Retreat Experiences
Mud Story Retreats connects inner ecology with outer ecology to support personal renewal while honoring the land, culture, and global yoga community of South India’s heritage city of Mysuru.
Yoga retreats & immersions
Rooted in tradition, guided by experienced facilitators.
Sustainability & farm-based learning
Hands-on experiences in organic farming, natural living, and regenerative design.
Creative & cultural retreats
Explore music, theatre, storytelling, writing, film, traditional arts, and holistic wellness.
Weekend & residential programs
From one-day immersions to multi-day retreats for deeper renewal.
Customized retreats
Designed with artists, teachers, and facilitators from India and around the world.
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga at Mud Story Retreats is rooted in traditional Mysore Ashtanga yoga, while remaining responsive to the needs and intentions of each group.
Daily offerings may include:
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Mysore, Led Ashtanga, vinyasa classes
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Gentle, restorative, aquatic or therapeutic yoga
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Prāṇāyāma and breath-centered practices
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Seated meditation and contemplative movement
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Chanting, mantra, and sound-based practices
Practices are shaped by the retreat’s focus — whether grounding, restoration, creativity, or deepening — and may vary across days to support balance, integration, and care. No prior yoga experience is required. All practices are offered with individual attention and respect for diverse bodies, backgrounds, and stages of practice.
Natural Farming
Daily contact with soil, plants, and natural cycles through guided farm walks, natural farming and permaculture sessions, and hands-on learning. Guests are invited into a living relationship with land, food, and seasonal rhythms.
Cultural and Creative Immersions
Rotating opportunities to learn from guest teachers and collaborators may include:
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Indian classical music, mantra, and sacred sound (Nāda Yoga)
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Writing workshops, performing arts, and creative inquiry
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Ayurvedic cooking and spice blending
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Natural clothing dyeing using native plants
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Clay pottery and wood crafts
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Vedic astrology
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Personal and team development
Evening Circles
Evenings are intentionally spacious and may include bonfires, kirtan, storytelling, films, silence, or quiet community reflection under the night sky.
Additional Add-Ons
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Ayurvedic massage & bodywork
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Cold plunge, mud therapy, outdoor baths (subject to availability)
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Plant identification walks & birdwatching
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Volunteer projects with local organizations and eco-initiatives
Sample Retreat Menu
Early Morning
• Warm lemon / jeera water
• Herbal tea (tulsi, lemongrass, mint)
Breakfast
• Smoothie bowls (banana, papaya, seasonal fruits, seeds)
• Idli / dosa / ragi dosa with sambar & coconut chutney
• Vegetable upma / pongal
• Fresh fruit platter
• Filter coffee / herbal tea
Mid-Morning
• Tender coconut water / fruit-infused water
Lunch
• Steamed rice / red rice / millet
• South Indian sambar / rasam
• Poriyal / thoran (seasonal vegetables)
• Kootu / avial / vegetable curry
• Fresh raw salad
• Homemade curd / buttermilk
• Pickle & papad
Evening Snack
• Herbal tea / masala chai
• Vegetable soup / clear lentil soup
• Sundal / roasted chana / sweet potato chaat
Dinner (Light & Calming)
• Chapati / millet roti
• Light vegetable sabzi
• Khichdi / vegetable stew / lemon rasam
• Soup (pumpkin, carrot-ginger, tomato)
Post-Dinner (Optional)
• Turmeric milk / herbal infusion
Discover more about our nourishing meals, created by the same team behind Mysuru’s beloved Organic Cafe & Bakehouse.
Sample Retreat Day
A gentle rhythm designed to support presence, rest, and integration.
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6:00 AM – Sunrise meditation
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6:30 AM – Morning yoga practice (format varies by retreat)
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9:00 AM – Farm breakfast
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10:30 AM – Farming, culture, or creativity workshop or free time for rest
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12:30 PM – Farm-to-plate lunch
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2:00 PM – Farming, culture, or creativity workshop or free time for rest
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5:00 PM – Herbal tea
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6:00 PM – Sunset meditation
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7:00 PM – Dinner
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8:00 PM – Evening circle (kirtan, fire, poetry, silence)
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9:30 PM – Noble silence & rest
Custom Design Your Own Retreat
Mud Story Retreats supports custom-designed retreats for teachers, facilitators, artists, and groups seeking a unique, land-rooted experience. We work collaboratively with you to shape a retreat that reflects your intention, group size, pace, and focus — whether yoga-centered, creative, ecological, contemplative, or interdisciplinary.
Heritage Mysuru — Half-Day Options
(Approx. 45–60 minutes from Aarambh Community Farm)
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Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas Palace)
Iconic symbol of Mysuru's royal and cultural legacy. -
Devaraja Market & Old City Walk
Flowers, incense, spices, silk, produce, and everyday city life. -
Local Artisan & Cultural Spaces
Silk weaving centers, incense makers, or craft cooperatives (availability dependent).
Sacred Sites & Ancient Temples
Half-Day Options (45–75 minutes)
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Chamundeshwari Temple & Chamundi Hills
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Srirangapatna (Ranganathaswamy Temple)
Full-Day Pilgrimage Options
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Melkote (Tirunarayanapuram) – Approx. 2.5–3 hours
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Somnathapuram (Chennakesava Temple) – Approx. 3 hours
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Bylakuppe (Tibetan Buddhist Settlement) – Approx. 2.5 hours
Nature & Wildlife ( Full-Day Options )
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Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary – Approx. 1.5 hours
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Bandipur / Nagarahole Forest Region – Approx. 3–4 hours
(Offered selectively depending on retreat length and group interest.)
Optional Excursions
For groups who wish to weave in place-based exploration, guided excursions may be added as part of a custom retreat design. These are always optional and scheduled to complement the retreat rhythm.
