Wellness & Ayurveda Immersion in the Himalayas, Rishikesh, India

Each morning starts early with guided pranayama (breathwork) followed by a yoga stretching class — gentle, accessible sessions you do not need to be flexible or strong to join. Breakfast is a full sattvic meal, and then the Ayurvedic curriculum begins. You will study the fundamentals: the history and core principles of Ayurveda, the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), the five elements, and the Sapta Dhatu (the seven bodily tissues). This is not abstract theory — the teachers tie every concept back to how you can apply it to your own diet, routine, and health issues.

The practical side of the course is where it gets really interesting. You will learn to prepare and use medicated herbal oils, practice Ayurvedic massage techniques like the full-body Abhyanga and the oil-drip treatment Shirodhara, and try marma therapy, which works on energy points to release blockages. A highlight is the herbal steam bath. Panchakarma, the classic Ayurvedic detox, is also covered, so you understand what happens during a cleanse even if you are not doing a full one here. The teaching team includes Mukesh, a certified 500-hour Yoga Alliance teacher with a master's in Yoga in progress, and Yogi Harmindra, who has taught anatomy and physiology in Rishikesh for years.

Afternoons keep the same study-practice mix but add wellness rituals and bodywork. One day you might be doing a silent walk up into the hills; another day the focus is Ayurvedic cooking, learning which spices and preparations to use for different conditions. The evenings feature mantra chanting and a Vedic wellness pooja (a traditional ritual), and once a week there is a satsang — a group discussion and reflection session where you can raise whatever came up for you during the week.

What makes this different from a purely yoga retreat is the medical angle. There is an Ayurvedic pathologist on hand for consultations, and you can use the course to make real changes to how you eat and live, not just to get a week of relaxation. The teaching style is traditional and grounded in the Indian ashram system, and the small group size means the teachers get to know you by name. The accommodation is simple but clean, private, and with an attached bathroom — you are there to study, not for luxury, and the focus stays on the practice and the place.

What's included

- 11 nights private ashram accommodation - 3 daily sattvic meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Daily pranayama classes - Daily yoga stretching classes - Daily mantra chanting sessions - Weekly Vedic wellness pooja - Certificate upon successful completion - Ayurvedic consultation - Group excursions and activities - Weekend/day off excursions - Course manual and stationery - Free WiFi - Access to garden, library, terrace, and yoga shala

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Airport transfers - Additional activities not in the itinerary - Additional treatments - Personal expenses