6-Day Mindfulness & Hatha Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India

The retreat starts with a gentler day to get you settled. You'll meet the facilitators, walk the grounds, and do a short evening Hatha session before dinner. From day two onwards the schedule becomes fuller: roughly two hours of Hatha yoga in the morning, meditation sessions, philosophy talks, and a second Hatha class before dinner. There's a midweek block dedicated to shat karma practices, which include techniques like jala neti and other cleansing kriyas — these are taught step by step, and you can sit out anything that doesn't suit you.

What separates this from a standard yoga holiday is the setting and the format. Abhyasa Yogmath functions as a working ashram, so you're not in a hotel that happens to run classes. The food is cooked on-site from organic ingredients and follows sattvic principles — no onion, garlic, or stimulants. You eat with the group, and the meals are part of the routine rather than a break from it. The digital detox is also enforced, not suggested, which most people find harder than the yoga for the first two days.

The location is in the Himalayan foothills near Rishikesh, which is where a lot of the yoga taught in the West traces back to. The Ganges runs through the town, and the evening aarti ceremony on the river is one of the things people remember. You'll have some free time in the afternoons to walk, read, or sit by the water. The retreat doesn't include excursions, but the staff can point you toward local temples and viewpoints if you want to explore on your own.

Groups tend to be mixed — solo travellers, a few couples, and people who've come specifically for the meditation and detox elements rather than the yoga fitness angle. The level is open to all, but be honest with yourself: two Hatha classes a day for six days is more than most people do at home. If you're brand new, you'll cope, but you'll feel it. The facilitators adjust the sessions based on who's in the room.

This is a retreat for someone who wants a structured, ashram-style week rather than a holiday with yoga bolted on. You'll leave having done a lot of practice, eaten cleanly, and spent six days without a screen. Whether that counts as a holiday depends on what you're after.

What's included

- 6 days of morning and evening Hatha yoga sessions - Guided meditation sessions twice daily - Shat karma detoxification practices - Yogic philosophy instruction - Chanting, kirtan, bhajan and aarti participation - Digital detox program - Three sattvic organic meals per day, cooked on-site - Accommodation at Abhyasa Yogmath (room option chosen at booking)

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Optional excursions - Anything not listed under inclusions