Movement, breath and meditation from the land where yoga began — paired with naturopathy, a drug-free system of diet, water, earth, sun and rest.
- Classical text: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- UNESCO heritage: Inscribed 2016
- Day of Yoga: 21 June
- Naturopathy degree: BNYS
On this page
Yoga, beyond the mat
The Sanskrit root yuj means to join or unite. Yoga’s classical statement is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which describes an eight-limbed path. Physical postures are only one limb of it; breath, ethics, concentration and meditation make up the rest.
Later texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika set out the postures, breathing techniques and cleansing practices that most modern styles grew from. In the twentieth century, the teacher T. Krishnamacharya, working in Mysuru, trained students — among them K. Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar — whose methods are now practised worldwide.
UNESCO inscribed yoga on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, and the United Nations marks 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, first celebrated in 2015.
The eight limbs
Ethical restraints — non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, non-possessiveness.
Personal observances — cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, surrender.
Posture: originally a steady, comfortable seat for meditation.
Regulation of the breath.
Drawing the senses inward.
Concentration on one point.
Meditation.
Absorption — the aim the path describes.
Styles you will meet in India
The broad classical foundation: postures, breathing and relaxation at a steady pace. A good start for most guests.
A set sequence linked with the breath, taught in Mysuru in the tradition of K. Pattabhi Jois. Physically demanding.
Precise alignment, long holds and props, from B.K.S. Iyengar. Often chosen by guests who want careful, adaptable practice.
Practice adapted to the individual by a trained therapist — the approach used in recovery programmes, with the treating doctor’s clearance.
“Yogic sleep”: a guided practice of deep, conscious relaxation, lying down.
Naturopathy: the nature-cure tradition
Naturopathy in India is a drug-free system built on the body’s relationship with the five elements. A stay uses diet (sometimes including supervised fasting), hydrotherapy (baths, packs and steam), mud therapy, massage, sunlight, fresh air, rest and yoga.
Mahatma Gandhi was a well-known advocate and founded a nature-cure ashram at Uruli Kanchan near Pune. Today India has a National Institute of Naturopathy in Pune, and practitioners train for a five-and-a-half-year degree, the BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences).
Yoga teachers are not regulated by one council in the way physicians are. We look for recognised certifications, such as those of the Ministry of AYUSH’s Yoga Certification Board, and for teachers with long, verifiable experience.
Therapies you may meet
Breathing practices such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing) and Bhramari (humming breath).
A guided practice of deep, conscious relaxation, lying down, usually 20 to 45 minutes.
Seated meditation — breath awareness, mantra or silent attention — taught step by step.
A cleansing practice from Hatha Yoga: rinsing the nose with warm salt water from a small pot.
Baths, packs, compresses and steam at different temperatures: hip bath, spinal bath, foot bath and more.
Cool mud packs on the eyes or abdomen, or a full mud bath, followed by rest and a wash.
Short, gentle exposure to morning sunlight, sometimes after an oil massage.
Short juice, soup or water fasts — only when the naturopath advises it, and always supervised.
Tell your teacher about any injury, surgery, pregnancy or heart or blood-pressure condition before your first class. Supervised fasting and intense hydrotherapy are not suitable for everyone; the naturopath decides after a consultation.
Official sources
- Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
- Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of Ayush
- UNESCO: Yoga, Intangible Cultural Heritage
- United Nations: International Day of Yoga
Rules, registrations and visa terms change. Where this page and an official source differ, the official source applies.
Questions guests ask
I am a complete beginner. Is a yoga retreat for me?
Yes. Many retreats in Rishikesh and elsewhere welcome beginners, and your concierge will look for gentle Hatha classes, small groups and teachers who adapt postures.
Can you arrange yoga teacher training?
Many schools in Rishikesh, Mysuru and Goa run structured teacher-training courses. We can help you compare schools and plan the stay, visa and travel; the school sets the syllabus and certification.
What is the difference between naturopathy and Ayurveda?
Naturopathy uses no internal herbal preparations. It relies on diet, water, earth, sun, air, massage and yoga. Ayurveda includes herbal preparations prescribed by a physician, and its own classical therapies.
Is fasting part of every naturopathy stay?
No. Some programmes include short, supervised fasts or juice days; many do not. The naturopath decides after assessing you, and fasting is not suitable with certain conditions and medicines.
