Traditional Sivananda Yoga Retreats and Ashram Life
Step away from the noise and return to your true Self. Join us at our ashram for a traditional path of Hatha yoga, meditation, and ancient philosophy.
We begin our days with meditation, finding stillness as we overlook the tranquil mountains of Spain. This practice of Dhyana is central to our retreats, helping to quiet the mind and prepare for a day of deep spiritual sadhana.
In our Hatha yoga sessions, I provide personal guidance to ensure proper alignment and understanding of each asana. Here, I am assisting a student in Paschimottanasana, the seated forward bend, to help them safely deepen the posture.
In our Hatha yoga sessions, I provide personal guidance to ensure proper alignment and understanding of each asana. Here, I am assisting a student in Paschimottanasana, the seated forward bend, to help them safely deepen the posture.
In our Hatha yoga sessions, I provide personal guidance to ensure proper alignment and understanding of each asana. Here, I am assisting a student in Paschimottanasana, the seated forward bend, to help them safely deepen the posture.
We honor ancient traditions through sacred ceremonies like the Homa, or fire puja. This powerful ritual purifies the environment and the participants, creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere for our collective sadhana.
We honor ancient traditions through sacred ceremonies like the Homa, or fire puja. This powerful ritual purifies the environment and the participants, creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere for our collective sadhana.
Nature often provides moments of profound beauty and blessing during our retreats, like this rainbow over the mountains of Sardinia, Italy. These moments remind us of the peace and harmony that yoga helps us find within.
Nature often provides moments of profound beauty and blessing during our retreats, like this rainbow over the mountains of Sardinia, Italy. These moments remind us of the peace and harmony that yoga helps us find within.
The bonds formed during our time together are a vital part of the experience. Here is a group of students after a special class in Gurgaon, sharing the joy and peace that comes from practicing together as a spiritual community, or sangha.
The bonds formed during our time together are a vital part of the experience. Here is a group of students after a special class in Gurgaon, sharing the joy and peace that comes from practicing together as a spiritual community, or sangha.
About Featured
Our retreats are not holidays; they are an immersion into Sivananda discipline. Expect a strict sattvic diet, early morning wake-up calls at 5:20 AM, and daily karma yoga chores. This structure is essential to calm the mind and create the space for genuine spiritual growth.
At Sivananda Yoga Vidya Peetham, we do not teach yoga for fitness alone. We teach yoga as a complete lifestyle system. Whether you are joining our residential courses in Amboli or our seasonal retreats, the approach remains rooted in the five points taught by Swami Vishnudevananda: Proper Exercise (Asanas), Proper Breathing (Pranayama), Proper Relaxation (Savasana), Proper Diet (Sattvic vegetarian meals), and Positive Thinking & Meditation.
Living in an ashram is a departure from the convenience of modern life. We embrace simplicity. Accommodation is rustic with shared dormitories or basic private rooms, ceiling fans instead of air conditioning, and a clear focus on community living. The schedule is precise: a 5:20 AM wake-up, two daily sessions of 90-minute Hatha Yoga, satsang, and selfless service (karma yoga).
The strict diet—lacto-vegetarian, spice-free, with no lunch served—is designed to lighten the body and sharpen the mind for meditation. It is often challenging for newcomers to adjust, but this physical and mental shift is precisely what allows students to access deeper states of clarity. This is a path for the sincere seeker who values integrity over comfort. Our goal is not just to instruct, but to help you build the inner discipline that sustains your practice long after you leave our grounds.
Govindananda Saraswati
We founded this ashram to share the original yoga wisdom without dilution or commercial noise. Our joy lies in seeing individuals move beyond surface-level poses to find their own inner spark. If you are ready for a real spiritual journey and not just a workout, you will find your home here.
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