For 20 days, I stayed at Mandala Yoga Resort in Nepal. The retreat is located a bit outside Kathmandu, situated high up on a steep gravel road with the beautiful Chandragiri Hills behind it and the most stunning view of the city in front.
I had my own room, which was absolutely perfect—clean and tidy. Overall, the place was truly magical. It rained a lot during the first few days, which cleared the air and made the Himalayas stand out clearly on the horizon. It turned out that seeing them so clearly wasn’t guaranteed, because for the rest of the stay, we had no rain, and by the end, we could barely see the city.
Daily Schedule
06:00 – 07:00
I woke up around the same time as the sun, changed into my yoga clothes, and went out on the balcony. I loved to just sit and enjoy the view over the city first thing in the morning. Words can’t describe how beautiful it was.
07:00 – 09:00
We met in the yoga room, unrolled our mats, and put a blanket over our legs. It was early April, and the mornings could be a bit chilly. I usually started out wearing my fleece jacket. During these two hours, we meditated, did breathing exercises, and practiced various forms of yoga.
09:00 – 09:30
We had breakfast, which consisted of either yogurt, wheat pancakes, or toast with cheese, and there was always plenty of fruit. By that time, the sun was up, and it was already quite warm as we sat on the rooftop terrace eating our breakfast.
09:30 – 11:00
We had free time to do whatever we wanted. I usually spent this time chatting with others on the rooftop terrace, writing in my journal, reading a book, listening to a podcast, practicing yoga, or just enjoying the sun and the view.
11:00 – 13:00
We met again in the yoga room. During this time, we usually had lessons on the history of yoga, ancient myths, and stories. We learned about breathing techniques, meditation, the power of the mind, chakras, and much more. We often ended the session with half an hour of yoga.
13:00 – 16:30
After the lessons, we went straight to lunch, which we often enjoyed on the rooftop terrace. Then we had free time again to do as we pleased. Some days I took a nap, called home, or took a walk into the small town near the resort. Other days, we sat in a group and talked for hours, diving into our yoga theory readings.
16:30 – 18:30
We ended the day with two more hours of lessons. Typically, the first hour was theory, and the last hour was dedicated to yoga or meditation.
18:30 – 19:30
We gathered in the small dining room and had delicious dinner at low tables, sitting cross-legged on cushions. Some evenings we stayed longer, while other days we went to bed early or relaxed in our rooms.
