7 Day Holistic Meditation and Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India
Meditation and Yoga Retreat in India
Try the life-changing effects of yoga on the spiritual backdrop of Rishikesh with this seven-day yoga and meditation retreat at Akshi Yogashala.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- 1 - 2 yoga classes per day
- Daily pranayama and meditation sessions
- Rafting, excursions, and Ayurvedic massage
- Diaphragmatic and yogic breathing practices
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
7 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Health Club
- Spa
- Steam room
- Café
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Lounge
- Luggage room / storage
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga shala
- ATM / banking
- Board rental
- Car rental
- Convenience / grocery store
- Currency exchange
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Ironing / ironing board
- Laundry
- Meeting room
- Wireless internet
Spacious, comfortable, and relaxing, your accommodation will provide the ideal environment for rest after your practice sessions. Located in the serene environment of Rishikesh, the rooms are also clean, spacious, and very laid back to ensure guests enjoy their tranquility. Currently, they can accommodate guests in shared rooms as well as in some separate ones, responding to your preferences and needs. The rooms that one is likely to find include comfortable beds, sufficient space to store belongings, a private restroom, and a bath. Ventilation windows give an opportunity to allow natural air and light into the home, providing comfort and tranquility for leisure thoughts.
Program
This retreat aims at providing you with both relaxation and personal development, all while providing you with some exotic yoga sessions, and this is all done in the Holy Land of the Himalayas and by the sacred Ganga. This week-long retreat is perfect for those individuals wanting a somewhat short, yet effective yoga vacation. They offer yoga and meditation, pranayama, and mindfulness. It offers a perfect chance to relax and get over a stressful period, and even receive inspiration for living after being restored. You will also get to taste scrumptious organic sattvic food and be able to tour through the religious and cultural landmarks of Rishikesh.
Yoga
Akshi Yogashala's yoga retreat is aimed at increasing the pureness of your mind and soul, helping you gain a deep understanding and knowledge of the life of a yogi. The day begins with Hatha yoga in the morning and ends with Vinyasa yoga in the evening. Hatha yoga asanas are fast-paced, which increase flexibility, revitalize the strength of your body, and increase the mobility of the muscle joints.
Vinyasa yoga increases your fitness level, improves mental strength, relieves stress, and increases your ability to concentrate. While Vinyasa yoga would relax the muscles and detoxify the organs of the body, Hatha yoga brings rhythm and sense to the body and soul. This retreat provides an opportunity to build a foundation for learning how to listen to your body and mind. The course is best for beginners to deeply understand and to get into the gist of yoga.
Meditation
Along with Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, you will be practicing meditation, which is an integral part of the yoga retreat. Ask yourself, where would be a better place to meditate than in the Himalayas of Rishikesh? You will be taught yoga meditation techniques that ancient rishis and sages performed. You will also understand the art of concentration and how to lead a pious life. Meditation in this environment will unify your body with the soul and the soul with the cosmic entity.
Daily schedule
Day 1
- Morning yoga
- Pranayama
- Meditation or relaxation
- Ganga Aarti (world-famous prayer to Ganges)
Day 2
- Morning yoga
- Pranayama
- Diaphragmatic or yogic breathing practice
- Relaxation
- Evening asana practice (optional)
Day 3
- Himalayan sunrise tour and sun salutation practice
- Ayurvedic massage
- Evening asana practice
Day 4
- Morning asana practice
- Yogic detoxification (neti)
- Yoga for daily life
- Visit to an ashram, temple, or cave
Day 5
- Morning asana practice
- Pranayama
- Introduction to Ayurveda and know your personal body constitution
- Meditation or relaxation
- Evening asana (optional)
Day 6
- Morning asana practice
- Pranayama
- Rafting or massage
- Yogic management of stress
- Silent meditation at Ganga Beach
Day 7
- Morning asana practice
- Pranayama
- Bon voyage!
Included excursions
Akshi Yogashala aims to provide you with an unforgettable experience, and planning excursions is one way they accomplish this goal. Indeed, sightseeing in the Himalayas will make your trip memorable and exciting.
- Trekking and beautiful sightseeing of the Himalayas
- White water river rafting
- Trek to the waterfall
- Ganga Arti
Instructors
Vivek Arya
As a young boy, Sri Vivek’s passion for yoga was quickly obvious to father, who started him on the path to understanding. His thirst for knowledge led him to 15 years of living in an ashram, and into the Himalayas to study yoga and philosophy. Inspired by his burning desire to learn, the sages welcomed him and taught him mystic ways unknown to many. Today, Sri Vivek is pursuing his Ph.D. in yoga, with a goal to never stop learning and dedicate himself to humanity.
Sandeep Pandey Ji
Yogacharya Sandeep Pandey Ji is a master of meditation and pranayama. He had learned meditation and relaxation techniques from the different ashrams of Rishikesh which made him have a deeper insight into the many aspects of this art. He started his yogic journey as a disciple of Guru Swami Veda Bharti Ji in the Rama Sadhaka Ashram when he was only 11 years old. He is now pursuing Ph.D. in Yoga and is also now teaching the meditation and pranayama to the aspiring yogis.
Karamjit Sihag
Karamjit was born into yoga. His ancestors built a monastery for wandering monks and yogis to stay and practice yoga, and he was immersed in the teachings of yoga from childhood by his mother and father. Since then, his curiosity to go deeper has led him to Rishikesh, Mysore, the Himalayas, and even China, and he was determined to absorb the spiritual truth from each of these stages of life. Today, Yogi Karamjit is among the most respected practitioners of yoga and meditation, and he brings both intense willpower and a gentle touch to his teachings.
Deepak Bhatt
Deepak Ji is a dedicated yoga teacher from Rishikesh with a deep-rooted background in traditional yogic and Vedic culture. He holds a Master’s in Yoga and is a 500-hour certified Yoga Alliance instructor. Teaching since 2013, he specializes in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga, with a focus on alignment. He also explores Vedic astrology, adding depth to his guidance. Calm and insightful, Deepak helps students grow both on and off the mat.
Maya Om
Maya Om offers satsang and yoga for women.
Mukesh Sevda
Mukesh has been a part of our yoga family since 2016, beginning his journey as a manager and gradually evolving into a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher. He started practicing yoga and attending classes at our school in 2018, laying a strong foundation for his path ahead. In 2020, Mukesh earned his Master’s degree in Yoga from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University. After completing his studies, he began teaching private students and, since 2023, has been guiding groups in retreats and Yoga TTCs. Currently, Mukesh is pursuing a Ph.D. in Yoga and Pranayama at Shri Khushal Das University.
Swami Atmajnanananda Giri
Swami Atma (Swami Atmajnanananda Giri) was born in 1970 in Kerala. He first studied homeopathy and practiced naturopathy before his path turned deeply spiritual. In the early '90s, he met two influential masters who inspired him to fully embrace the spiritual life. After being initiated at Kailash Ashram in 2006, he lived as a wandering monk and studied Vedanta at Sivananda Ashram. Today, he shares wisdom on natural living, mindful hygiene, environmental harmony, and inner growth through meditation.
Shobhit Ghanshyala
Shobhit started his yoga journey early in life, training at renowned ashrams like Sivananda Ashram in Trivandrum and the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh. He’s a certified and experienced teacher who has led yoga courses in several countries. At our school, he teaches 200, 300, and 500-hour yoga teacher training programs, guiding students with clarity and inspiration to deepen their knowledge and practice.
Retreat location
Akshi Yogashala enjoys the privilege of being situated in the yoga capital of the world. The calm breeze of the Holy Ganges purifies every cell and pore in the body. The sanctity of the sages and seers meditating near the banks of the Ganges blesses every soul in their vicinity. Ideal for pursuing yoga retreats, the school is proud of its association with The Land of the Gods. People from various parts of the world flock here to find inner peace and enjoy a tranquil time. The yogashala is located in the pure, peaceful, and serene environment of the Himalayas, which is in itself a self-elevating experience for you. With the gushing voice of the holy river Ganga and the ringing of the temple bells, you will be taken into the spiritual panorama.
The birthplace of yoga
Rishikesh is nestled into the foothills of the Himalayas, at the source of the Holy Ganga River. It is the source of yoga itself. Peaceful and picturesque beyond imagination, it is a place that yogis have long come to seek spiritual enlightenment and deeper yoga practice. The chirping birds, the gentle flow of the Ganga, the faint smell of burning incense, the fresh mountain air - all of these combine to provide an energy that will help you transform your practice, and transform yourself. Rishikesh is well connected with the roadways, railways, and airways. The nearest airport is Dehradun, and you can easily get taxis from Delhi, Dehradun, or Hardiwar.
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
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Food
You are what you eat! Taking care of what you eat is also part of being a yogi. At Akshi Yogashala, they offer pure vegetarian food that nourishes your body and soul to sustain the yoga practices. All meals are vegetarian, with a lot of options, including vegan. If not completely, they use fresh market produce mostly from the local market. All meals that are included in the diet are carefully thought through, with the aim of improving the energy level, as well as the overall condition of the organism. Welcome to a culinary journey that kicks off with a tasty breakfast, as well as light, spectacular dinners that will help you with your yoga detoxifying routine.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
Things to do (optional)
- Surfing
Spa treatments
One Ayurvedic massage is included in the package.
What's included
- All classes
- Excursions
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Laundry
- Free Wi-Fi
What's not included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Personal expenses
- Overstay at the ashram
- Flights
- Visa charges
- Doctor consultation
- Insurance
- GST
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer available for additional US$ 20 per person
Jolly Grant Airport
15 km away from your destination
Transfer available for additional US$ 75 per person
Indira Gandhi International Airport
208 km away from your destination
Arrival by taxi
You can easily get taxis from Delhi, Dehradun, or Haridwar.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 18% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
Reviews
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