Retreats
Journey of a lifetime
January 2026
Our India Yoga retreat, in stunning natural surroundings, will give you space to
rest, reflect, reset, and restore.
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Read on to discover more:
about the retreat, venue, excursions,
when will it take place, investment,
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About the retreat
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​The retreat will take place over 10 days and 9 nights in an authentic Indian ashram, where you will be invited to immerse yourself and experience the beautiful rhythm of ashram living.
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It will be a complete break from the usual routine, a chance for your body to reset, and for you to receive nourishment in mind, body, and spirit. With daily Yoga classes, meditation, free time to relax, workshops, and excursions.
This pause from the usual routines can provide a refreshed perspective on life.
It will give you the space to plant and nurture seeds of self-care, which will continue to flourish long after the retreat has finished.
This retreat is for you if you are looking for an immersive Yoga experience, and a taste of India. The chance to spend time marinating in the various practices of Yoga, on and off the mat: discover the enriching benefits of a Yogic lifestyle, and witness in the magic of India.
Suitable for all levels of Yoga experience, including beginners.
Retreat venue
The retreat venue is a Yoga ashram situated in a peaceful rural location surrounded by majestic countryside, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra (about 4-hours by taxi from Mumbai International Airport).
The grounds include many plants, trees, and shady spots to sit and take in the scenery. There is a lake, vegetable gardens, and a dedicated meditation space for you to visit if you wish.
There will be other activities taking place at the ashram during the time of the retreat.
In addition to the retreat schedule, you will have the opportunity to participate in Yoga lectures which are being offered as part of the courses running at the same time as the retreat.
You will also have free time to relax by the swimming pool, rest, or receive an ayurvedic treatment in the Ashram spa.
There is a small shop (usually open after lunch and dinner). Here you can find many interesting trinkets, clothing items, Yoga books, natural handmade body-care products (made on-site), essential oils, wholefood items (nuts, dried fruits), delicious homemade snacks, and much more.
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Food and accommodation
You will be provided with three delicious wholesome vegetarian meals per day, prepared according to ayurvedic principles, an early morning herbal drink, and a light afternoon snack.
Accommodation is in shared rooms (male / female), with people from the same retreat. There is usually a maximum of 4 people per room, and there is one bathroom in each room.
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Sharing living space like this can be a powerful and enriching part of the retreat experience.
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If you are travelling with a friend of the same gender and you would like to be placed in the same room, please state their name on your booking form.
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Please note: requests for couple’s rooms and single rooms are not guaranteed and incur additional fees (on a case-by-case basis depending on space available in the ashram at the time of the retreat: due to additional organisation required the extra fee will reflect this).
Excursions
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During the retreat there will be excursions to:
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Holy Shiva temple in the close-by village of Trimbakeshwar.
The temple is a special place and a magical experience to visit early in the morning. You will also be able to witness rural Indian village life at its truest.
We go there and back by taxi, usually arriving back in the Ashram in time for breakfast.
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Sunrise hike up holy Hanuman mountain / Anjaneri hill considered is a spiritual site which legend says is the birthplace of the deity Lord Hanuman (monkey god). On the way up you will see glimpses of the impressive sunrise, and the views from the top are spectacular, where you will find a tiny temple.
We go there and back by taxi, and take a picnic breakfast to have at the top (careful to hide it from the monkeys!). It takes approximately 2 hours to climb to the top (less time down!), we will usually be back at the ashram before lunchtime.
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Day trip to Ellora Caves UNESCO world heritage site Ancient caves featuring monolithic Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain art, impressively carved out of the rocks.
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​This is a full day-trip, ​Ellora is approximately 3.5 hours by taxi from the ashram (each way), we will leave early morning and arrive back in the evening. There are no retreat specific classes on this day.
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Nashik city day trip the closest major city (also considered holy!). You can roam free here to visit the old city, temples, the river, and go shopping if you wish.
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​You can go by taxi after breakfast, spend the day there, and a taxi will bring you back to the ashram usually by around 6pm.​
When will the retreat take place?
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Monday 19th - Wednesday 28th, January 2026
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Monday 19th arrival day: be in Mumbai or Nashik by midday (before this time is also fine!). ​There will be an introductory session for the retreat on the afternoon / evening of this day around 5pm onwards. Please consider this when booking your flights.
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A taxi will be organised to collect you from Mumbai Airport, or Nashik, on Monday 19th any time up to midday (included in retreat price). For anyone attending the Yoga festival before the retreat (see below), you can stay on in the ashram until the retreat starts.
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The retreat schedule will begin on Tuesday 20th January in the morning, and finish on Tuesday 27th January* in the evening.
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Departures are any time on Wednesday 28th January. You may be required to vacate your room that morning but are welcome to stay in the ashram during the day if your onward journey is later that day. *You can also depart the ashram any time from 10pm on Tuesday 27th after we close the retreat.
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Your departure taxi is payable by you, the ashram will organise it for you (there are also often shared taxis leaving the ashram so you may be able to share with more people).
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Mumbai airport is approximately a 4+ hour taxi ride (depending on traffic) from the retreat venue. This taxi journey is part of the adventure, you will start to see India on your way
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You can arrive at the retreat venue any time before 5pm on Monday 19th January (ready for the retreat venue orientation).
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Want to stay in Mumbai before coming to the retreat? You can come back to the airport for free taxi pickup on the morning of Monday 19th (just be at the airport when we ask, and we sort out all the details for you for the taxi).
Yoga festival
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Before the retreat an International Yoga festival will take place at the ashram, between 11th – 17th January.
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The festival is a wonderful opportunity to meet Yoga practitioners from all over the world, and to participate in many Yoga classes with international teachers, workshops, talks, learn about Ayurveda the traditional medicine system of India, Indian culture, and much more.
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You are welcome to come for the festival before the retreat starts. Please select festival or non-festival at time of booking, and the price will reflect this.
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The total festival fee is 222€ and this includes accommodation (you may share a room with many people, who may not be attending the retreat), 3 delicious meals per day (plus yummy festival snacks!), and all Yoga classes and workshops (usually 3 or 4 sessions per day with 3 or 4 options for each session from Yoga, to massage, to meditation, to Ayurveda, to dance, plus evening cultural performances).
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Please note: Would you like to attend the festival but not for all of it? No problem! You can come for as many days of the festival as is possible for you (the ticket price remains the same), and then stay on for the retreat.
Example Daily Retreat Routine
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5.45am wake-up
6.00am herb drink
6.15am mantra chanting
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6.30 – 8.15am* Yoga session
8.30am Karma Yoga
9.30am breakfast
11.00am – 1.00pm workshop,
optional lectures,
or free time
1.30pm lunch
4.30 – 6.00pm* Yoga session,
workshop, Yoga Nidra,
or free time
6.30pm Havan fire ceremony
7.30pm dinner
8.30 - 9.30pm* group check-in,
questions, or free time
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10.00pm bedtime
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This is an example of a typical day. It includes additional activities not specific to the retreat which you are welcome to attend.
The schedule is subject to change according to excursions or other factors.
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*daily activities specific to retreat group.
Investment​
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EARLY BIRD
without festival 888€
with festival 1110€
(early bird ends 31 October 2025)
FULL PRICE
without festival 999€
with festival 1221€
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Please see below for details of
what is it included in the price (and what's not included).
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To book your place
click here to be taken to the booking form.
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Once you have completed the booking form you will be sent to the payment page to pay your retreat deposit of 222€ (or in your own currency). Once your deposit has been paid your place on the retreat is reserved, yay!
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The second payment is due by 30 November 2025 (see payment schedule information below).
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You will be sent details of how to pay the rest after booking, along with additional helpful information about your arrival & departure, visas, what to bring, etc.​
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Words cannot express how excited I am about sharing this with you!
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For any questions about the retreat please feel free to be in touch here. We will be happy to answer any queries you may have regarding any aspects of the retreat, and will get back to you as soon as we can.
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Everything on the retreat is offered as an invitation.
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Nothing is obligatory.*
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To receive the deepest benefit from the retreat experience, you are encouraged to participate in scheduled activities.
However, feel you need to skip something? That's fine too. You can use your own discernment to decide.
*The only requirement is to respect the guidelines of the venue where we will be staying for the retreat.
These include:
accommodation arrangements, swimming pool,
silent times (usually between 10.30pm and 6.30am), no use of drugs, alcohol, or meat.
It is a non-smoking premises.
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Questions about the retreat?
What is included​
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Taxi pickup: from Mumbai Airport or Nashik to retreat venue (pickup on Monday 19th January before midday)
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9-nights’ accommodation at retreat venue (shared room)
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3 meals per day: delicious freshly cooked vegetarian food served at each meal, many of the vegetables are organic grown in the gardens. Morning herbal drink, and afternoon snack.
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Daily Yoga Sessions: exploring warm up movements, asana, kriyas, pranayama, meditation, Yoga philosophy and psychology, Sankalpa (positive intention setting), self-reflection, silence.
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Yoga Nidra: yogic sleep / guided relaxation practice
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Natural Cosmetic Making workshop: learning to make creams and soaps using natural ingredients (samples to keep)
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Yogic Cleansing practices: you will be invited to participate in two simple Yoga cleansing practices
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Mantra chanting: there is usually a morning mantra chanting session which you are welcome to join if you wish before we begin our retreat Yoga session
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Havan (fire ceremony): usually daily in the evening, this includes mantra chanting and fire ceremony
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Karma Yoga: daily opportunity to practice selfless-service with your fellow participants
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Excursions: Trimbak holy temple, Holy mountain sunrise hike, Elora caves, Nashik city
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Time in nature: the surroundings are beautiful and you can spend spare time enjoying the scenery. There will be at least one Yoga session at sunrise or sunset outside in nature
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Kirtan: Bhakti Yoga at least one session to chant together and raise the vibration before we depart
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Yoga Festival ticket: if you select festival at time of booking then your festival ticket will be included in the price
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What’s not included:
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Flights and relevant visas: a tourist visa is necessary to travel to India, a tourist e-visa can be purchased online for around £25. You will be sent links about where you can apply for this once you have booked your place. You may also be able to ask a travel agent to organise the visa for you
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Travel and health insurances: it is recommended that you organise your own comprehensive travel and health insurance as soon as you have booked your place on the retreat (it is obligatory to have insurance to attend the retreat)
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Taxi for your departure from the retreat: this can be organised for you by the retreat venue, the cost will be yours to cover. You may take a shared taxi if other people are travelling at the same time as you (this will be organised for you). The taxi cost may be up to 40euros per person (equivalent in Indian Rupees) depending whether it is shared or for you alone.
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Tips: (for taxi drivers)
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Souvenirs: Shop items in retreat venue (billed on your account and payable at end of your stay)
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Any meals outside of retreat venue (on excursion days)
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Bottled drinking water: filtered drinking water is provided at the retreat venue but if you choose to drink bottled water this is chargeable and payable on your shop bill at the end of the retreat
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Payment schedule​
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Deposit of 222€ is payable after application and reserves your place on the retreat.
This deposit is non-refundable (see terms and conditions).
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Second payment (as outlined below depending on retreat option) is due by 30 November 2025, and confirms your place on the retreat.
Early Bird (no festival) 333€
Early Bird (with festival) 388€
(early bird ends 31 October 2025)
Full Price (no festival) 444€
Full Price (with festival) 499€
Payable to Helen direct to bank account or via PayPal (you will receive all details once your place is reserved).
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Final payment (as outlined below depending on retreat option) is payable direct to the retreat venue on your arrival, either in cash or by PayPal: this amount may vary slightly depending on exchange rates at time of payment (see terms and conditions). Full details provided after booking.
No festival 333€
With Festival 500€