9 – 13 September, 2026
Maya Medicine Sweat Lodge & Yoga Retreat with Roland Torikian & Lucy Mccarthy
Three days of sweat lodges, yoga, meditation, fire ceremonies and individual cleansings to heal trauma, restore emotional wellbeing and unleash your life force.
A RETREAT FOR YOU
Step into the Sanctuary
This retreat will offer participants three consecutive days of sweat lodges to help process deeply held traumas, restoring emotional wellbeing, clarity, and purpose.
The sweat lodge is a ceremonial natural steam bath, and its main purpose is purification. It relieves stress, cleanses toxins from the body, supports recovery from illness, helps process emotions, transmutes negativity and revitalises one’s life force.
Morning meditation, yoga, individual readings, and a fire ceremony will be offered before each sweat lodge, allowing for a personalized and transformative experience — clearing the path to a more empowered, open, and fearless version of yourself.
Maya Medicine is an integrated system of healing rooted in ancient Mayan civilisation. This tradition focuses on restoring health by balancing the five elements – earth, water, fire, wind, and space – and sowing back the tears in the fabric between the physical and non-physical realms.
Maya Medicine works to treat the root cause of imbalance — often karmic or ancestral — through a range of techniques including egg and pulse diagnosis, energy healing, talking therapy, abdominal massage, and dream work. These practices help to open pathways for deep processing of trauma, which often underlies psycho-emotional and physical symptoms.
Lucy McCarthy teaches soulful, breath-led vinyasa flow yoga with an emphasis on yoga as a transformative and healing modality.
Her full-spectrum classes incorporate a broad range of yogic practices — including postures, breath work, meditation, mudra, and mantra — and are woven through with heartfelt philosophy and wisdom.
Lucy will guide the yoga sessions to support the deep process of the sweat lodges, facilitating an open heart, mind, and body.
For inquiries or to sign up, please send an email to info@mayamedicine.co.uk
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
What Awaits You
Each day is designed to nourish body, calm mind, and awaken your senses to the beauty of the Swedish wilderness.
Yoga
Morning vinyasa flows and evening restorative sessions tailored to all levels. Move at your own pace, always.
Wood-Fired Sauna
Traditional Swedish sauna sessions overlooking the lake. Release tension, cleanse deeply, and let the heat do its ancient healing work.
Nourishment
Wholesome, mostly organic plant-based meals, sourced locally whenever possible, to ground your body and restore your vitality.
Nature
Exploring the surrounding forest paths and taking refreshing dips in the lake, allowing the pristine beauty of nature to enliven and inspire you.
Community
Gathering in presence, witnessing one another, and sharing meaningful moments.
Deep Rest
Choosing to rest & pause consciously - take that nap in the hammock, journal in the afternoon sun & meditate in the forest
“The Maya Medicine sweat lodge and yoga retreat in Sweden was a life-changing experience for me. The sweat lodge experience is beyond words, and definitely the strongest medicine I have ever experienced. The amount I was able to release in a few short days, at a very deep level, really surprised me.”
— Natalie | Yoga Studio Owner, Penshurst
YOUR DAYS
A Gentle Rhythm
This sample schedule is subject to change. All classes and workshops are optional to attend, you can curate the retreat to your own specific needs, e.g. if you’d like some extra alone time.
Wednesaday, September 9th
Arrival
3pm
Arrival
Step into the space and let the journey settle. A quiet threshold between the outside world and what is about to unfold.
Swim, sauna and explore
3pm – 7pm
Swim, sauna and explore
Cool dips, cleansing heat, and unhurried wandering. Follow your curiosity and let nature set the tempo.
Welcome dinner
7pm
Welcome dinner
A shared first meal to gather and connect. Fresh flavors, warm conversation, and a gentle beginning to our time together.
Thursday 10th – Saturday 12th
Morning meditation in the Yurt
6:30am
Morning Meditation in the Yurt
Gather in the quiet embrace of the yurt as dawn unfolds. Breath by breath, we settle into stillness and greet the day from within.
Yoga with Lucy in the Yoga shala
7:30am
Yoga with Lucy in the Yoga shala
A guided practice in the calm embrace of the shala. Move with intention, breathe deeply, and be held in a space designed for presence and connection.
Breakfast
9am
Breakfast
A nourishing morning spread to gently awaken the senses. Fresh flavors, warm drinks, and an easy beginning to the day.
Workshop
11am
Workshop
Workshops blending movement, reflection, and practical wisdom for embodied growth and meaningful transformation.
Sweat Lodge ceremony
12pm – 4pm
Sweat Lodge ceremony
Traditional Sweat Lodge ceremony offering purification, prayer, deep reflection, and powerful communal healing experience.
Fika
4.30pm
Fika
Swedish coffee ritual fostering connection, conversation, homemade treats, and mindful pause together in nature setting.
Dinner
7pm
Dinner
Nourishing plant based dinner shared in community, celebrating seasonal ingredients and heartfelt connection.
Sunday, September 13th
Morning meditation
6:30am
Morning meditation
Guided morning meditation cultivating clarity, grounding, and gentle presence to begin the day.
Breakfast
9am
Breakfast
Wholesome plant based breakfast served in silence, inviting mindful nourishment and peaceful morning reflection.
Lunch
1:00pm
Lunch
Fresh plant based lunch enjoyed together, nourishing body, restoring energy, and encouraging relaxed connection.
Check-out
3pm
Check-out
Gentle check out moment to reflect, connect, and depart with clarity and renewed inspiration.
ALL-INCLUSIVE
What's Included
- Daily meditation, yoga and fire ceremony
- Three sweat lodges
- Daily individual reading/cleansings
- All meals and accommodation
- Fresh herbal teas all day
- Use of kayaks, paddleboards & access to forest trails
- Pick up and drop off from local station (Skinnskatteberg)
- Free parking on-site
- Wi-Fi available in designated areas
Not Included
- Travel to/from Shambala
- Massage treatments
- Personal travel and health insurance
- For this particular retreat, beds linen and towels are not included
YOUR GUIDE
Roland Torikian
Roland Torikian has practised as a Maya healer for 30 years in both Mexico and the UK. He trained in Maya Medicine with Lauro de la Cruz in the highlands of Chiapas during the 1990s. After completing his apprenticeship, Roland opened a clinic in Dharamshala, North India, while studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy under Geshe Sonam Rinchen.
His work bridges the Mayan and Tibetan traditions of healing, combining Maya sweat lodges and healing practices with meditation and shamanic rituals from the Kagyu lineage and Bon Buddhism. Roland regularly leads workshops, sweat lodges, and retreats in the UK, Mexico, and Europe.
“The real aim of this medicine, is to help people find space and openness in their hearts, transforming suffering into wisdom and learning how to live and work with the elements. If the sacredness and magic of each moment can be appreciated, true healing can take place. When pure energy flows and the five elements are in balance, clarity, physical and mental well-being and a healthy and happy relationship with the cosmos prevail.We can then come into our true power as warriors, to illuminate the darkness of our time and give medicine back to this Earth.”
– TORIKIAN
Yoga
E-RYT
Satsang
Yin
Meditation
Chanting
YOUR GUIDE
Lucy McCarthy
Lucy’s yoga and healing journey began many years ago on a rooftop in India, and she has never looked back.
Since then, her passion for yoga and a sincere heart longing to awaken have led her across the globe, seeking out teachers who could guide her deeply on the path to awakening.
With over a thousand hours of training and a zeal for sharing the gems of yoga with her students, Lucy’s teaching reflects her diverse in-depth studies, broad influences, and passionate heart.
Along her path, Lucy came across Roland and his magical sweat lodges. For over 10 years, she has been immersed in sweat lodges with Roland. They now collaborate together, bringing the transformative practices of yoga and Maya medicine together.
Lucy is deeply grateful to all the teachers and the wisdom of the teachings that have helped her on her path.
Yoga
E-RYT
Satsang
Yin
Meditation
Chanting
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Shambala?
The journey from Arlanda to Shambala (Skinnskatteberg Station) takes around 3 hours and is quite straightforward. You can search for and purchase tickets at www.sj.se.
Please note that the full train schedule is usually available only 2–3 weeks before your intended travel date, so there’s no need to book earlier than that. There are several route options.
As there are no direct trains, you’ll need to take a combination of trains and/or buses. Once you arrive at Skinnskatteberg Station, we’ll pick you up — it’s just a 7-minute drive to Shambala.
What should I bring?
Comfortable yoga clothing, a warm layer for the evenings, earplugs and an eye mask for the bright summer mornings, sturdy shoes for forest walks, and a journal if you enjoy writing. Yoga mats and props are provided. Swimwear for the sauna is optional. We’ll send a full packing list after booking.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Our kitchen is designed to avoid the most common allergens. That said, please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or specific dietary needs, and we’ll take them into account when planning the menu.
For guests with multiple allergies, we offer a simple daily meal option of steamed vegetables and boiled rice.
While we aim to keep our kitchen as gluten-free as possible, trace amounts of gluten may still be present. Our meals are generally suitable for those with gluten intolerance, but we cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination for guests with celiac disease.
What is the accommodation like?
At Shambala, beyond being a retreat space, we cultivate a way of living deeply rooted in the yogic values of simplicity, presence, non-attachment, contentment, and communion with nature. Rather than luxury, what we offer is intimacy and a sense of belonging. Therefore, our accommodations are simple and mostly shared, with a variety of twin rooms, triple rooms, and glamping tents.
The guiding ethos is one of community and sustainability, creating a vibe that is understated, modest, welcoming, and easy. If you do feel a strong need for a single room, you can write to us. A single room may be available for an additional fee.
All accommodation options have access to shared showers and bathrooms.
What is your policy on children?
We love children and would truly love to be able to host parents with young kids.
However, we’ve found that having young children on site can make it challenging to maintain the peaceful retreat atmosphere that many of our guests seek and deeply value.
For this reason, unless otherwise agreed, our retreats are intended for adults and youth aged 12 and above.
Can I bring my pet?
We love animals, but as some guests have allergies, we’re unable to allow animals inside the buildings. For this reason, we kindly discourage guests from bringing their pets.
Retreat Pricing & Terms
Optional Bedsheet & Towel
Bed linen and towels are included with your booking. You may opt out of both for a 200 SEK discount. To do so, please apply the coupon code ‘NOLINEN’ at checkout.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that life can be unpredictable, and if something unexpected comes up, we truly want to support you as best we can. At the same time, as a small business, we need to honor the sustainability of our work and are therefore unable to offer refunds close to the retreat start date. Thank you so much for your understanding.
Cancel up to 3 months before arrival and receive a full refund.
Cancel up to 14 days before arrival and receive a 70% refund.
Cancel up to 6 days before arrival and receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel 5 days or fewer before arrival, the retreat fee is non-refundable.
We warmly recommend arranging travel insurance to cover any unforeseen circumstances.
Travel Insurance
The retreat cost does not include travel insurance. Travel insurance is recommended for all participants.
GUEST EXPERIENCES
Words from Past Retreats
“Working with Roland and attending his sweat lodges over many years has been one of the most wonderful gifts on my healing journey. Over time the sweat lodge became a beautiful sanctuary and refuge in which I could feel held and do some profound and deeply transformative inner work.
Roland holds space in a deeply loving and supportive manner, and his years of experience in the tradition of Maya medicine is very obvious. I will be eternally grateful for all of his guidance back home to a place of healing and happiness.”
“This retreat has been transformative for me.
It allowed me to face some heavy and ugly parts of my shadow in a way that felt inaccessible before. Roland’s guidance emboldens you and makes you feel safe. When you feel safe and held, you just go deeper, if, of course, you are ready to change. The empowerment I felt was something I simply couldn’t have accessed through my usual talk therapy alone, at least in my personal experience.
The Temazcal, or sweat lodge ceremony, is such potent medicine. I genuinely believe this kind of work is essential maintenance for the soul.”
“The retreat has been a deeply transformational experience for me. I learned how simple things can change my confidence and presence. I also found peace in letting go of control where it’s not needed, and I discovered a profound connection with nature. The warm sense of love, wisdom, and the beautiful encounters with others during the retreat will stay with me for a long time.”
The Forest Awaits
£1,295 · full payment
Join us 9 – 13 September, 2026 to a three days of sweat lodges, yoga, meditation, fire ceremonies and individual cleansings to heal trauma, restore emotional wellbeing and unleash your life force.
Or write to us directly: hello@shambalagatherings.com
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