overview
If you're attracted to yoga, meditation and spiritual development, but the idea of an ashram sounds rather earnest, this is your kind of place. Shreyas is what you might call a ‘luxury ashram’. Twice-daily Hatha yoga classes, meditation and home grown veggie food are combined with exquisitely designed living spaces, incredibly comfortable tented cottages, and an ozonated infinity pool with jacuzzi. It's been dubbed a 'luxury retreat with soul' and an 'ashram-meets-Aman resort' by the press. Its founder Pawan Malik is a former Wall Street banker, so he knows all about the stresses of urban living and how to be rid of them, as westerners, from yogis to city-slickers, are finding out to their lasting benefit.
Rated as one of the finest Yoga retreats in the world, a stay at Shreyas promises to be an unforgettable experience. 20 miles northwest of bustling Bangalore, the retreat is situated in a 25 acre former coconut plantation. Spread around the grounds are 14 spacious and elegantly simple rooms, housing up to 25 guests in all. All rooms 'boast flip-flops and broadband connection', a wonderful pairing that epitomises Shreyas. Contemporary in design with watery walkways, bamboo furniture and open plan living spaces, Shreyas is a superbly comfortable and stylish retreat. Large windows and bamboo screens allow light to flood in during the day; hurricane lanterns and canvas lampshades combine to magical effect at night. It's a dreamy place to forget (or remember) yourself, and a happy marriage of ancient wisdoms with modern comforts.
You enter along a leafy country lane to find gardens of Zen-like elegance: serene rice fields, trickling water channels and meandering footpaths, are all carefully landscaped to harmonise with the natural topography. The pace is unhurried and private sanctums and quiet corners contribute to a peaceful, introspective aura.
Shreyas is an environmentally friendly retreat, and care has been taken to retain the original landscape and natural beauty of the place too. There are gravel channels for water harvesting, solar-heated water, tree restoration and extensive planting has, and continues to take place.
Under the palm trees you'll find an open-sided yoga and meditation hall and there's even a cricket net with bowling machine 'in case you want to get rid of some aggression'.
Shreyas are dedicated to helping their guests achieve a perfect balance in body, mind and spirit, through the medium of Yoga. Contrary to popular belief, yoga can be practiced by everyone. Yoga has an amazing effect on our body and mind energies allowing us to deal with life's ups and downs with a sense of equanimity. Guests learn and practice the different facets of Yoga – for physical strength, balance and flexibility, for physiological and therapeutic benefits and if interested, for pursuing their spiritual path through meditation.