Transformative Traditional Yoga Course

The Traditional Yoga Course is a three-month residential yoga retreat at Bodhidham Yog Dhyan Ashram in Ghachowk, a quiet village above Pokhara in Nepal's Gandaki region. It is for students who want to study yoga as a tradition, a science of body, breath, mind, conduct and consciousness, and not only as postures. Hatha, Raja, Karma and Bhakti Yoga are taught together, alongside introductions to Vedanta, Vedic philosophy and Ayurveda.

What to Expect

The course is built around time. Three months lets you establish a daily practice, return to the teachings more than once, observe the mind and take part in service, rather than compressing a vast tradition into a few weeks.

Month 1, Foundation and Discipline. You settle into ashram life and build a routine of early rising, meditation, practice and study. You learn the foundations of Hatha Yoga, pranayama and meditation, begin the philosophy, and take up karma yoga.

Month 2, Deepening and Study. Meditation grows longer and steadier. Self-observation becomes a daily habit, you meet the teachings again with new depth, and service, mantra and kirtan become lived practice. There is open time to question and discuss with your teachers.

Month 3, Integration and Continuity. Body, breath, mind and study come together in one practice. There is time for reflection and stillness, and you shape a sustainable daily practice to carry home.

The days follow a steady rhythm. You wake before sunrise for morning meditation. Mornings hold shatkarma, pranayama, traditional Hatha practice and study of yoga philosophy, Vedanta, Vedic philosophy or Ayurveda. Late afternoon is for asana, concentration and self-observation. Afternoons include karma yoga, self-study and rest. Evenings bring mantra, kirtan or satsang, a light dinner, and a sleep meditation to close the day.

The curriculum covers asana, mudra, bandha, subtle-body concepts, yama and niyama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, the philosophy of selfless action, devotion and sacred sound, Atman and Brahman, dharma and karma, and the doshas and five elements. The Vedanta and Ayurveda components are introductions, not professional training.

On successful completion you receive the Bodhidham Certificate, a recognition of study and completion rather than a claim of mastery.

The Setting

Bodhidham sits in Ghachowk village beneath the mountain Machhapuchhre. Accommodation for the three months is either a shared twin room with a shared bathroom, suited to couples and solo travellers, or a quiet private room with its own bathroom. Hot water runs 24 hours, and linen and towels are changed regularly.

Three organic vegetarian meals a day are served, mostly from the ashram farm, with herbal tea at every meal. Vegan and gluten-free options are available on request. Free pickup is offered from Pokhara airport or bus park.

Before You Go

The course suits practitioners who have completed a 200-hour or 300-hour training and want more depth, teachers seeking a stronger foundation, and sincere beginners ready for three months of steady discipline. It asks for commitment more than flexibility, and it is not a short break or a quick credential.

Included are accommodation, all sessions in the curriculum, course materials, kirtan, mantra and cultural evenings, campus Wi-Fi, participation in daily ashram life, and weekly excursions to caves, temples, waterfalls and mountain villages.

Not included are flights to and from Pokhara, personal expenses, Nepal visa fees and any extension, optional therapies, massages or side trips, and travel and medical insurance, including emergency evacuation.