The week runs from October 23 to 30, 2027. You arrive whenever suits you on the first day. At 17:00 there is a welcome circle where everyone introduces themselves and gets an overview of the week. At 18:00 comes an opening ceremony with kirtan and the lighting of the first lamp, and dinner follows at 19:30. From the next morning the routine settles in. Pranayama and asana run at 7:30, breakfast is at 9:00, and a session or workshop starts at 11:00. Lunch is at 13:00 and the afternoon is free until Yin Yoga at 17:00. Dinner is at 19:00.

The 11:00 slot changes every day, and it is where most of the week's teaching happens. Day 2 is Alignment & Anatomy, a look at how the postures work from the inside. Day 3 is the candle workshop, where you make and decorate the candles and diyas you'll light on Diwali night. Day 4 is a Thai Yoga Massage workshop covering the basic principles and hands-on practice. Day 6 is 'Philosophy in Practice', a discussion of light and darkness, attachment and letting go in yoga texts, with time to think about what you want to drop and what you want to keep.

Two days are built around excursions. On Day 4 the evening session is replaced by a walk to Parmarth Niketan for the Ganga Aarti. Priests perform a fire ceremony on the river every evening, with chanting, flames, and flowers floated on the water. On Day 5 you leave at 4:30 for Kunjapuri Temple, a Shakti temple on a Himalayan ridge. You watch the sunrise up there and drink chai, then you're back by 8:30 for brunch and a free afternoon.

Diwali falls on Friday, October 29. Practice that morning is gentle: pranayama, meditation and a slow flow. The middle of the day is free, so you can wander the town while it gets ready for the festival. At 15:00 the group makes a rangoli, the coloured-powder floor art laid out to welcome light. At 17:30 you place and light your candles from Day 3. A shared festive dinner and a closing circle of gratitude and intention follow. In town there will be lamps along the river, sweets, music and some fireworks.

The venue is in the middle of things, not an hour out of town. Ashrams, chai stalls and temple bells across the river are all within walking distance. There is a dedicated yoga hall with natural light and a rooftop terrace looking out over the Himalayan foothills. Late October is just after the monsoon, so expect mostly dry, clear weather. Days are warm and mornings and evenings are cool, especially up at Kunjapuri.

Ankit Chauhan (E-RYT 500) leads the Vinyasa, Hatha and alignment work. He is from Rishikesh, holds a Bachelor's and a Master's in Yoga, and has taught across India for more than eight years. Hannah Pfeffer (E-RYT 500) teaches the Yin, breathwork and Thai Yoga Massage. She trained in Rishikesh and has since taught teacher trainings internationally. She also speaks German natively, which helps if English isn't your first language.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation - All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner - Daily Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin Yoga sessions - Daily pranayama and meditation - Alignment & Anatomy session - Thai Yoga Massage workshop - Philosophy in Practice workshop - Diwali candle workshop (materials included) - Group rangoli (materials included) - Diwali evening celebration and festive dinner - Ganga Aarti excursion at Parmarth Niketan - Kunjapuri Temple sunrise excursion with transport - Study materials and retreat handbook - Taxi pickup from Delhi to Rishikesh on arrival day

What's not included

- International flights to Delhi or Dehradun - Return transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi - Indian visa fees - Personal expenses - Tips - Souvenirs

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