India
Yoga and meditation retreats in India
Shankar Prasad Ashram is a Satyananda Yoga ashram and organic farm in Bankikodla village, 5 km from Gokarna on the Karnataka coast. Our yoga retreats in India follow the tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga, with Yoga Nidra, meditation, asana, pranayama and chanting in a working ashram.
Retreats
Choose a yoga retreat
The ashram runs Yoga Nidra, Meditations from the Tantras, and Ayurveda and Yoga Nidra retreats. One- and two-week options are described in the meditation retreat guide. The published retreat list below links to each programme; see the Calendar of Events for dates.
Immersion
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, kriya, asana, pranayama, dynamic and silent meditation, mantra and deep relaxation.
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1 week
1-Week Yoga Nidra Retreat
Six nights of Yoga Nidra in the Satyananda Bihar tradition, with daily asana, pranayama, chanting, meditation and ocean meditations.
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1 week
Meditations from the Tantras Retreat
Six nights of tantric meditation in the Satyananda Bihar tradition, Ajapa Japa, Antar Mouna, Tratak and more, with daily asana, pranayama and chanting.
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1 week
Conscious Dying Retreat
A six-night retreat based on Yoga Nidra, ten Conscious Dying classes with asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation, to meet death with awareness.
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4 weeks
Indian Spirituality, Four Weeks
Four weeks through two great scriptures, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, with satsang, discussion, related meditation, chanting and kirtan.
Read more →1 week
Ayurveda & Yoga Nidra Retreat — 1 Week
Six nights combining Yoga Nidra with Ayurveda — five theory classes, two Ayurvedic treatments and a personal dosha consultation.
Read more →2 weeks
Ayurveda & Yoga Nidra Retreat — 2 Weeks
Two weeks of Yoga Nidra and Ayurveda — two Ayurvedic treatments a week, theory classes and a personal dosha consultation. Runs on an individual basis with advance notice.
Read more →Retreat
Mahashivratri
The night of Shiva, kept at the ashram with chanting and meditation through the night.
Read more →Retreat
New Year Retreat
Turn the year at the ashram, with sadhana, satsang and the quiet of Gokarna.
Read more →By arrangement
Ashram Life Experience
Live the discipline, the support, the simplicity and the joy of spiritual community life, helping yourself by helping others. “Find your Higher Self by losing your little self in the service of others.”
Read more →Daily practice
What a retreat day looks like
Retreat practice takes place within the daily rhythm of the ashram. The timetable includes classes, personal sadhana (spiritual practice), meals together and karma yoga, service to the ashram as mindful action.
- 5:30 am morning bell, followed by chanting and meditation at 5:45 am.
- 7:00 am asana or personal sadhana; asana classes run Monday to Friday.
- 8:30 am breakfast and clean-up, then cleaning and karma yoga from 9:00 am.
- 12:50 pm chanting before the 1:00 pm lunch. The afternoon includes class, sadhana or karma yoga, with free time at 4:00 pm.
- 7:00 pm dinner, then chanting, meditation and satsang at 8:00 pm.
- Silence after evening chanting until after breakfast the next day. The weekly havan, a fire ceremony, is held on Saturday.
Read the Daily Schedule and Happy House Rules before your stay.
Staying here
Rooms and suggested donations
Room suggested donations range from ₹300 to ₹3,500 per person, per night, depending on the room and whether you stay as a guest or volunteer. The lowest donation is for a full-time volunteer dormitory bed, not a guest retreat package.
Every stay includes three vegetarian meals a day, morning and evening chanting, yoga and Yoga Nidra sessions, and the weekly Saturday havan. Check the Accommodation page and what an ashram stay costs for room options. For foreign nationals, NRI and OCI, ask the ashram for the international rate.
You book the course and the room on one form. Use the booking form or contact the office to confirm your stay.
Getting here
How to reach the ashram
- By air: Dabolim airport in Goa is about three hours away by taxi. Send the office your flight details to arrange a pickup.
- By train: travel on the Konkan line to Gokarna Road, Kumta or Ankola. Gokarna Road is about 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw.
- By bus: overnight sleeper buses from Bengaluru and Mumbai run to Gokarna Cross, then take an auto-rickshaw or the ashram driver to Bankikodla.
The ashram is near Anand Ashram High School in Bankikodla. Full directions are on How to Reach.
Questions about yoga retreats in India
Where in India is the retreat?
At Shankar Prasad Ashram in Bankikodla village, 5 km from Gokarna, on the coast of Karnataka in South India.
Which yoga tradition is taught?
Satyananda Yoga, from the Bihar School of Yoga. Retreats include Yoga Nidra and meditation alongside asana, pranayama and chanting.
Can beginners join?
Yes. The one-week retreats suit beginners and experienced practitioners. No prior yoga or meditation experience is needed to join ashram life; come with a genuine interest in spiritual practice.
Is the retreat completely silent?
The day includes classes, chanting and meals together. Please keep silence after evening chanting until after breakfast the next day, and in sleeping rooms at all times.
What accommodation is available?
There are simple rooms in Manasa, rooms and a dormitory at Ganesh Prasad, Green House rooms and the Kutir near the farm. See the Accommodation page for details and suggested donations.
How do I find retreat dates and book?
See the Calendar of Events, then use the booking form to select the course and room, or WhatsApp the office.