Hare Krishnas open health retreat
By Michelle Neathercote
The new owners of the former Otford Conference Centre - the Hare Krishna organisation – are on schedule to open a health and wellbeing facility in November.
The Grovinda Valley Yoga and Health Retreat will provide weekend accommodation and other facilities that will focus on yoga, nutrition and spirituality.
The former 152-bed Uniting Church conference centre, which is located on a 10 hectare property at Otford, is currently undergoing renovations including the creation of a special 200 square metre “yoga hole” that helps tune yoga practices.
Project manager Percy Garcia said naturopathy, hydrotherapy and colour therapy would be added to the list of treatments and services as interest in the centre grew.
“When we open there will be a choice of rooms available with both private and shared bathrooms with all facilities positioned according to ‘Vastu’, the system that led to the development of Feng Shui,” said Mr Garcia.
“We are a non-profit organisation that seeks to assist people to increase their spirituality through the sciences of yoga and our vegetarian catering, as well as a peaceful and inspiring environment to help balance the whole person.
“Our aim is for a person to come down on a Friday night and leave on a Sunday evening feeling totally rejuvenated.”
The local community will be invited to participate in the opening celebrations later this year while being encouraged to attend ongoing yoga classes. Local yoga teachers will be welcome to rent facilities where they can hold their own classes and special guest yoga teachers will be invited to hold classes at the retreat.
Mr Garcia said he is in contact with a number of international yoga teachers as part of his work organising the Yoga Expo that is part of the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival held annually in Sydney.
