Immerse — Retreat
Ayurvedic
Cooking Retreat
Three days of hands-on cooking, ancient food wisdom, and the kind of nourishment that changes how you eat long after you leave.
Three days of hands-on cooking, ancient food wisdom, and the kind of nourishment that changes how you eat long after you leave.
This retreat is built around one of the most grounding things a human being can do: cook real food, with intention, in good company. Over three days you will learn to see food the way Ayurveda sees it — not as calories or macros, but as one of the most direct tools you have for healing, regulating, and caring for yourself.
Led by Matthew Krepps — a trained chef and Ayurvedic practitioner — and co-facilitated by Stela Balaban, this is an intimate, hands-on experience for a small group of 6–10 people. You will cook. You will eat. You will understand why.
The teachings are practical and the atmosphere is warm. Expect laughter in the kitchen, real conversations over meals, and the particular quiet that settles over a small group that has been well-fed and genuinely cared for.
Most of all, you'll leave remembering that food can be grounding, enjoyable, and a daily act of care.
Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon — lodging included, group size intimate, pace unhurried.
Each morning begins with teaching — the philosophy of Ayurvedic food, the six tastes, the role of spice, the science of digestion. Ancient wisdom made immediately practical.
Lunch and dinner are prepared together — hands in real ingredients, learning through making. Breakfast cooking is optional for those who want to extend the experience into morning rhythms.
Rest. Walk. Journal. Nap. Sit outside. The retreat holds enough open space for the teachings to settle and the body to breathe — not every moment is scheduled.
Evenings are spent together — sharing stories, experiences, and reflection. Small groups have a particular alchemy when they've cooked and eaten together. These evenings tend to be memorable.
Lodging is included in your retreat fee — choose shared or private accommodations depending on your preference and budget. Both options are comfortable and cared for.
Not able to stay the full weekend? Day passes are available for those who want to join for select sessions. Contact us for details and availability.
This is not a cooking class where you watch and take notes. You will leave with practical, embodied knowledge — the kind that comes from having made the food yourself and understood why.
Food can be grounding. It can be enjoyable. It can be a daily act of care. Most of all — it can be something you look forward to, rather than something you manage.
Matthew is a professionally trained chef who has spent thirty years studying Ayurveda as a living practice — not as a set of rules, but as a felt relationship with food, season, and the body's intelligence. He teaches in the kitchen the way he teaches on the mat: with warmth, precision, and a deep respect for the wisdom he carries.
Stela brings her deep grounding in Ayurveda and her gift for creating containers of genuine warmth and care. Her presence in the kitchen and throughout the retreat ensures that every participant feels seen, supported, and well held — from the first cooking session through the final meal together.
I joined to further develop my connection with food. As a personal chef, I've already been cooking for years! I absolutely loved these weekends and attended several times. I found the wisdom shared in the kitchen by Matt felt like home. The traditional ways of cooking bring connection on all levels. I felt refreshed and encouraged. Highly recommend to all.
Lodging is included. Choose shared or private. Save with early bird pricing before May 28th.
Your $200 deposit secures your spot and your room choice. The balance is due by May 28th to receive early bird pricing — or afterwards at the standard rate. Lodging, all cooking sessions, and meals are included.
Day passes available for select sessions — contact us for details →
A $200 deposit saves your place. Group size is limited to 6–10 — once it's full, it's full.