Weekend Wellness Escape with Hatha Yoga in Rural Bengal

The weekend starts early. On the first morning, you'll be up at 5am for shat-kriyas, then move into joint motion, warm-ups, Surya Namaskar, asanas, pranayama, and meditation. This isn't a fitness bootcamp—it's a traditional yoga ashram-style schedule where the body work is paired with theory. After breakfast, there are a few hours of yogic topics: yoga philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, an introduction to Indian philosophy, the yoga sutras of Patanjali, and the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga. The afternoon is lighter, with time for self-study (swadhyaya), rest, and a second session of asana and pranayama before dinner. Evenings wrap up with a lecture, satsanga, or meditation, and lights out by 9pm.

What makes this retreat different is its honesty about the tradition. You're not just doing yoga poses—you learn the underlying framework. The teacher, Mukesh Kumar Soni, has a master's degree, qualified through Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, and teaches Aatm Yog, which combines Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. He's also a published poet, so the philosophical side is delivered with a bit of literary warmth.

The location is a beach resort in a village in West Bengal, which sounds like a contradiction but works. You get the calm of a small settlement and the sea breeze right at your door. The accommodation is simple—shared rooms with air conditioning—and meals are vegetarian, served three times a day. There's free parking and free excursions to nearby sites.

The retreat claims it's for beginner and intermediate practitioners, and the schedule backs that up. No prior yoga experience is needed, and the group size (12 to 20 people) keeps things personal. The price includes everything except flights, visa, travel insurance, and personal expenses. Given the teaching quality and the setting, it's an excellent value for a short break.

What's included

- Airport Pickup & Drop-off - 1 night accommodation - Daily pranayama classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily yoga classes - 2 daily delicious and nutritious meals (plus snacks) - Welcome drink - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - Free excursions to sites of interest - Course Manual - Luggage storage - Professional event photos - Pre and post retreat support from our team

What's not included

- Flights cost - Visa fee - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Additional activities not included in the itinerary