THE YOGINI SUMMER ASHRAM
Corfu Buddha Hall, Greece
June 4 - 23, 2023
We are beyond excited to welcome you to our International Summer Ashram in Greece 2023!
Since the first time we gathered on the magical island of Corfu 17 years ago, our practice and connection to the ancient Lineage of the Living Goddess has deepened in ways I could never have imagined.
For many women this annual ashram time in Greece has been the oasis we return to again and again to deepen our connection with Goddess, to fill up our inner well, to rejuvenate and to re-member what truly matters.
This year’s summer ashram is dedicated to healing—for you and me, the body, the heart, the circle, mother earth and the world. A velvet soft space for dance, song, massage, giggles, tears, temple touch, silence, roars, salt water, sun, olives, sisters, sunsets, connection, prayers, ritual, roots and wings.
The sacred land of Corfu heals, restores and reminds us of the abundance and beauty of life itself; that we all are embodiments of the Living Goddess. Come with your tiredness, your longing, your joy, your grief, your hope; old, young, inspired, fed up; all that you are is welcome here.
Please register as soon as you can, and it also helps us with our planning to know how many feel ready to attend.
I know I do 🙂
With infinite love,
Join us for 1, 2 or 3 weeks
Rooted in the Living Goddess
Week 1: June 4 – 9
with Lifedancing
Into the Heart of the Living Goddess
Week 2: June 11 – 16
with Lifedancing
Into the Source of Living Goddess
Week 3: June 18 – 23
with Lifedancing
“A Yogini is a woman devoted to a life lived with totality of heart,
with fierce truth, with compassion and unconditional love.
Earth is home and so is infinity.
She is an instrument of awakening in the world
by her commitment to show up authentically and generously,
for her own radiant embodiment of love
as well as for the healing of all sentient beings.”
~ Chameli Gad Ardagh
To complete the reservation form and make your $100 non-refundable deposit,
click on the link below to pay using PayPal or a credit card.
About the Practice
devotional singing ~ dharma talks & open circle with Chameli ~ dance ~ inner yoga practices ~ dyads ~ inquiries ~ meditation ~ temple touch ~ movement ~ prayer
We practice an all-inclusive, in-the-body spirituality. Spiritual awakening, instead of being a peak experience that you once had or a concept you read about and compare yourself with, becomes a lived and embodied realization of freedom and love uniquely experienced and expressed through each woman.
This is a highly experiential path; a lot of the practices are interactive and include movement and respectful touch.
About Singing Practice
We begin most days with singing. The sacred sounds of mantras vibrate through our whole being and open our hearts to the sweet nectar of devotion. We practice receptivity and relaxation when we sing, allowing tenderness and freedom to arise from the inside out through our voice.
About Lifedancing
Carina-Maria will guide us in Lifedancing in the mornings. In Week 1 we will dance every morning. In Week 2 + 3 we will alternate dance with meditation.
Lifedancing moves you through the elements of earth, fire, water and air, and gives you a deep embodied understanding of the cyclic dance of life.
Ground your feet in the muddy belly of Mother Earth. Move wild and free with the spiritual fire in your hips and heart. Let your body express who you are in this very moment. Shake your absolutely everything! Surrender body and mind in the healing flow of Shakti. Let go in sacred ecstasy, rest in deep silence.
Prerequisite:
To benefit from this retreat you must have some background in embodied spiritual practice, as well as a basic knowledge and experience of the Awakening Women approach through at least one online sadhana (you can find our online self-study sadhanas here).
We offer space for spiritual practice, not psychotherapy. The group will be supported by the retreat leaders and our experienced staff, but participants are expected to take full responsibility for their own process.
There is an intensity to the embodiment practices that may be challenging if you are not used to it. If you are psychologically unstable, are going through a severe crisis, or have a history of unmanageable mental illness, this retreat will not be beneficial for you.
Although there are plenty of breaks for beach and rest, this is not a festival-like retreat where you can show up to only some of the sessions.
We do include inner yoga practices and movement in our sessions, however, this is not a Yoga retreat.
Magnificently the most powerful and best retreat/intensive ever —and I have been around the block a few times with spiritual experiences! I thought the yogini retreat would be about silence, meditation, spiritual conversations—all what I am used to experiencing. But what I received—freedom! All of my senses were awakened in love and spiritual acceptance, and the power held within every one of our hearts was palpable. The space was so full of the Presence—and the liberation 7 generations back and 7 generations forward—was clairvoyantly visible.
Darlene Antoniewicz, United States
My experience at the Corfu retreat in 2022 was truly nourishing and inspiring. A warm community of women, great in-depth teachings from Chameli that relate to my daily experience—encouraging and powerful. Stunning and fun dancing classes with Carina-Maria that inspired my body and my soul. And a safe container provided by Mama Corfu and an amazing team of teachers and assistants. I am full of gratitude and sparkling aliveness. Thank you!
Simone Brecht, Germany
Week 1
June 4 – 9
Rooted in the Living Goddess
Through dance ceremony, Goddess mythology, embodied temple practices, respectful touch and devotional chanting, we will awaken and nourish our spiritual roots, so that we can step into this next phase of life on earth resourced; rooted in integrity, connection, wisdom and love.
This week will include Lifedancing every morning, and the focus will be on roots, embodiment and somatic awakening.
Come dance yourself back to your core connection and alignment. Shake off the confusion and heavy burdens, let yourself be held and supported in the soft beauty of Corfu and the sacred circle.
In addition to the daily Lifedancing Ceremonies, where we will dance through all five elements in a cycle, we will also dive deeper into the medicine of one element a day, remembering through our bodies Shakti Alchemy; the wisdom and power of the Living Goddess.
Sample Schedule ~ Week 1
| 8:00–9:30 | Lifedancing with Carina-Maria |
| 9:30–10:30 | Breakfast, pool and rest time |
| 10:30–14:00 | Mantra Singing, Dharma Talks and Temple Practices with Chameli |
| 14:00 | Lunch |
| Free Time + Dinner on your own | |
| 20:30–21:00 | Some evenings we will have chanting meditation on the beach at sunset. We will meet at the Buddha Hall for one evening session during the week. |
(The schedule is subject to change at any time.)
Saturday is an arrival day. Week 1 will start on the morning of Sunday, June 4, and end after lunch on Friday, June 9. If you are staying for Week 2, Saturday, June 10 will be a free day.
To complete the reservation form and make a $100 non-refundable deposit,
click on the link below to pay using PayPal or a credit card.
Week 2
June 11 – 16
Into the Heart of the Living Goddess
A time for deep nourishment and awakening of the spiritual heart. A refuge, a healing sanctuary for all the aching parts to be seen and held in the warmth of Divine Mother Shakti; a vast, clear warmth that trickles through all the grief, the exhaustion, and numb places.
The journey into the Heart of the Living Goddess is a softening, a ripening from the inside; a realignment with the innermost temple, where you touch the holy, and the holy touches you.
During this week our morning practice will alternate between Lifedancing and meditation, each day journeying deeper into the vast warmth of the heart.
Through Goddess mythology and subtle body awakening, dance ceremony, meditation, sacred song and ritual, temple touch, deep rest and silence, we will soak in beauty, prayers and nourishment, filling up the inner well so that we can walk into this next phase of life on earth, resourced and rooted in love.
Sample Schedule ~ Week 2
| 8:00–9:00/9:30 |
Morning Meditation or Lifedancing | |
| 9:30–10:30 |
Breakfast | |
| 10:30–14:00 |
Mantra Singing, Dharma Talks and Temple practices with Chameli | |
| after 14:00 |
Free time | |
| 20:30 – 21:00 | Some evenings we will have Chanting Meditation on the beach. We will meet at Buddha Hall for one evening session during the week. |
(The schedule is subject to change at any time.)
Saturday is an arrival day. Week 2 will start Sunday morning, June 11, and end before dinner time on Friday, June 16. If you are staying for Week 3, Saturday, June 17 will be a free day.
To complete the reservation form and make a $100 non-refundable deposit,
click on the link below.
Week 3
June 18 – 23
Into the Source of Living Goddess
In this week we will spend more time in silence, basking in the spaciousness of our innermost being; in the source of peace and rejuvenation; deep connection and inner guidance.
Our morning practice will alternate between Lifedancing and meditation, where we will explore the deeper rhythms and creative impulses arising from the cosmic womb of the Goddess, and how we can surrender our lives into Her flow.
We will of course have Goddess mythology and circle time, temple practices, subtle body awakening, singing, prayers, soft touch, dyads, meditation and contemplation, and blissful late afternoons by the beach.
Sample Schedule ~ Week 3
| 8:00–9:00/9:30 |
Morning Meditation or Lifedancing | |
| 9:30–10:30 |
Breakfast | |
| 10:30–14:00 |
Mantra Singing, Dharma Talks and Temple Practices with Chameli | |
| after 14:00 | Free time | |
| 20:30 – 21:00 | Some evenings we will have Chanting Meditation on the beach at sunset. We will meet at the Buddha Hall for one evening session during the week. |
(The schedule is subject to change at any time.)
Saturday is an arrival day. Week 3 will start Sunday morning, June 18, and end at lunchtime on Friday, June 23.
You may complete your reservation form and make a $100 non-refundable deposit
by clicking the link below. You can use PayPal or a credit card.
Food & Lodging
Corfu Buddha Hall
Corfu Buddha Hall is a gorgeous hilltop venue with breathtaking views and a spacious temple for us to move and dance. The Buddha Hall is located just outside the tiny village of Magoulades, the closest beach villages of Arillas and Agios Stefanos are about 3 km (2 miles) away. Please visit Corfu Buddha Hall for more details about this beautiful venue.
Most women choose to stay in Arillas and take the shuttle bus to the short 10 minute drive to and from Buddha Hall. The shuttle cost is not included in the weekly fee paid to Buddha Hall. There is an additional cost for the shuttle that will be divided by the number of women using the shuttle services. You will have the opportunity to prebook shuttle transport with Buddha Hall prior to your arrival, and they will let you know the amount per person.
Food & Lodging:
A luscious, vegetarian breakfast and lunch buffet will be served each day at Buddha Hall (included in the Buddha Hall fee). You are on your own for dinner and can enjoy one of the many wonderful restaurants in Arillas. If your accommodations have a kitchen you might choose to shop at the local markets and prepare some of your own meals.
The Buddha Hall does not provide lodging.
There are many apartments for rent, as well as hotels, in and around Arillas.
For further support, please write to accommodation@corfubuddhahall.com or check out www.arillas.com. You can also reach out to Daizy at info@greencorfu.com for complimentary lodging assistance.
Once confirmed, you will be invited into our Corfu Yogini Sisters Facebook group. If you are traveling alone and would like to share an apartment, you can connect with the other women in this group.
There are bikes and scooters for rent in the area.
Retreat Tuition
| Ashram Weeks | Early Bird Price Due by March 15 (USD) | Regular Price Due By May 1 (USD) |
| Week 1 | $650 | $715 |
| Week 2 | $650 | $715 |
| Week 3 | $650 | $715 |
| Weeks 1 + 2 | $1200 | $1300 |
| Weeks 2 + 3 | $1200 | $1300 |
| All 3 Weeks | $1650 | $1850 |
Additional Costs:
In addition to the weekly retreat tuition to Awakening Women, there is a
€360/week campus + meal fee directly to Corfu Buddha Hall upon arrival.
The shuttle bus (coordinated by Buddha Hall) is a separate fee that will be determined by the number of women using the shuttle each week, somewhere in the range of €7-10/day.
Apartments in the area rent for €200–500 a week (for 2–4 people).
How Do I Register?
1) Complete the Registration Form
Click here or on any of the “Reserve My Seat” buttons on this page and you can complete the reservation form and send in your $100 non-refundable deposit. After we have received your deposit and reviewed your form, we will send you a confirmation email for your retreat week(s). Please do not make travel arrangements until you have received confirmation from us.
2) All participants will need to make their own reservations for lodging
Email accommodation@corfubuddhahall.com to inquire about rooms they have onsite, or reach out to Daizy at info@greencorfu.com for assistance with booking lodging in Arillas.
3) Make your travel arrangements (you will find more info in the ‘Getting There‘ section below).
4) Early Bird tuition balance is due by March 15, 2023. If you miss that deadline, the regular price balance is due by May 1, 2023. If we do not receive payment by the applicable due date, your place may be offered to someone on the waiting list and the deposit will be forfeited. You will be notified about how to complete the balance of your tuition once the deposit is received.
Note ~ Awakening Women retreat tuition does not include:
Accommodations and meals (outside of the two meals at Buddha Hall), airfare to Corfu, transport to and from Arillas lodging, shuttle transport services to/from Buddha Hall, additional activities and outings, massage, private sessions, and additional meals/snacks.
Cancellation Policy
I understand that in case I cancel:
Before May 1, 2023 I will receive a refund for the retreat tuition MINUS the deposit. After May 1, 2023 there will be no refunds. In case of sickness, I may transfer the course fee (minus deposit) to next year’s retreat. (If I cannot attend the following year, I will forfeit the tuition credit.)
AWI is financially responsible for the retreat so we ask you kindly to respect that we cannot make any exceptions to this agreement. We are not responsible for any changes in the exchange rates throughout the year.
In case the retreat is cancelled:
If, for reasons outside our control, we have to cancel the retreat, you will receive a refund for the retreat tuition, minus the deposit, which will go towards covering bank and administrative costs.
Retreat in COVID Times
It is your responsibility to stay updated on your country’s travel guidelines for entering and leaving Greece. This official website for Greece has details.
Staff and participants in the retreat will follow the official guidelines in place for the village of Arillas, which may change at any time. Although we will pay extra attention to hygiene, using hand sanitizers and possibly rapid testing, if regulations allow, the retreat sessions will take place without mandatory masks and social distancing. We ask that everyone help protect the space by staying out of sessions if you experience symptoms that might be infectious.
It is a practice in flexibility and improvisation to come together on retreat in these times, and we ask for everyone’s understanding and collaboration. There might be periods when staff or even the group leaders have to quarantine, and in that case we will have experienced staff members guide the sessions. Chameli created this retreat as a space for us to connect intimately with the Living Goddess, and over the years we have established structures and practices that support us to rest into our Source connection. So even if Chameli has to stay out of the group room for some days, know that you will still be held in safe space, and that you can still practice as deeply as your heart is longing for.
Getting There
Our goal is to make the retreat not only carbon neutral but also a contribution to Mother Earth. So in addition to plenty of carbon offset donations for our teachers and staff, we will also pay to plant a tree for each participant joining us.
We invite you to also contribute as you book your travel plans. We choose to plant trees through TreeSisters for our ashram events. Some other organizations where you can contribute are Earth Guardians and atmosfair (also available in German). Thank you!
Here are some travel suggestions for getting yourself to Corfu:
Ferry: Consider traveling by train or car and then boarding a ferry from one of the many ports in Italy that sails directly to Corfu. Here is a place to start with ferry information.
Air Travel: If you want to surf for the cheapest deal within Europe, you can try ryanair.com, condor.com, tuifly.com and eurowings.com.
** We require that you have travel insurance for your trip that includes medical / health coverage. You can do that when you purchase your ticket from the airline or you might consider insurance through World Nomads.
From Norway:
apollo.no, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS
From Sweden:
Brussels Airlines, SAS, Ryanair (from Rygge outside Oslo)
From USA:
Many have found it easier and cheaper to fly to Munich/Vienna/Frankfurt or any other city in the area, and then catch a charter flight directly to Corfu (eurowings.com, condor.com)
Meet the Team
Chameli Gad Ardagh
Retreat Teacher
Founder of Awakening Women & The Women’s Wisdom School
Chameli (pronounced sha-meh-lee) is a yogini, mystic and a Goddess Wisdom Keeper. Her love of ancient wisdom teachings and her own practice in women’s circles all over the world has crystallized maps of spiritual awakening and leadership that are accessible, practical and honoring of women today. Rooted in earth honoring, devotional women’s spirituality and goddess centered tantric yoga, she is especially appreciated for her love of mythology and storytelling as a key to spiritual awakening and embodiment.
Carina-Maria Caur
Dance & Mantra Singing
The director of Lifedancing Academy – a pulsating dance community offering weekly events and classes and a yearlong Dance Teacher Training in Sweden and Germany. Through her groundbreaking methods and inspiring presence, she has made it possible for thousands of people to open up, relax and dive into the depth of their being through free movement. She is a gifted singer, actress, and embodiment coach. Carina-Maria is the mother of two. LifeDancing.se
SimoneRita Egger
Head Goddess of Staff + Onsite Organization
SimoneRita is a Goddess Wisdom Keeper in the lineage of the Living Goddess. Since 2007, she has been passionately practicing in women’s circles around the world. Her feminine spiritual practice, rooted in Goddess-centered tantric yoga, consists of meditation, dance, movement, chanting, being a businesswoman and mother. She is a trusted guide for living these teachings in all aspects of our being, our family, our relationships and our leadership. In addition, SimoneRita teaches the Awakening Women Women’s Temple Group Training and 9 Month Program in Germany.
Anita Wiger
Leadership Assistant + Sacred Chant
Anita is goddess Lakshmi incarnated—radiant, abundant, full of joy. She has been practicing with Chameli and Awakening Women since 2007 and was the team leader at the Corfu retreat for many years. Serving in her new role, Anita brings extraordinary skills for holding space, and her presence creates a safe container where women can go deeply into practice. A gifted entrepreneur, Anita has successfully run several businesses in the field of beauty and styling. She is a mother and grandmother and splits her time between Stockholm, Sweden and Lagos, Portugal.
Karen McGinn
Event Coordinator & Registration
Karen stepped into the Yogini circle in Corfu 2011 and knew the feminine practices had something beautiful to offer her heart. Inspired to living a life more intimately connected to truth, she maintains a daily commitment to sadhana. She keeps her AWI sisters in flow with her welcoming presence and administrative support for a variety of projects that keep the women connected to their own practice. A yogini living in southern California, Karen also enjoys hands-on house projects, hiking and being car-free!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous experience with women's work to join you in Corfu?
All participants of the Yogini Summer Ashram in Corfu must have a background in spiritual practice and must have taken at least one online sadhana with Awakening Women. You can find our online self-study sadhanas here.
In order to benefit from these retreats, you need to come prepared to dive fully into the practices, and therefore it is best to have a basic understanding of feminine/embodied spiritual practice. You need to have participated in a program with Awakening Women, practiced in a Temple group, or taken an online sadhana.
Come willing to explore a new way of being with other women beyond our collective tendencies of competition and gossiping. The practices we explore together may evoke strong feelings in you, both of pleasure and of discomfort, and our staff and the entire circle is there to hold you in the most healing and safe space.
Be aware that although there are plenty of breaks to rest and integrate, there is an intensity to the embodiment practices that can be challenging if you are not used to it.
Our practices can sometimes be physically vigorous, so be prepared to move your body!
How do I reserve a space in the retreat I am interested in?
Click here or on any of the “Reserve My Seat” buttons and you will be taken to a reservation form to submit and pay a $100 non-refundable deposit. Once your form is reviewed we will be in touch to confirm your status. Please do not make any travel plans until you have received confirmation from us.
Can I join in the middle of the week?
No, we begin each week together as a group and it is important that everybody is there from the beginning.
I am longing for a vacation and would like to join for some sessions only, is it possible?
The retreat is a deepening in feminine practices and not primarily a vacation; all participants must be present in all the sessions. If you would like a retreat with more vacation time, consider staying on longer in Greece after the retreat ends.
Can I bring my children?
The program will end at lunch time each day, so yes as long as you bring childcare, it is possible to combine the retreat with family time. However, know that you will go through profound transformation and may be in need of rest and integration time between sessions.
Is it very hot in June?
Yes, this is the summertime and it gets hot in the day. The ocean is cool, and our group room is blessed with air conditioning and fans. (If you are sensitive to air conditioning, please bring a shawl or sweater to the room.) The evenings are usually a bit cooler.
What is the currency in Greece, and where can I exchange money?
The currency in Corfu is euros. You can withdraw euros from your account at any ATM machine using your debit card.
How do we get from the airport to Buddha Hall?
There are taxis available at the airport. A shared taxi is 65-75 € one way. The trip from the airport to Buddha Hall takes about an hour.
The address to give to your taxi driver will be shared with you in a Welcome email from the staff at Buddha Hall.
You can make an online booking for a seat on a bus at www.holidaytaxis.com/en
How do I get around if I don't have a car?
If you are staying close to the beach, you can easily get around on foot. Otherwise, you
can rent a bike, car or scooter. Buddha Hall will have information on rental companies.
Use of shuttle services to and from Buddha Hall will be an additional charge per day based on the number of participants that use the service.
How does the shuttle at Buddha Hall work?
Use of the shuttle service is a separate fee paid to Buddha Hall. The cost will be determined by the number of participants who choose to use the service. You will have an opportunity to prebook shuttle transport directly with Buddha Hall prior to your arrival.
We coordinate with the Buddha Hall team to create a daily bus schedule and route (up and down the hill) based on the participants’ accommodations. We recommend staying near the beach (downhill) if you want to be closer to shops and restaurants.
Do you purchase carbon offsets?
Yes, we do! Our goal is to make the retreat not only carbon neutral but also a contribution to Mother Earth. So in addition to plenty of carbon offset donations for our teachers and staff, we will also pay to plant a tree for each participant joining us. We also make donations to give back to the local community in Arillas.
We invite you to also contribute as you book your travel plans. We choose to plant trees through TreeSisters for our ashram events. Some other organizations where you can contribute are Earth Guardians and atmosfair (also available in German). Thank you!
