How to Prepare
For a Yoga Retreat in India?
If you are lucky enough to be planning an unforgettable yoga retreat in India, the land of yoga, here are some great tips on how to prepare for a yoga retreat in India if it’s your first time.
- Find out if you need a visa or any requirement to enter India.
- Make sure to know how to get to your yoga retreat.
- Pack right depending on where exactly you are going in India and the month of the year.
- Prepare for the food.
- Expect a modest stay accommodation.
- Practice sitting on the floor.
In order to learn more about how to prepare for a yoga retreat in India, keep reading!
1. Check the visa and other requirements
Almost everyone requires a visa before traveling to India.
Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, France, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most other countries who plan to travel to India for up to one month can apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV) through the Indian government’s official online portal.
Fees may vary between $80 and $100, depending on your nationality and a small bank fee (around 2,5%).
You can apply for an online visa here.
2. Getting to your yoga retreat
Make sure you get to the right airport.
And not just that, traveling to certain parts of India can take longer and involve almost all modes of travel.
Make really sure that you know exactly how to get to your yoga retreat.
3. Pack right
Weather in one part of the country can be starkly different from another.
Do a bit of research on the part of India you are traveling to and pack accordingly.
As a general rule, loose cotton clothing is your best bet.
What does not change is that most parts of India have temples that need you to be more conservatively dressed.
Ashrams and other places of worship have the same rules regarding dressing. Rural areas also do well with more modest clothing.
Carry things like mosquito repellants, earplugs, sunscreen, and scarves.
Another important piece of advice – either carry your own yoga mat or buy one once you are there. Practicing on a yoga mat that is not very clean can be counterproductive to peace of mind.
👉 Learn more about what to pack for a yoga retreat in this article.
4. Prepare for the food
Pack some health bars if spicy food is a problem.
Irrespective of where you are in India and with all the variety that you will find in food, the one constant is high spice levels.
It is almost a given that yoga retreats in India will only serve vegetarian food. You are likely to not find any eggs either.
Obviously, no smoking and drinking will be allowed within the yoga premises.
5. Expect a modest stay arrangement
This is particularly true if your yoga retreat is being hosted in one of the ashrams.
While you will have access to all basic facilities, it might not really be a luxurious experience.
Ashrams offer a humble and close to austere living experience. So do the traditional yoga schools.
You could even be sharing a room with a few others.
6. Practice sitting on the floor
On a yoga retreat in India, you could be spending a substantial amount of time in walking or sitting meditation.
Sitting on the floor for extended periods of time can feel uncomfortable if one is not used to it.
You can start preparing in advance by doing stretches or yoga poses that open the hips and inner thighs.
And most of all…
Don’t worry too much about anything in particular.
A yoga retreat is a time to be at ease with yourself and your surroundings so no need to clog your mind with to-do’s or what to pack lists.
If you had to take away one major thing that cannot be missing when preparing for a yoga retreat, be it that you understand what your intention is with your attendance in the first place, let everything else fall behind.
Go with a curious mind and a wild open heart. Embrace the unexpected.
Let us know if there are any other things about how to prepare for a yoga retreat in India that you want to know in the comments section below.
If you found this post useful, you might want to save THIS PIN below to your Pinterest Yoga Retreats board to check the post later when new updates are announced.
