This week is an opportunity for you to take a vacation away from the world, away from the stress of modern life, and away from the stimulation of the senses. The more that you can detach from these things, the more energy you will have for your healing process. We are trying to create a quiet, peaceful womb so that you can explore the depths of yourself. If the pond of your being can become completely still and waveless, then you can see down to the bottom, to the Truth of who you are. This is our goal, but it is up to you to make the most of your Panchakarma and there are more suggestions below.

During the week, please refrain from entering the kitchen to help us comply with the health code. Also try to let go of the need to help us out in any way, leave dishes on the table, no cleaning, or doing laundry. We appreciate the thought, but this is a great way to learn to fully receive and to practice BEING instead of DOING.

1. Clothing - You will be oily all week long, so bring comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting oily. Suggested items include warm socks, slippers, bandana or head scarf, hat, robe, pajamas, yoga clothes, and layers of clothing so that you can keep warm or cool down as needed. You may get the opportunity to go out for a walk on certain days or sit outside weather and doshas permitting, so good walking or hiking shoes and season appropriate outdoor gear is advised including sunglasses, jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves. It may seem like a lot, but guests are often more sensitive to cold than normal during PK week.
   
2. Toiletries
3. Yoga or meditation props/supplies
4. Emergency contact information
5. Comforts of home (ex: special pillow, teddy bear, etc.)

Bring only light, non-stimulating reading materials. This is not a time to catch up on studies or work. We ask you to rest as much as possible, and meditate or do gentle, restorative yoga if you feel the need for activity.

Please leave all computers and cell phones at home and try to take care of any necessary communications before you come for your stay. This way your mind can truly be at rest.

You need to be in good health and have an adequate amount of strength to go through PK. Dr. Rosy will determine this at the time of your initial consult.

We are based in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts amid a forest of trees, rolling green mountains and luscious waterways. The area is and has been an energetic center and spiritual home for many traditions throughout time. We feel that the Nature of our land adds to the experience of healing and we are best apt to accommodate your retreat here. However, we are also open to traveling to other destinations to provide a retreat in your ideal location.

We can help you or your group find a place to stay near Lakshmi’s Garden that fits your comfort level and your budget. We may have you come to Lakshmi's Garden for yoga, classes and sessions, or arrange to set-up in the comfort of your place, provided there is adequate space.

Please note: The cost of accommodations is separate from the cost of the Panchakarma therapy.

The cost of the Panchakarma will be determined by the activities planned and an estimate will be provided prior to booking.

A 50% deposit is required to book your reservation.

If you have financial restrictions, we can work with a budget. If we know your limit in advance, we can let Dr. Rosy know and we can reduce the number of treatments, use less expensive oils, or choose less expensive/intensive services. We try to do all of this in advance, as trying to make financial decisions during your relaxation and retreat can be an impediment to the healing process. Our aim is to give the highest quality and authenticity of Ayurvedic treatment to everyone who desires it. In the end, we feel that what you receive is priceless.

You can also choose to have a deep and relaxing retreat for a weekend, week, or longer that is less intense and expensive than Panchakarma. We tailor retreats to meet your needs through all the seasons.

The financial commitment is another consideration in Panchakarma. We must start planning and preparations months in advance to secure the oils, herbs, supplies, and staff for your PK. For this reason we ask for a non-refundable deposit to book your PK slot. This deposit will be applied to the total cost of your PK, but in the event of cancelation the full amount or a portion of the deposit will be forfeited to cover our costs and
time. Our policies are listed below:

The deposit for Dr. Rosy covers:

• Your initial consult
• Phone check-in during the oleation phase
• Dr. Rosy's planning and expertise designing your retreat
• Daily check-ins while at LG
• Final consultation recommendations
• A 10-minute phone call after your stay to ask questions and update your progress.

If additional support is needed, the client will pay Dr. Rosy $200/hour for her consultation time. If a client postpones PK and needs additional consultation at the time of the rescheduled PK an additional fee will be charged.

We suggest planning several months in advance to assure proper staffing and give you the widest selection of accommodations. Summer in the Berkshires is a very popular time, so planning three to six months in advance will give you the best results.

For cleansing retreats, our private chef will prepare and deliver meals specific for the doshas that we are addressing. Meals for cleansing are organic, simple, light and vegetarian; they are also planned based on the season, constitutions and imbalances of the participants.

Special needs food requests will be discussed in an Ayurvedic cleansing consultation in preparation for the retreat.

Please note: We will maintain silent meals and quiet hours between 9pm-9am, and we encourage you to spend as much time as possible in silence. Talking increases vata, so this is a way to conserve energy and reduce stimulation of the senses and the mind.

The process of oleation involves applying oils externally and ingesting specific amounts of ghee internally. And finally, sudation therapies are used to induce sweating and open the pores, so that oil penetrates inward, and sweat carries impurities outward. There are two classic examples to illustrate the importance of this stage:

1. If a cloth is dirty and then it dries, you cannot wring the dirt or impurities out unless you moisten the cloth.
2. The second example relates the body to a twig. If you soak the dry twig in warm oils for a period of time, then you can bend it without breaking it; it becomes supple and soft again.

This supple quality is achieved in the body with oleation and sudation.

It is against Ayurvedic recommendation to cleanse during menstruation, so women will need to coordinate their Panchakarma schedule to their moon cycle.

1. The deposit is completely non-refundable and can only be used for PK (not applied to other retreats).
2. Cancelation within 3 weeks of your PK arrival date – 100% of the deposit is forfeited
3. Cancelation before 3 weeks of your PK arrival date- 75% of the deposit is transferrable if a replacement is found, 50% of the deposit is transferrable otherwise
4. Change of PK date more than three months in advance- 100% of the deposit is transferrable
5. Cancelation due to unforeseen cleansing reactions* (T.B.D. by the doctor)- 50-75% of the deposit is transferrable

* this “unforeseen cleansing reactions” policy does not apply to situations in which the client does not adequately follow the preparations recommended by the doctor. If the client did not prepare properly and did not contact the doctor during the process, then the full deposit is forfeited. The client can choose to stay on for a retreat other than PK, but the cost is fully out-of-pocket.