Overlooking the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains near Boulder is the Shoshoni Yoga Retreat, a yoga teacher training center, retreat facility, and residential ashram. This picturesque center is open year round and offers yoga classes, Sanskrit chanting, meditation walks, and vegetarian meals for participants. Their desire is to train individuals in classical Hatha Yoga with an emphasis on breath awareness, and to incorporate the principles of meditation and chanting to enhance one’s practice and create happiness from within.

Shoshoni Yoga Retreat was founded in the early Eighty’s by Rishi Maha Mandaleshwar Sri Shambhavananda, an American born Swami who has been granted high honors by the Niranjani Akhara, one of India’s foremost associasions of Swamis and Sadhus.

The Grounds and Temples

Located in the mountains just west of Boulder, Colorado, the Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is on 250 acres of some of the most beautiful land you will ever see. Pine forests and mountain meadows invite you to hike along the nature trails to various wonderous places. There is a lake near the temple which brilliantly reflects the clear mountain sky. The Rocky Mountains themselves are reminiscent of their Asian cousins, the Himalyas, where many a swami and sadhu have spent their lives much as those who live and visit at Shoshoni.

The Shoshoni Temple is the crown jewel of the center. This unique structure was hand-crafted using native beetle-kill Ponderosa pines. Supporting logs and hand-carved cloud brackets connect the temple and surround the exterior. A Japanese blue tile roof crowns the top. The Shoshoni Center models their temple after the Eastern tradition that says the temple is a place to bridge the physical realm to the more subtle spiritual world. Through devotion and meditation, the temple serves as the conduit for this to happen. Inside, visitors will find murti, or sacred statues embodying the living energy of a guru or deity.

The Ma Shrine is another sacred space on the grounds. This one is dedicated to the feminine goddesses and the interior exudes an uplifting blessed sweetness for all who enter. The residents at Shoshoni believe that setting up a shrine at home brings in harmony and blessings, and they are ready to offer information on how to do this for visitors in their own domains. The Ma Shrine is open daily from morning to evening for anyone on retreat at Shoshoni.

The Shoshoni Center is framed in broad lawns and a gorgeous lake. Many people enjoy taking morning hikes up into the mountains or the Buddha Rocks but even walking along the grounds is inspiring. The crisp alpine air, lush valleys, and beautiful flowers engage all the senses. The Main Lodge is where meals are served, and there is also a bookstore where reading materials, yoga wear and gifts are sold.

The accommodation options are exceptional, with everything from tent and RV space all the way up to a private single-person suite with attached yoga room and meals brought to your own private dining space. Huts, dorm rooms, single, double and triple occupancy…this place is ready for all visitors. All overnight retreats have extras that you don’t get as a day visitor, plus there are special packages offered which give a specific focus to your visit.

Daily Activities, Special Events, and Retreats

The retreat center is open every day of the year. On any day you can show up and dive right into the activities. Their daily schedule starts early in the morning and goes into the mid evening. Don’t worry, there is plenty of time to enjoy the grounds or to take advantage of the healing services they offer. All daily activities are optional at Shoshoni and this is what a typical day might look like:

The day starts at 5:30am with some gentle chanting in the Sanskrit language, the language of the ancient Hindu texts. This is followed by a delisious vegetarian breakfast from their skilled and creative chefs. Mid-morning is free time, good for hiking and other relaxations, or to take advantage of the many healing services provided. Later in the morning is a class on pranayama, the yogic art of breath control. Another marvelous meal, then on to the afternoon!

Most of the afternoon is dedicated free time in which you may practice what you have learned, study independently, visit again with the healers, or just relax in the stunning beauty of the Colorado Rockies. Just before dinner is another class, this one on Hatha yoga. After dinner, yet another amazing meal, is the evening program. Made up of meditation and maybe a little more chanting, the evening program is designed to end your day on a high note –- spiritually high, that is, with your mind calmed and peaceful, all worries left behind.

The healing services are many and varied. They include a variety of massage, facials, and body wraps. They also offer traditional ayurvedic treatments. The healing services all have a separate cost. There are also many private consultations and classes offered.

The meals at the Shoshoni Yoga Retreat are always a sumptuous repast. Serving a delicious and healthy vegetarian menu is an important aspect of the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing — which is their mission, so they do it with style. There are no borders with their international cuisine; they offer dishes from all cultures, not just the expected Indian fare.

Yoga and Meditation Retreats

Yoga and meditation retreats can be done for as many days as you’d like. They begin at 3pm on your day of arrival and end at 1pm on your day of departure. They include morning and evening meditation programs, two daily yoga classes, and three meals daily. Additional options include private meditation consultations, ayervedic treatments (such as a sugar scrub or hot oil treatment), traditional health therapies (such as massages or herbal facials), and private consultations or a la carte classes. Accommodation choices vary and they all include the yoga and meditation programs, daily classes, meals, and use of the facilities. You can now request a Silent Retreat Suite for $180 that includes a private room and bath and an adjoining meditation room. Meals are brought to your room. They also offer tents, dormitories, standard rooms, and eco-friendly cabins.

Other programs at Shoshoni include Teen Yoga Camp, College Yoga Retreats, Family Weekends, and Mom and Baby Yoga. For those interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor, they offer a 200 or 500-hour teacher training course, broken down into five levels.

Special Events

Shoshoni offers various events throughout the year in addition to their regular schedule. Some upcoming programs include Goddess Weekend, Fire of Yoga Weekend, Meditating for Your Life, and Yoga Lifestyle Training.

Work Study

For those looking to delve deeper into their practice, Shoshoni offers a work-study program for one to six months, where participants live with 15 to 20 other resident yogis in a community setting. All the facilities and classes are available to them as they assist in taking care of the ashram in various ways such as cleaning, cooking, or tending the grounds.

Our Comments

The Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is an inspiring and enlightening center run by a group of very dedicated and spirited people. This scenic ashram and training center seems best suited for those who want a quiet and contemplative getaway amidst a beautiful mountain backdrop. They are particularly family-friendly, offering kid-appropriate retreats throughout the year. They are located in the Mountain Time Zone and visitors should keep in mind that even in the summer, nights can be cold at this altitude.

Visiting Shoshoni

The Shoshoni Yoga Retreat is open year round and is located in Rollinsville, Colorado, approximately 35 minutes from Boulder. The closest airport is Denver International Airport, roughly two hours away by car. If driving, I-25 is the best route; more detailed directions are available on their website.

Shoshoni Yoga Retreat
PO Box 400
Rollinsville, CO 80474
(303) 642-0116
www.shoshoni.org
info@shoshoni.org