No Ordinary Retreats

No Ordinary Retreats have been specifically created as an opportunity for you to experience an intensive immersion into the depths of your inner being. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner, a dedicated teacher, or an enthusiast on the path of self-discovery, this retreat invites you to step off the treadmill of life, disconnect from the digital noise, slow down, and turn inwards.

Just as an astronaut explores the vastness of outer space, you will embark on a journey into your own inner cosmos. Across the serene backdrops of Shimla’s mountain air, the sacred stillness of the Sivananda Ashram in Uttarkashi, and the awe-inspiring peaks of Nepal’s Annapurna range, you’ll be supported through practices that are designed to guide your attention inward.

Through meditation, breathwork, yoga, and self-reflection, you’ll examine your thoughts, emotions, sensations, and patterns. This retreat offers a gradual withdrawal from the constant stimuli and pressure of modern life — creating space for deep inner contemplation. You can finally BREATHE.

Connecting to your breath places you in direct contact with your emotional body. You may begin to feel more — to truly feel. And for many of us, that’s the hardest part. Emotions aren’t the problem; it’s the avoidance of them — the suppression, the resistance, the repression — that causes harm. In this space of stillness and support, personal stories, past pain, or unresolved memories may arise.

That’s not a mistake — that’s the work.

As these emotional layers surface, you’re given a sacred opportunity to process them instead of pushing them back down, where they often sit unprocessed, affecting your mental and physical wellbeing. The retreat provides the safety and support needed to face yourself — your habits, your subconscious patterns, your pain, and your potential.

Yoga becomes more than just movement here. It becomes your coping mechanism, your pathway to release, and your container for healing. You’ll be encouraged to go there — to “feel it all,” to sit with the uncomfortable, to move through it with grace and honesty.

Sometimes we have to break down in order to rebuild. To lose ourselves in order to truly find ourselves again. In this rawness, we reconnect with our essence. That’s where the real yoga begins — not just as a physical discipline, but as a science of self-transformation.

This 2026 journey is a profound blend of yogic tradition, Himalayan spirituality, and natural immersion. From the structured, supportive environment of the ashram to the wild, liberating expanse of the mountain trails, each phase is carefully curated to take you deeper — and to help bring you back home to yourself.

Incredible India & Nepal Yoga Retreat – August 2026

Join Emma for the trip of a lifetime across Northern India and Nepal, including a 5-night, full-board stay at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram in the Himalayas, Uttarkashi, with all meals included and daily tuition from Emma.

Optional additional stay for the extended experience includes 2 nights in Shimla and a 4-day trip to Nepal, including a 1-night stay in Kathmandu and a 3-day guided trek in the breathtaking Annapurna mountain region near Pokhara.

Visas are required for both India and Nepal.

Price – TBC (5-night ashram stay only – excluding flights, transfers and optional additional trip)

A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT PAYMENT OF £250 IS REQUIRED TO BOOK YOUR PLACE OR PAYMENT IN FULL CAN BE MADE.

Please do NOT book any flights until final numbers are confirmed and you have been advised via email to do so. The return flight prices from the UK to India are around £1000 – 1200. Internal flights are around £35–£65 per leg.

Before booking, please check the link below for foreign tourist advice when visiting India:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements

Retreat Location

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Kutir Ashram is located at Netala in Uttarkashi, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas beside the holy Ganges River.

The area is known for its tranquil surroundings, mountain vistas, and spiritually rich atmosphere. This ashram follows the authentic lineage and traditions of Swami Sivananda, offering a serene environment for deep practice and inner transformation.

Highlights

  • Five nights full board ashram stay

  • Daily Yoga sessions (Yin, Vinyasa, Kundalini)

  • Fresh and nutritious vegetarian meals (two meals per day)

  • Satsang gatherings for devotional practices

  • Daily Meditations

  • Pranayama Breathwork Techniques

  • Puja ceremony

  • Shatkarmas (cleansing techniques inc. Neti and Dhauti)

  • Group Kirtan Mantra Chanting

  • Yoga Philosophy

  • Excursion available to local temples etc (for those students that wish to attend, nominal taxi fees are charged)

Optional Additional Extra Stay
Extend your trip by 5 extra nights and explore Shimla and the Nepali Himalayas:

  • Two nights in Shimla – enjoy yoga, a walking tour, a toy train ride, and a local food class

  • Travel from Uttarkashi to Kathmandu via Dehradun

  • One night in Kathmandu – optional walking tour available

  • Three-day guided trek in the Annapurna region: Pokhara ➝ Tadapani ➝ Ghorepani ➝ Poon Hill ➝ Ulleri

This add-on is a great opportunity to experience breathtaking nature, spiritual culture, and the unique beauty of Nepal.

A price will be quoted for this additional option based on the number of students wishing to extend their trip. Travel and trips incur additional fees – TBC

Accommodation

Twin-share rooms are simple, functional and spacious, with attached bathrooms and hot water. All accommodation areas have shelving and hanging space.

Food – Sattvic vegetarian meals are served twice daily, free from onion, garlic, and heavy spice.
Drink – Unsweetened tea served twice daily; optional sweeteners include jaggery and white sugar.
Dress code – Simple, loose-fitting, non-transparent clothing that covers shoulders and knees.

Facilities

  • Shared accommodation with attached bathroom and hot water

  • Mattress, bedspread, pillow, and blanket

  • Reception

  • Boutique (toiletries, yoga gear, snacks, books)

  • Wifi (available 6.30pm–7.30pm)

What's Included

Aside from your twin-shared accommodation, you will be served fresh, nutritious vegetarian meals daily, and participate in daily tuition with Emma. Alcohol is not permitted during the retreat.

What’s Not Included

  • International return flights to/from India

  • Domestic flights within India and Nepal

  • Travel expenses to/from the ashram

  • Train or taxi transfers

  • Excursions/day trips

  • Personal expenses

  • Visa applications and associated costs

  • Insurance

Cancellation Policy

  • A reservation requires a deposit of £250
  • The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
  • The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.

If you need to cancel your trip, you may do so up to 40 days prior to the arrival date and you will receive a full refund of the course cost, minus the £250 non-refundable deposit.

Cancellation within 40 days of the start date of the course will incur the full course cost and no refund will be issued under any circumstances.

Before booking, please check the link below for foreign tourist advice, when visiting India.  Please ensure that you are also up to date with any holiday vaccinations.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements

Programme Schedule

  • Daily Yoga sessions (Yin, Vinyasa, Kundalini)
  • Satsang gatherings for devotional practices
  • Meditation
  • Pranayama Breathwork Techniques
  • Puja ceremony
  • Shatkarmas (cleansing techniques including Neti and Dhauti)
  • Group Kirtan Mantra Chanting
  • Yoga Philosophy

You will also get the chance to take part in some excursions/day trips during your ashram stay, so you will have the opportunity to experience the more of this incredible country.  Please note that excursions are entirely optional but would incur an additional, nominal cost.

Your retreat leader

Hello – my name is Emma Newham and I’m your host for this retreat.  A little bit about me and my background for your information.  I have been in the health and wellness industry for almost three decades, teaching mindbody exercise to the wider public, fitness enthusiasts and instructors alike.

My fitness companies specialise in delivering teacher training courses.  Union Yoga UK, specialises in face to face and online internationally accredited Yoga teacher training courses.  Pilates Union UK specialises in delivering online teacher training courses in the Pilates method.  BarreConcept specialises in delivering online and face to face training courses in the barre method.

My yoga background started in 2006 after gaining my initial 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training certification at the Sivananda Ashram in the Himalayas.  Since then, I have progressed to learn various other styles of yoga.

I spent a month at the Ashtanga Yoga Shala in Mysore, learning the Astanga Primary Series.  This lead me to undertake further teacher training courses in Ashtanga with leading Western yoga instructors including John Scott and David Swenson.  In 2018, I qualified in Kundalini Yoga and subsequently took a Level 2 Kundalini Teacher Training course in 2020 and I’ve also completed two different Aerial Yoga teacher training courses.

I’m a qualified Assessor and also an IQA (Internal Quality Assurer).

In addition to delivering training courses, I also specialise in bodywork, offering holistic treatments such as Thai Yoga Massage, Core Fascial Release and Reiki.

Sound therapy is a keen interest of mine, so I undertook the Gong Practitioner training in 2019.

Due to my interest in working with the mind, I teach courses and workshops in Mindfulness, Meditation and Spirituality.

More recently, I have completed the Modern Medicine Woman training course, which delves deeper into ancient wisdom, with the use of Shamanic practices such as rituals, ceremonies and journeys.

So, I have a wealth of knowledge and experience of working with the mind/body and I’d love to share this with you on my retreat.

What do our Clients say?

Below you can read some reviews from our wonderful clients and find out how we have helped them on their own fitness journey.