-Domestic India travel and lodgings

-Double occupancy on arrival in Delhi at The Lemon Tree Premier

-Single occupancy throughout the rest of the journey

-Meals mentioned in Itinerary (Meals that are excluded are listed)

-Support in preparation for travel to India, booking your flight, India eVisa etc.

-Yoga, meditation, and discourse sessions throughout the journey

-Bottled safe drinking water

-International flight to India

-Your Darshan/Prasad offerings (we will explain and support throughout)

-Tips for hotel staff, local guides, and drivers (we will collect a flat sum and handle the distribution in each location)

-Optional Ayurvedic massages/treatments/astrology readings

We are SO grateful for your interest in joining this retreat experience to India. To reserve your spot and learn about payment options (digital & check), please complete the form at below. We will be in touch with ways to complete your payment within 24 hours (your spot will be held for 24 hours after completing the form).

If you already have spoken with Tara or Mary or know you are IN, feel free to make a deposit now and we will reach out with registration information within 24 hours.

INVESTMENT FOR SHIVA SHAKTI INDIA RETREAT FEB/MAR 2025 ~

10 Days ~ $3700

14 Days ~ $4200

Deposit $1000 (non-refundable, included in totals above)

*There will be a slight increase in price if less than 10 people register for the trip

**Couples will get a premium room in all locations so we will not offer a discount

HOW TO PAY

Please note that preferred payment options are check, Apple Pay, or Zelle. A fee of 3% will be added for PayPal or Venmo due to their admin charges. We will send you payment info upon receiving your registration form below.

Half payment due by October 15th 2024

Full payment is due by December 15th, 2024

Please note there is a late fee of $10/day if payment is not met on the listed scheduled dates.

ONCE REGISTERED

As the retreat approaches, you will receive an informative email with more information about India, getting there, what to pack, what to expect. You’ll also receive a waiver of liability to sign, knowing that you choosing to participate in this experience at your own risk.

REFUND POLICY

Full refund (minus deposit) before Oct 15th 2024*

50% refund (minus deposit) between Oct 15th-Dec 15th 2024

No refunds after December 15th 2024

*In the case that India is not allowing United States citizens due to the pandemic and this retreat is canceled by the host your deposit/payments will be refunded less a small administration fee OR, if you choose, pushed forward to a determined rescheduled date.

** Air travel to India may require vaccinations for COVID-19. Please take into consideration before registering for this retreat that there will be no refunds for anyone who doesn’t get the potentially required vaccination for foreign or domestic air travel.

** In the case that you are unable to make the retreat, transfers are allowed with the permission of the hosts, however, it is not the responsibility of the hosts to replace the spot, and is up to the initial purchaser to find someone to take their place.

-Flights should be booked to depart for India Feb 22nd 2025.

-Our journey commences in Delhi on February 23rd, where you will be picked up by a member of our India host team. All travelers will transition to Varanasi with our India team on Feb 24th.

-Return travel should be booked to depart before midnight on Mar 5th/9th, or after midnight Mar 6th/10th.

**Our India hostess Uschi will help support you purchasing the best timed flight

TARA CINDY SHERMAN

My first introduction to the yogic path was in 1970 when at the age of 13 I read Siddartha by Hermann Hesse. The wisdom in that book made such an impression on me that I taught myself to meditate by gazing into the flame of a candle, many years later I learned that this technique is called trataka and is a valid tantric technique for meditation. Though I didn’t continue to practice for very long, being exposed to Eastern teachings at such a young age made a lasting impression on me. The inner knowing that there is more to life than the “seen” world is what drew me to, and keeps me on a yogic path, and is what I strive to bring to all of my classes.

In 1987 I returned to a regular practice of meditation and soon discovered the joy of hatha yoga. In 1993 I received my first 200 Yoga Teacher Certification at Expanding Light in Grass Valley, CA and have been teaching yoga ever since. That same year I was initiated into the tantric form of meditation known as Kriya Yoga as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Since that time here are some of the certifications and trainings that I have taken: DansKinetics from Kirpalu Center in 1999, Atma Yoga from Christopher Baxter in 2001, Ashtanga with Doug Swenson in 2002, Yoga of the Heart Cardiac & Cancer with Nischala Devi in 2004, JAI Prenatal with Jennifer Gray in 2006, Yin yoga with Paulie Zink in 2007, Yogic Mystery School and trip to India with Russill Paul studying Nada yoga in 2008, Vini Yoga with Gary Kraftsow in 2012, and goddess philosophy and meditation with Sally Kempton at Mt. Madonna in 2014.

Over the years I’ve brought together all of my favorite teachings and experiences into what I’ve named Radiant Shakti Flow which incorporates the Hindu Goddesses, ritual, chanting, drumming, yogic warms, creative movement and yoga nidra for a full experience of the sacred.

I had the great pleasure to drum and chant with Shakti Chant Band who performed kirtans around the twin cities for over 8 years. I continue to drum and chant with Coco on retreats that we lead together as well as with Mary in our many workshops, immersions and retreats on the goddess. It has been a gift in my life to lead women's drumming classes and retreats since 2000. I hope to share these deep and joyous practices for many years to come to help raise the vibration for the planet and all her creations.

Teaching yoga has brought great blessings to my life. I taught workshops, immersions, and drop-in classes at Yoga Center of Minneapolis (YCM) from 2000-2018. I was also involved with YCM’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program and taught in the Advanced 500-hour training there. Currently, I teach at the Yoga Center Retreat in Minneapolis. I feel it both an honor and blessing to help train teachers in this ancient art and science so that the full wisdom of yoga is passed on.

MARY BUE

Mary Bue is a registered yoga teacher (e-RYT 500), an indie musician, and a teacher in the Viniyoga tradition, a breath-centered, flowing practice that believes in adapting postures to fit the whole person (not forcing a person to fit into a posture!). Mary received her certification at Whole Life Yoga in Seattle, WA by Tracy Weber, (student of Gary Kraftsow, student of T.K.V. Desikachar) and her 300-hour from Yoga Center Retreat (formerly Yoga Center of Minneapolis). In 2020, Mary received an additional 200-hour certificate in Nada Yoga (the Yoga of Sound) from Nada Yoga School in Rishikesh India.

Mary has pursued continuing yoga education in prenatal yoga, yoga for anxiety & depression, pranayama, and 30 hour-certification in Trauma-informed Yoga with Firefly Yoga International. Mary was a teaching assistant for Whole Life Yoga’s ten month long, 200-hour teacher training in 2010 and has also assisted in WLY’s “Yoga for Healthy Backs” Series. She has her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with an emphasis on Transpersonal Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Mary has also received volunteer training in sexual assault victim advocacy from PAVSA and domestic violence victim support from DAIP. She founded and ran Imbue Yoga Studio in S. Mpls for nearly 3 years (closing Jan. 2019).

As a wanderer-luster and experience junkie, she has worked in many types of jobs: as a clinical research assistant in a prison & hospital, an AIDS prevention outreach worker on the streets and harm reduction work in needle exchanges, as well as many hundreds of hours as a server, bartender and barista.

In her life as a musician Mary has toured in 40+ states, released 7 albums, been awarded four artist grants, enjoyed three Artist in Residence awards, and has served on the board and steering committee of the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival.

All of these experiences culminate in the guiding of Creativity and Yoga Retreats. Mary has led and co-led retreats in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Bali, Malta, Ireland, and Italy.

Mary is an avid runner (10 half marathons and two full marathons), nature lover and vegan. In her spare time, she enjoys playing music, cooking, writing blogs, poetry and in journals, painting cow portraits, reading non-fiction and traveling.

USCHI GIBSON

Uschi's life transitioned to India in 2008, and she has lived predominately in Varanasi ever since. Establishing a women's empowerment unit in the villages outside of Varanasi, she learned the customs and language of Varanasi so she could engage on a level very unique for a foreigner. Coming from the community of Ojai, California, USA, where she taught Yoga and coordinated Yoga events, she grew into wanting to share her passion for India with friends and an extended community. Inspired by her many years of studying the classical texts of Hinduism and Yoga with her teachers Dr. Ravi Ravindra, Kira Sloane, Patricia Sullivan, Dr. Sheleyah Courtney, and others, Uschi's sharings and discourse throughout the

LuckyLalita journeys inspire guests to feel the teachings of India at a heart level. 20 years of working in the Yoga community have afforded Uschi the unique capacity to plan LuckyLalita journeys for the multi faceted needs of yoga studios & teachers from all over the world.

This retreat is for you, and the emphasis is SELF CARE. If the group is heading out for the day to explore and you want to stay in and rest, sleep, dream, have a cosmic colada while staring out to sea or take your own excursion around the island, that is YOUR prerogative! Also please note that all instructors are very careful and sensitive about self adjustments during yoga classes (like, probably none) unless requested. Also, if you want to opt out of any group activities, sharing sessions, writing practice, you will not be judged by any means. Also note that during group sharing, the sharing will be (kindly) timed so that no one speaks way more than the others and those who maybe wouldn’t share will always get a chance (or choose to pass). At this resort and during the retreat, there will be plenty of space to be on your own with built in breaks. Meals will be taken at the restaurant on you own timing during their regular dining schedule.