Pilgrimage to Mysore, India
COMING November 1-16, 2025
Our Sold Out 2020 Pilgrimage to India was a life changing experience for all and we cannot imagine not doing it again! Get ready! We are headed back for another inspirational adventure to Mother India! This time for to the birthplace of vinyasa yoga, MYSORE!
Inquire at yogabohemiaRETREATS@gmail.com
Join us for our pilgrimage to the motherland of yoga, amazing India! Guaranteed to give you a boost in both your physical practice and your spiritual connection while crossing off a ‘must see’ place on every yogi’s bucket list!
Mysore India’s biggest contribution to the world is Ashtanga yoga with Mysore hailing as the "vinyasa yoga” capital of both India AND the world! At 45 years old Krishnamachayra gave a lecture on Auyveda and Yoga for healing to the king of Mysore and soon after ‘The Yoga Shala’ (Krishnamacharya’s yoga school) was opened in a wing of a nearby Jaganmohan Palace. For the past 50 years this Shala has been a pilgrimage place for many yogis to deepen one's connection with this potent faith tradition as well as to pay homage to the birthplace of vinyasa yoga as we know it today. This retreat is a deep dive in the culture and practices that came from the area itself!
ON OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER WE WILL:
PRACTICE : daily Sadhana and Mysore style Ashtanga with Loren’s personal teacher, Suresh - an authentic master teacher born and raised in Mysore in addition to a specialized pranayama practice with prominent Mysore teacher Ritesh
CREATE : learn & practice the sacred art form of Rangoli (a mandala made on the ground and used to welcome enlightenment, positivity & liveliness)
PRAY : visit multiple Holy Sites on guided tours and experience sacred music and chanting
DELIGHT : receive Ayruvedic Abyanga Massage & body work
COOK: learn the art of Southern Indian Cuisine with a personalized cooking class
WONDER : with a Vedic Astrological Reading personalized to your unique birth
BE ADORNED : get painted with sacred henna art
SERVE : spend a night at the famous Dubare Elephant Sanctuary were we will get to bathe elephants and connect deeply with these gentle souls.
Who is this pilgrimage for?
This trip is for those who are ready to level up both their physical & spiritual practice and experience a culture of ancient yoga that will open the mind and heart to profound new levels. We are so very excited to serve you and facilitate a life changing experience in the Sacred Mother India!
New to Ashtanga? No worries! This will be a guiding Mysore practice taught to each individuals level.
What is included?
In addition to all tours, excursions and activities noted above you will also receive included in your retreat fees:
– International Airport pick up and drop off
– 14 Nights accommodation at the Royal Orchid Metropole - a luxury boutique hotel that was once the Palace of the Wadiyar dynasty.
– 1 Nights accommodation at the Dubare Elephant Sanctuary with professional naturalist guide
– 2 full meals a day
What is excluded?
– International flights
– Visa – approximately 100$ for 6 month E-visa and 160$ for 10 year multiple entry visa
– Gratuity for Tour Guides and Drivers
– Personal Spending Money for shopping and snacks
What is the Investment?
This 16 day, once in a lifetime retreat filled with deep experience is available at a triple, double or single occupancy rate. All accommodations are first come first serve!
BOOK EARLY! WE WILL SELL OUT!
Triple Occupancy (1 King and 1 twin): $2499 per person
Double Occupancy (1 king or two twins): $2999 per person
Single Occupancy: $3999
About your guides
LOREN BAKER
28 years ago I was walking down the street from my apt in little Italy nyc and saw a poster that said “YOGA GURU”coming sign up here. I signed up for Sri k Pattabhi Jois' monthly guided Mysore Ashtanga World Tour. I practiced with 300 yogis the first time ever and the experience was life changing in that my life since that day has been dedicated to the teachings of Hatha Yoga.
With very strong support of my teachers like Eddie Stern , Sharon Gannon and David Life , Dharma Mittra , Swami Buaji, , and traveling every other year to for a month in Mysore with Pattabhi Jois until his passing 2009, I was heavily blessed with influence from some of the pioneers of our time. For 10 years I taught mysore style ashtanga yoga in Miami California, NYC and NJ, and in 2019 I travelled to India with my now husband for him to experience India and Ashtanga practice in Mysore on that trip we came across a poster of Suresh Bhat that advertised his classes In a nearby Shala . I had been fascinated by this teacher from watching the documentary "part and parcel" which is a documentary about the history of mysore ashtanga yoga and showed scenes of krishnamacharyas Shala where you see in the film suresh Bhat practicing asana. We met with him and instantly felt like we were best friends for life . Suresh is an expert at asana, pranayama and Sanskrit. He has all the knowledge and expertise of a professional yoga master but also has this very spontaneous and adventurous side of him which makes his classes extremely ecstatic with keeping the disciple of the tradition . For the past 5 years with the new zoom app we're able to keep up our practice together and have created a satsung of students from all over the world who are dedicated to ashtanga yoga . Next year will be my 3 rd time traveling to practice with suresh and now with the great honor of bringing students to experience Mysores magical city and lineage that has brought so much joy to our lives.
Katie Ribsam
A Bohemian at heart, Katie is a globe trotting, earth loving, cultural adventurer and spiritual explorer who has spent her life dreaming (and finding) ways to connect deeper with the people, planet and the infinite. With over 30 years as a practicing yogi , Katie spent 3 years as an apprentice of the Power Yoga discipline and recently went “back to school” to study in India with Raghunath Cappo. While physical asana is a core component of how Katie leads her classes, don’t be fooled. The physical practice is just the gateway to what lies beneath: the spiritual and emotional depth that sets this practice apart. With her main love being mama earth and with over well over a decade of environmental education experience under her belt. Connecting students to the environment through yoga is Katie’s specialty. Katie has led over 50 transformational retreats all over the world and cannot wait to join you in sacred India a place of true inspiration and wonder!
Testimonials
“The Pilgrimage to India is on every yogi's to do list. The journey to get there is so worth the experience. The spiritual growth is unique to one's own current state. What Yoga Bohemia's trip offered was a structured, safe, and turnkey offering to be able to fully embrace and envelope one's current spiritual journey against the immense culture of India. Each day offered something new and unique that no other 'travel agency' could hope to provide or compare. I'm still there in heart and soul, even though my body is not. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, so as I always say "When opportunity knocks at the door, don't be in the backyard looking for 4 leaf clovers." - RL
“A chance to see a part of the world I never thought I’d experience, priceless. Traveling with our Yoga Bohemia family made it that much more special! India is magical! The people, so welcoming! So many memories that will be embedded forever! Open yourself to every opportunity , you will not be disappointed! One of my best trips ever!” - MD
“India was a life altering experience for me. Having recently finished Chemo I wasn't sure what to expect from the adventure. The moment I landed in the Motherland I was greeted with a long sincere hug. The group was open and inclusive of all. The experience helped me see a spiritual light I didn't know I was searching for while the yoga brought me to a new level of practice.
I am forever grateful for the experience of India.” - TD
What I need to know
What health precautions should I take?
It is recommended to visit a Travel Medicine clinic or your doctor before traveling to discuss any precautions or necessary vaccines.
What can I expect in India?
You can expect a livening experience to boost your soul and open your mind! But at the same time, please keep in mind that this is India and you should not expect northeastern pace you may expect United States. Enjoy it! This is your time to slow down, and dig deep! We will be eating healthy but primarily vegetarian food with little to no alcoholic beverages. Please be comfortable with these limitations prior to signing up for this trip. The experiences you will have are designed to be transformational in body and spirit!
What level of yoga practice should I have?
As we are going to the birthplace of modern vinyasa and the heart of Ashtanga yoga, we will be practicing the Mysore style of Ashtanga daily. You should - at least - have a basic practice in the Ashtanga primary series. If you do not yet feel competent in the full series - do not worry - that is why your guides are here! We can help you get on a routine between registration and flight to ensure you are comfortable with the series and ready to advance your practice while in Mysore.
Can I speak English?
Our whole trip will be in English and all the places we go everyone speaks English.
How do I get there?
You’ll want to fly into Bangalore airport (BLR). Currently, there are many round-trip flight options out of the Northeast U.S. for around $800-$1200. You need to arrive on November 1st (at anytime) which mean your will leave the United States on October 31. The retreat will end on November 16th with transport back to the Bangalore airport (BLR). For flight recommendations, feel free to ask us.
How to Pack
We will have the opportunity to wash our clothes at a small fee at the hotel so feel free to pack light and reuse outfits. Here are some items you may want to pack:
Layered clothing for a range of temperatures in the 70’s at night and 80’s during the days.
Pancho or light rain jacket
Hat for shade
Sandals
Shoes/sneakers for hiking
Sunscreen
Mosquito repellent
Travelers diarrhea medicine
Sanitary hand wipes
A small flashlight
A water bottle
A light shoulder bag or daypack
Camera
Band aids or a little medical kit
Nail clippers, toothpaste, razor etc… These things are also easily available in India
A money belt or pouch which is easily concealed.
Copies of your passport page, visa, list of travelers checks
ATM card (Note: make sure to inform your credit card company that you will be traveling to India so they can expect some charges from there, otherwise they might block your card)
Sunglasses and extra pair of glasses (note: Be extra careful in Vrindavan where monkeys are known to snatch your glasses right off your face
An electrical adapter to change voltage for any American appliances you bring with you.
Print out of your plane ticket
Yoga Mat
Space in your suitcase. India has great shopping!
Power Bars/ Yummy travel snacks for transit days
Ear plugs, eye mask
Toiletries to last 16 days
We recommend $300 + cash for shopping, tips, and extra treats
Note: Please dress “modestly”. Nothing short, low cut, too tight etc. Women should pack capri length pants and skirts that go past the knees and tops that aren’t too revealing. Long skirts are best and pants that aren’t skin tight. Shawls are always nice and can be used with flowy skirts. Bright colors are welcome and encouraged in India!
Remember to bring clothes for yoga! It is normal to wear yoga leggings to practice but not to wear in public. Both men and women will have plenty of opportunities to purchase cheap, lightweight, and loose fitted clothing
Cancellation Policy
For all reasons, Yoga Bohemia recommends purchasing travel insurance for your trip that covers both medical emergencies and trip cancellation. Purchasing insurance protects you from losing money should you need to cancel your trip. We recommend squaremouth.com to search and compare travel insurance options. World Nomad Travel Insurance (worldnomads.com) is also a great and trusted option! It is a good idea to get Medical Insurance that covers Covid-19 exposure including extending hospital or quarantine stays.
If you must cancel your retreat Yoga Bohemia provides the following reimbursement:
If you cancel 120 days before your trip, 100% of your payment will be reimbursed minus a 10% processing fee.
If you cancel 90-119 days before your trip, 50% of your payment may be applied to another Yoga Bohemia Retreat, the other 50% will be forfeited.
If you cancel 60-89 days before your trip, 40% of your payment may be applied to another Yoga Bohemia Retreat, the other 60 % will be forfeited.
If you cancel 59 days of less before your trip, you will forfeit your entire payment