The experience of India is the great teacher through direct, personal experience, observation of devotion woven into the fabric of daily life. She’s a complex place, filled with heart-wrenching textures, love, and awakening in equal parts. Her lessons are not of asana alignment—or of bodily postures at all—but a deep well of aligning with my inner wisdom and digging deep into a resource that sees beyond the wild external inequalities. I have a lifelong relationship with India and each time I return she humbles me, strips away excess and expectation.
My many journeys to India over the past twenty five years have been invaluable in offering an opportunity to fully immerse in the practices of yoga. All of the concepts, theories, and practices come into context in the light of yoga's birthplace.
We'll travel to locations that support my connection to the deep roots of this practice, including temples that are part of my personal pilgrimage. I will bring those who are longing to explore an internal state of health that carries them through the trials, tribulations, joys, and beauty of this wild life ride, toward integration and wholeness.
On our journey through Southern India we immerse in pujas (ceremonies), perform abhisheka (enacted prayer) in ashrams, chant the sacred sounds, and humble ourselves amidst the ancient expressions of humans longing for meaning.
December 28-30: Chennai
December 30-January 3: Thiruvannamalai
January 3-4: Chidambaram
January 4-5: Kumbakonam
January 5-7: Madurai
In each location, we'll explore local temples, participate in pujas (ceremonies), and explore the rich origins of this practice. Early in our journey, we will shop for Saris and Dhotis for the temples, and this will be necessary to respectfully enter some of the temple spaces.
We will begin an end our journey in 5-star hotels. While touring through Tamil Nadu, most lodgings will be in 3-star boutique/resort style lodging. In some of the remote areas, we are staying in the most modern and clean options available, but the lodging is simple and humble.
Shared rooms • Shared rooms are set up as double rooms for two people. If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a roommate. For one night in Chidambaram, some rooms may be triples.
Private rooms • We have a limited number of private rooms available in Chennai, Thiruvannamalai, Kumbakonam and Madurai. In Chidambaram, the number of rooms is more limited, and everyone will likely need to share.
We begin in Chennai on December 28, and end in Madurai on January 7. You can book a multi-leg trip OR you can book a flight to return to Chennai, and book round trip.
We recommend arriving by 4 pm on December 28 if possible (if you need to land in the evening or wee hours of Dec. 29, that is feasible). If you arrive on December 27, or in the wee hours of December 28, we can book an additional night for you in Chennai (rates are very affordable).
The pilgrimage will end the morning of January 7, in Madurai. You can choose to add-on a visit to an Ayurvedic center (see below), to fly out from Madurai in the afternoon (any time after 3 pm will allow a spacious departure). Another option is to fly back to Chennai from Madurai, if you prefer to book a round trip flight.
We have coordinated an add-on retreat at Kairali Ayurvedic Health Village from January 7-11 in Kerala near Palakkad. For those continuing on for this portion, we will coordinate a bus to Kairali. This will wrap mid-day on January 11. From there, you can fly home from Kochi or Coimbatore or book domestic flights to major airports.
We will provide booking details for this option after you register for the pilgrimage. Anticipated cost ranges from $1288-$1788 depending on room type.
Registration is open.
Early rates are in effect through July 15, 2023. Rates will increase by $200 on July 16 (the deposit will increase to $1708).
All rates are listed in USD.
Janet’s studentship began at 17 under the meditation teachings of Prem Rawat. His reverence for simplicity and finding joy in the rise and fall of life live on in her practice and teaching today. In 1996, she traveled to India, the birthplace of her grandfather, and became dedicated to the path of yoga. Janet blends the alchemy of her own practice with decades of studentship. She aspires not to teach but to allow the practice to emanate from her, letting awareness blend with movement and breath. Based in Bali and San Francisco, she leads immersions, retreats, workshops and more.
Shiva Kumar is a re-knowned astrologer and pujari from South India. He has been under the guiding light of several spiritual masters and has himself spent over 15 years as an ascetic. He has been awarded the special distinction title of Jotish Ratna in the field of Astrology and holds a master degree in Philosophy and Religion.
As a traditional pujari he has been performing mass poojas across India where over 5000 people would attend each ceremony. He has travelled to many places across the world including Japan and America for Satsangs (group discussions, questions and answers about Knowledge), Astrology consultations and poojas (individual and mass poojas) helping people of all religions find remedies to their problems.
The training will begin with dinner on December 28 and end with breakfast on January 7.
The deposit is $1508, and it is non-refundable and non-transferable. Read our cancellation policy.
We will begin our journey in Chennai, so please land there. The pilgrimage will end in Madurai, so you can book a multi-city trip.
You can also book a round trip flight to Chennai, but in that case you would want to allow a good buffer between the flight from Madurai-Chennai on January 7 for delays or cancellations.
If you are joining the add-on Ayurveda retreat, you will depart from Kerala on January 11. The closest airports are Coimbatore and Kochi.
The best airline will depend on your departure city. We highly highly recommend booking directly with the airlines, and choosing an airline that is offering refunds or flexible changes.
The length of the flight will depend on your departure city, of course. From the US, it takes one full day of travel, and with the time change, you will likely need to depart on December 26 to land on the 28th.
We will work with our team in India to coordinate transportation to and from the airport.
Yes. Visitors from many countries will qualify for an e-visa, which is a relatively easy and affordable process.
Currency exchange services are available at the airports and in the cities.
