come to India with me...

Roots
of Yoga

A full yoga immersion deep in the Himalayan mountains of India.

Seven nights at the ashram in Rishikesh where I lived, studied and came home to myself. March 13–20, 2027.

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so much love here

Nataly playing a handpan beside a Buddha statue and forest windows — ashram life

Two friends standing barefoot in the rain watching mist roll over the mountain — himalayan mountain views

a note from me to you

This place changed my life.

I am so excited to be taking a group of humans to the place where I deepened my knowledge of yoga.

In 2025 I had the opportunity to go to Rishikesh and spend an entire month living in an ashram, studying for my 500-hour yoga teacher certification. While I was there I envisioned taking a group of people to this magical place to experience this life-changing journey. Being at this ashram felt like leaving planet earth and entering a portal into another dimension.

I was going through a challenging time that pushed me to travel all the way across the world by myself and fully immerse myself in the experience of living like a yogi. Waking up at 5:30am every day to live each day with full discipline and dedication to myself and the practice of yoga. Each day was the same, yet I could feel myself shifting. Since we are constantly distracted by our ever-changing world, it's hard to really observe the changes happening within us on a daily basis. This month gave me the opportunity to truly study myself without external stimulus or distractions. I came out of this trip transformed.

I know it may not be possible for everyone to pick up and leave for an entire month, so I created a one-week immersion that mirrors what I experienced in India. The practices we will do this week are foundational tools you can take into every area of your life. If you are desiring more discipline, structure, self-awareness, spiritual connection, knowledge of life and understanding of human consciousness, then this experience is for you.

This retreat is purely YOGA in its rawest and purest form, and I am so grateful to be a steward of this practice that I will forever be a student of. I will be teaching the daily asana and pranayama classes, and we will learn everything else directly from the teachers at the ashram: Ayurveda, yoga philosophy, mantra chanting and more. Who knows, maybe this plants a seed to pursue a full yoga teacher training one day!

And of course, within the structure of discipline I have some fun excursions planned for us. We will visit a nearby village to spend time with a local family, visit a life-changing waterfall, and go into the town of Rishikesh to shop and commune with the locals.

Can't wait to see who will be joining me. AHHHHH!!!!!

with love, Nataly

moments between the yoga and meditation

I arrived alone. I left with a family.

Somewhere between the 5:30am wake-ups, the asana, meditation, learning and mantras were the moments of rain, sipping on chai, deep human connection, laughing until we cried, and strangers became my people.

Nataly and a friend laughing together by the windows — laughter and joy

A group of friends smiling around a low table in the ashram — lounging at the cafe

Nataly in white, eyes closed, holding a cup of chai in the yoga hall with forest behind her — sippin on chai, daily

A circle of students in white seated in the ashram's open pavilion — learning about the human experience

Nataly holding a cup of tea and smiling beside a friend at the ashram — morning tea in paradise

Nataly with eyes closed during a ceremony, seen through palm leaves — fully immersed

Five friends arm in arm on the ashram steps at dusk — yogi family

my India Diaries

Watch the month that changed me.

I filmed my whole journey while I was living at the ashram. Tap any part to watch it on Instagram.

Watch India Diaries Part 1: My Journey to the Himalayas

Watch India Diaries Part 2: The Hike Up the Himalayas

Watch India Diaries Part 3: Arriving to the Ashram

Watch India Diaries Part 4: Ashram Room Tour

Watch India Diaries Part 5: The Real Reason I Went to India

Watch India Diaries Part 6: Fire Ceremony

where we'll be living

A portal into another dimension.

Abhayaranya is the ashram of Rishikesh Yogpeeth, tucked into a forested hillside in the foothills of the Himalayas. Mountains, mist, flowers, and nothing to distract you from yourself.

Cottages of the ashram stepping up a green hillside

take the tour with me

Nataly in a standing balance pose beneath a carved archway, mountains behind her

The ashram footbridge and pavilion with a green mountain behind, shot on film

Garden pavilion with misty mountains behind

Two people resting in savasana on the ashram lawn under flowering trees

what we'll practice together

Yoga in its rawest, purest form.

Days filled with movement, discipline, dedication, learning and growing. Yoga is more than just the physical practice, and I can't wait for you to experience the true depth and wholeness of this practice of life. It will take you into the depths of yourself in such a beautiful way, and over time it will be reflected in your daily life in the most magical ways.

with me

Asana

Morning and evening practice in our very own yoga shala.

with me

Pranayama

Traditional breathwork every morning to build energy, focus and calm.

with the ashram teachers

Yoga philosophy

A daily class on the teachings behind the practice, from the people who live them.

with the ashram teachers

Ayurveda

A daily class on yoga's sister science: how to eat, rest and live in tune with your nature.

with the ashram teachers

Mantra and cleansing

Each day begins with jalneti, the yogic nasal cleanse, then Sanskrit mantra chanting.

with me

Meditation

Every evening closes with a form of meditation, and our days become a meditation in movement as we practice presence and connection with everything around us.

The ashram's teachers standing together in white in the garden

meet my teachers

These are the humans who taught me. You'll be learning philosophy, Ayurveda and mantra straight from the source, in the place where it all began.

a day in the life

5:30am to lights out.

Each day is the same, and that is the magic. The repetition is what lets you notice yourself changing.

Nataly in a wide-legged headstand beneath the archway, facing the mountains — becoming one with the himalayas

5:30 am

Wake up with the mountains

6:00 am

Jalneti, yogic cleansing

6:15 am

Mantra chanting

6:30 am

Pranayama with me

7:15 am

Morning asana with me

9:00 am

Breakfast

10:30 am

Yoga philosophy class

12:00 pm

Ayurveda class

1:30 pm

Lunch

2:30 pm

Rest, journaling, massage, or one of our adventures

5:00 pm

Evening asana with me

6:45 pm

Meditation with me

7:30 pm

Dinner

10:00 pm

Lights out

times may shift a little on adventure days

within the discipline, some fun

Three adventures beyond the ashram.

On three of our afternoons we'll step out of the routine and into the world around us. These are incredible experiences that left a mark on me, and I can't wait to share them with you. All three are covered by me, so there is nothing extra to pay.

Nataly sitting and smiling with two women in a village garden

A village afternoon

We'll walk to a nearby village to spend time with a local family and share homemade refreshments.

A waterfall streaming down a tall cliff covered in thick green moss and jungle

The waterfall

A guided walk through the forest to a waterfall I can only describe as life-changing.

Nataly laughing while petting a cow on a street in Rishikesh

A day in Rishikesh

Into town to shop, wander the markets, commune with the locals, and yes, meet the cows.

sacred memories

Laxman Jhula street arch in Rishikesh with mountains behind, shot on film — Laxman Jhula

A cow walking past a clothing stall in a Rishikesh market street — market traffic

Nataly and a young boy kneeling with hands in prayer at a temple — namaste

A suspension bridge and tiered temple over the Ganges in Rishikesh — over the Ganga

Prayer flags framing a view of the river and colorful buildings of Rishikesh — cafe views

A bright pink ashram building on a Rishikesh street — color everywhere

Two friends touching the water at the rocky edge of the Ganges — hands in the Ganga

Friends sitting on boulders at the edge of the rushing Ganges between green mountains

Mother Ganga, the river that holds it all

Fire altar decorated with marigold garlands and flowers

Students in white offering into a hawan fire

and before we say goodbye

A fire ceremony, just for us.

We'll gather for a traditional hawan, led by the ashram's priest, to offer what we're ready to release and seal in what the week has given us.

what's included

Once you land, I've got you.

living at the ashram

7 nights in a cottage-style room with an attached bathroom
3 sattvic vegetarian meals a day
One bag per person carried up the mountain and back down (by donkey!), up to 18–20 kg
A well-stocked library with every book you'll need
Good Wi-Fi, in case you need it

practice and learning

Daily pranayama, two asana classes and evening meditation with me
Daily yoga philosophy and Ayurveda classes with ashram teachers
A consultation with the ashram's yoga therapy doctor
One Ayurvedic massage
A full-body assessment at the start, so your practice can be guided to your body
Daily jalneti and mantra chanting, with your own jalneti pot
Our very own yoga shala, reserved for our group
All yoga props provided: mats, blocks, bolsters and straps

adventures and ceremony

All three adventures, fully covered by me: the village, the waterfall and Rishikesh town
Hawan fire ceremony
A WhatsApp group chat a few weeks before we go, for taxis, carpools and questions

Not included

International and domestic flights
Indian e-visa (easy, and done online)
Travel insurance
Airport taxi from Dehradun or New Delhi (I'll arrange it, and you pay at the ashram front desk when you arrive)
Any extra bags: hike them up yourself, or pay a small fee to have them carried (about INR 500, roughly $6 each)
Extra Ayurveda treatments or consultations
Shopping and personal purchases

your home for the week

Choose your room.

Every room is a cottage-style room with its own bathroom. Flights are not included.

two ways to pay

Pay in full, or in installments

Pay the whole amount today by card, or choose Klarna at checkout to split it into smaller payments over time.

Reserve with a $400 deposit

Hold your spot today with a $400 non-refundable deposit, and pay the rest by February 19, 2027. Put your deposit down before November 13 (or before the 5 early-bird spots are gone) and you keep the early-bird price, even though you pay the balance later. I'll send you an invoice, and you can pay it by card or with Klarna.

Shared room

Two beds and a private bathroom. Come with a friend or your partner, or I'll match you with a roommate.

$1,895

$2,195

per person · save $300 with the early-bird price until the first 5 spots sell out or November 13, 2026, whichever comes first. Then $2,195. A $400 deposit locks in the early-bird price.

Pay $1,895 in full or with Klarna Reserve shared room with $400 deposit

Private room

A room and private bathroom all to yourself, with space to rest and reflect between sessions.

$2,295

$2,595

per person · save $300 with the early-bird price until the first 5 spots sell out or November 13, 2026, whichever comes first. Then $2,595. A $400 deposit locks in the early-bird price.

Pay $2,295 in full or with Klarna Reserve private room with $400 deposit

important: plan to arrive by 4pm

Please plan to arrive at the ashram on March 13 anytime between early morning and 4pm. The ashram sits on a hill inside a national forest with no vehicle access, and the Forest Department strictly doesn't allow the hike up after dark, for your safety. If your flight means you can't make it before 4pm, please book a night in Rishikesh city and come up the next morning.

Cancellation policy: the $400 deposit is non-refundable. Anything paid beyond the deposit is refundable if you cancel before February 19, 2027. After February 19, payments are non-refundable, but you're welcome to pass your spot to a friend. Travel insurance is required.

you might be wondering

Tap a question to see the answer.

Do I need yoga experience?

No. I'll adapt every class to the group, and beginners are so welcome. What matters is a willingness to follow the rhythm.

Is this a teacher training?

No. It follows the daily rhythm of one, but there are no exams and no certification. This week is for you and your practice, and it's a beautiful look into what a teacher training could look like. It might just spark some curiosity for your future self to explore that path!

How do I get there?

I'll arrange a taxi to the foot of the ashram's hill from wherever you land, and carpool options will be set up beforehand through our WhatsApp group chat, which also keeps the cost down. You pay the taxi fare at the ashram front desk when you arrive. My recommendation is the Dehradun option: a quick flight from New Delhi, then a quick, easy taxi from there to the ashram. Approximate fares per taxi:

Dehradun airport (my recommendation): a short connecting flight from New Delhi, then about $40 for the taxi, around 1 hour
New Delhi international airport: about $85, around 5 hours with a short break
By train from New Delhi: from Rishikesh station about $30 (1 hour), or from Haridwar station about $45 (1.5 hours)
Overnight bus from New Delhi: from the Rishikesh drop point about $30, around 1 hour

Pickups between 11pm and 4am have a $20 surcharge. Please share your travel details in the group chat at least 7 days before so your taxi can be booked. From the road it's a beautiful 1.5 km hike uphill through dense greenery, about 20 to 30 minutes at an average pace. Plan to arrive by 4pm (more on that below), and don't worry about your main bag: it gets carried up for you. I'll send a full travel and visa guide once you book.

When should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at the ashram on March 13 anytime between early morning and 4pm. Because the ashram is on a hill inside a national forest with no vehicle access, the Forest Department strictly doesn't allow the hike up in the dark. If your flight lands too late to make it up before 4pm, please book a night in Rishikesh city and hike up the next morning. This is for your safety, and I'm happy to help you plan your flights around it.

Is the visa hard to get?

Not at all, it's really easy. US passport holders apply online for an Indian e-Tourist visa on the official government site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. The 30-day visa is about $25 and the 1-year visa is about $40, plus a small card fee. You fill in a form, upload a photo and a scan of your passport, and the visa usually arrives by email within a few business days. Apply two to three weeks before we fly. Your passport needs at least six months of validity and two blank pages. I'll send you a step-by-step guide once you book.

What should I pack?

Pack light, please! The ashram sits up a Himalayan mountainside, and a donkey carries our bags up the trail. Let's be mindful of the animals: one bag per person is carried up for you, no more than 18–20 kg (40–44 lb), and lighter is kinder. Anything extra you can hike up yourself in a backpack, or pay a small fee (about INR 500, roughly $6) to have carried. You won't need books, a mat or props, since the ashram provides them all. I'll send a full packing list so you bring only what you need.

What if I need to cancel?

The $400 deposit is non-refundable. Anything you've paid beyond the deposit is refunded if you cancel before February 19, 2027. After that, payments can't be refunded, but you can pass your spot to a friend. Travel insurance is required, so you're covered if life happens.

What is the food like?

We'll eat a sattvic diet: fresh, light, simply prepared vegetarian food made with regional, seasonal ingredients, three meals a day. In yoga, sattva means purity, clarity and balance, and sattvic food is meant to nourish the body without weighing it down, so the mind stays calm and clear for practice and meditation. Eating this way becomes part of the practice itself. Dairy-free and gluten-free needs can be catered for, but other dietary requirements unfortunately can't.