Shreyas is dedicated to promoting the authentic spiritual tradition of Yoga in a holistic manner and is recognized as one of the finest Yoga retreats in the world.
What makes Shreyas unique is that, whilst Yoga is taught in traditional ashram style (daily yoga, meditation sessions, chanting classes, gourmet vegetarian cuisine, no alcohol policy and community service), guests live in a luxurious environment normally associated with a star hotel.
The hotel enables guests to integrate the manifold facets and benefits of Yoga into their daily lives without the austerity and rigor usually associated with ashrams. The hotel wishes to give guests a private, tranquil haven to pamper, nourish, detoxify and recharge themselves; and if they have the desire, to provide a road map to guide them down a spiritual path of self-discovery. Every aspect of resort is dedicated to this purpose:
- Yoga Sessions to rejuvenate and cleanse the body.
- Meditation sessions and other yogic practices to calm the mind.
- Spa treatments to rejuvenate the body and remove toxins.
- Nourishing, organic vegetarian food to detoxify and heal the body.
- An environment and accommodations, which allow the guest to benefit from the positive energy of nature.
- Community service to experience the joy of giving.
- Discussions on yoga philosophy and scriptures.
Situated just one hour's drive from the Bangalore International Airport, Shreyas is a sprawling oasis of green.
With only 12 cottages spread over 25 acres of landscaped greenery, water bodies and organic gardens guests are able to commune with nature and benefit from its healing power.
Shreyas is a seamless blend of the modern and the timeless, luxury and simplicity, indulgence and enlightenment.
The private, serene and 'simply' luxurious accommodation has been structured to make the guests feel like they are living in the lap of nature.
The architecture and interiors are a confluence of traditional and the modern - tiled roofs, antique doorways and stone pillars give way to contemporary interiors and state of the art facilities.
THE PHILOSOPHY
'Athithi devo bhava' is the defining philosophy at Shreyas. This literally means, 'a Guest is to be served as God.' At Shreyas, the hotel's staff imbibes this philosophy broadly, believing that 'all are essentially divine' and relationships with each other and especially the guests should reflect this.
The guests are lovingly served with unparalleled personalized attention by a staff that practices yoga and endeavours to embody this philosophy.
The staff is encouraged to serve guests as part of their spiritual discipline and not just as a job or career; serving is different from being servile because the focus is on connecting with the divinity inherent in each guest.
Practically, this philosophy is applied to the various tasks allocated to people at Shreyas - the kitchen staff commences the cooking process with a prayer and a chant; they adopt the correct attitude or 'bhava' whilst preparing the food; the serving staff learn the importance of anticipating a guest's needs and serving with the correct attitude; the staff working in the gardens is encouraged to respect nature.
All staff members are taught that cleanliness is godliness and learn to apply daily attention to the smallest details. The guests are on a journey of self-discovery and the staff at Shreyas is on that same journey.
The 3-bedroom cottage enables families and groups of friends travelling together, to spend quality time communing with each other whilst enjoying the luxuries of Shreyas.
The cottage can accommodates 5 guests in 2 double & 1 single occupancy room, all with ensuite baths and a large living room, all with en-suite bathrooms.
The living room is spacious and airy, with large windows that offer sweeping views of the surrounding greenery. 2 children under the age of 8 can be accommodated free of charge (a mattress is provided).
The Garden 'tented' Cottages, with a canopied roof, spaciously scattered across the property are surrounded by lush vistas of greenery.
The Garden cottages have en-suite bathrooms that open onto private walled courtyards. All cottages have a verandah in the front.
The cottages are suitable for 2 adults. 2 children under the age of 8 can be accommodated free of charge (a mattress is provided).
Feel one with nature as you hear the sound of birds and the rustle of the coconut trees, or watch the stars as you shower. These one bedroom Garden tented cottage offer twin sharing or double bed configuration. For guests who are very sensitive to sound or very light sleepers, the hotel recommend the Poolside cottages since the canopied roofs make these cottages less insulated to outdoor sounds.
The 3 Poolside cottages overlook the signature Antique-Pillared entrance - open your door and step out to an infinity pool surrounded by flowering frangipani trees, an outdoor heated Jacuzzi and the central courtyard of the retreat. All cottages have ensuite bathrooms.
The Poolside cottages have King-size beds (twin bed-configuration not available). The Poolside cottages are wheelchair-accessible. The cottages are suitable for 2 adults. 2 children under the age of 8 can be accommodated free of charge (a mattress is provided).
Shreyas means 'all round excellence', its manifestation is considered the purpose of the lives. Shreyas is inherent and is achieved by harnessing, refining and purifying the body/mind energies and spiritualizing the actions & emotions, thereby allowing the divine qualities within to shine forth.
Excellence is a manifestation of the Divine and Annam (or 'Food') is simply another facet of Divinity. Divinity and food are inextricably linked. You are what you eat. In the Upanishads, it is stated that the subtler part of food makes the mind; the gross part makes the bones and flesh.
Indian, Continental, Mexican and Oriental gourmet Vegetarian
Anaha Spa and Wellness Centre was born from the desire to offer more holistic healing experiences at Shreyas Yoga Retreat. Anaha, in Sanskrit meaning 'well-being' or 'to breathe freely' perfectly expresses the philosophy. In ancient scriptures, the breath or 'prana' is considered to be a lifeforce, creating a harmony between one's body and the world around. From age-old Ayurvedic treatments to modern therapies, from naturopathy to a wide range of massages, the new spa is designed to offer the best wellness experience. Let the experienced consultants with knowledge of techniques from across the world, create a personalized, wellness regime to help you chart your own journey towards harmony. The interplay of elements define the physical form of Anaha Spa; with its main block half-sunken into the earth, its upper pavilions open to the wind, and the links between the two stretching across wide, open spaces. The spa has several east-facing spaces drenched with sunlight each morning, perfect for yoga and meditation.
The 16,000 square feet spa includes 13 spa rooms, with dedicated rooms for Ayurveda, some with a personal steam cabinet, rooms for Western massages, and a separate 3-room section for hydrotherapies.
Anaha Spa can host a wide number of guests, yet cater to the individual demands of each. There are also separate spa facilities for men and women, including steam rooms and experiential showers. Beyond the spa, facilities like a salon offering the signature pedicures, manicures, hair wash, blow dries and facials (with ingredients sourced from the own herb gardens!), a gymnasium for the fitness-conscious, an organic juice bar, and partially open lounge spaces are also available for guests.
You could also peruse and purchase literature on a wide range of subjects from ayurveda to health food at the in-house boutique, as also clothes, yoga mats, props, in-house scrubs and other souvenirs, The Shreyas Boutique with the home-grown organic produce, from preserves to munchies, would also be a great place to stock up on healthy fare. The main block of the Rejuvenation Spa is half submerged into the earth and connects with the light and air elements through a series of sunken courts. Each block then arises from these sunken gardens and seamlessly fuses into the space providing the lightness expected from this serene space.
Anaha Spa and Wellness Centre was born from the desire to offer more holistic healing experiences at Shreyas Yoga Retreat.
The hotel offers Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga sessions for experienced practitioners.
In this day and age, most people are familiar with the term ‘Ayurveda’ – the world’s oldest medicinal and healing system.
At Anaha Spa, the hotel has a wide range of luxuriant scrubs & facials with ingredients from around the world.
Hatha Yoga (pronounced as Hut-a Yoga) sees the body as an instrument to master the mind and enable to attain higher states of consciousness.
The guest will have a detailed Wellness Consultation and Health Evaluation with the doctors upon arrival.
Naturopathy, as the name suggests comprises of 'natural' healing remedies and techniques.
This is a five fold procedure for eliminating accumulated impurities from the mind body physiology.
Rejuvenation massages may seem like a new, upcoming trend yet the practice of mixing together natural ingredients has been around for time immemorial.
Pick ingredients from the Organic gardens & prepare a traditional meal with the chefs to serve children at a local Orphanage or village school and spend some time with them - a glimpse into their simple village lives.
Cooking demonstrations on healthy gourmet vegetarian is a cuisine from round the world with the chefs.
Test your batting skills against the automated bowling machine at the cricket nets.
Day visits to nearby places of interest: (Mysore, Belur, Halebidand Shravanabelagola.
Guided city excursion to Bangalore for sight seeing & shopping.
Watch a movie with the guests after dinner - the hotel has hundreds to choose from.
Introduction to Indian customs and traditions - henna application, garland making, rangoli patterns and sari tying.
Nature farming in the organic farm - picking / planting vegetables, or even trying your hand at milking the cows.
Private prayer offering in the ancient temple on the premises.
Temple and village tours or visiting local markets.
Trekking trip in the nearby hills.
SHREYAS YOGA RETREAT, BANGALORE
Santoshima FarmGollahalli GateNelamangalaBengaluruKarnataka 562123India