Each day follows the same shape. Coffee or a light snack is out at 6:30 AM. At 7:00 the Mysore room opens and everyone works through their own practice at their own pace until 9:00. Breakfast is at 9:15. Late morning and afternoon are free. On three afternoons there is a two-hour workshop from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Evenings are for dinner and rest. Because the schedule barely changes, you get six consecutive mornings of practice with the same teacher. That is the main reason to come.

Compared with most yoga retreats, the focus here is narrow on purpose. This is traditional Ashtanga, taught Mysore-style, rather than a mix of vinyasa, yin and sound baths. There are no led flow classes. Krista works with each student individually. She revisits the same small points across the week, such as foot placement in a standing posture, where the breath goes in a forward fold, or how to prepare for a binding posture you keep missing, until they make sense in your body. The three workshops tie directly back to what she has been seeing in the Mysore room.

The retreat suits people who already practise Mysore and want a week of focused attention. It also works for people coming from led Ashtanga classes who want to try self-practice with support, and for yoga teachers who want to understand the traditional method better. Complete beginners are welcome too. Since nobody is following a group class, a newer student simply gets a shorter sequence and more hands-on help.

Krista Shirley has practised Ashtanga for more than 23 years and has travelled to Mysore, India, many times to study with her teachers. She teaches at The Yoga Shala in Maitland, Florida, where she runs Mysore classes, Ashtanga fundamentals courses and masterclasses. Her teaching is known for slowing down and going back to fundamentals rather than handing out new postures.

Cappadocia is in central Turkey. Its landscape is made of soft volcanic rock carved into chimneys, cave houses and churches, with green valleys running between. Late May is a good time to go: warm days, cooler mornings and evenings, green valleys, and fewer people than in the summer peak. Hundreds of hot air balloons go up most mornings at sunrise, and you can often see them from the hotel before practice.

The base for the week is the Alden Hotel, a 5-star cave-style hotel chosen largely for its dedicated yoga room. You get six nights there, Wi-Fi throughout, and spa and wellness facilities you can book separately. Getting there means flying into Nevşehir (NAV) or Kayseri (ASR), usually via Istanbul. The hotel can arrange transfers, but transfers are not included in the price.

What's included

- Six nights at the 5-star Alden Hotel - Daily breakfast - Welcome Dinner & Orientation - Traditional Mysore-style practice every morning - Three in-depth afternoon workshops - Individual instruction throughout the week - Access to the hotel's dedicated yoga room

What's not included

- Airfare to and from Cappadocia - Airport transfers - Lunches and dinners other than the welcome dinner - Optional excursions and activities (balloon flights, tours, horseback riding) - Spa treatments and wellness services - Travel insurance - Alcoholic beverages - Personal shopping and souvenirs - Gratuities and personal expenses - Yoga mat (bring your own)