October 11–16, 2026 · Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
The Yoga
of Death
A six-day immersion in conscious dying — yoga, breath, ritual, and community at a volcanic sanctuary.
Lineage
“If you've done your sadhana fully, there will be no fear of death, and dying is just another moment. If you are to die consciously, there's no time like the present to prepare.”
Ram Dass
The work
What Yoga of Death is
A six-day immersion in conscious dying — through yoga, breath, meditation, ritual, and community. The name is direct on purpose: we use the reality of mortality as a lens for what must end in us so truth can move.
Something in you may be dying — a story, a role, a relationship to yourself. This is a space to meet that ending with dignity: not to rush healing, but to stop fighting the threshold.
This may be for you if…
- You want honest inquiry into endings, identity, grief, or transition — with practice, not platitudes.
- You can participate in group process and respect shared boundaries.
- You have enough steadiness — in body and mind — to meet emotionally intense work safely. We confirm fit with care in your application.
This may not be for you if…
- You are looking for a generic spa or purely recreational holiday.
- You are in acute crisis without external support — this retreat is deep work, not emergency care.
- You want to avoid death, grief, or embodiment themes entirely.
"When someone we love dies, we get so busy mourning what died that we ignore what didn't." — Ram Dass
The Practice
What You Will Experience
Six transformative practices woven through each day, guided by lineage and devotion.
Breathwork Journey
Pranayama and guided breathwork to dissolve resistance and open the subtle body.
Temazcal Ceremony
Ancient sweat lodge built into the cliff — rebirth through fire, prayer, and darkness.
Sound & Kirtan
Resonance dome ceremonies. Crystal bowls, voice, mantra — vibration as medicine.
Conscious Dying Ritual
The heart of the retreat. A guided ceremony to practice meeting death with open eyes.
Volcano Hike
Summit walk in silence. Earth beneath, sky above. Perspective shifts on the mountain.
Ecstatic Dance
Free movement. No choreography. The body metabolizes what the mind cannot.
The Journey
Six Days, Six Thresholds
Day 1 — Death of habit
Death of habit
Release patterns that no longer serve. Arrival, settling in, opening ceremony.
Day 2 — Death of relationship
Death of relationship
Let go of how you relate — to others, to yourself, to what was.
Day 3 — Death of ego
Death of ego
Somebody to nobody. The nervous system holds what the mind has forgotten.
Day 4 — Death of other
Death of other
Everything is God in drag. Death of separation. Volcano hike. Ecstatic dance.
Day 5 — Death of self
Death of self
Conscious Dying Ritual. Giving voice to pain. Completing the loop.
Day 6 — Going Home
Going Home
White attire. Closing ceremony. You leave different than you arrived.
The Sanctuary
Maestro Valley
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
A regenerative off-grid sanctuary on two acres beside a cliff, surrounded by three volcanoes. Every detail designed around transformation — from charcoal-filtered water to red lights after sundown.
Organic, grass-fed meals prepared by local chefs. 100% solar power. Permaculture gardens. No plastic.
On the land
- Resonance Dome
- Cliff Temazcal
- Echo Temple
- Open-air Shala
- 100% Solar Power
- Permaculture Gardens
- Charcoal Water Filters
- Red Lights at Night
- Organic Grass-Fed Meals
- Natural Fiber Sheets
Your Guide
“If you've done your sadhana fully, there will be no fear of death, and dying is just another moment. If you are to die consciously, there's no time like the present to prepare.”
Nick Dearman
Meditation teacher and breath coach
Student of Ram Dass, Neem Karoli Baba devotee, spiritual scientist, international yoga instructor
Lived at Baba's Taos Ashram. Traveled across India among Himalayan saints. Ram Dass as primary teacher on conscious dying — with emphasis on holding people well in vulnerable experience, including through grief, trauma, and family.
Accommodation
Choose Your Space
All rates include accommodation, meals, full programme, ceremonies, and venue access.
Proof
Voices from the field
Depth shows up in how people describe what shifted — emotionally, somatically, and in their lives.
“I came carrying grief I could not name. The structure let me land — and the practices gave me language for what was dying and what was asking to live.”
“This is not soft wellness. It is rigorous, kind, and honest. I felt held without being managed.”
“The venue and food matched the depth of the work. I could actually rest between sessions — that alone changed everything.”
Practicals
Questions & answers
Logistics, fit, and what happens after you apply. For the full list, see the FAQ page.
Couldn't find your question? Get in touch.
It names the practice honestly: we use death — literal and metaphorical — as a teacher. Through yoga, breath, meditation, ritual, and inquiry, we explore what needs to end so life can move with more truth. It is not morbid for its own sake; it is precise.
Oct 11–16, 2026 · Lake Atitlán
Die to the old.
Arise to the new.
Spaces are limited. Application required.