Varsana Eco Yoga Village — Attraction in Granada

An incredible place I feel lucky to have spent time at. Some significant negatives but also very significant positives. Negatives:* No hot water in showers. The volunteer program is advertised as providing hot water, and I was told the same on arrival, but it is very very cold water. According to another volunteer who has been there repeatedly, it has always been cold. * Rooms are quite cold at night, and you will get wool blankets, but everyone slept in layers of clothes and still cold due to big cracks in windows and no insulation. I would have brought a sleeping bag.* No toilet paper was provided, and the volunteer coordinator said they would get more but 5 days later still none.* Laundry works sometimes but not others; drying is air drying under cover.* Volunteer coordinator was not organized or helpful, it was unclear when to be where or what to do. Communication was poor at best. Positives:* A great experience if you are OK with all of the above and flexible. I learned a lot about myself, other people, other cultures... And for this I'm grateful and thankful for the experience. It made the negatives listed above worthwhile.* The surrounding area is beautiful, with friendly people (and dogs!)... I always felt safe walking after dark as a solo female. * WiFi at the volunteer house worked very well except one day.* While yoga classes didn't occur every day... The ones I attended were very unique and different to anything I'd experienced in yoga before. * The food! Incredibly prepared and varied dishes for every meal made by cooks who have been working there for years, some 30+ and love what they do. If you are vegetarian or just appreciate vegetables and diverse cooking, you will be in heaven. If volunteering, definitely ask to help in the kitchen at least once with Neri Simha (not sure on spelling) and/or Gayatri.* The entire place is based on Hare Krishna philosophy, and many people there have been a part of the community for decades. You have to be open to this belief system. I am not writing this as a negative but it would be for someone closed minded. They do not expect you to convert in any way, but if you attend their kirtan program (5am or 6pm in mandir) be prepared to respectfully participate and listen to what they have to say. Even if you are an atheist, there is much to learn about how to approach the world and the people here truly are beautiful souls who genuinely believe what they do and want others to be happy and appreciate life every moment. There are some male-centric parts of the philosophy that would make feminists cringe, but they were always respectful and one needs to remember that as a tourist, essentially, you are in someone elses community, not your own.* The people. While communication was poor, the 30+ people who are part of this community were incredible to be immersed with, to witness how they interact with each other, other animals, the world... It was a breath of fresh air from the toxicity and cynicism often felt in today's world to be among people who put such focus and care into what they do, who value service and community and live it daily. Again, very grateful for the ability to have met everyone I did, from the people who live there to the other volunteers.* Spanish. For me this was a huge positive... But I'm mostly fluent in my understanding of Spanish, and wanted opportunities to practice my speaking. If you know no Spanish, few if any people who live here speak English. They will do their best to communicate, and they have phones/internet and can use translation apps if need be. Their website has an English version but the only people I encountered who knew more than a handful of English words/sayings were a couple other volunteers. Again, I see this as a huge positive, and wouldn't expect people whose native language is Spanish to also know English or any other language. But be prepared if you do not know any Spanish or unwilling to mime or use translation apps...

It is located in front of the entrance to Granada (Cundinamarca), on the highway via Fusagasuga. In general terms, it is a monastic and non-profit community, in which we all practice the yoga of devotion and love through service (Bhakti yoga), a Hare Krishna community, with Hindu roots. They have an organic garden where part of the food they eat is produced, they have a variety of spaces available to meditate and deepen their knowledge of being, especially the largest Planetary Yoga in Latin America. There the spiritual practices are carried out, which are open to the public, in the morning and in the afternoon. They have a volunteer program for everyone who wants to experience the life of an Ecovillage Sustainable activities such as organic farming and vegetarian cooking are carried out. All knowledge in other areas or proposals for the improvement and visibility of the Ecovillage are welcome. The program includes yoga classes, meditation workshops, biodance, art therapy, sound therapy and conscious cinema. A healthy life experience and disconnection. As a volunteer, in Varsana you will have the opportunity to enjoy a vegetarian diet while enriching your social circle through interaction and living with different people, as well as the exchange of ideas, experiences and knowledge. In addition, you will have a space for yourself, to walk, get to know the environment of the Ecovillage, connect with nature and with your inner being. Se encuentra ubicada al frente de la entrada a Granada (Cundinamarca), sobre la autopista vía a Fusagasuga. En términos generales es una comunidad monástica y sin ánimo de lucro, en la que todos practicamos el yoga de la devoción y el amor a través del servicio (Bhakti yoga), comunidad Hare Krishna, con raíces hinduistas. Tienen una huerta orgánica donde se producen parte de los alimentos que consumen, tienen a disposición una variedad de espacios para hacer meditación y profundizar en el conocimiento del ser, especialmente el Yoga Planetario más grande de Latinoamérica. Allí se realizan las prácticas espirituales, que están abiertas al público, en la mañana y en la tarde. Cuentan con un programa de voluntariado para todos los que quieran experimentar la vida de una Ecoaldea Se realizan actividades sostenibles como agricultura orgánica y cocina vegetariana. Son bienvenidos todos los conocimientos en otras áreas o propuestas para el mejoramiento y visibilidad de la Ecoaldea. El programa cuenta con clases de yoga, talleres de meditación, biodanza, arteterapia, sonoterapia y cine consciente. Una experiencia de vida saludable y desconexión. Como voluntario, en Varsana tendrás la oportunidad de disfrutar de la alimentación vegetariana mientras enriqueces tu círculo social a través de la interacción y convivencia con diferentes personas, así como el intercambio de ideas, experiencias y conocimientos. Además, tendrás un espacio para ti mismo, para caminar, conocer el entorno de la Ecoaldea, conectar con la naturaleza y con tu...

Es un espacio precioso y natural, en donde se promueve el camino de la espiritualidad, la conexión entre el cuerpo, la mente y el alma a través de la meditación y los recorridos ecológicos. A pesar que claramente el templo principal es propio de las creencias Vedicas e Hinduistas, no busca en absoluto modificar las creencias religiosas de sus visitantes. El restaurante tiene un excelente y delicioso menú vegetariano, las habitaciones son pequeñas y cómodas, aunque un poco húmedas y frías.

Mi experiencia en este espacio fue con Retiros Renacer, me hospedé dos días y una noche y conocí variedad de rincones de esta Aldea, incluso fuimos a la montaña, al río para hacer inmersión en agua helada y luego terapia de Temazcal (baño de vapor caliente). En este retiro te brindan herramientas valiosas para la sanación emocional y física, la desintoxicación física y mental, la gestión de emociones, la transformación y la búsqueda del equilibrio, la plenitud y la real calidad de vida que no va conectado con lo material.

Recomendaciones:

Para ir a este lugar debes tener en cuenta que esta ubicado en una zona de clima frío y lluvioso, el día puede cambiar de sol a lluvia en cualquier momento, sugiero ir con ropa abrigada y con cambio de calzado.

El lugar también ofrece sus propios retiros y pasadías.

Sugiero llegar muy temprano para así conocer, recorrer y disfrutar...