The Yoga of Love

Users icon
Up to 30 in group
Date
July 25 - 27, 2025

Retreat Highlights

  • Explore the heart’s role in spiritual transformation through key yogic texts
  • Examine themes of purification, transcendence, and divine love from the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gītā, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and Yoga Sūtra
  • Deepen your understanding of sacred concepts like praṇidhāna, samādhi, and kaivalya
  • Experience meditative sounds with harmonium and group reflections in each session
  • Gain tools for sustaining higher consciousness in everyday life

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Details of this retreat

This program explores the human condition and the inner turmoil of the heart through the lens of key yogic texts, including the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gītā, Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra.

Sessions will focus on the purification and awakening of the heart, the divine call to transcendence through sacred love, and the role of yoga in sustaining higher consciousness in everyday life. Themes such as the capacity to "move deeply into the space within the heart" (praṇidhāna) and how to enter into the state of "total ecstatic absorption" (samādhi) in which one experiences the "all-embracing divine reality" (kaivalya) will be examined.

Together we will explore how the heart serves as the true seat of inner transformation and spiritual realization. Graham will be drawing from his new book, The Yoga of Love: Krishna and the Rāsa Līlā from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Oxford University Press, 2025). Each session will open and close with several minutes of tranquil meditational sounds of the voice and harmonium as well as group connecting and sharing throughout.

All levels of yoga practitioners most welcomed.
Description of each Session:

The human condition and the troubled heart: What are the things that trouble the heart? In this introductory session, we will explore this theme by drawing from specially illuminating passages in key Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. It is commonly known that Yoga is about controlling the mind. But we will learn here that the mind is controlled only within the heart, according to the Gītā.
An awakening and purification of the heart: In this session, we will contemplate specific, very beautiful passages from Bhagavad Gītā and Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra for illuminating this session's theme. Here we will explore what Patañjali calls īśvara praṇidhāna, or how "the divine source of all reality is reached by moving deeply into the space within the heart," and learn about all that is contained therein.
When divinity calls our souls to dance: In this session, we will read from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa's five chapters on the "dance of divine love," in which the example of the supreme female yoginīs is offered. A reading of my translation of one of the most exquisite Sanskrit poetic works of the world reveal the highest meditation of what Patañjali calls kaivalya samādhi will take place in this session.
Yoga as the return embrace of the divine: In this final session, we will explore how we can return to our everyday lives and all the while also retain a transcendent state of consciousness. From the various sacred texts of Yoga, we will explore ways of sustaining higher consciousness in a very mixed and troubled world while allowing the energy of the heart to flow toward all persons and all beings.




Tentative Schedule





FRIDAY



3–5 pm
Registration


5-6:30
Mixed Level Hatha


5-5:45
Yoga Nidra


6-6:30
Meditation


6:30–7:15
Dinner


7:30–9
The human condition and the troubled heart




SATURDAY



6-7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation


7:10-8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2
Joint Freeing Series with Hope Mell


8–9:30
Breakfast


10-11:30
An awakening and purification of the heart


11:45
Van to


12–12:30 pm
Meditation at


12:45–1:30
Lunch


3–5
When divinity calls our souls to dance


5:30–6:15
Dinner


7:30-9
Satsang (gathering of the seekers of Truth)
Kirtan (Music & Chanting), Video of Swami Satchidananda
Speaker




SUNDAY



6-7 am
Integral Yoga Meditation


7:10–8:40
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 1
Integral Yoga Hatha – Level 2


8–9:30
Breakfast


10–11:30
Yoga as the return embrace of the divine


12-12:30 pm
Meditation


12:45–1:30
Lunch

Getting Here

Location icon Yogaville

Directions

Yogaville offers transportation from the airport, train and bus stations in Charlottesville, VA. If you are driving Google Maps has reliable turn-by-turn directions.

Accommodation

Availability of complimentary accommodations is determined by the order of booking.
Dormitory

The most popular accommodations we have are Dormitory Accommodations – shared room and shared bath. We have two dormitories, Vivekananda Vihar and Ramalinga Nilayam, which are centrally heated and air-conditioned and convenient to meals and programs.
Lotus Guest House (Private Room)

Each room in our six unit guest house is equipped with a small refrigerator, queen size bed and full bath. Each room in our nine unit guest house is equipped with a queen sized bed and full bath, and no refrigerator.

Tenting
Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are twelve campsites. Campers have use of the bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities nearby Vivekananda Vihar dormitory. Camping is available from March 15th to December 1st.

Shared Dormitory: Bottom Bunk

Accommodation
Bottom bunk in a shared dorm room. Dorm rooms contain 4-8 beds. Shared bathroom Dorm rooms are not coed Availability is Gender Specific

Private Dormitory

Accommodation
This is a private room with a shared bathroom in our Ramalinga Nilayam Dorm - Females Only

LGH: Full Bed

Accommodation
Private room and Private Bath. A single Full bed and a private bath designed for those seeking peace in solitude.    

LGH: 2 Twin beds

Accommodation
Private Room and Private Bath. Two twin Beds and a private bath that is ideal for friends looking to experience the bliss of Yogaville.  

LGH: Queen Bed

Accommodation
Private Room and Private Bath. A queen bed or a queen with two day beds and a private bath that is perfect for couples and families searching for a peaceful time together. Please put in the personal comments if you need a room that includes trundles.  

Tent-Site

Accommodation
Open from Mar. 16–Nov. 30. Closed from Dec. 1–Mar. 15 Set off in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the Lotus Guest Houses are Eighteen campsites. Campers have use of the nearby bathhouse as well as laundry facilities at the LGH Building 3.   Also, all tent sites have tent platforms for a more comfortable and dry tenting experience.  Fires and Stoves are not Permitted. Price is per person per night. Please bring your own tent, tie downs, tarp (weather protection). bedding and towels.  

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent
Yogaville is home to the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). The LOTUS is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world faiths and spiritual paths. The vision, design and inspiration of Sri Swami Satchidananda, LOTUS was dedicated in 1986. It demonstrates, “Truth is One, Paths are Many.” In the peaceful countryside of Virginia, the doors of LOTUS are open to welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Meals

Menu Types

Organic, vegetarian/vegan food Labeled ingredients Lacto-vegetarian Gluten-free and vegan options Salad bar Large herbal tea selection Coffee is available for purchase at Mandala Cafe

What's Included

  • Accomodations
  • Meals
  • Meditation Sessions
  • Yoga Classes

What's Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Airfare

Customer Reviews

No reviews available.

Similar retreats