2026 HYMTA ANNUAL RETREAT
SEPTEMBER 16th - 18th
18th - 20th
THEME: MANTRA SADHANA REVEALED / NETRA TANTRA
Mantra Practices and Himalayan Tradition
Special topic for this years retreat is Netra Tantra. Which is a Shaivite text describing Netra Mantra, which is a Bija Mantra. Describing the essence of Maha Mrityunjaya Manta. Swami Ritavan will be presenting the commentary to Netra Tantra by Dr. Bettina Baumer. He will also be introducing Netra mantra practices for personal and spiritual growth.
Our Guest Speakers: Swami Ritavan
Swami Ritavan has lived a life dedicated to serving Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati since 1970. After having been initiated at the age of 20, he transited through all the three Ashrams of Vedic life (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, and Vanaprastha) under the direct guidance of Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati. He was then initiated into Sanyasa in 2007.
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He holds master’s degrees in Management, Education, Holistic Philosophy, and Eastern Studies. A highly experienced yoga meditation practitioner, he has conducted and guided numerous silence and meditation retreats throughout the world and has been instrumental in guiding the international Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program (HYT-TTP). He is also a Mantra Initiator within the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters. Swami Veda Bharati chose Swami Ritavan Bharati as his successor; as the Ashram Pramukha and Spiritual Guide of SRSG and the AHYMSIN community, before he took Mahasamadhi in 2015.
Swami Ritavan has been traveling and teaching internationally, teaching throughout North and South Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia. In addition, he has been a much appreciated presence as an advanced teacher at Swami Rama Dhyana Gurukulam in Swami Veda’s Ashram in Rishikesh. He also spends much of his time in guiding the International Himalayan Yoga Teachers Association in training numerous yoga teachers, having taught for the past 38 years. He is gifted in guiding and conducting numerous Silence and Meditation retreats throughout the world. A man of few words, his primary focus is on the inner life. He continues to be trained and further guided by his guru, Senior Acharya Sri Mahamandaleshvar Swami Veda Bharati from his Rishikesh Ashram.
RETREAT SCHEDULE:​
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Wednesday, September 16, 2026
4:00: Full Program Participants: Arrival: Registration: Check In: Orientation
6:00: Supper
7:00-8:00: SWAMI RITAVAN: Pilgrimage to Silence
8:30-9:00: Orientation for Silence Thursday
9:30: Evening Prayers
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Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:00am-4:00pm: Introduction to Silence: Curriculum Introduced and Practiced
(INTRODUCTION to SILENCE Curriculum in Progress) WORKBOOK will be provided.
6:00: Supper
7:00-9:00 ~ AHYMSIN-Americas Speaker
9:30 Evening Prayers
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Friday, September 18, 2026
Continued Silence Encouraged
6:15: Morning Prayers
6:30: Meditation
7:00: Himalayan Hatha Yoga
8:00: Breakfast
10:00: AHYMSIN-Americas Speaker
12:00 Lunch
3:00: AHYMSIN-Americas Board Meeting (zoomed)
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4:00: Weekend Participants: Arrival: Registration: Check In
6:00 Supper
7:15: Orientation for new participants (Intro to Netra Tantra Theme?)
7:30: SWAMI RITAVAN: Mantra Sadhana and Himalayan Tradition
9:30: Evening Prayers
Saturday, September 19, 2026
6:15: Morning Prayers
6:30: Meditation with Swami Ritavan
7:00: Himalayan Hatha Yoga
8:00: Breakfast
10:00: SWAMI RITAVAN: Essence of Mantra in Netra Tantra
12:00: Lunch
1:30: HYMC Session
3:30: Himalayan Hatha Yoga
4:30: SWAMI RITAVAN: Mrityunjaya Nyasa Practicum
6:00: Supper
7:30: HYMC GUEST SPEAKER: TBD
[SRB Suggested: Fruits of Mantra Japa ~ Siddhi & Mukti
9:00: Meditation
9:30: Evening Prayers
Sunday, September 20, 2026
6:15 am: Morning Prayers
6:30 am: Meditation with Swami Ritavan
7:00 am: Himalayan Hatha Yoga
8:00 am: Breakfast
9:30 am: Check Out
10:00 am: SWAMI RITAVAN: Mantra Sadhana Applied
12:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: Departure
Retreat Pricing
Includes silence practice, workshops, hatha yoga classes and vegetarian meals with ashram experience.
(At the time of registration, please inform us of any dietary or other special needs).Please click on the price option to register.
Stay Option HYMTA Members HYMTA Non-Members
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9/16 - 9/20
Regular-Single Rm $ $
Regular-Double Rm $ $
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9/18 - 9/20:
Regular-Single Rm $ $
Regular-Double Rm $ $
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Day Scholar Participant Options
Pricing - (per person – includes meals (unless noted) and no stay
Location & Accommodations
About 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology campus sits in the serene countryside of Woodstock, Illinois. The campus space is encompassed by 98 acres of greenery and serves as a peaceful place for spiritual and intellectual growth and connection with peers, colleagues, and friends.
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GREEN PROMISE
LUREC’s fundamental guiding principle is conservation on our campus through reducing, reusing, and recycling. Loyola is committed to restoring and maintaining the biodiversity of our campus, and during your stay with us, we invite you to take part in our mission of sus- tainability, conservation, and restoration. As part of our green promise, we installed a geo- thermal system in our north wing so that guests can enjoy the ground’s gift of warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.
Address:
Loyola U Retreat & Ecology Campus
2710 S. Country Club Rd.
Woodstock, Il 60098
815.338.1032
www.luc.edu/retreatcampus/
