Yoga Vacation

The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Self-realization demands very great struggle.
~Swami Sivananda

Recharge and rejuvenate with our Yoga Vacation programme — in the land where Yoga was born.

A great way to go on holiday and really feel a difference. The Yoga Vacation is designed to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate body and mind leaving you feeling inspired and revitalised. Based on the Five Points of Yoga of Swami Vishnudevananda the Yoga Vacation programme provides comprehensive teaching for everyone from beginners to the more advanced, in the company of like-minded souls and in an inspirational environment. Enrol in one of our experiential programmes or certification courses, or enjoy one of the many beautiful sacred cultural presentations we offer. Visit for a few days, a week or two or more and experience the tremendous benefit of taking a break from the relentless stresses of everyday life. There are three Sivananda Ashrams in India which offer the Yoga Vacation programme all year round in stunning natural settings. Sivananda Yoga Vacations and Retreats are also offered in other locations outside the Ashrams – ask your local Sivananda Yoga City Centre for details.

Yoga Vacation at a Glance

Detail	Information
Programme	Daily ashram life based on the Five Points of Yoga
Level	Beginners to advanced
Cycle	14 days, starting on the 1st and 16th of each month
Minimum stay	3 nights
Season	All year round at Neyyar Dam, Madurai and Gudur 16 April to 14 October at Sivananda Kutir, Uttarkashi
Price for international guests and NRIs	From US$12 per night
Price for Indian nationals	From ₹500 per night
Included	Two yoga classes a day, morning and evening satsang, meditation, yoga talks, karma yoga, two vegetarian meals a day
Daily schedule	6:00 am satsang 8:00 am yoga class 10:00 am brunch 11:00 am karma yoga 2:00 pm yoga talk 3:30 pm yoga class 6:00 pm dinner 8:00 pm satsang
Locations	Neyyar Dam (Kerala), Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand), Gudur (Andhra Pradesh)

Sivananda Dhanwantari Ashram

Neyyardam,
Kerala, India

Sivananda Meenakshi Ashram

Madurai,
Tamil Nadu, India

Sivananda Kutir

Uttarkashi,
Uttarakhand, India

Sivananda Tapaswini Ashram

Gudur,
Andra Pradesh, India

Phu Chaisai Resort

Chiang Rai,
Thailand

Workshops, Retreats, Programmes

Our Ashrams and City Centres offer an enormous and exciting range of retreats, courses and programmes on subjects and themes related to all aspects of yoga and meditation, as well as on health and well-being, science and spirituality, sacred culture and much more. Our courses are suitable for all yoga practitioners and ideal for yoga teachers and health professionals, offering an opportunity for personal practice combined with concise topics, specific teachings, workshops and lectures. Learn new ways of looking at life, relationships and work. Visit individual Ashram and City Centre sites for further details of some of the inspiring programmes on offer.

Yoga workshops, retreats and programmes at Sivananda Ashrams

Juice Fasting and Detoxification
Courses, retreats and workshops on Ayurveda
Meditation and Positive Thinking Retreats
Courses, retreats and workshops on physical health and mental well-being
Vedic Astrology
Vedanta and Raja Yoga
Beginners /Intermediate and Advanced Yoga Courses
Permaculture and Sustainability
Yoga and Anatomy & Physiology
Food as Medicine
Vegetarian Cookery
Yoga of Devotion
Sacred Culture
Sacred Music and Dance
Family Week
Science and Spirituality
Kirtan

Cultural Programmes

Yoga encourages creativity and the honouring of the sacred in every form. Experience the sacred arts of music and dance from many cultural perspectives. Our courses and programmes on the arts and sciences are offered throughout the year. Click here for individual Ashram and City Sites to view the upcoming programmes.

Creativity and the Sacred Arts
Yoga of Sound
Indian Classical Music and Dance
Yoga Ayurveda Cultural Program
Yantra Painting
Creative Writing
Martial Arts
Science and Spirituality

Devotional

Traditional rituals, sacred practices and festivals of devotion form an integral part of yogic life. Worship, chanting and prayer are nurtured and promoted and devotional and celebratory festivals of India and other traditions are honoured in our Ashrams and City Centres.

Yatra (Pilgrimage)
Kirtan
Satsang
Prayer
Puja and Homa

Practical Information & Guidelines

Schedule

Guidelines for the Sivananda Yoga Vacation programme

Practical Information

Guidelines

Refund Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Sivananda Yoga Vacation?

A Yoga Vacation is a stay at a Sivananda ashram where you follow the daily ashram programme. It is based on the Five Points of Yoga taught by Swami Vishnudevananda and is designed to recharge body and mind.

Do I need any yoga experience to join?

No. The programme offers teaching for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.

How long can I stay?

You can stay for a few days, a week, two weeks or longer. The Yoga Vacation programme runs all year round.

What does a typical day include?

Each day includes morning and evening satsang with meditation and chanting, two yoga classes, a talk on yoga philosophy and a period of karma yoga. Two vegetarian meals are served each day.

Where can I take a Yoga Vacation?

Yoga Vacations are held at our ashrams in India, set in peaceful natural surroundings. Sivananda retreats are also offered at other locations, so please ask your nearest Sivananda centre for details.

Are there rules to follow during my stay?

Yes. Meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, tobacco and drugs are not allowed at the ashram. Guests are asked to dress modestly and to take part in the daily programme.

I completed Sivananda’s flagship TTC in early 2020. Generally, I am reluctant to use terms like ‘life-changing’ but the month that I spent at the ashram deserves the epithet. The course content and daily schedule is well thought-through; it is rigorous but not exhausting. I also liked the holistic approach – apart from the asana and pranayama, we were taught the theoretical underpinnings of yoga. There were lectures on Bhagavad Gita, daily satsangs and community work. The course significantly advanced my yoga practice and made me a lot more aware about this ancient art. In the process, I think, I also became much more aware about myself.

Swanand Kelkar

In a world where the term 'life changing experience' is often used flippantly, I use it, more appropriately, to describe my experience of the Sivananda TTC in 2020--days before the advent of Covid--because my life did alter! The course, as it turned out, became a ready reckoner for how to deal with the lockdown, both inside and out. What’s more, it nudged me to write a book which was a reflection of my state of mind and being. Despite the passage of 5 years, my TTC experience lives within me. I never meant to be a teacher of yoga, but the course taught me that to teach is to learn and so I remain a student, every day. Equanimity and the ability not to react to every situation are the biggest life lessons I learnt during the TTC. I would recommend this course to everyone because, until they sign up for it, they would not know that it is exactly what they need!

Dahlia Sen Oberoi

My interest in TTC at Sivananda developed after a few discourses with friends who had already experienced it. A month-long dedication was challenging. I was already practicing asanas and meditation for a while, but the collective practice in the ashram and the knowledge about my body and mind revealed new horizons. Satsang, chanting and Vedanta philosophy opened doors to a universe I was not aware of. They are all engraved deep in my consciousness now and guide me through my life, through the ups and downs. I am eager for ATTC, whenever that happens.

Lueit Hazarika

I undertook the TTC in 2023 in order to deepen my knowledge and understanding of vedantic philosophy, and to embed the principles more fully into my daily life. I found the breadth and depth of knowledge as well as the kindness and humility of the teachers to be profoundly inspiring. Each lesson was clear, stimulating and fascinating. I finished the course with much more clarity around such notions as karma, the role of scripture, our nature and place as humans in creation and so much more. Since taking the TTC, I have developed a regular meditation practice, read the Bhagavad-Gita every morning, and actively seek ways to live the vedantic path. I can't recommend this programme highly enough.

Hazel Manuel (Sarada)

Attending the yoga Teachers’ Training Course was a life-changing journey that helped me reconnect with my true self. Beyond learning the technicalities of yoga, the course delved deeply into self-awareness, mindfulness, and inner growth. Each session helped me peel back layers of doubt and distraction, allowing me to reconnect with my true essence. The supportive environment, knowledgeable teachers, and transformative practices provided the perfect foundation for personal and spiritual growth. This experience not only enhanced my yoga practice but also instilled a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. I’m profoundly grateful for this incredible journey of self-discovery.

Ritika Arora (Shambhavi)

The TTC was an immersive experience into what yoga really is, all that you usually don’t see in a western yoga class. It was undoubtedly an intense course with a full on schedule that opened my mind, showed me my physical and mental strength, nourished me with sattvic food and company, stimulated my mind, and oriented me toward more positive qualities and emotions. It was a journey I will never forget as it continues to guide me daily well after the course has finished.

Anja Starc (Karuna)

The experience has had a lasting impact on my well-being, peace, and happiness. The fire ignited at the ashram continues to burn strong, guiding me on my yogic journey. I've come to realise, yoga shows the way.

Ashna Katyal (Padmanjali)