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.

20 – 23 August, 2026

Yogic Practices in Modern Day Life – The Elements with Hanna Backman

Welcome to a yoga retreat that might transform the way you see the world, yourself and your relationships, through the perspectives of the five elements.

Nights

saunas

GUIDED SESSIONS

A RETREAT FOR YOU

The Essence

In this retreat you get to experience the five elements, the most fundamental building bricks of which everything is made of – including ourselves.

Discover how earth, water, fire, air and ether show up in nature, your behaviors, in your body and in life.

The elements plays in integral part of yoga and is the foundation for Asanas, Mudras, the Chakra system, Pranayama and Ayurveda. But often, we learn these disciplines separately, without looking at the elements that form the fundament for these teachings and techniques.

This weekend we will honor and explore the elements. What element are you comfortable with? Or less comfortable with? Learn if you’ve developed different relationships to the other qualities. What happens when different elements meet? And how can you shift a pattern you might have with someone close to you, just by applying what you know about the elements? How can you guide someone who is lacking motivation or is agitated? This workshop sheds light on the world, your patterns, offers insights and laughter. Through embodiment we learn so much more than we do when we only read.

This is a weekend for you who want to come away into nature, rest, move, have fun, gain aha-moments, discover new insights and bring completely new qualities into your sun salutation. Come with an open mind and lets explore together!

Sponsorship

We know that not everyone can afford the full retreat price, and we want to make this experience accessible. For this reason, we’re offering one reduced-rate spot for someone who feels called to join but would otherwise be unable to.

If this speaks to you, please email us at shambalagatherings@gmail.com
with a little bit about yourself, and you’ll be considered for this spot.

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.

Explore the Five Elements

Discover how earth, water, fire, air, and ether shape your body, mind, relationships, and experience of life.

Embodied Yoga Practice

Experience dynamic asana, meditation, satsang, and movement inspired by the wisdom of the five elements.

Insightful Teachings

Learn practical ways to understand patterns, balance qualities, and apply elemental wisdom in everyday life.

Nature Immersion

Exploring the surrounding forest paths and taking refreshing dips in the lake, allowing the pristine beauty of nature to enliven and inspire you.

Nourishing plant-based Cuisine

Enjoy delicious vegan meals, organic and locally sourced whenever possible, thoughtfully prepared to support your energy and well-being.

Warm Community Atmosphere

Be welcomed into a homely retreat environment where connection, reflection, and shared experiences naturally unfold.

"In the silence of the forest, I finally heard what my body had been trying to tell me for years. This retreat gave me permission to rest — truly rest — for the first time in my adult life."

— Previous retreat guest

YOUR DAYS

A Gentle Rhythm

Our days will unfold in a balancing rhythm of listening to what the space needs.

Check-in is at 15:00 on the arrival day, and check-out is at 15:00 on the departure day.

Each day will look slightly different and here’s a soft outline of our days:

Early rise

07:30–08:45

Meditation & Element Puja

We begin in quiet stillness, followed by a ritual (puja) to honor the earth, water, fire, air, and space. A reverent opening to align with nature’s living forces.

Breakfast

09.00

Breakfast in Silence: Reflection & Writing 

A nourishing meal enjoyed in quiet presence and reflective writing. Simple flavors and gentle words to begin the day from within.

Morning practice

10.30-13.00

Satsang and/or Physical Practice

Insightful teachings and shared inquiry flowing into embodied movement. Discover how elemental qualities appear in nature, the body, and daily life.

Lunch

13.30

Plant-Based Buffet 

A delicious vegan buffet inspired by Ayurvedic traditions. Fresh, nutritious dishes made primarily with locally sourced and organic ingredients.

Integration

Rest, Nature & Integration Time

Free time to rest, reflect, or enjoy the natural surroundings of Shambala. Walk in the forest, swim in the lake, or relax in the peaceful retreat space.

Sharing Circle

15.00

Sharing Circle: Reflection & Insight

A relaxed space to reflect together and share insights from the day’s exploration of the elements.

Yoga

16.00

Yoga & Element Practice

A dynamic yoga practice exploring the five elements through asana, breath, and embodied awareness.

Dinner

19.00

A Nourishing Community Meal 

Gather for a delicious, wholesome evening meal shared in a peaceful and heart-centered atmosphere.

Evenings

20:00 - 22:00

Different options each night

Each evening offers something unique, from sauna and swimming to a 5 Elements free movement workshop, massage treatments, or spacious time to simply rest and enjoy the surroundings.

Good night

22:00

Time to unwind

Get an early night's rest, or linger a little longer over a cup of tea in the living room. We kindly ask for quiet in the dorm and around the accommodation areas from 22:00 onwards.

To support the depth of the experience and the group journey, we warmly ask participants to attend the retreat from beginning to end.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

What's Included

All classes, workshops, satsangs, offerings and rituals
Fours days and three nights of retreat space
All meals: mostly organic, plant-based, locally sourced
Fresh herbal teas all day
Time to come home to yourself, rest, read, nap and just be
Daily sauna
Use of kayaks, paddleboards & access to forest trails
Free parking on-site
Pick-up and drop-off service from the local train station (Skinnskatteberg)
Bed linens and bath towels
Wi-Fi available in designated areas

Not Included

per person · all-inclusive · shared triple room (other room tiers available)

6800 kr

YOUR GUIDE

Hanna

Hanna has been practicing yoga since the ’90s and is the owner of Little Peace Yoga, awarded Swedens best yoga studio. She is an E-RYT with over 1.000 hours at Yoga Alliance and has many different Teacher Trainings and workshops. She is appreciated for her ability to make the yogic philosophy accessible to people today.

She moves freely between dynamic asana practices to Satsang, yin, meditation and chanting depending on what serves the purpose. She is teaching at Little Peace Yoga, is an appreciated guest teacher at several yoga conferences and teacher trainings and is hosting at the podcast” Little Peace Talk”.

www.littlepeace.se

Yoga

E-RYT

Satsang

Yin

Meditation

Chanting

GUEST EXPERIENCES

Words from Past Retreats

“Super fun and important topic, and the one that has stayed with me the most in my revery day life. I draw on what I learned when resolving conflicts with my children, with my husband, and I remind myself to break my own patterns. I even use it in work situations to reach solutions where there used to be only stagnation.”

Eva

Retreat at Shambala

“I like Hanna very much as a yoga teacher, her voice and whole being was pure and truth and love for me. The theory in combination with asanas, personal writing, chanting, pranayama and meditation really makes the practice holistic. I liked very much the connection to daily life… this is so useful!!””

Lisa

Google Review, 2024

“I feel like I woke up, for real, to what the world is made up of. This retreat has given me great insights, good laughs, but also a new humbleness. Hanna is a very attentive and safe space holder who shares truth from the core, and does it with a voice that is wonderful to listen to.”

Christopher

Retreat at Shambala

The element workshops were great! It gave me so many insights and laughs, and Hanna held the space beautifully for everyone to realize themselves.”

Mana

Previous Workshop Participant

“The combination of Hannas personality and the atmosphere in the community gave the retreat an unique touch! This is yoga at its best. You get to practice but you also get a deeper understanding theoretically. Hanna is warm and has a lot of knowledge, yet she is humoristic and entertaining. Overall a very real and total experience, natural and intense”

Eric

Retreat at Shambala

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.

The Forest Awaits

6,800 kr · shared triple room • all-inclusive

Join us 20 – 23 August, 2026 on a yoga retreat that might transform the way you see the world, yourself and your relationships, through the perspectives of the five elements

Or write to us directly: hello@shambalagatherings.com

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