Adi Yoga Shala

The "Whispers of the Himalayas" yoga retreat is quite a unique offering because it combines yoga with touring to several places. By comparison, most yoga retreats in Nepal involve either staying in one place or are yoga treks - I have done both in the past. The "Whispers" retreat felt like I was travelling with a group of friends. We had a yoga class each morning, and then travelled to places such as Kopan Monastery, where we joined Buddhist monks as they chanted their morning prayers, the magical Boudhnath Stupa in Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara with its magnificent view of the Himalayas and serene lake, and Sarangot for sunrise over the highest imaginable mountains. The tour was at a slow pace and there was plenty of time to immerse myself in the surrounds, fully taking it in. It was a lovely group of people and I felt cared for and welcomed. The tour leader, Iraa, is a fantastic yoga teacher, very experienced and knowledgeable. She is also kind and compassionate and took great care of everyone in the group.

Iraa has a special gift of bringing people together in warm friendship. The yoga sessions were gentle and therapeutic. The cross-section of Nepal we were introduced to - temples devoted to various traditions, jungle, riverside, mountain vistas - provided an interesting and diverse appreciation of the country. It was a week full of personal reflection and interpersonal connection🙏