the past 15 years.

Satya recently completed a leadership training with a focus on Trauma-informed Leadership, Transformational Leadership, and Coaching.

Encouraged by her teachers, Satya is a facilitator of Retreats, Workshops, Ceremony, Ritual, One-on-One Guide on Salt Spring Island and surrounding communities, in India – as well as online. She offers from the deepest place in her with utmost respect and reverence to her ancestors, to You, to the Divine, and to the Self.

Learn more about Satya’s offerings at @vedic_priestess_temple (Instagram) + @vedicpriestesstemple108 (Facebook).

Emmy Chahal (Healing with Emmy)

Emmy was introduced to yoga as a child through her grandmother and mother. Her ancestors are from North India, and the practice of yoga continues to connect her deeply to her heritage. With a steady yoga practice for 20 years, she has been teaching yoga internationally for the past 12 years. Emmy is particularly focused on yoga for mental health, trauma-informed approaches, and supporting women and young people through embodiment, decolonization, and embodied pedagogy.

Emmy holds a BA in Cultural Studies, minor in Gender and Women’s Studies; and has previously worked in schools as a violence prevention workshop facilitator. Throughout her studies in yoga and the healing arts, Emmy has extensively trained in hatha, trauma-informed teaching, pre/postnatal yoga – and her yoga journey led her own research at the University of British Columbia on yoga in the university classroom. Emmy also facilitates cultural awareness training for yoga teacher trainings around the world. As a South Asian woman working in the North American yoga industry, her voice is dedicated to sharing the complexities of social inequity and building bridges between people of all backgrounds. Learn more about Emmy and her offerings at www.emmychahal.com.

YOUR CHEF & VENUE OWNER

Pamela Leila Rai (Dharti Mata Centre)

Pamela Leila Rai hails from a family of trailblazers in the Indo-Canadian community. She has been referred to as a champion of both sport and social justice. The daughter of the first Indo-Canadian to make an Olympic team, Harinder Jit Singh – Pamela Leila was a member of the Canadian National Swim Team for many years. She is proudly celebrated in the South Asian community as the first woman ever to win an Olympic medal. She is a retired high school teacher and a trained classical yoga instructor and aspirant, who embodies her ancestral wisdom traditions. Pamela Leila is a tireless environmental, human/animal rights and decolonization activist.

She is the owner/operator of Dharti Mata Centre, a sacred hand sculpted earthen gathering and yoga space in Nanaimo, BC. Pamela Leila also nurtures folks with organic vegetables from her garden and delicious meals carefully created with love. She is the recipient of many awards and accolades, and a volunteer inspirational speaker.

ENERGY EXCHANGE:

$175 Early Bird Rate Before April 13

$225 Full Rate After April 13

Reserve Your Spot Now – Spaces Limited

*Rate includes a full day of programming and a three-course traditional Indian lunch with chai, snacks and dessert.
*Two partial scholarships are available for folks experiencing financial barriers. Please contact Satya to arrange.
*A couple of payment plans spots available before April 13. Please contact Satya to arrange.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

0“I appreciated that the retreat was held with devotion, and deep respect. The teachings were shared with beauty and integrity, and this really touched my heart.” ~ Elisha A

1“I appreciate the richness of your ancestral tradition that you share with us.” ~ Lesley G

2“I loved the whole retreat! The highlight was the knowledge that you shared. I have never met anyone as well versed in Vedic history/culture/ceremony. So much fun to be a part of this.” ~ Heidi S

3“Thank you for sharing the wisdom/traditions of your lineage, Satya. I appreciated the chance to participate in a ritual that is outside my culture and spiritual background. I appreciated the sense of sacred community and sharing, the joining of voices in chanting – and the beautiful space, and our wonderful facilitators. The food, chai and sweets were lovely – as well as the beauty of the altar!” ~ Shawna K

4“I appreciated everything from the variation of activities, to the lunch, to the sacred space that was created. I most appreciated it was culturally/spiritually authentic. Your knowledge, study and lineage was important to me, to attend.” ~ Leila R

6“Coming together in circle was one of the most impactful things about the retreat. The time to share considerations from the carefully crafted questions and be in ritual together. I really appreciated and felt Satya’s direct lineage to the teachings she shared. The food was delicious!” ~ Tali H

7“I appreciated the sacred manner and the reverence in which the retreat was held.” ~ Anne R

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE SACRED WISDOM OF MY CULTURE. IS THIS GATHERING SUITABLE FOR ME?

Yes, this gathering is suitable for those who are not presently familiar with our sacred wisdom, as you will learn and share a lot. All are welcome.

I HAVEN’T DONE MUCH YOGA. IS THIS RETREAT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS?

Yes, the asanas (physical postures of Yoga) we will be doing are suitable for both beginners and experienced folks, and modifications will be included.

DO I HAVE TO BRING MY OWN FOOD?

Dharti Mata Centre will serve a delicious three-course Indian lunch with chai and dessert.

AM I WELCOME TO THIS RETREAT IF I IDENTIFY AS NON-BINARY OR GENDER NON-CONFORMING?

Yes, people who identify as non-binary and gender non-conforming – as well as anyone who identifies as a woman, is welcome.

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

Full refund minus a $35 admin fee until April 5.

50% refund, minus $35 admin fee April 6-12.

Unfortunately, we cannot issue any refunds after April 13.

For questions please contact satya@vedicpriestesstemple.com