A 9-day year-end yoga retreat at Dharmalaya inviting you to slow down, reconnect, and realign with the natural rhythms of life.
Affiliated with Isha Sadhguru Gurukulam
Overview
Program Type: Residential workshop
Topic: Hatha Yoga
Dates: 23 Dec to 31 Dec 2025
Language: English, Hindi
Instructors/Facilitators: Parul Sharma and Yogesh
Introduction
“Yoga is not about bending the body. It is about aligning yourself with the
cosmic geometry.”
Guided by classical Isha Hatha Yoga practices and the principles of mindful and ecological living, this retreat offers a space to deepen inner balance while engaging meaningfully with the land, the forest, and the community.
Set amidst the serene Himalayan foothills, participants will live close to nature, touching the soil, working with the earth, walking through forests and rivers, learning from the wisdom of local villagers, and exploring the art of mud construction and vernacular living. The days flow gently between stillness and activity, solitude and togetherness, creating a deeply grounding and transformative experience.
What you will experience
Each day unfolds through a rhythm of yoga, seva, and communion with nature.
Yoga: Begin the day with learning Isha Hatha Yoga practices including energising the body and aligning with the cycles of the sun and the moon.
Seva: Spend the day in consciously reading books or work in farms, gardening, tree care or learning the art of working with mud and natural building materials along with the local villagers.
Nature Immersion: Participate in forest walks, river explorations, and quiet moments with the elements, experiencing the five Pancha Bhutas earth, water, fire, air, and space through direct connection.
Village and Cultural Exploration: Engage with the local community, learning from the deep-rooted wisdom, art, and sustainable traditions of the villagers who live in harmony with nature.
Satsang and Community Circles: Evenings are shared in satsang, reflective silence, storytelling, or simple togetherness under the bamboo roof nurturing a sense of belonging and shared spirit.
Programme syllabus & structure
Daily schedule: What will the days be like?
Although the day-to-day schedule will vary a bit, the schedule for a typical day during this programme would more or less as follows:
6:00am Wake to the sound of birds and the soft light over the mountains.
6:30 - 7.50am Morning yoga session
8:00 - 8.50am Simple, nourishing vegan breakfast together.
9:00-12.20pm Farming / learning earthen building construction
12.30 - 1.20pm Wholesome vegan lunch & Karma yoga.
1:30 - 4pm Reflection / Connecting with nature
4.30-6.30pm Evening yoga session
6:30-7.20pm Dinner
7:30-8.30pm Satsang / Community Circle
9.30pm Silence time / Lights out / Rest. The valley sleeps: the stars keep a watch.
Guided yoga practices
The retreat will offer classical Isha Hatha Yoga processes taught in alignment with Isha Sadhguru Gurukulam:
Upa Yoga: Preparatory practices to activate the joints and muscles.
Surya Shakti: Dynamic sequences to build strength, stamina, and vitality.
Bhakti Sadhna: A sacred process for enhancing devotion.
Yogasanas: Classical postures bringing stability, balance, and stillness.
Nada Yoga: The yoga of sound for deep relaxation and resonance.
Guided meditation practices
In addition to Hatha Yoga, participants will be guided through various meditative practices and stillness processes designed to deepen self-awareness and inner balance:
Isha Kriya: A simple yet powerful guided meditation to align body, mind, and energy.
Aum Chanting and Breath Awareness: Using sound and breath to harmonise inner energies.
Silent Sitting and Observation: Periods of silence to rest the mind and connect with natural presence.
Evening Satsangs: Gentle reflections, collective silence, or sound meditation.
These practices support an effortless inward turning, cultivating clarity, calmness, and connection with life as it is.
Food and lifestyle
Participants will follow a sattvic vegan and Ayurvedic-inspired pranic diet, prepared with local, seasonal, and organic ingredients. Meals are simple, nourishing, and mindful supporting lightness, clarity, and sustained energy.
This retreat encourages digital detox and deep presence. Phones and digital devices are kept aside throughout the day, allowing participants to rest their senses, reconnect with silence, and experience life with full attention.
Through silence, mindful eating, conscious work, and minimal technology, participants align their inner environment with the peace of the natural surroundings.
Retreat highlights
Deep dive into authentic Isha Hatha Yoga practices
Immersive engagement with soil, forest, and river life
Learning from the traditional wisdom of local villagers
Experience in earthen architecture and vernacular living
Volunteering and community service as meditation
Satsang, silence, and shared community living
Wholesome pranic meals and mindful lifestyle
Full-day digital detox and conscious presence
Connection with the five natural elements (Pancha Bhutas)
Who is this programme for?
This retreat is open to all who wish to experience the depth of classical yoga and conscious living. It welcomes both new and experienced practitioners, offering a supportive space to explore balance, stillness, and connection within and with the world around.
What to expect
Two of the keys to happiness are: (1) to have realistic expectations to begin with; and (2) not to be too attached to those expectations, but rather to stay flexible as life unfolds. With that in mind, here are some of the things participants should expect (while remembering to keep a flexible attitude):
Full-time programme focus: This programme is called ‘immersive’ because the point is to be completely focused on the programme. While there will be some time for rest, reading/journaling, and personal reflection, there won’t be time for activities unrelated to the programme. While you’re here, the expectation is that your full attention will be focused on the programme experience from start to finish.
Seva: One key to happiness here is to keep a very positive and enthusiastic attitude about seva, knowing that you’re making the world a better place in a small way, which makes it a joy.
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, outdoor activities, discussions, and silent meditation time.
Natural simplicity: Rustic accommodations in natural earthen buildings or comfortable tents in a beautiful forest setting.
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cleaning, washing dishes, etc. No smoking or intoxicants.
Life on campus: To support all participants to get the most out of the programme, it is designed so that all the time will be spent on Dharmalaya’s beautiful six-acre campus. Accordingly, participants should plan to remain on campus for the duration of the programme and be fully present for the community experience.
Healthy food: Natural and mostly organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan). No junk food or packaged snacks, etc.
Digital detox: Be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature, yourself and with good people rather than the screen.
Campus life and the experience of living in community
Most of our past long-term participants tell us that experience of being a part of the Dharmalaya community, living and working together, is one of the best parts of the experience for them.
We emphasize a culture of kindness and cooperation rather than selfishness and competition, and it’s great to live with kindred spirits in that kind of atmosphere.
Dharmalaya maintains an environment in which everyone is supported to learn and grow in this way, and this kind of learning truly changes lives for the better, because few lessons are more valuable than those that help us understand ourselves and others better and learn to relate with others more sensitively and skilfully.
So one thing to understand is that learning to be a healthy part of a healthy community is one of the most important aspects of all of our residential programmes — and of compassionate living more generally — so that kind of inner work and social evolution should be something that appeals to you strongly if you’re thinking of applying for this programme.
We’ll be spending a good bit of time talking about it and asking you to self-reflect, journal, and share with others about your experiences, which benefits everyone.
Schedules & dates
Start and end dates
The programme will begin at 10:00am on Day 1. All newly arriving participants will be required to arrive sometime between 9:30am and 9:45am on Day 1 itself (we will provide detailed timing, instructions, and travel tips after confirming your registration).
The programme will conclude on Wednesday evening.and participants should plan to depart by 10.30am on Thursday morning, after breakfast. As we have another retreat beginning the following day, we kindly request your co-operation with this.
Cost
Dharmalaya Institute is a not-for-profit charitable and educational organisation, and as such seeks to make its programmes accessible everyone. Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for each participant to give according to their means.
Total fees for this seven-week workshop-retreat (inclusive of shared accommodation, three healthy meals daily, and tea), at each of the three tiers are as below.
Standard rate
(For most participants)
Rs 25,000 total
For transparency: This standard rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s total average monthly costs in providing this service-learning opportunity.
Subsidized rate
(For low-income participants who can’t afford the standard rate)
Rs 16,750 total
For transparency: This subsidized rate is approximately 33% below our break-even rate, which means it is not enough to cover the Institute’s costs in providing the programme, though that shortfall might be covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ to the right.
Supporter rate
(For those who can afford to help subsidize lower-income participants)
Rs 33,250 total
For transparency: This supporter rate is approximately 33% above the break-even rate, and 100% of that surplus will be used to support lower-income applicants to participate at the subsidized rate. We thank you sincerely for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, so if you have exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford even the lowest subsidized rate, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs.
Note that advance deposit of at least 50% is required to secure one’s place in the programme, and deposits are nonrefundable because the funds received before the program will be spent on food provisions and supplies well before the programme begins.
About the instructors
Parul and Yogesh are trained Hatha Yoga teachers from the Isha Sadhguru Gurukulam, having completed 1,750 hours of intensive teacher training in classical Hatha Yoga.
Rooted in the tradition and precision of Isha Hatha Yoga, they offer the practices in their pure form, holding space for depth, balance, and inner exploration.
Important information
Before you pack for your trip to Dharmalaya Institute, please read the very important information on our Visitor Info page and our FAQ.
Application process
The application process is designed to help identify applicants who are best matched with the programme.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form below and wait for our reply. We may email you to ask follow-up questions if necessary.
STEP 2 — INTERVIEW: If your application is selected for the shortlist, the next step will be for us to schedule a time for an interview on a video call. During this interview, you’ll have the chance to ask whatever questions you might have, and we’ll have a chance to get to know you a bit better. If necessary, there might be a second video interview for final candidates.
STEP 3 — ACCEPTANCE & DEPOSIT: If you are selected for the programme after your video interview, then at that time we will send you more detailed information about the programme and how to prepare for your time at Dharmalaya Institute. You will then have one week from the date of acceptance to make your nonrefundable deposit to hold your place in the programme. The minimum deposit is 50%, but it is also possible to prepay in full.
If you have any questions after reading all the material here on our website, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to address your questions.
We look forward to connecting with you!