Have you ever felt grateful for every single decision that led you to one moment? A moment so blissful your heart is full of gratitude. I felt like that every day of my yoga retreat in Nepal. Nestled in the mountains just outside Kathmandu, I’ve never felt so much peace and tranquillity. I can’t keep this nirvana to myself. If you’re looking for an idyllic yoga retreat, read on for my Nepal Yoga Home review.
Location and Setting
Although it feels like a peaceful sanctuary, Nepal Yoga Home is located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal’s sprawling capital city. You can be transported from the bustle of the bustling Thamel neighbourhood to tranquillity in just 15 minutes.
The retreat is situated at the edge Nagarjun Nature Reserve and you have views of the mountains from the retreat. It doesn’t get more perfect than this. It feels quite remote, there isn’t much on your doorstep but it’s easy to get a cab to the city to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat. The retreat is all-inclusive and between the classes, treatments and delicious food, I didn’t step foot outside the grounds.
The retreat is made up of two buildings which are about 60 seconds apart. There is a newer building which serves as the hub, this is where the classes take place, there are treatment rooms, a roof terrace and the dining hall as well as some bedrooms. The older building houses more bedrooms. The retreat offers free wifi throughout.
Rooms
Initially, I booked a slightly cheaper room in the older building. It was clean and had an en suite but it felt quite dark and basic. I asked to upgrade to a room in the new building and luckily they had availability. This was recently built and felt much more modern. Rooms are painted white and have some Nepalese artwork and furnishings. My room had two beds, a desk, an en suite and dual aspect windows, so it was lovely and bright.
I loved staying in the main building. Although the older one is near enough, it felt easier to flit up and down to the dining hall and yoga studios without leaving the building.
Yoga classes
Nepal Yoga Home is a renowned yoga centre. They run yoga retreats as well as 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training. There are two beautifully decorated yoga studios for practice. The large studio is usually used for teacher training and the smaller one is used for classes. The latter has beautiful views of the mountains, which help you feel grounded during practice.
There are a variety of classes on offer, from yoga to meditation and yoga theory. They’re optional so you can lean in as much as you want to. I took advantage and attended every class on the schedule. The teachers were great, very knowledgeable and generous with their time. We practiced a mixture of yoga styles and the teachers offered plenty of adaptations to accommodate different levels. I also enjoyed the meditation classes, which often included mantras. This is a key part of my Nepal Yoga Home review and, as a seasoned yogi, I loved each and every yoga class I attended.
Treatments and amenities
One of the reasons I booked this particular retreat is that it’s focused on Ayurveda. Ayurveda is an Indian holistic health system that dates back 5000 years. Yoga is a core part of Ayurveda so I love combining the two in one retreat.
Shortly after check-in, I had a consultation with the on-site Ayurvedic doctor. This lasted about 30 minutes and it was pretty accurate. Following my appointment, the doctor shares the notes with the management team, who tailor your stay based on the doctor’s recommendations. This extends to your diet and treatments.
The treatments I was prescribed were mostly massage-based. It’s a tough life! The spa and roof terrace are on the top floor. Treatment rooms are clean and well-appointed. The therapists were all knowledgeable and explained the various massages and treatments.
Food and Drink
All meals are included and served buffet-style. Each person will have a slightly different menu based on the doctor’s prescription and staff are on hand to advise on what each person can and can’t eat. My prescribed diet included lots of warm, nourishing food. No soups and nothing cold or fried. Easy.
The menu is vegetarian and cooked fresh on-site each day from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Everything is delicious and I often went up for seconds. Nepal Yoga Home puts emphasis on their food and there was a lovely variety during my stay, I often looked forward to meal times. There aren’t many places nearby but you don’t need to head elsewhere for your meals.
My Nepal Yoga Retreat review
I absolutely loved my time at Nepal Yoga Home. It really did feel like home and I was quite teary when I said my goodbyes. The retreat was modern, well-equipped and aesthetic. I adored the Nepalese food and decor, it felt very authentic. All of the classes were fantastic and the treatments left me in bliss.
The true highlight was the wonderful staff. They were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. From helping me transfer to a different room to teaching me new mantra meditations, I’m grateful to everyone who works there.
I hope you found my Nepal Yoga Home review helpful, let me know if you have any questions about my experience. Make sure you check out my other travel and wellness posts, including a recent one on how to book a yoga retreat.
Leave a Reply