The Heart of Yoga Rishikesh India

Relax | Rejuvenate | Renew

A Rare Retreat to Learn the Subtle
Aspects of the Yogic Path

March 17 to 31, 2026

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL ENDS OCT 31 st !

Save $500

At the foot of the Himalayas, where the Ganges flows pure and timeless, lies the birthplace of yoga.

Here, every sunrise carries the wisdom of the ancients, every breath feels like a prayer, and every step brings you closer to
your True Radiant Self.

A woman in traditional Indian attire, sitting cross-legged on a rock by a river with greenery in the background.

The Heart of Yoga

A Rare Retreat in the Subtle Aspects of the Yogic Path

Relax, Rejuvenate, Renew and Discover the Hidden Light that lives within You!

Rishikesh, India | March 17 to 31, 2026

A Transformational Journey in Rishikesh, India — The Sacred City of Yoga

Immerse Yourself in the Sacred Path of Yoga

Connect with the radiant Source of your Being, through the sacred currents of yoga.
This Journey—is about a return to essence.

Through consistent focused practices of Yoga, in a setting that retreats from day to day life , consciousness expands beyond the stresses and limitations of daily life, the deeper truth of who you are, revealing a luminous presence living within you, waiting to be remembered and embodied.

Welcome to Rishikesh — Where Yoga Was Born

Held in the heart of Rishikesh, the City of Yoga, the ashram/training centre is located at the foothills of the Himalayas, along the banks of the sacred Ganges River. The land vibrates with centuries of devotion, spiritual discipline, and the living tradition of awakening that inspires the true experience of yoga as a lifestyle rather than just a practice.

The sacred energy of this place will hold and support you, as you deepen your connection to Self and Source.

The Importance of this Time in Our History

There has never been a more powerful moment to go inward, learn new truths about you and life, reflect, and rise.
Humanity is undergoing a profound transformation—moving through the fire into a new level of consciousness, our New Earth Reality, or Satya yuga. In this time of global change, the ancient path of Yoga offers tools for clarity, strength, and spiritual evolution.

This immersion is designed to offer a sanctuary—a space to slow down, listen deeply, and empower your own awakening journey. It is an invitation to live with greater wisdom, presence, and joy.

What You’ll Experience

Throughout our time together, we will deepen the experience of the more subtle realms of Yoga Practice. Exploring not just the physical anatomy of the practice, but the metaphysical anatomy and the consciousness of the following practices of yoga.

  • Asana (postures) to align the body and open energy pathways

  • Pranayama (breathwork) to cleanse and balance your life force

  • Meditation to quiet the mind and expand awareness

  • Kriya Yoga to activate and purify the inner energy system and activate and strengthen new states of consciousness

  • Mantra and chanting to awaken the heart and raise your vibration

  • Yogic philosophy to offer deeper insight and spiritual guidance

By focusing on the metaphysical anatomy and the consciousness of theses practices you will begin to awaken the Light Body—a deeply embodied state of Yoga in which Heaven and Earth meet within you. As this luminous state unfolds, your Soul’s gifts will begin to shine. which will inspire you to live more freely, more joyfully, and more aligned with the truth of who you are.

Live the Life You Came Here to Live

This is an invitation to awaken the Self you came here to embody:
Radiant, Loving, and Free.

By practicing Yoga with awareness of your subtle, spiritual anatomy, you will begin to clear the old patterns and karmic residue that no longer serve you. Limiting beliefs and outdated self-concepts dissolve, revealing the infinite and timeless essence within.

As your inner light expands, you begin to experience life not as something to fix or control, but as a sacred dance to be lived— fully, truthfully, and with an open heart.

Do You Feel the Call ?

If you feel the call to deepen your practice, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and step into the next chapter of your spiritual journey, this retreat is for you.

It will be a time of renewal, rebalance, and spiritual awakening in Rishikesh that offers the perfect setting to ground, grow, and transform…

REGISTER HERE

Questions? contact Ananda
at ananda@onlyloveisreal.love

CONTACT

The City of Yoga

Welcome To Rishikesh, India

Heaven on Earth is often the description used to describe Rishikesh, It is truly Sublime. Located in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas and flowing with the sacred waters of the Ganges, Rishikesh is considered by the ancient Indian myths to be the birthplace of yoga and the spiritual heart of India.

For centuries, it has existed purely as a home for the practice of yoga and spiritual liberation. Sages and seekers journey here to deepen their practice and discover inner peace, while they deepen their connection to themselves.

Practicing Yoga in Rishikesh is like nowhere else in the world. The deeper vibrational healing of the practice awakens, and the true meaning of Yoga begins to reveal.

A woman with curly red hair practicing yoga on a large rock in a beach setting, wearing a yellow sari with orange border, performing a pose with one leg raised and held by her hand, with a man on the beach and forested hills in the background.
Five people practicing meditation outdoors in a garden, sitting cross-legged on yoga mats with eyes closed.
A woman in a yellow and orange sari practicing yoga on a rock by a river in a mountainous landscape.

SCHEDULE

March 17th

12 Noon Check In, Opening Circle and first class will commence at 7pm

March 31st

7-9 am Closing Class and Closing Circle

Our Daily Schedule:

Our daily practice will consist of Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting & Theory focused on awakening Higher Consciousness.

We will have a few partial-day group outings (see more info below); the schedule may shift on some days to accommodate these. There will be two full days off during the Two-Week Journey.

  • 7 to 9 am Practice

  • 9 to 10:30 am Breakfast

  • 10:30 am to 2 pm Practice and Theory

  • 2 to 5 pm Lunch and free time

  • 5 to 7 pm Evening program

We will be enjoying a selection of Yoga styles, including Classical Hatha yoga, Kriya Prayer Flows, Ayurvedic Yoga & Self Care.

We will also have deep Meditation, Chanting and Festive Kirtan Experiences .

There is Free Time for exploration and shopping bazaar time provided as India's markets are simply exquisite!!!

REGISTER FOR RISHIKESH 2026

THE PLACES WE’LL VISIT

  • Black and white photo of a young woman with long dark hair, wearing a jacket, with a blurred background.

    Ananda Mayi Ma Ashram

    An Indian saint, teacher, and mystic, she was revered as an incarnation of Hindu goddess Durga. Her life was suffused in Bhakti Yoga and she was considered an epitome of "divine grace" that inspired the societal cultural milieu to lead the path of service, love and constant remembrance of the divine.

  • Hindu temple with a white spire and red accents on top of a hill, surrounded by trees, against a clear blue sky.

    Mansa Devi Temple

    Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, the special Goddess Temples in India. It is dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi. It is the location where the Goddesses heart and navel reside. The temple is located atop the Bilwa Parvati on the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas. The temple is known for being the holy abode of Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti and is said to have emerged from the mind of the Lord Shiva. Mansa is regarded as the sister of the Nāga (serpent) Vasuki. She is also believed to be thdaughter of Lord Shiva in his human incarnate. The term Mansa means wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfils all the sincere devotees.

  • Black and white photograph of a bald man with a slight smile, wearing a light-colored traditional Indian kurta, standing outdoors with a blurred background.

    Swami Sivananda

    Swami Sivananda was one of the great influences in current day yoga . His life was a radiant example of service to humanity, both during his early years as a doctor and later as a world­-renowned sage and jivanmukta. (Liberated being) His message was to serve all, to love all, to befriend all and to see God in all beings were the ideals he taught and lived by.

  • Statue of a Hindu deity, sitting cross-legged on a platform with a lion's head at the base, at dusk with the sky darkening and city lights in the background.

    Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti

    Parmarth Niketan Ganga Aarti is a mesmerizing daily evening ritual on the banks of the Ganges River in Rishikesh, where Vedic priests and the Rishi kumars, the young boys monks, lead a spiritual ceremony involving the chanting of mantras, singing of bhajans (devotional songs), ringing bells, and the lighting of numerous diyas (lamps). The ceremony serves as an offering of light, gratitude, and devotion to the sacred Ganga, with participants also praying for the eradication of inner ego and the dispelling of ignorance. It offers a transformative experience, promoting inner peace and a deep connection to the divine, and is open to all visitors seeking spiritual solace.

  • Three circular stone huts with small arched doorways and domed roofs, nestled among green trees.

    The Beatles Ashram

    The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh is a historic ashram where the band studied Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968. Now an abandoned and atmospheric tourist site managed by the forest department, it features 84 unique beehive-shaped meditation huts and a former complex of buildings including a temple and residences, all covered in vibrant graffiti and murals, notably in the "Beatles Cathedral Gallery". Visitors can explore the large, scenic 14-acre grounds overlooking the Ganges River, admire the unique architecture, and enjoy the serene, artistic, and historic ambiance.

  • Two men sitting in a cave near a small altar with a lit lamp, flowers, and religious items, on a red and white mat with cloths and objects around.

    Vashistha Cave

    Vashistha Cave is an ancient, spiritual site near Rishikesh dedicated to the Hindu sage Vashistha, a revered Vedic sage and one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages) in Hindu mythology, The cave, which contains a Shivlinga, is believed to have been a place of deep meditation for him and his wife, Arundhati. known for its serene atmosphere and powerful spiritual energy.

  • Two women in orange dresses walking on a rocky beach near lush green cliffs with trees and caves.

    The Jesus Cave

    Located on the Ganges River banks, a short distance from Vasistha’s Cave, is considered to be one of the places that Jesus lived and meditated during his ‘Lost‘ years in India. The energy in this small cave is captivating.

  • A bridge over a river with mountains in the background.

    Ganges River, Ma Ganga

    The Ganges River is spiritually significant to the Indian Culture, known to be the manifestation of the goddess Ganga, a symbol of purity, and a source of purification that can cleanse limited karma, and facilitate liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Hindus believe bathing in the Ganges washes away spiritual impurities, while Her waters are used in rituals, to express devotion and gratitude to the goddess.

  • Colorful Hindu temple gopuram with detailed statues of deities and figures, people walking nearby, stairs leading up to the temple entrance, trees in the background.

    Nilakantha Mahadev Temple

    The temple of Neelkanth Mahadev is associated with Lord Shiva, and he is the presiding deity. According to Hindu mythology it was the place where Shiva drank up the venom churned out of the ocean, to save the world from the evil, death and destruction. Proving Source energy is pure love and beyond good and evil.

About Ananda Xenia Shakti

My life has been dedicated to discovering how to Be the Bliss, my name Anandashakti which was given to me by one of my spiritual mentors, it means the Divine Bliss Power. A spiritual name is meant to express one’s greatest gift in life and inspire one to walk that path. It has always felt natural to aspire myself towards bliss and to live in authentic service to our Human experience and devotion to Creation by embodying without a doubt Only Love Is Real !

My awakening came early in my life with spontaneous gifts that showed me that life is energy, and can be changed in ways that serve our greatest joy and in fact, it is meant to be! I now have over 44 years of experience in the practice, study and teaching of yoga.

My greatest delight is to share my experience of awakening with others who are aspiring to know they are Love. I have had the immense honour of spontaneous awakenings and receiving spiritual initiations and blessings by many great masters in the Americas and in my Beloved India. I am a devotee of LOVE in the many forms it has expressed itself throughout the spiritual histories of the West and the East, with a special calling towards the Divine Feminine, Goddess, or Shakti principle and it is in Her service and inspiration of love and compassion that I act.

Yoga

I have been leading Sananda Yoga classes for 33 yrs in Toronto and internationally. At Sananda Yoga, we offer classical yoga focused not only on the physical but also awakening the students’ capacity to connect with the metaphysical aspects of yoga, where the deeper healing and spiritual liberation rise from. We also offer The Feminine Art of Yoga, a deep Empowerment for Women in all of their natural expressions and a specialized form of yoga called Kriya Prayer Flows, which open the body/mind to specific states of consciousness that are the foundational pillars of spiritual awakening: Devotion, Faith and Inspiration. These create deeper support and acceleration for one’s spiritual awakening.

I have been leading life awakening retreats and tours to choice destinations in the world since 2001, while teaching yoga, meditation and chanting along the way!

Quantum Awakening Core Soul Story Akashic Readings

I’ve been offering support as an Intuitive since 2003. I have assisted thousands of clients out of limiting and painful life experiences and belief systems and into health and joyful living. I call this offering Choose Love Quantum Awakening Core Soul Story Sessions.

In the Core Soul Story Session, through Higher Realm Guidance we discover your ‘Soul’s Gift’, which is your free and loving self, and we uncover the ‘Core Story Wound ’, the past life imprint that is creating the obstructions you are currently experiencing. The amazing truth is, we don’t have to live out this story ! This is the art of life and true Soul freedom.

Through deepened Awareness, Choice and Higher Frequency energies we activate the process of releasing your identity from the Core Wound , and activating your Soul’s Gift as your new life path.

Training as a practitioner in this modality is also offered once a year LIVE online.

As an Intuitive, I receive guidance from Higher Realms, that I share during the Readings, and in Poetry, Yoga and the Music that I offer. Each of these modalities will assist you in shifting your fears and limitations into your ‘I Am Love ‘presence, and into embracing your full potential.

Music & Dance

I have a history in the punk music scene and Love Power the Band is the name of my current band. We perform interactive music and Kirtan to activate your Festival of Life. In a Love Power the Band performance we share what we call. Interactive Music. The audience has a part of the song, not just repeating lines but their own section of the song to hold down. We do this to enhance the experience of Oneness, because we believe we are ONE, ONE HEART, ONE BREATH, ONE SONG, ONE BEAT, ONE DANCE. Merging East and West, Bliss and Dance, Performer and Audience. We believe Music and the Power of Love can turn this world around!

Dancing has always been one of my passions. I dance wherever and whenever I can… I love freestyle and am also trained in Indian Classical dance, a true dance of the Soul.

That’s a little about me … I look forward to hearing about you on our journey! There are no limits for our Rising Hearts except our beliefs… Our birthright is to live free and joyfully. Let’s clear out the karmic limitation for ourselves and for Humanity. With ‘I Am Love ‘!

Ananda Xenia Shakti

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANANDA

ACCOMMODATIONS

Sant Sewa Ashram

Sant Sewa Ashram is a serene spiritual retreat located in the picturesque environment of Rishikesh, along the banks of the Ganges River. This ashram is renowned for its tranquil atmosphere, making it a favored spot for meditation and yoga enthusiasts. Visitors can participate in various spiritual programs, attend yoga classes, and engage in communal activities that promote personal growth and inner peace. The ashram emphasizes simplicity and community living, providing a unique experience for those seeking spiritual nourishment in a serene setting. Sant Seva one of my homes in India, I have resided there for a couple of months each year for the past 5yrs.

River flowing through green mountainous landscape with a bridge crossing the river and a building partially visible at the top right corner.
Multi-story building with balconies and stairs, set against a mountain backdrop.
River with boats, boats on the riverbank, hilly terrain with buildings, and a suspension bridge in the background.
View from a balcony of a river flowing through a mountain town with colorful buildings, trees, and boats on the water.
Two people dancing in traditional attire on a rooftop with mountain scenery and temples in the background.
A bedroom with a wooden bed, floral pink bedding, and pillows. There is a red blanket partially on the bed. The wall behind the bed is orange with white tiles and a decorative border. A window with yellow curtains is in the corner, and a small wooden

Delicious Local Food Options

FYI for those with dietary restrictions, gluten-free dairy-free, non-spicy and completely delicious meals are available at the local restaurants, as well as a full menu that is culturally diverse.

REGISTER FOR THE RETREAT

Join Me For a Life Changing Journey to The Heart of Yoga

A woman practicing yoga indoors on a mat, balancing on her toes with her knees slightly bent, wearing a fitted top and leggings, with bracelets on her wrist, and her hands pressed together near her face.
Woman in red dress performing a yoga pose on a wooden floor with a white wall background.
A woman performing a yoga pose in a well-lit indoor space. She is balancing on her hands and feet with her hips raised, one leg extended upward.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For a discovery call, contact Ananda at ananda@onlyloveisreal.love 

EMAIL ANANDA

THE DETAILS

Financial Exchange

Early Bird $2,000  
$500  non refundable deposit due by October 31, 2025 to receive this special price 

After Oct. 31st Tuition : $2500
$500 non-refundable due at Registration

Payments to be completed by Jan. 15

Registration Closes: December 31, 2025

Payment plan options are available, please inquire



NOT INCLUDED

  • Meals - FYI for those with dietary restrictions, gluten-free dairy-free, non-spicy delicious meals are available at local restaurants, as well as a full menu that is culturally diverse

  • Personal Travel costs

  • Please note you will need a tourist visa . and When entering India, your passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry and must contain at least two blank pages for immigration officials.

  • Travel Tips ! Flights can be booked to arrive in Delhi and a car will be sent to pick you up and drive you to the Guest House in Rishikesh travel time is Approx 5hrs. Personally I recommend this option because there is no further waiting in airports, going through security etc. You can get in the car and rest for a few hours.

  • ALTERNATIVELY you can take an additional domestic flight from Delhi to Dehradun and a car will be sent there to pick you up, travel time approx 1 hr. to the guest house.

  • ( please note that most domestic airlines in India have a 15 kg baggage limit and can be quite expensive for over weight baggage. )

  • Please contact me directly for the cost for the pick up service. but a ball park figure is around $150 from Delhi and $70 from Dehradun.

INCLUDED

  • All classes

  • Single occupancy accommodations

  • Group day trips transportation

REGISTRATION FORM