4th Annual Ayurveda Retreat in Coonoor, India

Relax, Unwind, Revitalize & Heal 

with John de Kadt & Katie O’Connell

February 14~ March 6, 2020

This is a life-changing retreat for your body, mind, and spirit! 

In our very chaotic and busy world full of what feels like unstoppable stress, this retreat is a true blessing.  Taking three weeks for yourself is a true act of self love and nurturance.  Here you can unwind and jumpstart into a whole new level of health and well being.  Ayurvedic consultations with the retreat’s on-site Ayurvedic doctor and pharmacist, meals to support your treatment plan, and cleansing practices specific to your needs are all facets of this retreat, which will leave you feeling clear, vibrant, and deeply healed. Your group leaders have designed a retreat experience that includes daily yoga classes with Katie, storytelling and drumming with John, presentations on Ayurveda, and lots of free time to walk into the Indian countryside that borders the retreat, investigate the town, or visit local attractions.  Register Here

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Rise Retreat in Bali, Indonesia

Rise Retreat in Bali

with John de Kadt & Malaika Marveena Darville

April 10-16, 2020

This retreat is for anyone who longs & loves to be more embodied, anyone who yearns to feel more alive and for all who thirst for evolution of the heart. Join us om the breathtaking island of Bali to deep dive into the sacred arts of our ancestors, Yoga, Dance, Song, Story & Silence~ integral parts of all mystical traditions. Together we will explore somatic yoga movement, dance, song, wisdom stories and silence to journey deeper into ourselves and the healing tapestry of community. This retreat is for students and teachers alike to immerse yourself and experience how these timeless practices open our hearts and bodies and create the connection to self and others we so long for.  Register Here

 

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~American Dream~ new music video released

 

~American Dream~ from my new album Speak …. you can order the full CD on itunes 🙂

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My new album, SPEAK, is out!

My new album, Speak, is out!  It’s available for pre-order by clicking here or on the album cover below.  Downloads will be available on the official release date of November 1st!

speak-tunecore-specs

Replete with catchy hooks and conscious lyrics, SPEAK is a lighthearted yet probing parade of social and spiritual commentary, world pop rhythms, and spoken word that will keep you entertained, from the first note to the last. Contemporary and world grooves, mixed with elements of rock, blues, jazz and pop, make the album infectious and upbeat. World-class singers C.C. White, Gaura Vani, and Benjy Wertheimer add extra soul to the songs.

On SPEAK, I make social, economic, political, and spiritual statements that swim against the tide of the us-versus-them mentality that has dominated our national dialogue this year. Yet, the album isn’t heavy—it’s uplifting and inspirational.

These songs are born from a love of musical diversity, movement, poetry and spoken word. We are living in a world that often draws us away from community and the vital remembrance of who we truly are. These songs are meant to rattle our cages and ask us to question some of our deepest assumptions while at the same being musically groovy and uplifting.

“John de Kadt is one of the most innovative drum artist/poets of our time. Speak…is music to rise, move and awaken to.”  -Shiva Rea, international yoga teacher

 

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Panchakarma Retreat 2017, Coonoor, India

Ayurveda India Retreat
February 11 ~ March 4th, 2017
Ayurveda, Yoga, Music, Storytelling,
and so much more!

Join Katie O’Connell and myself for our second week Panchakarma Retreat in India.  This is a life-changing retreat for your body, mind, and spirit!
In our very chaotic and busy world full of what feels like unstoppable stress, this retreat is a true miracle. Taking three weeks for yourself is an act of self-love and kindness. This healing retreat is in the mountains of southern India at a beautiful center where it is cool at night and warm during the day. Here you can unwind and jump start into a whole new level of health and well-being.

You will also have regular Ayurvedic consultations with the retreat’s on-site world class physician and pharmacist, two daily Ayurvedic treatments, delicious meals, and cleansing practices specific to your needs are all facets of this retreat, which will leave you feeling clear, vibrant, and deeply rejuvenated. This retreat also includes daily yoga classes with Katie, Drumstory events with John, presentations on Ayurveda, Kirtans, and lots of free time to walk into the Indian countryside that borders the retreat, investigate the town, or visit local attractions including a safari.

Ayurvedic treatments like this are wonderful for helping deeply calm the nervous system and greatly decrease stress as well as treat a myriad of health concerns like anxiety, headaches, insomnia, high blood pressure, diabetes, psoriasis, digestive issues, heart disease, and more.

Whether or not you suffer from symptoms like this or just want to learn more about Ayurveda and Yoga and wish to deeply rejuvenate yourself this retreat is appropriate for you. My Music Video The Village was filmed just 1 mile form the wonderful center…have a look…

For registration information and pricing visit www.dragonflyogabarn.com.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda means “Science of Life.” The focus of Ayurveda is on long-lasting holistic health, not just a short-term cure. It offers a unique blend of science and philosophy that balances the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components necessary for long term wellness.  A time-tested, ancient system of disease prevention and healthcare, Ayurveda is a complete system of natural medicine and has been a way of life for millions of people across the planet.  In Ayurveda, specific therapies are developed for each individual as opposed to a generic cure commonly prescribed by modern medicine.  Ayurveda addresses disease from the root cause and provides a permanent cure instead of a quick fix.

Panchakarma: An Ayurvedic Healing Retreat

Pancha means “five” and Karma means “to cleanse” and so Panchakarma is the ultimate healing experience for detoxifying the body and mind, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well being.  It is a deeply powerful yet gentle cleansing process that utilizes deep rest, herbs, body treatments, enemas, steam baths, diet, and specific treatments catered to an individual’s unique constitution and health concerns.  This extended retreat allows each participant adequate time to release deeply held toxins and blocks that adverse affect the mind and body, allowing the opportunity to reorganize and heal on a profound level.

“PK” is effective for treating a variety of health concerns and imbalances, including but not limited to: stress, anxiety and depression, migraines, arthritis, digestive issues, hypertension, chronic fatigue, joint pain, obesity, diabetes, back pain, ulcers, IBS, muscle and tendon disorders, skin disorders, respiratory diseases, urinary and bowel diseases, chronic constipation, sinusitis, insomnia, addictions, infertility, reversed hearing loss, eating disorders, and more.

Location: Ayurveda Yoga Retreat Center, Coonoor

This idyllic Ayurvedic center is located in the mountains of western Tamil Nadu, close to Kerala is one of the prettiest parts of India.  Nestled amidst a lush 10-acre green tea plantation, healing eucalyptus forests, nearby waterfalls, and surrounded by the pure Nilgiri Mountain air, the retreat is in the perfect environment for rejuvenation.  Away from the hustle of the city and surrounded in natural beauty, expect a profound transformation to take place! Every meal is made fresh with the retreat’s own source of pure mineral water and organic vegetables and herbs.  With world-class Ayurvedic physicians and panchakarma therapists, and an amazing staff of chefs and gardeners,  this peaceful retreat center combines modern comforts with the best of ancient medicine and a beautiful setting you will come to call home. Should you want to venture out for day trips, there are also many optional excursions to personalize your once in a lifetime experience in India, including the markets of Coonoor City, a train ride through the mountains to the town of Ooty, and even a day trip to an elephant reservation, not to mention endless walking and hiking just steps out of the retreat!

The beautiful thing about this retreat center is that it offers an opportunity to be intimate with the Indian villages nearby and to offer Karma yoga either by participating with school children or donating time to families in need. We’ll explore some of these villages together and meet some of the families John has come to know well over the years, and here you will find opportunities to give of yourself and receive the warmth and brightness of their spirit.  It’s a living, breathing reminder of our interconnectedness on this planet. To get a flavor of these villages, watch John de Kadt’s music video “The Village” on YouTube

Your Guides: John de Kadt & Katie O’Connell

John de Kadt is a percussionist, poet, and storyteller.  He has played ethnic hand percussive instruments for over 30 years and plays drums from across the globe.  He has performed around the world, taught drumming on PBS and live nationally on NBC, and has performed with Krishna Das, David Darling, Subash Chandra, Ganesh Kumar, Jai Uttal, Robert Bly, Baba Olantunji, Colman Barks, and many others including being a founding member of Internationally acclaimed group, The Hanumen.  John has released five CDs and travels world wide performing his unique and powerful blend of poetry, story, and percussion. Before doing music full time, John was an acupuncturist, herbalist, and Ayurvedic consultant for 15 years.  He loves and still practices many aspects of these holistic medicines.

Katie O’Connell has been practicing yoga for almost 20 years and is an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist. Katie owns her own retreat center, Dragonfly Yoga Barn, in the beautiful White Mountains of NH with her husband of 24 years, where they facilitate retreats and events of all kinds.  Katie is a singer, poet, mother, gardener, and life-long student of Nature.  She has over 700 hours of yoga study with Paula Tursi, Sudha Lundeen (Kripalu), Cora Wen, Sadie Nardini, and many others, and nearly 1,000 hours in the study of Ayurveda with Dr. Paul Dugliss (New World Ayurveda) and Dr. Marc Halpern (California College of Ayurveda) as well as certifications in Thai Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Reiki, and more. Katie runs international retreats, teaches daily yoga classes, provides education in Ayurveda and yoga, offers Ayurveda consultations, private yoga therapy, Thai bodywork, and yoga coaching at Dragonfly.  Her greatest teachers of all are her students, her children, and her husband and parter in everything, Declan.

 

 

 

 

 

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Healing Ayurvedic Retreat to India  

with John de Kadt & Katie O’Connell

February 19 ~ March 11th, 2016

Two and Three Week Options!

View from Yoga Hall 1

This retreat is a true blessing.  In our very chaotic and busy world with what often feels like its unstoppable stresses, taking three weeks for yourself is a true act of self-kindness.  It will allow you to unwind and jump start into a whole new level of health and well-being.

Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well-being.  It is a deeply powerful yet gentle cleansing process that utilizes deep rest, herbs, body treatments, enemas, steam baths, diet, and specific treatments all catered to the individual’s unique constitution and health concerns.   The extended 2-3 week retreat allows our body to release deeply held toxins and blocks that adversely affect our mind and body, giving ourselves new opportunity to reorganize and heal on a profound level.  This will be a life changing retreat for your body, mind, and spirit.

You will have ongoing Ayurvedic consultation with on-site Ayurvedic doctors, meals to support your treatment plan, and cleansing practices specific to your needs are all facets of this retreat, which will leave you feeling clear, vibrant, and deeply healed.   Your group leaders have designed a retreat experience that includes daily yoga classes with Katie, storytelling and drumming with John, Ayurveda presentations, and lots of free time to walk into the Indian countryside that borders the retreat, investigate the town, or visit local attractions. Nestled beside a lush green tea plantation, eucalyptus forest, nearby waterfalls, and surrounded by the pure Nilgiri Mountain air is what makes the retreat center so special; away from the hustle of the city and surrounded in natural beauty, expect a profound transformation to take place!  There are also many optional excursions to personalize your once in a lifetime trip to India!

Various Dals & lentils

Feel free to email Katie and John if you are interested in this very special retreat! Space will be limited, and you won’t believe the great rates!!  Basic single rooms begin at only $1,819.00 for Mini-Panchakarma (2 weeks) and $2,729.00 for Maha-Panchakarma. Deluxe rooms are available at very reasonable additional rates There are two components of the registration process; first contact either Katie or John so that we can send you our registration form and get to know you a little better!  You can reach John at Johndekadt@gmail.com. or Katie at dragonflyoga@gmail.com for more detailed info. We will then prompt you to register for the retreat with Vandana, the retreat representative who will work with you to choose a room and either the Mini or Maha Panchakarma option.  Katie is working with a travel agent who will offer special rates to all who book via Katie, so please inquire about this opportunity. We are excited to share this amazing journey with you!!! Please note, dates on the brochure will be updated on next printing. 

PK Retreat Brochure Spring 2016 - blue front

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The Village (new official music video by John de Kadt)

My new music video The Village is live on Youtube.

I filmed this  last year in two little villages in South India. These people are the most  remarkable and beautiful souls. I feel honored to have gotten to know them through this process. Presently I’m in India sharing the Video with them and there response is truly heart warming and deeply touching. With this video I wanted to capture how less can be more in some ways….indeed these people are rich in community and spontaneous Joy …Bless Them All !!!!! Thx for watching …here is the link

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ee9u-4TJ7E

 

 

 

 

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One Name

Check out my new meditative music Video “One Name” filmed last year in Thailand, India and Bali. This film was gratifying to film as it brought me into the middle of many sacred moments which are so familiar to the people of these lands. This video depicts the common mood and sentiment of prayer and devotional practices people share despite cultural, religious and indigenous spiritual differences. The video was put to my song Middle Way which is available on I-Tunes…. I hope you enjoy….Jai Jai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KccIIX0BsjM

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Check out my NEW MUSIC VIDEO :: ONE HOOP

After a year of travel around the globe, and a bunch of time in the music studio recording drums and hang, I’m happy to release my new music video, One Hoop. We truly are all one on this planet and so similar in more ways than we often realize. May this video go out to the world and may we all share the common joy that is felt when we move our bodies and play together. We are never too old to be alive in the One Hoop :-).

Special Thxs to so many who help make this possible….namely Mark Kelso , Carrie Grossman, David de Kadt, Jenay Martin, Cindy Parish and many more! Much love to you all!

*****One Hoop will be available on itunes as a single on 2/22/13!!*****

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This will Rock…Please join us in Jamaica with the Africa yoga Project and more

One Love Immersion: A Celebration of CommUnity

Kirtan. Yoga. Activism. Sangha.
Jason NemerJohn de KadtBilly Sadia andNadine McNeil

a celebration of unity through asana, song, dance, massage and community. Benefit from the collective experience of these inspiring teachers Billy, Jason, Jon, Nadine as you immerse yourself in practice, play, sun, sand and sangha. Revel in an all-encompassing experience invoking transformation through devotion and delight. This powerful intensive will offer practical, effective tools so that you may utilize yoga as a vehicle for taking your practice off the mat and into a vaster place of connectedness and love. Each night culminates in a moonlit kirtan, call-and-response chanting of stirring mantras that create a loving vibe enhanced by the magic of Jamaica.

One Love Immersion: A Celebration of CommUnity

Kirtan. Yoga. Activism. Sangha.
Jason NemerJohn de KadtBilly Sadia andNadine McNeil

a celebration of unity through asana, song, dance, massage and community. Benefit from the collective experience of these inspiring teachers Billy, Jason, Jon, Nadine as you immerse yourself in practice, play, sun, sand and sangha. Revel in an all-encompassing experience invoking transformation through devotion and delight. This powerful intensive will offer practical, effective tools so that you may utilize yoga as a vehicle for taking your practice off the mat and into a vaster place of connectedness and love. Each night culminates in a moonlit kirtan, call-and-response chanting of stirring mantras that create a loving vibe enhanced by the magic of Jamaica.

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