Terms & Conditions

Please be sure to read this document carefully and in full. The terms and conditions outlined on this page cover the following topics:

General Terms

Payment & Refunds

Waiver of Liability

Food & Amenities

Code of Conduct

General Terms

 

In the spirit of a retreat, our intention is to move into stillness and introspection and away from your normal day to day life and the sensory stimulation of the world.

 

This time is meant to be sacred and the space is set for you. Please be mindful of your voice, noise, idle chatter and social interaction that is not essential or beneficial to you or to other participants. This is important especially when traveling with family members and friends.

 

Reduce time on cellphones, digital devices, social media, radios, iPods, or books to keep your sensory input limited to what is essential during the 7-days.

 

If you are a practitioner of other forms of meditation or yogic practices, we ask that you adhere to the schedule of retreat events and practices listed for this event. Maintain respect for our space, intent and energy of the retreat facilitated by the organizers and do not disrupt the retreat environment with other personal practices.

 

Retreat participants in violation of terms and conditions may be asked to leave the retreat at any time at the discretion of the organizers. In such an event, the participant will bear the balance of retreat costs and no refunds will be issued.

 

We are located in an ecologically sensitive area and do not have disposal methods for plastic and other synthetic materials other than paper. Septic systems cannot bear disposal of anything else but human waste and recycled water. Toilet paper usage must be kept to a minimum and Ladies, please refrain from disposing of personal products in the toilet. Sanitary napkins/tampons/panty-liners etc. must be wrapped in newspaper to be disposed off in trash which will be disposed appropriately.

 

 

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Accomodations

Accommodations at the retreat center are shared. 2 – 3 persons may be assigned to a room. Men will be assigned to rooms separate and on separate floors than women. Private or Single rooms are not available at this time and are included in future plans.

 

At this time, our facility is not equipped for those with physical disabilities or mobility issues. Participants must be able to climb at least one flight of stairs and or walk on tile floors with bare feet or socks or indoor soft shoes, without assistance and sit on the floor or in a chair for long periods of time.

 

We are unable to provide guest accommodations prior to or after the retreat ends. Arrangements can be made at nearby guest-houses in advance for participants who wish to stay extra days outside of the retreat dates. Please let us know at the time of registration.

Arrival

Registration/application to a retreat must be approved and participants must receive confirmation to attend before making any travel plans to the retreat center.

 

Registered guests must arrive at the retreat center no later than 4pm of Day 1 of the retreat to complete registration and get settled in. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

Retreat program begins after dinner at 7pm in the evening on the day you arrive and program ends after breakfast at 8:30am on the day you leave. (example-7-day retreat starting on Day 1-Thur Feb 2 ends on Day 7 – Wed Feb 8th.Guests must arrive, between 1pm- 4pm on Feb 2 and leave on Wed, Feb 8th by 11am). We cannot make one-off provisions for guests who arrive before this time or leave after this time.

 

Participants are expected to arrange your schedule to arrive and depart at the designated times. Late arrivals and early departures are very disruptive to the organizers and interrupt the flow of the retreat experience for the facilitators, organizers, and other retreat participants.

Belongings

Please do not bring more than one piece of a medium sized roll-on luggage and a carry-on as we do not have the space to store excess luggage and equipment.

Please arrange for storage at a hotel destination.

 

Do NOT pack or bring the following: Pets, plants, live animals, alcohol, drugs, smoking paraphernalia and any intoxicants. (Smoking is strictly prohibited in and around our facility and premises), personal food supply unless it is medically prescribed. 

 

 

We will not be liable for theft or loss of personal valuables.

Atmanandam reserves the right to reject your registration and /or cancel a scheduled retreat at any time.

Payment Policy

Retreat Cost

Retreat costs are subject to change at short notice based on currency fluctuations and costs.

 

7-day retreat cost is $1350 USD. 

 

Your retreat fee covers shared accommodation in a room with 1 or 2 others, 3 meals a day+tea+ snacks, and the cost for the facilitators energy exchange. Any additional donation offering to Atmanandam Mission Trust will enable costs towards our future expansion projects. 

Deposit

A deposit payment of 25% of retreat cost, reserves your spot and must be made after this registration process. Full payment for the retreat must be completed within 40-days of the retreat date. Invoices will be emailed to your email address and are payable with a credit card. Payment must be completed within 3-days of invoice date.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Your initial deposit  of retreat cost is non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be credited. Retreat fees fully paid are not refundable within 10-days of a retreat date. If you cancel within 30-days of a retreat date, we retain your non-refundable deposit.

 

Refund checks are not issued and any remaining balances will be credited back to the credit card used or to PayPal minus non-refundable deposit amount and any service fees or charges. If the retreat is cancelled (due to unforeseen circumstances), full refunds will be given to those registered at the time the retreat is cancelled.

 

Refunds will not be given for any other reason including sickness or act of God circumstances.

Waiver of Liability

By submitting this registration, I confirm that all of the information I provide is correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that my registration and application will be approved at the discretion of the facilitators, and I agree to depart if requested by the facilitators, and I agree to bear the costs involved in an early or unexpected departure.

 

I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate in the meditation retreat sponsored by Atmanandam Mission Trust.

 

Assumption of Risk

I am aware that participating in this event may involve physical activities such as work meditation, yoga, or other breath practices, as well as risks associated with walking or being at higher elevations, including contact with poisonous plants and wildlife. I am also aware that this is a silent, intensive meditation retreat and that participants in such retreats may experience intense and unusual psychological, spiritual, and/or physical states of mind and body arising from the meditation and associated retreat activities. I am voluntarily participating in these activities with full knowledge of the risks involved, and hereby agree to accept any and all risks of harm that may result from these activities.

 

We are in a remote location and access to a full-service medical facility/hospital is at least 1 hour away. Access to a pharmacy or dispensary is also limited. Please bring a personal first-aid kits and required medications.

Release

As consideration for being permitted by Atmanandam Mission Trust to participate in these activities and use their facilities, I hereby agree that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, and legal representatives will not make a claim against, sue, or attach the property of Atmanandam, its founders, employees, agents or volunteers or any of its affiliates for injury or damage resulting from acts, howsoever caused, by any employee, agent, or contractor of these organizations, or any of their affiliated organizations, as a result of my participation in this event, except when an employee, agent, or contractor of Atmanandam Mission Trust exhibits gross negligence, or intentionally acts in a manner likely to lead to my being harmed.


I hereby release Atmanandam Mission Trust, its founders, employees, agents and volunteers from all actions, claims or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians, and legal representatives now have or may hereafter have for injury or damage resulting from my participation in this event, except when an employee, agent, or volunteer/contractor of Atmanandam Mission Trust exhibits gross negligence or intentionally acts in a manner likely to lead to my being harmed.

Knowing and Voluntary Execution

I have carefully read this agreement and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Atmanandam Mission Trust, and sign it of my own free will.

Food & Amenities

Meals

We provide freshly prepared healthy S.Indian style vegetarian food 3 x daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will include milk and yogurt. Meals do not include eggs, meat or fish. Cashews or peanuts may be included as snacks or in some dishes. Please indicate any serious allergies in your medical history section. Black tea /Indian chai with cardamom and ginger is also provided along with herbal options. Coffee is not provided. Boiled and sterilized water will be provided at all times. Hot water will be provided.

 

We are unable to accommodate special dietary needs or restrictions

Amenities

Basic essential personal products such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper will be provided. You may bring / use your own environmentally safe, synthetic fragrance free personal products.

 

Fresh thin cotton Towels and will be provided every 3 days and linens will only be changed at the end of a 7-day retreat stay. Fresh linens maybe requested should an emergency situation require it. Please be aware that the environment is humid and we stay in foggy or overcast conditions much of the year. Laundry services are not provided as part of basic amenities as drying clothes or towels are challenging in our climate and environment. We ask that you be mindful of water usage and what you are putting down drains and toilets.

 

We do not provide any hair-dryers at this time.

Internet/Wi-Fi/Electronic Usage

This will be a mostly silent retreat environment. Contact with the outside world is minimal. Participants need to be at ease with both silence and solitude. Silence maybe required for some hours during the day.

 

For your safety, retreat participants are asked to remain on the property during the course of the retreat and limit your contact to an absolute minimum with people outside the retreat.

 

Please note that as part of the retreat environment, we develop mindful awareness in all our communication. Please turn off all digital devices and limit access to cell phones, smart phones, texting, Internet use, e-mail, or any other form of non-essential communication. Phone calls and text messages and other social interaction must be limited to certain times of day allocated except in the case of an emergency or to notify family/friends of any issues.

 

Time will be allocated to communicate with your family for this if necessary. We ask that you consider this carefully.

 

Internet access may be sporadic and limited to 30 minutes per day. Wi-Fi access is not provided for personal use in your rooms as we turn off all sources of potential EMF disruption during retreat. Please do not request passwords.

 

Please limit charging your electronic devices (except for medical use) to only as required. Any unnecessary non-essential electricity usage places a burden on our power grid. We may be subject to power blackouts and brown outs at various times of the year especially during thunderstorms.

 

All devices must be unplugged during a storm as we are prone to voltage surges in electricity. This may permanently damage your devices. We are not responsible or liable for any damages caused.

 

Bring an appropriate electricity voltage converter/transformer for your electronic devices to charge (India is on a 220 voltage vs. 110 V in the US). These are available in travel stores and must be purchased in your country of origin prior to travel.

 

Participants are asked to remain on the property during the course of the retreat and limit your contact to an absolute minimum with people outside the retreat. This means limited access to cell phones, smart phones, texting, Internet use, e-mail, or any other form of non-essential communication except in the case of an emergency or to notify family/friends of any issues. Time will be allocated to communicate with your family for this if necessary. We ask that you consider this carefully.

Code of Conduct

We vow to abide by the following precepts during the course of the retreat:

 

Please avoid non-essential communication during the retreat. Refrain from idle speech/chatter, false, malicious, or harsh speech (we will maintain silence most of the time, except when functional speech is required during work meditation/Karma Yoga and during the Q&A portion of discourse or Satsangh).

 

Abstain from killing and harming living beings (This includes all beings, both human and otherwise.) (There are insects, birds, small animals, reptiles etc. in and around our location)

 

Abstain from stealing or taking what is not given or yours

 

Abstain from sexual misconduct and all sexual activity.

 

Refrain from taking intoxicants of any kind.

 

Maintain a respectful and dignified demeanor and attitude of humility towards yourself, other participants, facilitators and retreat staff.

 

Maintain strict personal hygiene, wear fresh clean clothes daily, keep finger nails trimmed and long hair tied back especially when entering the kitchen and meditation area.

 

Please avoid fragrances and scented personal products.

 

 

Dress

Maintain a modest appearance and dress in accordance with the S. Indian culture which is fairly conservative for women by Western standards. Avoid shorts, short-skirts and sleeveless tops.Please do not wear shorts or short skirts and sleeveless tops to the retreat or meditation hall.

 

Due to the humid nature of the environment, we suggest wearing white and light-colored cotton tops and loose fitting slacks or long skirts or indian style kurta/pyjama outfits. Please avoid wearing black clothes while you are at the Ashram.

 

Do not wear fragrances or perfumes or synthetic scented personal products. Please be considerate to the facilitators and other participants with chemical sensitivities. Do not bring or wear expensive or large /noisy jewelry to the retreat.

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