Some trips change the view. This one is meant to change your pace. For ten days in February 2027, a small group of us will live on the Kerala coast at Varkala, where red cliffs drop into the Arabian Sea, and give body and mind what they keep asking for: slow mornings, honest practice, warm oil, good food and long evenings with nothing to rush towards.
The retreat brings together three teachers from three corners of the yoga world: Pankaj of Pankaj Yogpeeth, Mimi Lê from Brooklyn and Rinchen of Drolma Yoga. Each opens a different door into the same practice, and Kerala, the home of Ayurveda, holds it all together.
The retreat at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 February to 2 March 2027 |
| Where | A beach resort in Varkala, Kerala, steps from the sea |
| Teachers | Pankaj, Mimi Lê and Rinchen |
| Level | All levels, first timers welcome |
| Group | Small and strictly limited |
| Fee | On request, by room type |
Who this retreat is for
You do not need to be flexible, experienced or "spiritual enough". If you can lie on a mat and breathe, you belong here. Most people come for one of four reasons:
- To deepen practice and devotion. You have practised for a while and want to go beneath the postures, into breath, sound and stillness.
- To recalibrate and rejuvenate. Life has been loud. You want rest that truly restores, not just another holiday.
- To find balance. You live with ongoing stress or a physical complaint and want the gentle support of Ayurvedic therapy alongside yoga.
- To build something that lasts. You want simple daily habits, shaped to your own constitution, that you can carry home.
Your three teachers
Pankaj, Pankaj Yogpeeth
A traditional Hatha yoga Acharya trained in Rishikesh and the founder of our school. Pankaj has spent decades inside classical Hatha practice and teaches with a calm eye for structural alignment and pranayama. Expect clear instruction, patient adjustments and breathwork that stays with you long after you fly home.
Mimi Lê, Mimi Lê Yoga and Bodymind Healing
An E-RYT 500 teacher and Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor from Brooklyn, New York. Mimi leads the restorative and somatic side of the retreat with a trauma-informed approach, and helps you turn what Ayurveda says about your constitution into a daily rhythm that fits your real life.
Rinchen, Drolma Yoga
An E-RYT 500 teacher and the founder of Drolma Yoga, with roots in Sikkim and New York. Rinchen brings Bhakti and Nada yoga: mantra, chanting, sound healing and the art of deep listening. The evenings with Rinchen are often the part people remember most.
What a day feels like
We keep the days spacious on purpose. There is a rhythm to hold you, and room inside it to rest, swim or simply sit with the sea.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sunrise | Herbal tea, then a slow Hatha practice with pranayama |
| Morning | A nourishing Ayurvedic breakfast, then free time by the sea |
| Late morning | Your Ayurvedic treatment or consultation, on the days it is scheduled |
| Afternoon | Lunch and rest, or an excursion on outing days |
| Late afternoon | Restorative or somatic yoga |
| Evening | Mantra, sound healing or meditation, then dinner under the palms |
Exact times are shared before you arrive. They move a little around excursion days and your treatment slots.
Ayurveda at the heart of it
Kerala is where Ayurveda is still lived, not just offered on a spa menu. Over the ten days it quietly shapes everything: what is on your plate, when you practise and how you rest.
Your personal constitution assessment
Early in the retreat you sit down one to one to understand your dosha, your natural constitution. From it you get a personal roadmap: what to eat more and less of, how to move, how to sleep, and a few small daily habits that suit you.
Six Ayurvedic treatments
Six therapies are included, given by experienced local therapists. They may include Abhyanga, a warm full body oil massage in long rhythmic strokes, and Shirodhara, a steady stream of warm oil over the forehead that quiets the mind like little else. Your therapists choose the right sequence for your constitution.
Food that heals
Three fresh sattvic meals a day, cooked on Ayurvedic principles: seasonal vegetables, red rice, lentils, coconut, gentle spices and fruit from the region. Light enough to practise on, generous enough that nobody leaves the table hungry. Tell us about allergies or intolerances when you enquire and the kitchen will plan for you.
Where you will stay
Your home for the retreat is a beach resort in Varkala, a few steps from the sand, with rooms set aside for our group and sea view options. Varkala is one of the few places on the Kerala coast where cliffs meet the sea, so mornings begin with the sound of waves and evenings end with the sun sinking into the water.
Out and about in Kerala
Practice days are balanced with curated excursions. We glide through the backwaters, where village life moves at the pace of the canal boats, and spend time with the culture of the coast: temples, markets and the people who make Kerala what it is.
What is included
- Your stay at a beach resort in Varkala, steps from the sea
- Daily yoga, meditation, breathwork, restorative practice and Bhakti sound healing with three teachers
- A one to one Ayurvedic constitution assessment and a personal wellness roadmap
- Six Ayurvedic therapy treatments by local therapists
- Three Ayurvedic sattvic meals every day
- Curated excursions to the backwaters and local culture
- Airport transfers and local transport for excursions
Flights, your Indian e-Visa and travel insurance are yours to arrange. We are happy to advise on all three.
Fees and how to book
The fee depends on the room you choose, so we share it personally instead of posting one number. Send us an enquiry and a real person will reply with the fee for each room type, early bird pricing and how to hold your place.
Places are kept small on purpose. If February 2027 is calling you, enquire early: early enquiries hear first about rooms and early bird pricing.
Good to know
Questions, answered
01 Do I need yoga experience to join?
No. The retreat is open to all levels, from complete beginners to long time practitioners. Every class offers gentler and stronger options, and the teachers will help you find yours.
02 Can the Ayurvedic treatments help with a health condition?
Ayurvedic therapy can support people living with chronic stress and many everyday complaints, and your consultation takes your health into account. It is not a replacement for medical care, so keep following your doctor's advice and tell us about any condition when you enquire.
03 Which airport should I fly into?
Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) is the closest, around an hour and a half from Varkala by road. Airport transfers are included, so just send us your flight details.
04 What is the weather like in February?
February is the dry season on the Kerala coast: sunny, warm days of around 30 to 32°C, calm seas and very little rain. Bring light cotton clothes, a shawl for the evenings and sun protection.
05 Can I share a room with a friend or partner?
Yes. There are shared and private rooms, some with a sea view. Tell us who you are travelling with when you enquire and we will suggest the best fit.
06 Do I need a visa for India?
Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, which you apply for online before you travel. Check the requirements for your passport early, and ask us if anything is unclear.
07 How do I reserve my place?
Send an enquiry from this page. We reply personally with the fee for each room type, early bird pricing and the steps to hold your place.
