Retreats
Seven days that change everything
Not a teacher training. Not a holiday. A week of deliberate practice on the banks of the Ganges — for people who already know why they show up on the mat and want to go further.
In one paragraph
A 7-day residential yoga retreat in Tapovan, Rishikesh, on the western bank of the Ganges. Daily pranayama, Hatha and Ashtanga practice, philosophy and anatomy workshops, with Sudhanshu Badoni and a small team of visiting faculty. Cohorts of twelve, all-inclusive accommodation and meals, from $1,400 per person.
Length
7 days, 6 nights
Cohort
12 max
Investment
From $1,400
Setting
Tapovan, Rishikesh
What the week holds
Every morning begins before the sun clears the hills. You walk into the shala at 5:30, feet on cold marble, the sound of morning bells arriving from the temples below. Pranayama comes first — twenty minutes of structured breathwork that wakes the body without caffeine, without noise. Then ninety minutes of asana practice: some days Hatha, slow and exacting; other days Ashtanga Vinyasa, where the rhythm of breath and movement leaves no room for distraction.
After practice there is mango chai on the terrace and a vegetarian breakfast prepared by our kitchen staff from seasonal produce. Mid-mornings are for workshops — anatomy, philosophy, breathwork techniques you can carry into daily life long after you leave Rishikesh. Afternoons are yours: walk to Ram Jhula bridge and watch the river, sit in the garden with a book, or join an optional excursion to the temples and trails above Tapovan. Evenings close with restorative yoga or seated meditation as the light drops behind the western hills and the Ganga Aarti ceremony begins downstream.
Three meals a day are included — all vegetarian, all cooked fresh. Accommodation is a private room with an attached bathroom. The cohort is capped at twelve participants, which means the faculty knows your name, your practice, and the specific places where your body needs attention. This is not a conveyor belt. It is a week built around the premise that depth requires proximity.
Sample itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival
Check in from 2 pm. Settle into your room, walk the lane to Ram Jhula bridge, and join the group for a welcome dinner on the terrace. Evening orientation: we cover the week's rhythm, answer questions, and sit together for a short guided meditation as the Ganga Aarti lights flicker downstream.
Day 2 — Foundation
5:30 am pranayama on the cold marble shala floor. 6:30 am Hatha practice with Sudhanshu — slow, precise, no rushing. After mango chai and breakfast, a philosophy session on the Yoga Sutras. Afternoon free for rest or a walk along the river. 5 pm restorative session and meditation at dusk.
Day 3 — Depth
Morning Ashtanga led class. Mid-morning anatomy workshop with a visiting anatomy faculty: understanding your shoulders, your spine, and why that persistent ache in your lower back is not mysterious. Afternoon excursion to Kunjapuri Temple for panoramic Himalayan views. Evening meditation.
Day 4 — Stillness
Silent morning. Practice at your own pace in the shala or on the terrace. Guided Vipassana session at 10 am led by a meditation teacher from a nearby ashram. Afternoon Ayurvedic cooking class with our kitchen staff — you learn to make dal, chapati, and a seasonal sabzi using produce from the Tapovan market. Evening kirtan with local musicians.
Day 5 — River
Morning practice followed by a guided walk along the eastern bank of the Ganges, past the ashrams and into the forest trails above Tapovan. Afternoon workshop on pranayama techniques for daily life — what to keep when you no longer have a shala. Evening practice and reflection journaling.
Day 6 — Integration
Full morning practice combining Hatha, breathwork, and meditation into a single unbroken sequence. Philosophy discussion: what does a sustained home practice actually look like? Afternoon free. Farewell dinner with the faculty and cohort on the rooftop, the river audible below.
Day 7 — Departure
Optional 5:30 am final practice. Breakfast together. Check out by 11 am. We arrange taxi transfers to Dehradun airport or Haridwar railway station.
Investment
From $1,400 per person, all-inclusive.
What's included
- Seven nights private accommodation with attached bathroom
- Three vegetarian meals daily plus chai and filtered water
- All yoga, meditation, and pranayama sessions
- Philosophy and anatomy workshops
- One guided excursion (Kunjapuri Temple or river trail)
- Airport or railway station transfer on arrival and departure
- Course materials and a post-retreat home practice guide
Not included
- International or domestic flights
- Travel insurance (required — we do not admit participants without it)
- Personal expenses, laundry, and additional excursions
- Ayurvedic treatments (available locally at additional cost)
Upcoming dates
Each retreat is limited to 12 participants. A non-refundable deposit of $350 secures your place. Full payment is due 30 days before the retreat start date.
Common questions
Do I need to be an experienced practitioner?
You need a regular practice — meaning you have been on the mat consistently for at least six months. This is not a beginner introduction, but it is also not an advanced intensive. We meet you where you are and adjust accordingly. If you can hold Downward Dog for five breaths without distress, you belong here.
Is this a teacher training program?
No. Our retreats are for practitioners who want to deepen their personal practice without pursuing certification. If you are interested in teacher training, see our 200-hour and 300-hour programs. The retreat is about depth for its own sake — no exams, no teaching practicum, no performance.
What is the accommodation like?
Clean, private rooms with attached bathrooms, hot water, filtered drinking water, and Wi-Fi. Bedding and towels are provided. This is not a luxury resort and it is not an austere ashram — think comfortable simplicity. The rooms are quiet, the beds are firm, and the morning bells from the nearby temple will become your alarm clock.
Can I extend my stay?
Subject to availability, yes. Many participants stay an extra two or three days to explore Rishikesh independently. We can help arrange continued accommodation at a nearby guesthouse and suggest walks, temples, and the best chai stalls in Tapovan.
Ready to begin?
Write to us with your preferred dates and any questions about the retreat. We respond within 48 hours and will walk you through everything — from booking your flight to packing for Rishikesh.
Get in touch