Ayurvedic Weight Loss & Panchakarma Retreat in Ubud, Bali

Ayurvedagram Bali sits about 20 minutes from central Ubud, spread across 14,000 square metres of gardens and rice fields. The weight loss programme starts the day you arrive with a physical and physiological assessment. A Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor) reads your pulse, checks your constitution and works out which of the three doshas — vata, kapha or pitta — is out of balance. From there you get a treatment plan: which therapies, how many sessions, what you eat, how much yoga. It is written for you, not pulled off a menu.

The core of the programme is Panchakarma, a five-part cleansing system from Kerala. For weight loss the two main therapies are Virechana (therapeutic purgation) and Vasti (medicated enema), which are used to soften and shift visceral fat. Before those come Purvakarma — Snehana (oil application) and Svedana (sweat therapy) — to prepare the body. Alongside these you have Udwarthanam, a massage with dry powdered herbs that stimulates the lymphatic system and mobilises stagnant fat, and Abhyanga, a synchronised oil massage with herb-infused oils chosen for your constitution.

Yoga runs daily, in a shala looking out over paddy fields. Classes range from gentle restorative sessions to stronger dynamic sequences designed to build muscle and burn fat, and they are pitched so beginners and experienced practitioners can both get something from them. There is also guided meditation and breathwork, partly to help with cravings and binge eating. One-to-one sessions with a yoga master can be arranged if you would rather not practise in a group.

Food is a big part of it. You eat satvik — Ayurvedic vegetarian — with meals planned around your dosha. The kitchen team is trained in Ayurvedic cooking, and the diet is adjusted as your programme progresses, including a guided fasting routine at points during the cleanse. Nutrition consultations are part of the package, so you leave knowing what to eat and how to cook it.

What separates this from a generic weight loss retreat is the medical depth. Dr. Natasha heads the practitioner team and comes from a Kerala family of Ayurvedic physicians going back three generations, with over a decade of practice in Panchakarma and herbal dietetics. The centre also flags that it can support management or reversal of lifestyle conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, and it asks for your medical history up front so the programme can be adapted safely. If you have a condition or are on medication, tell them before you book.

What's included

- Personalised dosha assessment and consultation with an Ayurvedic physician - Customised weight loss treatment plan - Udwarthanam (dry herbal powder massage) - Abhyanga (synchronised oil massage) - Purvakarma (Snehana and Svedana pre-cleanse therapies) - Panchakarma (Virechana and Vasti internal cleansing, where prescribed) - Guided yoga sessions (restorative and dynamic) - Guided meditation and breathwork sessions - Dosha-based nutrition consultation and diet plan - Satvik (Ayurvedic vegetarian) meals - Accommodation in a Premier Pool Room or other room category - Use of the Yogashala and pool - Herbal supplementation as prescribed

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional treatments outside your prescribed programme - Private one-to-one yoga sessions (available at extra cost) - Any medical tests or medication not part of the programme