Remembering softness retreat
An Ayurvedic Retreat for Women with Claudia Batschari (Ayurveda with Claudia) and Tharien Pieterse (Mindful Motion).
We invite you to remember the wisdom of your own body through Ayurveda, embodied practice and the quiet strength of women gathering together.
10 to 13 September 2026
Bodhi Khaya Wild Pod
(2.5 hours from Cape Town)
About the Retreat
You have become very good at carrying things.
Your work.
Your family.
Other people’s needs.
The endless decisions of everyday life.
Somewhere along the way, your own body became the quietest voice in the room.
Remembering Softness is an invitation to slow down long enough to hear it again.
Over four days at the Wild Pod, nestled within the forests of Bodhi Khaya, we invite you into a small circle of women where there is space to soften, to be witnessed and to remember that you don’t have to carry everything alone.
Together we’ll reconnect with the rhythms of Mother Earth, the wisdom of the forest, the flow of water and the vast African sky. Through nourishing Ayurvedic meals, medicinal tonics, embodied movement, breathwork, women’s circles and quiet moments in nature, we’ll practise the gentle art of simply being.
We’ll honour the many seasons of a woman’s life, from coming of age to menopause and everything in between. We believe that when women feel safe enough to soften, they rediscover a quiet strength that has always been there.
Our intention is not to tell you what your body needs, but to help you remember how to listen to it again. We are committed to creating a space that invites you to trust your own experience, reconnect with your body and reclaim your personal authority.
Image source: bhodikhaya.com
What Makes this Retreat Special
Unlike many wellness retreats, this isn’t simply about taking time away. It is about returning home with a different relationship to yourself.
Ayurveda offers a practical and compassionate way of understanding your body, its rhythms, patterns and changing needs through the seasons of life. Combined with embodied movement, women’s circles and time in nature, these four days become more than a retreat. They become the beginning of a different relationship with yourself.
When life becomes complicated, Ayurveda reminds us to return to what is simple. We hope you’ll leave not only feeling deeply rested, but with a greater understanding of your own body and simple Ayurvedic practices to support you long after the retreat has ended.
We are dedicated to holding this space with beauty, gentleness and reverence, allowing you to walk your own path in a way that feels deeply personal and true.
What you can expect:
Pre-Retreat Ayurvedic Cleanse – Our journey begins before we arrive. You’ll be invited to take part in a gentle self-guided Ayurvedic cleanse, preparing your body and mind for the stillness of the retreat and gently clearing the noise of everyday life.
Circle of Women – Gather in an intimate circle surrounded by the ancient forests of Bodhi Khaya. Together we’ll share, listen, reflect and remember the quiet strength that comes from being deeply witnessed by other women.
Deep Restoration in Nature’s Spa – Restore your nervous system with quiet walks through the forest, moments beside the meditation pools and the warmth of the barrel sauna surrounded by nature.
Understanding Yourself Through Ayurveda – Rather than offering another set of wellness rules, Ayurveda provides a compassionate way of understanding yourself. Through practical teachings, restorative yoga, breathwork, nourishing meals and medicinal tonics, you’ll begin to recognise your own rhythms, patterns and changing needs.
The Gift of Silence – Dedicated moments of silence offer space to slow down, hear the whispers of your heart and reconnect with the ancient wisdom held within both the land and yourself.
Retreat Rates
Single cottage rooms – R9,800 – R11,000 pp
Shared cottage rooms – R8,825 – R9,425 pp
Single A-frame cottage – R9,350 pp
Shared A-frame cottages – R8,750 pp
BYOT Camping – R7,550 pp
Image source: bhodikhaya.com
Sample Day at the Retreat
07:00 – Morning Yoga & Meditation
08:30 – Nourishing Ayurvedic Breakfast
10:00 – Nature & Wellness Immersion
12:00 – Ayurvedic Lunch with Seasonal Wisdom, Blessing & Silence
13:00 – 15:00 – Free Time
15:00 – Afternoon Session (Women’s Circle, Breathwork, Embodied Movement or Creative Practice)
17:00 – Gentle Yoga
18:00 – Light Ayurvedic Dinner
19:30 – Stories around the fire with a cup of Ayurvedic Sleep Tonic
(The rhythm of each day may gently change according to the needs of the group.)
The Space - The Wildpod at Bodhi Khaya
Nestled in a remote corner of Bodhi Khaya, with views of the forest and teaming with wild-life, the Wild Pod is the perfect location for hosting a smaller retreat, workshop or group getaway with friends.
“Deeply nourishing on all levels. Silent wandering in the exquisite, wild mountains – lush with green leucadendrons, forested nooks, lily ponds and ancient, lichen-bearded milkwood trees.”
– Anna Kent
Image source: bhodikhaya.com
What's Included:
- Three nights’ accommodation
- Three nourishing Ayurvedic meals each day, plus afternoon snacks
- Ayurvedic teas, medicinal tonics, water and coffee
- Daily yoga, meditation and breathwork
- Barrel sauna sessions
- Personal Ayurvedic teachings and embodied practices to continue at home
- Women’s circles and seasonal rituals
- Pre- and post-retreat support
About Our Facilitators
Together we share a deep love for Ayurveda and a belief that true wellbeing begins by listening to the wisdom of the body. Our different backgrounds beautifully complement one another, weaving together ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, embodiment, movement, breath and nature into an experience that is both practical and deeply nourishing.
Claudia Batschari is an Ayurvedic practitioner, retreat facilitator and lifelong student of wellbeing, the natural world and what it means to live in harmony with both. For almost two decades, she has explored Ayurveda not as a set of rules, but as a compassionate way of understanding ourselves. She loves creating beautiful spaces where women can slow down, reconnect with themselves through nature, and remember the wisdom that has always lived within their own bodies.
Through seasonal cleanses, retreats and women’s circles, she supports women in bringing the wisdom of Ayurveda into everyday life with gentleness, curiosity and joy.
With over twenty years of immersion in Ayurveda, yoga, breathwork and therapeutic bodywork, Tharien Pieterse offers a deeply embodied approach to wellbeing as an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga teacher and massage therapist. With Ayurveda as her foundation, she supports women through every stage of life, from career changes and prenatal and postpartum care, to menopause and chronic pain.
Her work is rooted in a profound connection with nature, simplicity and the rhythms of everyday life. She grows her own organic food and herbs to support her daily rituals. Bringing together movement, breath, touch and presence, Tharien helps women feel safe within their own bodies, remember their innate wisdom, and find balance through the natural rhythms of life.