Colours of Fall
Retreats with
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Oct 3 - 9 • Art of Living Retreat Centre - Canada
FAQ
Anyone that is 18 years and over is welcome to attend the Special Wisdom Series from Oct 7th - 9th. Please click here to register.
It includes the 7-day Long Silence Retreat and the Special Wisdom Series. The Long Silence sessions and silence will continue through Oct 9. The Wisdom Series sessions will be part of the Long Silence Retreat. It is a rare opportunity to attend a Long Silence Retreat in the presence of Gurudev.
Anyone that is 18 years and over and has completed the SKY Breath Meditation Program is welcome to register for it.
Anyone that is 18 years and over is welcome to attend the Special Wisdom Series from Oct 7th - 9th.
One must have completed the SKY Breath Meditation Program.
If you have not completed a SKY Breath Meditation program yet, you can do so in a city near you. You can find a list of upcoming programs by clicking here
The first early bird discount of $200 ends at midnight (EST) on August 5th.
From then on, the second early bird discount of $100 ends at midnight (EST) on August 27th.
A Kids Day Camp (3 - 12 yrs) is available from Oct 3rd - 6th. Please click here to register.
Angels Program (4 - 7 yrs : potty trained) is available from Oct 7th - 9th. Please click here to register.
SKY Kids Program (8 - 12 yrs). is available from Oct 7th - 9th. Please click here to register.
No additional child care facility will be available.
Visitors can buy a Visitor Pass for $150 per day. This pass will include meals, evening satsang and guided meditation on days that Gurudev’s schedule permits. Buy Visitor Pass
Yes, visitors can have meals once they purchase an Adult Visitor Pass at the reception or online. In order to avoid line-ups, visitors are requested to arrive for lunch only after 1:30pm and dinner after 7:00pm, once the majority of the course participants have had their meals. Kids aged 12 and under do not need to buy a pass. Teens aged 13-17 need to purchase the Teen pass
The $50 per day, Teen Day Pass includes meals and evening satsang. If they wish to volunteer and do some seva, they can get in touch with our on-site youth coordinator at the reception on arrival. Buy Teen Day Pass
Our general policy is that all children will need to stay off-site with parents.
Course registrations and on-site accommodations are non-transferable.
We are able to accept only Visa and Mastercard Credit Cards at this point.
If you are registered for the 7-day Immersion (Hotel package) through the Centre, and your child is registered for the youth programs from Oct 3-9, then you can write to Info.oct2023@artofliving.ca to ask that your child be housed in your hotel room
Yes you can do so on the form at the time of registration.
You will need to make your own housing arrangements. Here is a suggested list of some hotels in the area. You can also look at airbnb and other hotels in Shawinigan (approx 30 min drive) or Trois Rivieres (approx 40 min drive)
List of some Hotel Options:
• Auberge Motel Hémérolys: Tel: (819) 539-4404 / 800-270-4404 – Address: 104E Rue, Shawinigan, Quebec G9N 7N7
• Auberge Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc: Tel: (819) 532-3397 – Address: 2081, Chemin Principal, St.-Mathieu-du-Parc, Quebec G0X 1N0
• Hotel des Gouverneur: Tel. (819) 537-6000 / 888 910 1111 – Address: 1100 Promenade du St-Maurice, Shawinigan, Quebec G9N 1L8
• Auberge Le Florés: Tel. (800) 538-9340 – Address: 4291 50e Avenue, St-Flore-de-Grand-Mére, Quebec G9T 1A6
Transportation and Parking
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) in Montreal is the closest airport. The airport is 2 hours from the International Art of Living Center. The Center will provide transportation for arriving course participants from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montreal. Course participants must register for the airport shuttle at the link provided in your course confirmation email. Shuttle service from the airport to the Centre is not available on Oct 7th for participants who are attending only the Wisdom Series from Oct 7-9. However these participants may book the return shuttle from the Centre to the airport on Oct 9th.
Shuttle registrations and parking passes are non-refundable.
The International Art of Living Center is situated 160 km/93 miles (about 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic) east of Montreal, near the village of Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc in the pristine Quebec countryside. Plan your trip to ensure that your transportation to and from the Centre is as smooth as possible. When booking flights, please leave plenty of time for traffic and any unexpected delays on route. Driving directions from neighboring Canadian and US cities.
Shuttle from the selected hotel to the Centre and back will be provided for those who register for this option on the 7-day Immersion Package with hotel accommodation arranged by the Centre, and the 4-Day Silence Retreat. Please see the Shuttle information by clicking here.
Shuttles will not be available for those registered only for the Wisdom Series or for the Visitor Pass or the Satsang & Meditation Package. You will need to make your own driving arrangements or carpool or use a taxi service.
Directions from Montreal Directions from Quebec Directions from Ottawa Directions from Toronto Directions from New York
For directions to the International Art of Living Center:
GPS ADDRESS: 1151 Chemin de l'Esker, St-Mathieu-du-Parc, Quebec, G0X 1N0
(100 meters from our entrance)
Centre Address: 13 Chemin de l`infinite, Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc, Québec, G0X 1N0
Limited parking will be available at the entrance of the Retreat Centre on a first-come, first served basis. · Complimentary shuttle from your parking location to the Centre and back will be available in short intervals during peak hours which are: 8:00 am - 10:00 am and 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Outside of peak hours, please come to the main entrance of the ashram and request a shuttle to escort you to the lot and bring you back to the Centre.
You will need to make arrangements to arrive at the pick-up point to take the shuttle to the Centre. The only pick up point is:
- Comfort Inn Trois-Rivières (6255 Rue Corbeil, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4P9)
The drop-off location at the end of the day will be the same.
Programs
Individual program times vary and are subject to change at the direction of the instructor(s). Please refer to the specific program listing and description for start and end times..
Miscellaneous
If you require special-needs meals due to food allergies, please select this option when you register. Special needs meals will be gluten-free, vegan and nut-free. Please note that we will be providing separate wristbands only for those who have requested special needs food prior to the start of the course. The wristband will give you access to the special needs food during every meal.
If you have celiac disease, a severe nut allergy, or any other special dietary requirement other than the above 3 options, please write to the us to check if we will be able to accommodate your request (info.oct2023@artofliving.ca). While we do our best to accommodate your needs, we cannot guarantee it. Note that we do not have a separate kitchen for those with severe allergies and cannot ensure there will be no cross contamination.
Winter weather in effect
• You may want to bring a pair of indoor shoes such as slippers along with winter boots to stroll on our trails.
• Bring warm winter clothing like Jacket, caps, gloves etc.
• A sweater and/or shawl and any other effects to settle comfortably in the meditation hall.
Personal effects (bath towels, toiletries and biodegradable soap and shampoo to care for our pristine nature).
• A watch and an alarm clock to make the most out of the course.•
Loose clothing is preferred; short and tight-fitting garments are not encouraged. You may wish to bring a change of more festive outfits for the evening satsang.
• We have made every effort to ensure that you are not housed with a roommate who snores, sometimes they themselves do not know they snore, thus please feel free to bring some ear-plugs or pass by the reception to pick up a pair.
• A water bottle. We will not have plastic water bottles available. You can purchase a metal water bottle in our Divine Shop.
• Winter/Spring is beautiful at the Centre, but the weather can be unpredictable. It can be quite cold with snow and rain. Please bring with you an umbrella, warm clothes, along with sturdy footwear, as the grounds can get slippery or slushy.
• We would recommend bringing cleats for your boots to help with walking on icy roads. There will be some available for sale at the Reception
• If you wish to go snow shoeing on our Trails, please feel free to bring your snow shoes.
Please go to this site for a weather forecast: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/14-day-weather-trend/quebec/saint-m...
NOTE:
• Yoga mats will be provided and are not necessary for you to bring along.
• Our courses are scent free, so please refrain from using strong scents and perfumes during the course of the program for the comfort of all participants.
Please send an email to info.oct2023@artofliving.ca
The following are the requirements: • People on silence courses cannot be housed with people who are not on silence courses. • All people must register for their respective courses before the request is made. • Send an email to info.oct2023@artofliving.ca. with all of your names, genders and the courses each person in your group or family has registered for. • Men will be housed with men and women with women unless you are a family. • We will do our best to accommodate your request but we cannot guarantee it.
No.
Massage and treatments will be available at our Ayurveda Centre. You may secure an appointment on arrival at the appointment desk set up downstairs in the Meditation Hall. Appointments are limited.
Yes. We will have snacks available at Sri Sri Cafe. We accept cash and credit cards.
Yes, you can buy gifts, books, and knowledge series at our Divine Shop.
Yes, there will be the Shankara skin care and Sri Sri Tattva booth where you will be able to purchase Ayurvedic beauty and wellness products.
Cash, Visa, Mastercard and Debit Cards accepted forms of payment.