Bridge to a deep immersion in Yawanawá Amazonian spirituality.
Between the silence of the forest and the rhythm of modern life, Uni Retreats offers spiritual journeys guided by Indigenous leaders, recognized guardians of ancestral knowledge. — We are a living space for learning, healing, reconnection and inner awakening.
A silent movement of reconnection and rediscovery is rising in the world.
Amidst the excess of noise, the call grows louder for paths of truth — those that not only heal but reveal what the soul and the ancients have always known.
Ancestral traditions hold spiritual technologies that for millennia have sustained balance between body, mind, spirit, and Earth — wisdoms that science is only beginning to glimpse, yet natives already master with depth.
In every part of the forest, in every ritual, in every silence, lives a knowledge which transcends time and all that we call modern.
Our retreats are portals of that timeless field: encounters where the old and the new unite to awaken what has always been alive within — the power to remember, to feel, to transform, and to live in harmony with essence.
It is time for your transformation if:
- Feel called to live more truthfully, lightly, and in connection.
- Seek time and space to listen to yourself and reconnect with what truly matters.
- Are drawn to ancestral knowledge, feel deep respect for it, and wish to learn directly from those who embody it.
- Want to understand your emotions, heal old wounds, and open space for the new.
- Long for silence, nature, and presence — far from the world’s accelerating pace.
- Believe it’s possible to live with more joy, purpose, and harmony with the Earth.
It’s not time for your transformation if:
- Seek only a different or curious experience without real intention for transformation.
- Want quick answers or spiritual shortcuts.
- Are not ready to live the process with respect, surrender, and attentive listening.
- Prefer to avoid silence, contact with nature, or the Indigenous traditions that hold this work.
- Want something fast, superficial, generic, or industrialized.
What are the pillars that sustain this encounter?
Rituals and Medicines guided by Native Leaders
With the strength and presence of Yawanawá, Huni Kuin, and Native North American masters, the ceremonies awaken ancient memories and reconnect body and spirit to ancestral wisdom.
Songs, prayers, and medicines become bridges between worlds — reminding us that the sacred is simple, alive, and accessible to all.
Silence, Nature, and Integration
Silence heals, nature teaches.
Between one ceremony and the next, there is time to listen to the wind, feel the body, and allow the learning to take root.
Integration is the moment when the experience transforms into wisdom.
Community and Shared Purpose
Circles, sharing, and acts of service — here, every gathering is sustained by the strength of the collective.
The presence of one supports the journey of another. Walking together is also Medicine.
Sessions with the Pajés (upon request)
The Indigenous spiritual leaders who guide Uni Retreats’ ceremonies have received years of training in the sacred codices of their traditions, which allow them to communicate with the spiritual world to harmonize physical, emotional, and spiritual imbalances.
Within the program, participants have the option to request spiritual sessions with these leaders.
Uni Retreats is a living movement of transformation.
Formed by a group of guardians with over two decades of work alongside Indigenous peoples and spiritual masters, Uni Retreats was born from the union of tradition and presence.
Each journey is built upon this foundation — a field of wisdom and healing where the ancient and the new meet to awaken what is essential in each being.
Hosted at Aldeia Akasha Retreat Center (Rio de Janeiro), a territory consecrated to silence and truth, Uni Retreats weaves ancestral knowledge and contemporary consciousness into experiences that are safe, authentic, and deeply human.
More than a project, it is a movement guided by the purpose of serving the sacred and the transformation that begins when we remember who we are.
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Spiritual Leadership
Our retreats are sustained by the living wisdom of the peoples who have preserved ancestral knowledge and technologies that, since time immemorial, teach humanity to walk in harmony with itself, with the Earth, and with spirit.
Yawanawá
The Yawanawá are an Indigenous people from the Brazilian Amazon, guardians of deep knowledge about the medicinal plants of the forest and ancestral spiritual traditions.
After a period of strong cultural repression in the last century, the Yawanawá regained their lands and began an important cultural and spiritual renaissance.
Today, leaders and messengers of this tradition share their songs, medicines, and teachings in different parts of Brazil and around the world.
Part of this tradition is preserved in the Sacred Village, a place dedicated to spirituality, medicinal plants, and the spiritual formation of leaders.
Huni Kuin
The Huni Kuin (“true people”) are an Indigenous nation of the Amazon who preserve a deep spiritual tradition rooted in their relationship with the forest, integrating medicine, song, and ritual.
They live mainly in the Brazilian state of Acre, across territories along several rivers of the Amazon, and continue to maintain their traditional language, hatxa kuin.
Despite periods of persecution and outside pressure, they have preserved their ceremonies, traditional festivals, and sacred medicines, including Nixi Pae (ayahuasca), which holds a central place in their spirituality.
Today, Huni Kuin leaders and messengers share their songs, teachings, and medicines in different parts of the world, bringing a message of reconnection between humanity and nature.
Native North-American Spiritual Leaders
Uni Retreats is also a living manifestation of native prophecies that speak of the reconnection between the Indigenous nations of North and South America.
Akasha Retreat Center is honored to have Wakia Un Manee, Lakota Sun Dance Chief, as a permanent leader who guides the Inipi Ceremony (sweat lodge) and shares Lakota teachings during our retreats.
The Path of Transformation — An Eight-Day Journey
Each retreat follows a carefully designed flow, guiding you from purification to rebirth in just eight days — a passage led through ancestral medicines, teachings, ceremonies, songs, and silence.
Day 1 — Opening and Purification
The beginning is dedicated to settling in, introduction and cleansing. The Inipi (Sweat Lodge) purifies body and spirit, opening the field for the medicine work. It is the moment to leave the outer world and enter the spiritual realm.
Day 2 — The First Passage
With a cleansed body and an open heart, participants receive body paintings, share their intentions and enter the first Uni ceremony, guided by Indigenous leaders.
It is the opening of the inner path — where the sacred meets awareness and learning begins to blossom.
Day 3 — Silence and Integration
After the first night of medicine, silence becomes the teacher.
The day is dedicated to integration practices, cultural activities, and communion with nature — allowing wisdom to settle and the body to reorganize.
Day 4 — The Second Passage
After a day filled with more teachings and cultural practices, the second ceremony deepens the process of healing and self-knowledge.
Songs and prayers reveal new layers — this is the encounter with what is ready to awaken.
Day 5 — The Middle Path and Sharing Circles
The body regains balance; perception expands.
Sharing circles, teachings, and Lakota chants help to organize what emerged and deepen grounding.
Day 6 — The Third Passage
The third ceremony seals the journey: a gathering of gratitude and surrender, where the learnings become strength and purpose.
Here, the cycle completes — what was once a search becomes awareness.
Day 7 — Integration Circle and celebration
The closing circle and Native North American Mother Drum celebration unite the group in song and gratitude.
It is a moment to honor life, beauty, and everything that was lived.
Day 8 — Return with Purpose
The return is part of the journey.
Leaving Aldeia Akasha Retreat Center, each participant carries the silence, strength, and medicine of what was revealed.
The passage ends — but the walking continues.
UPCOMING GATHERINGS — Open Retreats
September 17-24, 2026 — Week 1
September 26 to October 3, 2026 — Week 2
Uni Retreats with Rasu Yawanawá & Mutum family
Heir of the pajé lineage, Rasu is one of the most respected leaders among the Yawanawá.
Dynamic programming subject to change.
November 12th to 19th, 2026 — Week 1
November 21-28, 2026 — Week 2
Uni Retreats with Isku Kua Yawanawá & Nova Esperança family
Young Yawanawá leader, chief of Nova esperança village raised among elders, known for his deep and serene ceremonial guidance.
Dynamic programming subject to change.
What remains after the drum falls silent.
The words of those who walked this path speak for themselves — courage, healing, reconnection, and a new way of walking life.
Memories that remain alive, teaching us.
Images that echo in the hearts of those who have been here.
The mysteries of ancestry are for everyone — but not everyone is ready for the mystery. If you feel the calling, it’s because it’s meant for you.
Akasha Retreat Center
Itaipava – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
THE RETREAT INCLUDES:
Pre-retreat interview and integration with Uni Retreats’ specialized psychologists;
Ground transportation from Rio de Janeiro to Aldeia Akasha Retreat Center in Itaipava;
7 nights in shared bungalows (maximum 3 people per room);
3 daily vegetarian meals throughout the stay;
Participation in all Uni (Ayahusca) and Inipi (sweat lodge) ceremonies;
Bilingual translators (English/Portuguese);
Group transport back to Rio de Janeiro after the retreat.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE:
Individual sessions with Indigenous leaders;
Pre and post-retreat follow-up consultations with specialized psychologists;
Private transfer from Rio de Janeiro to the retreat center;
Laundry service during stay;
Massage and body therapies with experienced therapists;
Private accommodation upgrade (single or double room options).
The home where the circle forms and the family gathers.
In the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Akasha Retreat Center is a sanctuary devoted to healing and presence. The Kupixawa (ceremonial center), the Inipi (sweat lodge), waterfalls, rivers, trails, forests, wildlife, and spaces for rest form a living field prepared to hold profound processes with beauty and truth.
Nourishment is also part of the ritual: the kitchen works in communion with Notícias da Terra, a project that cultivates the food that nourishes both body and spirit during the retreats — real food, made with care and purpose.
FAQ
No. Our retreats are open to all who feel the calling to look within and walk in truth.
Each journey is carefully guided — from the first contact to post-retreat integration — respecting the rhythm and timing of each participant.
No. Before each retreat, we conduct an individual orientation and preparation process so everyone can understand the purpose, context, and safe way to participate in the ceremonies.
All medicines are served with ethics, deep respect for tradition, and the full support of our team.
Yes. Families are welcome, as long as all members understand the nature of the retreat and align with its purpose.
Children are also welcome — especially those accustomed to quiet environments, close to nature and moments of silence.
Each family member is invited to live the experience with presence — some joining ceremonies, others supporting and holding the energy that sustains the collective field.
Our team offers personalized guidance to ensure everyone can participate safely and harmoniously.
After filling out the interest form, our team reviews each application to understand your current life moment and ensure that the journey aligns with your intentions, needs, and the purpose of Uni Retreats.
Once approved, we’ll reach out to guide you through the next steps.
The ceremonies are guided by indigenous spiritual leaders who are guardians of recognized ancestral lineages and traditions.
Each encounter is prepared with reverence — in living alliance with forest peoples — and supported by a team that ensures complete physical, emotional, and spiritual care.
Yes. Our team includes emotional support professionals and therapists who accompany the entire process.
There is also special care before and after the retreat to sustain integration and ensure the experience unfolds with balance and presence.
Located in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Aldeia Akasha Retreat Center was built in harmony with nature. It includes ceremonial spaces, comfortable lodges, communal areas, a kitchen, equipped bathrooms, and abundant nature — natural pools, waterfalls, and forest trails — all designed to offer safety, silence, and deep connection throughout the journey.
All meals are freshly prepared, prioritizing organic and locally sourced ingredients.
The menu includes vegetarian, vegan and meat options supporting the process of purification and lightness.
Accommodation is simple, shared, and comfortable. We also offer individual accommodations and higher-standard options.
After your registration is confirmed, you’ll receive a detailed list with practical guidelines — light clothing, personal items, a notebook, and other essentials to make your experience more comfortable.
But above all, bring an open heart, clear intention, and willingness for silence and listening.
Yes. Our retreats are spaces of deep respect, care, and safety.
The team includes both male and female guardians, ensuring that every woman is welcomed and supported throughout the journey — from arrival to closing — with attention, presence, and compassion.
During the retreat, we follow a healthy and natural diet — free from processed or industrialized foods.
At certain moments, due to specific practices or healing processes, there may be short-term restrictions (such as no sugar or certain foods for a few days). Everything is guided and supervised by our team.
Yes. After registration, we send a guide with practical and spiritual instructions — including dietary, physical, and energetic care.
This preparation helps body and mind open naturally, initiating the process of purification and presence even before the retreat begins.
You can, but it’s important to remember that the medicines continue to work in the body and mind for some time.
We recommend easing back into your routine and, if possible, taking a few days for silence and integration.
This period allows the learnings to settle with clarity and gentleness.
There is no fixed age limit. We’ve welcomed participants from all generations.
What matters most is being in good health and willing to participate in the practices.
In specific cases, our team offers individual evaluation to ensure comfort and safety.