JULY 21–26, 2026
A nature-based deep rest retreat combining gentle yoga, Yoga Nidra, and herbal walks, with long, unhurried days to relax, restore, and reconnect.
A RETREAT FOR YOU
Deep Rest retreats are designed for those who want more structure and support in their rest, while still keeping the spacious, unhurried feeling of a self-retreat.
At Shambala Gatherings, you step into a slower rhythm, surrounded by forest, fresh air, and the lake just a short walk away. The days are simple and grounding, with plenty of time to rest, be in nature, and take care of yourself.
Unlike our Just Be retreats, which offer a single optional class per day, Deep Rest includes two daily sessions: a gentle mid-morning yoga class and an afternoon session. Both are there to support deep relaxation, nervous system regulation, and restoration, without any focus on performance or intensity.
Deep Rest retreats also welcome invited teachers and bodyworkers, each bringing their own approach to rest and restoration. Every retreat will highlight a different practitioner or theme, such as nervous system support, sauna rituals, or nature-based practices, so each experience carries its own unique quality.
There is also dedicated time to receive bodywork treatments (at an additional cost), and we encourage booking in advance to ensure availability.
This retreat is intentionally low-cost, offered at a fraction of our usual retreat prices, so that rest and time in nature can be accessible to more people. With a range of accommodation options, from shared rooms to private spaces and simple camping, you can choose what suits both your needs and your budget.
Deep Rest offers a gentle balance of guidance and freedom, supporting you to slow down, recharge, and truly rest.
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
Each day is designed to nourish body, calm mind, and awaken your senses to the beauty of the Swedish wilderness.
A gentle way of being with your body that supports nervous system regulation and invites you into deeper presence. Through slow, mindful movement, you can soften tension and allow the body to release and settle.
Each evening, a deeply relaxing practice will be offered to support rest and integration. This may be a guided meditation, Yoga Nidra, or simply resting while immersed in soothing sounds and healing music, creating space for the body and mind to unwind.
Savour three generous vegan buffet meals each day, crafted with love and inspired by seasonal ingredients. Our cuisine is known for its flavour, richness, and nourishment. Herbal teas are available all day to support rest, digestion, and gentle moments in between.
A soft landing space to arrive together. Through a short guided meditation and sharings, we connect with ourselves, each other and the journey ahead.
Learn simple yet deep techniques to be here and now.
There is the option to book bodywork treatments during your stay, offering additional support for relaxation, release, and care. Treatments are available at an extra cost and paid directly to the bodyworker. Availability is limited, so we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.
— Previous retreat guest
YOUR DAYS
Our days unfold slowly and simply, creating space for rest, nourishment, and time in nature.
This is a light and supportive structure, designed to guide you gently through the day while leaving plenty of space to rest, receive treatments, or simply do nothing.
Check-in is at 15:00 on the arrival day, and check-out is at 15:00 on the departure day.
09.00
A relaxed, nourishing and easy-to-digest meal enjoyed slowly in shared silence.
11.00
Begin your day slowly. Our morning yoga session takes place mid-morning—no early wake-ups—offering gentle, accessible practices to awaken the body and support nervous system balance.
12.00
The middle of the day is intentionally spacious. You’re invited to rest, read, swim in the lake, explore the forest, or take time for a treatment such as acupuncture, herbal and health consultations, bodywork, or a Zen coaching session.
13.30
A generous, nourishing buffet prepared with care.
15.00
Join Nellie on a gentle herb walk to discover the healing properties and medicinal uses of wild edible plants. Awaken your senses and connect with nature’s living wisdom. During the embodied herbal tea meditation, you will meet one plant deeply through your senses and intuition, and explore its medicine and essence in a connected and present way.
17.00
Depending on the day, this session may include restorative yoga, yin yoga, Yoga Nidra (yoga of sleep), meditation, or other gentle practices that support deep relaxation.
19.00
A wholesome dinner shared in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.
20.00
Each evening, the wood-fired sauna is heated by the lake—an invitation to unwind, soften, and let the day settle in a calm and grounding atmosphere. On some days, the sauna may be offered in the morning or afternoon instead.
ALL-INCLUSIVE
Not Included
THIS DEEP REST RETREAT SPECIAL GUIDE
We’re delighted to welcome Joanna Nation, our yoga teacher for this retreat, who brings a deeply holistic, intuitive, and grounded approach to her work.
With over a decade of experience teaching yoga, Joanna integrates yoga therapy, somatic movement, breathwork, meditation, and herbal medicine into her practice. Her approach is both evidence-informed and rooted in traditional wisdom, supporting the body as an interconnected system rather than a set of isolated symptoms.
Her classes are gentle, accessible, and focused on awareness and nervous system regulation—inviting you to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with your body’s natural intelligence. Drawing from her background in health science and therapeutic work, she creates spaces that are both deeply supportive and empowering.
Joanna’s work is guided by a genuine passion for helping people cultivate balance, vitality, and a deeper connection to themselves through embodied practice and self-enquiry.
YOGA
BREATHWORK
MEDITATION
THIS DEEP REST RETREAT SPECIAL GUIDE
Meet Karin, our visiting bodyworker and Zen Coach, whose work is rooted in embodied presence, authenticity, and inner connection. Drawn to the essence of truth and simplicity, her path has been shaped by more than a decade of dedicated studies in spiritual inquiry and how to shift into living life here and now.
Karin offers Alchemy of Touch sessions: an intuitive and holistic form of bodywork rooted in listening. Through grounded touch, fluid movement, and subtle energetic awareness, the sessions invite a gentle unfolding where the body can soften, unwind, and reveal the deeper intelligence held within.
She also offers Zen Coaching: a somatic, presence-based practice rooted in Zen and inquiry. These sessions support a direct exploration of the Now and is for those drawn to authenticity, clarity or reconnection to ones soul.
During the retreat, Karin will also share simple exercises from the Zen way of being. Small, practical invitations into presence that can support you during and after the retreat.
Treatments and coaching sessions can be booked in advance or on-site during the retreat.
MASSAGE
COACHING
GROUNDING
THIS DEEP REST RETREAT SPECIAL GUIDE
Nellie is our herbal guide, who brings a deep love for plants and a profound connection to nature’s wisdom.
With many years of study and practice in herbal medicine, Nellie is trained in both Western Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and also practices acupuncture. Her work is rooted in a deep curiosity about the relationship between the body, nature, and the cycles of the Earth. Through direct experience—observing, tasting, sensing, and listening—she has developed a rich and embodied understanding of the healing qualities of plants.
Over the past years, she has shared this knowledge through courses, workshops, herbal walks, and consultations, supporting others in reconnecting with nature and their own innate balance.
During the retreat, Nellie will guide gentle herbal walks, offering an experiential way to connect with local plants and their uses. She also offers health consultations for those who wish to receive personalised support through herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle, as well as acupuncture sessions.
Health consultancy sessions can be booked in advance or on-site during the retreat.
ACCUPUNCTURE
HERBS
HEALTH
GUEST EXPERIENCES
“The energy is so so clear, deeply heart centred. And the intent with which Shambala is held is so beautiful, it has become a massively important of my life.”
“Shambala is this gorgeous space where strangers become family, the lake and forest your home, your breath is your theme song, your movement medicine, and vibrant food to nourish YOU for your journey with yourself.”
“Shambala is a way of life I have yet to find anywhere else in the world. The healing and growth I experienced there has been life changing. This is a place I have encouraged so many people I love to go.”
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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.
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.
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. Before each retreat, our kitchen is thoroughly cleaned, and no gluten-containing ingredients are brought into the kitchen during the retreat. We source almost all ingredients with gluten-free certification, including our oats, although some items such as ground spices are not specifically sourced with a gluten-free label.
Our meals are generally suitable for guests with gluten intolerance and many people with celiac disease. However, as we are not a certified gluten-free kitchen, we cannot fully guarantee the absence of cross-contamination for guests with severe sensitivity or celiac disease. If you have a high level of sensitivity, please let us know in advance so we can discuss the options available and help you find what feels safest and most comfortable for you.
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.
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.
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.
Bed linen and towels are included with your booking.
Want to support the environment? Bring your own sheets (single sheet, duvet cover, two pillow cases) and two towels and save 200 SEK — use code ECOLAUNDRY at checkout.
We kindly ask all guests to arrange a travel insurance before booking a retreat with us. As a small retreat centre, we are unfortunately unable to make exceptions to our cancellation policy, even in cases of illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances. Travel insurance helps protect you should your plans need to change unexpectedly.
If you are registering for this retreat directly with the teacher organizing it, please note that the teacher’s cancellation policy will apply, not Shambala’s. In that case, please ask your teacher directly about their cancellation policy.
The retreat price does not include travel insurance. We kindly ask all participants to ensure they have valid travel insurance before booking the retreat.
Join us July 21–26 for a 5-day Deep Rest retreat focused on slowing down; featuring gentle yoga, Yoga Nidra, herbal walks, sauna rituals, nourishing meals, and optional sessions in zen coaching, bodywork, and health consultations—alongside plenty of time to rest, reset, and reconnect.
Or write to us directly: hello@shambalagatherings.com
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