Yoga & Meditation Retreat on Paradise Island, Bahamas

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat sits on Paradise Island, connected by bridge to Nassau. It has been running since 1968 and follows the classical Sivananda style of yoga — a set sequence of postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation. The schedule is the same most days: a yoga class at 6am, a meditation and chanting session at 8am, breakfast, then a talk or workshop mid-morning. Lunch is at noon, there is free time in the afternoon (most people go to the beach), and a second yoga class runs at 4pm, followed by dinner and evening satsang at 8pm.

What makes this different from a typical yoga retreat is the volume of programming. The ashram runs a Yoga Vacation Program year-round, but it also hosts visiting presenters most weeks — names like Snatam Kaur, MC Yogi, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Anita Moorjani, and Don Jose Ruiz have all taught here. There are also month-long Yoga Teacher Training courses (200-hour and advanced) from January to July, and shorter experiential courses on topics like Ayurveda, integrated health, and the healing arts.

The teachers are senior staff and visiting presenters, many of whom have studied in the Sivananda lineage. The ashram itself is part of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda. You will hear those names a lot — the teaching style comes directly from them.

The location is a big part of the appeal. Paradise Island is a small island just off Nassau, and the ashram has its own stretch of beach. You can walk out of your room, cross the sand, and be in the water in two minutes. The grounds are garden-heavy, with trees and paths between the buildings. It is quiet at night, apart from the frogs.

The ashram also runs a residential study program (Karma Yoga) where you work in exchange for room and board, and it has a Well Being Center offering treatments like massage and Ayurvedic therapies. The Annapurna Devi House is a dedicated space for cleanses and detox programs. If you want a yoga holiday where you wake up, practice, eat well, swim, practice again, and go to bed early, this is exactly that.

What's included

- Daily yoga classes (twice daily) - Daily meditation and satsang sessions - Three vegetarian meals per day - Accommodation (shared or private, depending on booking) - Access to the beach and ashram grounds - Participation in scheduled workshops and talks (varies by program) - Wi-Fi in common areas

What's not included

- International flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra fee) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Well Being Center treatments (massage, Ayurveda, etc.) - Optional excursions - Laundry services - Gift shop purchases