luminous being
yoga + ayurveda retreat
Sacred Valley, Peru | April 24 - 30, 2025
where will yoga take you?
On a Yoga & Āyurveda retreat in the Sacred Valley of Peru, amongst the twelve mountains known as Apus (luminous beings). Nestled in an oasis of native fauna nourished by a magnificent waterfall, you’ll spend time in practice to connect to and remember your inner luminosity.
Beyond sadhana, you'll have the opportunity to commune directly with these mountains, as well as with the local curanderos and pacos (healers), who engage with us for ritual and ceremony.
This journey is one of exploring the elemental and mystical medicine of Peru. Your days are are filled with nourishing Yoga practices, Āyurvedic teachings, personal healing and reflection, local waterfall hikes, and despacho ceremony. All in the company of friends on the path.
At the culmination of your retreat in the Sacred Valley, you have the option of extending your stay to include an excursion to Machu Piccu, the sacred Incan “City of Light”.
“One’s destination is rarely a place...
but a new way of seeing things.”
the location:
The retreat center’s name translates as “love from the ancient forest”. Nestled in an oasis of native plants and fruit trees, the location of this unique center is nourished by a magnificent waterfall in the Sacred Valley of Peru’s Andes Mountains.
As a retreat guest you’ll enjoy delicious meals with locally-grown and lovingly prepared ingredients in meals that can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary needs.
Each guest room is a reflection of the Peruvian culture of the Sacred Valley. The entire center embodies a kindness, love, and wholeness that seems to permeate the magical place.
andean adventure:
Your retreat includes an excursion to the ancient city of Pisac. This small town still maintains its Inca architecture and offers us the opportunity to visit and explore majestic archaeological sites.
In addition, visit the beautiful and rich Pisac market and explore the Pisac Ruins. For an extended breathtaking journey, trek through the mountains above Pisac and visit high mountain lagoons, incredible views, and the pristine stillness of the Andean mountains.
your retreat includes:
7 days/6 nights guided Yoga + Āyurveda retreat
accommodations at a regenerative eco-retreat center
daily Āyurvedic Yoga practices (asana, pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra)
3 delicious, local, and organic meals prepared by their chef, served to you with love every day
a large selection of herbal teas and fruit available throughout your stay
Despacho Ceremony
Karma Yoga Service Project
guided hike to Sacha Munay Waterfall
a group excursion to Pisac, including a trek, lunch in the high-mountain village, and a visit to the local market
group transfers from and to Cusco airport on 04.24.25 and 04.30.24
optional activities + excursions:
The Sacred Valley is a magical place for healing and adventure. Whether you feel called to get out and explore, or stay in and restore, Peru is the perfect place to do so. During your retreat, you will have plenty of free time during which you can enjoy some of what Peru has to offer. Here is a selection of tours and activities that you will be able to choose from while in Peru:
healing bodywork and spa treatments
tours of the local sacred sites
Coca Leaf readings
traditional Incan ceremonies
explore and shop in the local villages
*Activities and excursions are optional and the price is not included in tuition unless noted.
your guide on the journey:
Kara Aubin CAP, E.RYT is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga educator based in Michigan.
Kara brings 20+ years of sharing the spirit and science of Yoga & Āyurveda: leading in-depth study programs including Sva Sadhana; practicing and teaching clinical Āyurveda, and leading retreats. She teaches what she identifies as capital “Y” Yoga from rich lineage based traditions, and invites her students into ever-deepening relationships with the sciences of Yoga and Āyurveda. Her mission is to guide students toward their bright inherent potential, as well as their right to radical wellness and balance.
Kara guides students on retreat as a means to know oneself better via the experience of travel. She believes learning from the rich cultures of the world makes us better global citizens. She has also been witness time and again to the transformative power of retreat - and is committed to offering these opportunities for growth to students on the path.
Kara's retreats are filled with community, ceremony, and exploration, each with a unique flavor of the locale. Her retreats are for those who want to go, and want to go deeper.
optional 2-Day tour of Machu Picchu: April 30 - May 2, 2025
This retreat includes the option to add-on an overnight tour of Machu Picchu to the end of your experience. Pre-registration is required.
The journey will begin with a drive through the Sacred Valley, passing through several fascinating towns, villages, and sacred sites in the valley. Arriving in Ollantaytambo, a small town that still maintains its Inca architecture and offers the opportunity to visit and explore the majestic archaeological site, which overlooks the route to Machu Picchu.
Take a beautiful train ride from “Olla” along the river to the town of Aguas Calientes. Spend the night in Aguas Calientes, enjoying the quaint town along the river. Arrive in Machu Picchu the next day before sunrise to witness the illumination of the sacred ruins. Experience an unforgettable day at Machu Picchu, exploring the sacred Incan “City of Light,” learning about the sacred ruins and taking moments to sit, breathe, and experience the powerful energy of one of the most sacred sites on the planet. After the tour, you will spend a final night in Cusco and take a shuttle to the airport the following day.
Includes:
2 nights accommodations (1 night in Aguas Calientes, 1 night in Cusco)
4 meals
all transportation (private transport, bus, train)
tour guide
Machu Picchu entrance fee
it’s time for a luminous journey to Peru!
You can reserve your Peru adventure through our retreat partner, True Nature. Please head over to their website to complete the registration process.
who is this retreat for?
The community who gathers for Kara’s Yoga + Ayurveda retreats is remarkable. These unique mandalas of students, seekers, and practitioners gather around the globe each year to share in transformational practice, site specific unfoldings, and co-creation of container.
This retreat experience is for you if:
you have some experience with yoga practice: including asana (postures), breath practice, and meditation (and are looking to experience more!)
the science of Ayurveda intrigues (or fascinates!) you, and you’re open to learning more about this life science
you are open to a group experience, and are willing to participate in group activities, conversations, and practices
you understand that people and places, especially those we don’t know, are often our greatest teachers
you are committed to preparing for the specifics of this retreat: regular yoga practice, yoga and hiking at elevation, personal travel logistics, etc
As your guide and facilitator I am committed to welcoming:
a diverse cohort of participants (including various backgrounds, ages, sexes, genders, physical abilities, etc).
participants utilizing the retreat experience as an incentive to deepen their commitment to a regular practice.
partners and friends who are committed to fully participating in the retreat experience.
*This retreat is not a good fit for folks looking to simply visit or vacation at a specific local.
If you’d like to have a conversation about this retreat’s fit for your needs and retreat intentions, please contact the AWC to set up a Discovery Call.
what past retreat participants say…
Kara is a highly knowledgeable and gifted Āyurvedic Practitioner and Yoga teacher. She is also an amazing retreat designer and facilitator. And above all, she is a curious student of these teachings who delights in sharing her wisdom with others. For me, being on retreat with Kara always includes new adventures, incredible settings, healthy taste-filled cuisines, enriching asana and other spiritual practices, deep nourishment, learning and insight, great company and incredible joy.
Kara has the genuine ability to know exactly what her students need to nurture themselves. The yoga and meditation practice supports both the mind and body, the food, talks and excursions furthers that support while deepening the experience. Her support doesn’t end when daily sessions or the retreat comes to a conclusion but continues in as much or as little as the individual is ready for.
Retreats are an opportunity to grow. Kara will take you deep in ways you won't expect... you always come out of a retreat a better, stronger, more grounded human.
If you have an opportunity to go on retreat with Kara, don't hesitate - seize the opportunity! You will always be grateful for the experiences, gifts and transformation that result.
