Spend four days restoring body, mind, and spirit in the serene backwater and beach setting of Alleppey, Kerala. This intimate retreat is designed for those seeking time away from daily routines to reconnect through yoga, meditation, stillness, and mindful practice. Set near the peaceful Vembanad Lake and the backwaters of Alleppey, the location offers easy access for guests staying in the town, the backwater area, or Marari. Alleppey Railway Station is approximately 20–25 minutes away.
During your stay, you will practice Hatha yoga and Zen meditation in a calm, supportive environment. The program also includes pranayama, workshops, and personal discussion with the yoga teacher, allowing space to reflect on your individual needs and intentions.
Highlights
- Daily yoga classes
- Daily Zen meditation sessions
- Individual private discussion with the yoga teacher
- 2-hour backwater cruise through Punnamada, Vembanad Lake, and the villages of Kuttanad on an exclusive motor or shikara boat
- Workshops and pranayama sessions
- 3 nights' accommodation
- 2 daily vegetarian meals on MAP plan, including breakfast and dinner
Group sizes
The group size is limited to 8 participants at the Yoga Homestead and 18 participants at the Beach Center.
Styles
Hatha Yoga, Zen Meditation
4 days with instruction
English
Accommodation
Guests stay at the Yoga Homestead, Sambodhi Yoga Retreat & Zen Center, located in Poonthope in Ashramam Ward, a quiet suburb in North Alleppey. The homestead features three simple private rooms with Mangalore tile sloped roofs, along with a common deck and backyard.
Alternatively, accommodation may be arranged at the Beach Center, connected to Pozhiyoram Beach Resort & Sambodhi Yoga Retreat, previously known as Ananda Beach Home. This campus offers 9 rooms in total, including five traditional Kerala cottage rooms and four private rooms. Some cottages have semi-open bathrooms, and there is a restaurant serving simple traditional cuisine.
The Beach and Backwater destination program includes three sessions each day, offering a deeper experience of Raja yoga through Hatha, Kundalini yoga, Restorative yoga, and Zen meditation. It is a welcoming space to reflect, share, and learn at your own pace.
Daily Schedule
Day 1
- 12:00 Arrival and settle in
- 13:00 Lunch
- 15:00 Introduction in the yoga shala, covering yoga styles, meditation, and nutrition
- 16:00 Individual private discussion with the yoga teacher to explore personal needs and focus areas
- 16:30 Pranayama and Hatha yoga (75 minutes)
- 19:00 Dinner
- 20:00 Zazen – Zen Meditation (30 minutes)
Day 2
- 06:00 Zazen, Kinhin, Heart Sutra (seated and silent walking Zen meditation)
- 07:30 Hatha yoga (60 minutes)
- 08:30 Breakfast
- 09:30 Samu / Seva (30 minutes)
- Silence (personal work)
- 11:00 Workshop: Your Mind Can Heal You
- 12:30 Lunch
- 15:00 Workshop: 10 Secrets of Perfect Ayurvedic Diet and How It Affects Mind and Body
- 16:00 Asana and pranayama practice with different yoga styles (75 minutes)
- 19:00 Dinner
- 20:00 Candle meditation (30 minutes)
Day 3
- 06:00 Zazen, Zazen period, Kinhin, Heart Sutra (seated and silent walking Zen meditation)
- 07:30 Hatha yoga (60 minutes)
- 08:30 Breakfast
- 09:30 Samu / Seva (30 minutes)
- Silence (personal work)
- 11:00 Workshop: Understanding the Eight Limbs of Yoga (60 minutes)
- 12:30 Lunch
- 14:30 Exploring the backwaters on a motor or country boat
- 17:00 Asana alignment workshop (60 minutes)
- 19:00 Dinner
- 20:00 Zazen, Kinhin, Heart Sutra (seated and silent walking Zen meditation)
Day 4
- 06:00 Zazen, Zazen period, Kinhin, Heart Sutra (seated and silent walking Zen meditation)
- 07:30 Hatha yoga (60 minutes)
- 08:30 Breakfast
Includes
- 1 excursion cruise in the backwaters, 2 hours on a motor boat
- 3 nights' accommodation
- 2 daily freshly prepared vegetarian meals, breakfast and dinner
- Daily relaxing meditation walks and excursions
- Flexible program with freedom to customize exercises and yoga instruction
- 6 yoga class sessions
- 6 meditation sessions
Excludes
- Additional activities
- Additional spa treatments
- Airfare
- Airport or railway station transfers
Terms & Conditions
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled.
- The remaining balance is payable on arrival.
