Seva
Selfless
service
Plus brilliant teaching and practice in community
The Seva program is a
cherished summer
tradition at the Shala. And the best part?
This immersive experience in
Yoga, Community, and Nature is
offered at a fraction of the usual cost.
What makes this program so accessible is your contribution of labor back to the land. We only charge a small fee to cover our essential costs. Participants engage in seasonal farm projects, attend daily yoga and philosophy sessions, and enjoy free time in nature and community.
Experience the simple life.
This year’s dates:
June 11th-15th & June 18th-22nd
When you serve,
you not only benefit others, you also
transform yourself.
What can you expect?
When you come for Seva, you can expect many experiences that nurture you on every level.
Connection to the Land
Nothing compares to the feeling of putting your hands in the dirt and caring for the land. Nurture yourself, though, by rekindling this primordial connection. Your selfless service (SEVA) to the land and animals offsets the cost of the week, making it so affordable.
Daily Yoga Practice
Morning Meditation and Asana (Yoga posture practice) are offered with our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training group, Thursday through Sunday. The practices are accessible to all bodies and support both beginners and advanced practitioners.
Yoga Philosophy
Participate in the morning philosophy sessions alongside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training group, offered Monday through Friday. You’ll be exposed to ancient Yoga texts like the Yoga Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita.
Authentic Community
Make lasting friendships with a like-minded community. Play games, dance, sing, watch the stunning sunsets, and spend your evenings around the fire pit. All lodging is in shared space, and we have limited private spaces available for upgrades.
Immersion in Nature
The schedule includes ample free time to enjoy the property, visit the nearby water hole, and hike the incredible natural wonders surrounding us.
Vegetarian Meals
We prepare three vegetarian meals per day from scratch. We use as much food from our organic gardens as possible. Contact us to discuss eating restrictions (extra fees apply).
what kind of seva might you do?
Seva participants devote 2-3 hours every day to seasonal farm projects. All projects are completed with the guidance of CYS staff members.
Weeding and mulching the garden
Harvesting herbs and vegetables and processing them for the kitchen
Watering the garden and flower beds
Fetching drinking water from the well
Soil building, composting activities
Animal care and feeding
Dates & Cost
Select from the dates below. Remember, arrival is on Wed after 3 PM and departure is on Sunday by 3 PM.
For camping, you must bring your own tent/camping gear.
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Free from the demands of my everyday life and immersed in practice, community and service, Seva gave me an opportunity to be more present. My goal was to unplug, put my hands in the dirt, and be a part of a community that nourishes me on every level. There was plenty of time for quiet contemplation, as well as opportunities to meet and connect with new people. I gained fresh insights about myself through the daily philosophy teachings and was renewed by the daily yoga and meditation practices. It’s flexible enough that you can really make the experience whatever serves you best.
Molly C
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"Circle Yoga Shala is amazing. The meditation, asana, and philosophy were as nourishing as the food, fellowship and nature. I felt lucky to spend time in the space. The yoga practice and the seva work brought a wonderful balance to the day. Try it yourself to cultivate something new within the experience."
Jason H
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“SEVA was the perfect refresher from my office job. It felt great to be in nature, to work in the garden, to eat chef-prepared food from the garden, and to be around such wonderful people. There is beauty everywhere at the Shala. Plus, we made time for hiking and swimming in the Ozarks! It was a truly incredible experience.”
Joy
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"[The] SEVA week fostered a softness in me. I left the shala willing to meet others and myself with gentleness and grace. I find myself slowing down to listen with more intention and curiosity."
Lynette N
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"The property is serene and vibrant with simplistic natural beauty. The owners and residents are kind of welcoming. I strongly recommend the Seva program. Nothing blends the teachings of yoga and meditation better than giving back selfless service to your teachers and the land."
Heather R
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"Seva invited me to put my practice of yoga into action. With the combination of meditation, asana, philosophy, and service, complemented with fresh food, love, and kindness, I learned how to look deeper into myself and see the light that shines there. By the end of the retreat, I felt grounded in my practice with new energy and understanding."
Morgan
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“The Seva program at the Shala was a beautiful reminder of the natural reciprocity that selfless service evokes. I arrived prepared to give, not yet realizing how much I would truly gain during my time there. To show up and freely give of yourself in a space where others are doing the same, it was impossible to leave feeling anything but full.”
Calli W
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"Seva week is one of my favorite ways to spend a week off of work! The simplicity of meals together, meditation and asana practice, and working on the land allowed me to rest and reset. Going to the Shala feels like getting to go home. There's so much love and beauty and the good kind of work!"
Sarah M
FAQs
If you still have questions after reading these FAQs, don't hesitate to contact us.
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Seva is for individuals 18 years or older who are interested in developing a connection to the land, nature and to themselves.
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Many of our participants arrive without knowing anybody and within days life-long friendships are forged. So don't worry. Community is what we do and we'd love for you to be a part of it.
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Bedding (sheets, pillow, blanket), towels. Soap and shampoo is provided.
Water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlight (phone flashlight works).
Clothes for yoga and hiking, swimsuit, hat, closed toe shoes, flip flops.
Personal yoga mat (or you can purchase one upon arrival).
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The food is vegetarian and prepared daily from scratch, according to Ayurvedic principles. You're welcome to bring snacks that can be kept in your personal space. The fridge is not available for guests to store food.
Please contact us if you have dietary restrictions: we can accommodate within reason and for an extra fee.
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You can now search for “Circle Yoga Shala,” and Google Maps will locate us in Jasper, Arkansas. Make note: we are 12-14 miles west of Jasper, although we have a Jasper address.
Alternatively, you can locate Rio Buffalo Outfitters on HWY 74, zip code 72641, as the closest point of reference on the map. Turn south onto Shiloh Rd (it's called 24 on Google Maps), which immediately proceeds uphill. Go exactly 2.2 miles (the last 1.2 miles will be gravel) to our driveway on the right. You will see a "Yoga Shala" sign marking our driveway.
Keep these directions handy as you will likely lose signal on your way here. You can also download your map to your phone as an extra precaution.
There are only a few locations for gasoline. Do not miss an opportunity to fill up!
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There is Wifi in all the buildings and most other places on property, no password.
T-Mobile and Verizon provide good signal while on property. AT&T has spotty coverage. Enable calls over wifi, if needed.
All buildings have A/C.
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Unfortunately, we are not equipped to host children on property.
There are absolutely NO PETS allowed. We have plenty for your enjoyment!
