This 10-day retreat is a dynamic, transformational experience embodied in one powerful retreat program. Expect a fun holistic experience led by three professionals, with offerings of Yoga, Physical Exercise, Breathing, Spiritual Awakening, Meditation, Psycho Sensory Modalities, Movement Explorations with Live Music, Sound Baths, Cacao Ceremony and Dance.

The program conducted will be enriched by an excursion, bodysurfing and individual Ayurvedic treatments (the last available at extra cost).

Ivan Bavcevic Bava

Spiritual Master & Success Coach

A spiritual teacher, writer and therapist who founded his Schools of Consciousness and Spiritual Mastery in Croatia, Spain and Slovenia. Since 2011, Bava has traveled more than 700,000 kilometers on 4 continents and held more than 8,300 hours of seminars and workshops. In his work, he also uses his own ALO method (Allow, Release, Surrender), which serves to release and heal wounds, traumas and emotional blockages.

Sabio Janiak

Musician and Psycho Sensory Specialist

Certified Havening practitioner, the end of life doula, transformational coach, psycho sensory specialist, hypnotherapist, musician and multi-disciplinary holistic mental health practitioner. Since 2005, thanks to his unique skills, he visited and worked in more than 85 countries, delivering performances, workshops, education and retreats worldwide. Sabio safely guides you through the harmonisation process of your mental and physical bodies.

Sai Naresh

Yoga Master & Academy Director

Sai Naresh, as Chakali Naresh is called by his friends and disciples, was born and raised in Puttaparthi, known as the birthplace of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and one of the most important spiritual places in India. He started his yoga career in 2016 as a meditation teacher, then continued his studies of Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Vinyasa Flow and Teacher Training certification. He established Lalitha Yoga Academy in Varkala in 2023.

Accommodation

BAVA Beach Resort & Retreat Center is our tropical home. It bears the name of the program leader and is primarily designed to host our groups during the winter months when it is cold in Europe and we long for warmth and sunshine.

The resort is located on the Varkala North Cliff (above the sea and sandy beach) in a green quiet oasis filled with giant bamboos, majestic trees, palms and other flowers, yet only a few steps away from all the restaurants, bars and sunset views of the Arabian Sea.

We have a choice of several types of rooms in two buildings: Lalitha Retreat Center and BAVA Luxury AC Rooms.

Food for Body & Mind

Since body and mind are actually one pshycho-physical unit, whatever goes into the body actually feeds the mind. During these ten days we intend to maintain the mind as pure as possible to grant you the opportunity for real lasting change.

The two meals we serve are a combination of European and Indian breakfast options and traditional South Indian main meal adjusted to western non-spice taste.

All made of sattvic foods which are those that promote the maintenance of mind-body balance, and help to experience lightness, clarity and peace, therefore excluding meat, fish and eggs, and including fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Vegan options available.

Varkala, Kerala

Located along the stunning coast of Kerala, Varkala is a hidden gem that offers a magical blend of natural beauty, spiritual peace and cultural richness.

Known for its stunning cliffs that rise dramatically above the Arabian Sea, Varkala invites travellers to relax on pristine beaches, enjoy mesmerising sunsets and rejuvenate at its renowned Ayurvedic centers.

Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation or a glimpse into the rich traditions of Kerala, Varkala promises an unforgettable experience that will make you want to come back.

Mangroves and River Canals

Just an hour or two's drive from our resort, you will reach spectacular nature reserves and activities that will leave you breathless in an area of ​​tranquility and peace. We will sail through river channels and experience local life and eat food prepared for us on board.

Temples

At Varkala Beach we have the 2000 year old Sri Janardanaswamy Temple which is considered as Varanasi of South. Another impressive and important site less than an hour away is the Jatayu Earth Center with a huge Jatayu eagle sculpture and a temple dedicated to Ram.

Waterfalls and Mountains

We absolutely recommend a visit to the Palaruvi Falls where you can take a dip in the lake below the falls and immerse yourself in the sheer power of nature. On the beach below the resort you can practice surfing or body surfing, which will be taught by Ivan personally.

Psycho-sensory Therapies

It is a form of therapeutic treatment that uses sensory stimuli (i.e., touch, sight, sound, taste, smell) to affect psychological and emotional health.

Psycho-sensory modalities represent a structured and organised framework for enhancing mental and physical well-being. They involve intentional sensory experiences integrated methodically into daily life. This systematic approach provides clear, step-by-step methodologies, fostering stress reduction, improved focus, and emotional balance through intentional and organised sensory engagement.

Self-Realisation and Advaita

A real opportunity opens up for us to plunge into meditation and discover the inner Reality, not only through silence, but also through the sacred sounds of Sanskrit and Advaita-based texts.

We will discover Avadhutagita, a sacred text thousands of years old, that reminds us of the highest truths about our existence and will dive deep into meditation without visualisations, where we remain empty and just bearing witness to our own Self.

Inner Smile Sound Journey

Specially crafted electro-acoustic sounds create specific vibrational states and harmonics that deeply penetrate our organs, tissues, and bones. This practice not only rebalances the nervous and endocrine systems but also addresses subtle aspects of our being where unloving patterns reside. 

This holistic journey offers a natural way to release old tensions and rejuvenate both body and mind, restoring the radiant joy of wholeness. During the session, participants relax and listen to electro-acoustic sounds, voice and different instruments . These vibrations create a space of deep relaxation, allowing for the release of tension and stress, and fostering a sense of inner peace.Each session is customised for the specific group, making it a powerful tool for exploring spirituality, uncovering emotions, and aiding in self-reflection.

ALO Method - Allow, Let Go, Surrender

Ivan's method of letting go of control and surrendering to the guidance of Higher Consciousness.

Allow the Source to guide you, to bring you wherever you need to be and to bring to you what ever you need. Let Go of your idea that you control anything. Surrender to the Highest flow.

Unreleased and repressed traumas or shocks, pain due to the loss of a relationship, person or something, unexpressed sadness or anger, feelings of injustice or sacrifice and other emotional blockages, create accumulations of energy in the body that are deposited in the muscles and organs. Over time, these accumulations become a physical disease or a problem with some part of the body. When during ALO healing we use the neurology of the three brains in the head (small, limbic and neocortex), the three minds (instinctive, emotional and rational) and guided breathing, we release these blockages in the body and there is a spontaneous disappearance of pain and a permanent long-term permanence of healing. By removing the cause of the pain, we also address the consequences.

Bodysurfing

Learn to sail with the Ocean and its powerful waves and manage to "ride" them with your own body all the way to the shallows. Our nervous system and brain literally integrate on the physical level what we believe on the psychological level.

Fibonacci and Yogic Breathing

The Fibonacci number sequence harmonises all our bodies and the whole being with the natural movement of the Universe and with the very mathematical programming structure of worldly reality.

Fibonacci breathing, developed by therapist and teacher Ivan Bavčević Bava, combines breathing with the body's energy centers in accordance with the order of Fibonacci numbers that occur in nature. The Fibonacci sequence, as discovered by the Italian mathematician Leonardo Bonacci (Fibonacci), is a sequence that starts with 0 and 1 and in which each subsequent number is equal to the sum of the previous two numbers. This sequence appears in many places in nature. It can describe branches on a tree, sequences in music, the number of petals on a flower, Pascal's triangle, pictures, structural design, human anatomy, the shape of a spiral, the motion of galaxies, and more.Ivan developed a structure in which the length of inhalations and exhalations (the ratio between them), centred on the seven main energy centers of the body, follows pairs of Fibonacci numbers.

Nervous System Reset

The main purpose of this journey is to release stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, rage and grief through psycho-sensory modalities, sound, movement, laughter and neuroscience. Once those obstacles are being released, the state of balance, safety and harmony can enter.

A unique transformative process that can help us restore our mental, physical and emotional balance. You will be guided through simple, specially designed exercises to help you harmonise and gently restore the natural order of your body and mind.

The Chi Gong Flow

A movement practice that combines the principles of Chi Gong, wave gymnastics, intuitive dance, circular movement, breathing exercises, and the Chi Nei Tsang inner organ massage.

This practice provides a space for individuals to deepen their understanding of movement and its relationship to our energy systems. The class is designed to help you explore the body’s natural flow and discover how movement can become a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing. Chi Gong Flow is a journey of self-exploration, allowing you to explore your unique movement patterns, deepen your connection to yourself, and find inner balance and strength.

Restoring My True Voice

Experience a transformative journey that delves into the healing power of your voice. This workshop is not about vocal training. You will be guided through simple yet powerful exercises to uncover and restore your unique, authentic voice and your true innocent essence.

In a nurturing environment, you will gain a deeper understanding of what your true voice is, and you will be able to unlock obstacles to authentic communication, singing and discovering the true essence of our human connection. By the end, you'll harness your voice as a powerful tool for sound healing, personal growth and entertainment.  

Yoga and Stretching

Stretching exercises and body positions that will allow us greater flexibility, relaxation, stretchability and lightness in order to stop having a body of pain and heaviness and align with the flow of life. Accumulated and frozen emotions, traumas, rigid beliefs and habits are released from the body in order to change the mind itself through physical movement.

Ecstatic Dance

Ecstatic Dance and intuitive movement are freeform dance practices that encourage self-expression and connection through spontaneous, uninhibited movement. In this space, there are no set steps or choreography—participants are guided by the rhythm of the music and their own inner impulses. This practice allows you to release tension, explore your emotions, and tap into a deep sense of freedom and joy, all while connecting with yourself and others in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. The whole process will be supported by live improvised music. 

Kirtans, Mantras and Live Music by BE WELL

Devotional and spiritual singing opens a direct portal to the Source of Creation because it bypasses the rational mind and directly affects the heart.

One–man electro-acoustic act was founded in London in 2016 by the multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Sabio Janiak. Be Well live act creates unique musical performances that combine electro-acoustic music with psycho–sensory modalities. Be Well Live Act has been designed to bridge the worlds of live and electronic music as the missing link between DJing and live performance. This alternative idea provides the perfect solution for those who do not wish to choose between DJ and a live band. To express his creative nature, Sabio has designed his unique system to express himself in the field of music. The voice, beatboxing, acoustic and electronic instruments and ability to compose everything in real-time is treated as one big instrument. This exciting combination gives him unlimited possibilities, which allow him to create magical worlds of sounds.