VOLUNTEER
COST
Volunteering is a mix of yoga and work. The retreat volunteer program is at no charge. You can make a donation if you wish at the end.
We do need VOLUNTEERS right NOW so if you can come earlier please let us know.
WHAT YOU GET
Volunteering includes refreshing early morning beginners to intermediate Ashtanga-Sivananda mixed yoga classes with pranayama, afternoon some deep inner meditation or yin yoga or relaxation yoga nidra daily, two or three boutique gourmet organic vegan meals daily, selected organic herbal teas. If you wish to engage in a juice fast or combine such with your stay, then let me know asap so you can be catered for. Some evenings there is also Kirtan singing, chanting and music or meditation, or a Satsang lecture on spirituality of Ascension. Zen art classes are also available. For a very reasonable additional cost you can get massage, healing sessions, do kayaking, and local adventure sports including rock climbing, etc. If you stay long term you may be able to do the UOCA Yoga Teacher Training for one month for a very discounted rate.
The retreat has a 100 secluded hectares of forest in the hills near Coffs Harbour – one and a half hours away. There are bushwalks, dam to swim in, places to relax and commune with nature, mountain views, sandstone cliffs, rainforest and waterfalls, creeks and plenty of marsupials and bird life. Such as Kookaburras, Magpies, possums, rock wallabies, goannas, etc. Beware of snakes and bull ants when on the grounds. Ask where the bull ant nests are when you come here.
You will be sleeping in guest rooms if they are available, share room, dorm or camping. Generally a share room is available.
WHAT TO BRING
Make sure you a torch (not mobile), bring toiletries, cosmetics, moisturisers, etc that are ORGANIC ONLY. A towel and yoga mat, yoga clothing and work clothes and boots. Sunscreen and insect spray. Do not bring any food or snacks here at all unless you it is organic vegan and you wish to donate for all and you have consulted a week prior to arrival.
PICK UP
You will be picked up at Clarence Valley Airport or bus or train station in Grafton, not far from Coffs Harbour, all inclusive. Unless you have your own car. If you are flying to Coffs Harbour there is a pick up charge.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Work exchange is daily helping out with the ashram is part of the program and is very flexible so you feel comfortable doing the tasks that suit you, makes you feel more connected to the retreat and keeps the retreat cost so low. It can be food preparation, cleaning, gardening, making bush paths, handyman jobs, or even computer or marketing work. The retreat tries to be sustainable in all its energy needs and growing organic food – it has a vegetable garden and fruit tree orchard. The emphasis is to be meditating and enjoying your work. You get a day off each week to explore the area or do a tour with the group here. We ask you to do more hours here than normal WWOOFing because you get a lot more here. 6 hours a day work is required not including meal preparation. Combined with the yoga program it is a busy day.
COMPUTERS, MOBILES, INTERNET, BOOKS, TV
Do not bring the above, except books that are of a spiritual positive nature. If you bring your mobile you need to hand it in – there is limited reception here anyway. This is a chance to escape from technology and meditate connecting to nature in a remote sustainable retreat in the forest. You can have internet or phone access once a week for an hour to connect to friends and family – or anytime in an emergency. You will see the benefits once you break from these electronics. Please do not try and negotiate more time, etc once here.
INSURANCE
It is important you are insured against accident. At the moment we have very limited cover for volunteers here and you may not be covered. You are not covered for most work activities that you do here and any dangerous activities including kayaking or swimming in the dam, etc. You are covered if injured doing yoga. You must agree not to make a claim against us if injured. You agree to take the risk yourself if you do these things here.
Shortly we will be getting better insurance cover.
WEATHER
Nymboida is sub-tropical, but the nights can still be quite cool especially between April to September and you will need some warm clothes too, but during the day in winter it is about 18-22 C and sunny. The rest of the time it is humid and hot. There is 100 hectare private valley in large secluded native forest on the property to go walking and meditate – quite literally surrounded by millions of hectares of native forest, national park and very quiet. February to April is the wet season, it cloudy, often raining and hot. August to February is dry and sunny and bushfire season and precautions are necessary here then.
HEALTH FORM
Please fill in the application form which informs me of your health needs at https://www.jotform.com/JamesUOCA/bookyoga-healthcare-forms. It is extremely important to fill it out truthfully and accurately with as much detail as possible. You cannot book until the application form is sent back and approved. You may then book and there is a fully refundable deposit you need to pay of $450 to keep your place. You get it back when you leave, however you must stay at least a week to obtain the deposit back. If you have any questions about the form please ask and I may ask further questions once it is received. Carefully read the rules at the end and sign it. YOU NEED TO PUT IN
YOUR WORK SKILLS IN THE FORM.
EMAIL US SEPARATELY WHEN YOU FILL IN THE FORM as the form does not notify us when submitted.
YOGA
This is a real opportunity to work on yourself without distraction, and get some very experienced help one on one from a yogi who is from your culture. To put aside the stress of the work place and reconnect to your primal self, that has disconnected you from nature. This is the place in remote bush to do that transformation and ascend to the state of UNdividuality – undivided from nature. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me or see www.wna.org.au or www.uocah.blogspot.com.
TILL YOU COME HERE
If you decide to proceed you need to avoid eating meat, dairy, sugar or sugary food, drinking alcohol, smoking or taking any intoxicants including coffee and any social drugs, till you come here. And to do at least 15 minutes yoga and meditation and at dawn and dusk every day.
COVID
You may be required to do a RAT test on arrival. We recommend you get a test done before you get here then you can avoid this and possible disappointment if you test positive.
If you have symptoms of covid, tested positive in the last 14 days or been a close contact you need to do a covid test 3 days before you come here, sms the result to us and wear a mask after the test till you come here. And you must inform us of your condition.
There is no social distancing here. This retreat is a bubble for all people that come here on the basis they do not have Covid when they arrive. Some people at the health retreat may be immune compromised. Obviously if someone has covid then it is not right for them to come here.
Please confirm –
• please tell me how you are going to get here, and if you need assistance or advice to come here.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon and have a lovely day!
Namaste,
Dhyan
Nymboida Yoga Retreat
Hinterland from Coffs Harbour
New South Wales
UOCA YOGA
0457414301
