FAQs

Here are helpful answers to some of the frequently-asked-questions.
Can’t find the answer to your question? Please feel free to contact us.General FAQ
We practice a holistic yoga based on a lineage of teachings from Swami Radha, who studied with Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. There is an emphasis on the spiritual traditions of yoga. Our approach includes Karma Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Dream Yoga. (see Our Practices) The Hatha Yoga and Hidden Language Hatha Yoga we teach here is gentle and reflective.
Combining yoga practices with personal development techniques, our teachings create a bridge to the spiritual dimension while supporting the aspiration to live our practice in daily life.
COURSES FAQ
- Hatha Yoga – 7-8:45 a.m. (Ten Days of Yoga) or 7-8 a.m. (all other courses)
- Breakfast – 9 a.m. (Ten Days of Yoga) or 8 a.m. (all other courses)
- Workshop – 10-12:30 a.m.
- Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
- Reflection – 1-3 p.m.
- Workshop – 3-5:30 p.m.
- Dinner – 6 p.m.
- Satsang – 7:30-8:30 p.m.
A typical daily schedule while on a Guided Retreat will look like this:
- Hatha Yoga – 6:50-7:50 a.m.
- Breakfast – 8-8:30 a.m.
- Karma Yoga – 9-10 a.m.
- Personal Retreat – 10-11 a.m.
- Workshop – 11-12:30 a.m.
- Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
- Personal Retreat – 1-4 p.m.
- Workshop – 4-5:30 p.m.
- Dinner – 6 p.m.
- Satsang –7:30-8:30 p.m.
If you come for a Personal Retreat your day may look like this:
- Hatha Yoga – 6:50-7:50 a.m.
- Breakfast – 8-8:30 a.m.
- Karma Yoga – 9-11 a.m.
- Personal Retreat – 11-12:30 a.m.
- Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
- Personal Retreat – 1-6 p.m.
- Dinner – 6 p.m.
- Satsang –7:30-8:30 p.m.
Karma Yoga FAQ
If you join us as a full-time Karma Yogi, your schedule will be the same as the residents: We work 6 days a week, 8 hours a day, with one day for reflection.
If you are a half-time Karma Yogi, you will be working 6 days a week, 4 hours a day, with the afternoon for personal reflection and practice.
A typical day for residents or Karma Yogis includes:
Hatha Yoga – 6:50-7:50 a.m.
Breakfast – 8-8:30 a.m.
Karma Yoga – 8:30-12:30 a.m.
Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
Karma Yoga – 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Reflection break – 3:30-4 p.m.
Karma Yoga – 4-5:30 p.m.
Dinner – 6 p.m.
Satsang –7:30-8:30 p.m.
TEACHER TRAINING FAQ
The Yoga Development Course is for anyone interested in building a foundation of personal and spiritual development. The YDC is open to those 18 and older who are interested in exploring many branches of yoga, including Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Karma Yoga.
Often people come to the YDC during a major life transition, to aid in a healing process or to assess their direction in life. The YDC is also the first step in becoming a Yasodhara-certified teacher.
It is recommended that before attending the YDC you have some familiarity with Yasodhara Ashram or the teachings of Swami Radha and have a true desire to spend time in a spiritual community. Read more about the YDC.
Our approach is to offer tools and techniques that help you access your own intuition and wisdom. You are taught specific practices and are encouraged to use these practices to explore the deeper levels of your mind. The basic questions are, Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? Each person responds individually and shares in small and large groups. There is an emphasis on recording your experience, either through writing or drawing, so that you capture your discoveries and can review and see your own growth. The process of learning is self-directed and experiential, with questions opening up your exploration to gain clarity.
The YDC is a transformative experience that nurtures a greater understanding of yourself and your connection to the Divine.
It is a three-month, seven day a week, full time, residential intensive, totaling 675 hours of class time. The course consists of a series of integrated workshops one to five days in length. Participants are asked to attend all classes and activities and to stay onsite for the three months.
Days begin with morning Hatha at 7 a.m. and end after satsang at 9 p.m. Outside of class time, there are daily assignments as well as time for personal practice and written reflection.
The YDC is open to all levels – from beginners interested in yoga to long time practitioners wanting to go deeper in their practice. We explore many branches of yoga and our focus is on personal reflection.
We do encourage participants to take a shorter course at the Ashram or through a Yasodhara-trained teacher prior to the YDC; this ensures that you understand that the yoga we offer is not just physical asanas but an in-depth self-study.
Please call ahead to discuss your needs. We ask that you are physically able enough to attend daily classes so that you get the most out of your time. Although we do our best to provide assistance to guests with limited mobility, the Ashram is located in a mountainous rural setting that affects accessibility.
The Hatha Yoga we practice is a gentle meditative style suitable for all levels of experience. We ask all participants to listen to their bodies and take responsibility for themselves. Our gentle style includes visualization and relaxation – options that are of benefit to those with physical limitations.
Yes, but it is important for your visitor(s) to understand that you are engaged in a structured course that does not have much ‘free’ time. That is, time for visiting will be limited. You will also be in your own personal process and need to think if having a visitor will be supportive to you.
Visitors who come and overnight during the YDC most often join in karma yoga with the rest of the Ashram community.
For the course, you will need to have the following books by Swami Radha: Kundalini Yoga for the West; Hatha Yoga the Hidden Language; Radha, Diary of a Woman’s Search; The Divine Light Invocation; Mantras, Words of Power; Realities of the Dreaming Mind as well as The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Sivananda and Carried By a Promise by Swami Radhananda. These books can be purchased at the Ashram gift store or purchased online (except Swami Sivananda’s Bhagavad Gita) in paper or digital formats: https://www.yasodhara.org/online-store/
We have a local medical clinic that is open three days a week with attending physicians, a counselor and a physiotherapist. We recommend having any dental and medical needs taken care of before coming.
The Ashram is 1.5 hours from the nearest hospital, and 3 hours from larger hospitals with specialized services. Because of our isolated rural setting, ambulance services are not always immediately available and at best take 20-30 minutes to arrive. Although we have first aid attendants onsite and a medical clinic nearby (open 3 days/week and without emergency services), our ability to respond to medical emergencies is limited. If you have a serious condition, including severe allergies, a heart condition, or any potentially life-threatening disease, it is essential to check with us prior to registering.
- A laptop computer is handy for submitting daily papers
- Casual winter clothes including warm boots
- Comfortable yoga clothes
- Clothing for satsang and special events
- Medical supplies that you need for the duration of your stay
- A digital recorder can be helpful
- Journal
- Indoor footwear or slippers
- Alarm clock
- Spring and summer clothes if you plan to stay on
YOUR STAY AT YASODHARA FAQ
A typical daily schedule while on a course will look like this:
Hatha Yoga – 7-8:45 a.m. (Ten Days of Yoga) or 7-8 a.m. (all other courses)
Breakfast – 9 a.m. (Ten Days of Yoga) or 8 a.m. (all other courses)
Workshop – 10-12:30 a.m.
Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
Reflection – 1-3 p.m.
Workshop – 3-5:30 p.m.
Dinner – 6 p.m.
Satsang – 7:30-8:30 p.m.
A typical daily schedule while on a Guided Retreat will look like this:
Hatha Yoga – 6:50-7:50 a.m.
Breakfast – 8-8:30 a.m.
Karma Yoga – 9-10 a.m.
Personal Retreat – 10-11 a.m.
Workshop – 11-12:30 a.m.
Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
Personal Retreat – 1-4 p.m.
Workshop – 4-5:30 p.m.
Dinner – 6 p.m.
Satsang –7:30-8:30 p.m.
If you come for a Personal Retreat your day may look like this:
Hatha Yoga – 6:50-7:50 a.m.
Breakfast – 8-8:30 a.m.
Karma Yoga – 9-11 a.m.
Personal Retreat – 11-12:30 a.m.
Lunch – 12:30 p.m.
Personal Retreat – 1-6 p.m.
Dinner – 6 p.m.
Satsang –7:30-8:30 p.m.
Yes. Visitors are welcome year round between 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please register in the bookstore and we will give you a site map for your self-guided tour.
We also offer a special day program, A Taste of the Ashram, which includes a yoga class, lunch and a guided tour of the Ashram gardens, Temple and environmental initiatives.
We encourage guests to remain on the property for the duration of the program to receive the maximum benefit from their time here. If you do need to leave the Ashram grounds at any time, please notify the office (for our emergency procedures purposes.)
If you are interested in visiting the local area, plan time before or after your stay. There are lovely artisan shops in Crawford Bay and a hot springs at Ainsworth.
Many of the Ashram residents have taken vows of celibacy. We ask all guests to observe this tapas (austerity) while here. It is an opportunity to observe your physical and mental habits and examine the role of sex in your life. Many people have commented that this short-term restraint allowed their energy to be refocused. It also helps create an open, safe atmosphere in the Ashram.
Everyone is asked to dress modestly and to refrain from entering each other’s private living spaces for the purpose of socializing.
If you are married or in a relationship, you are very welcome to be at the Ashram. We ask couples to observe celibacy while here and will give you separate accommodations. Families will be accommodated together or in neighbouring rooms.
The Ashram is located in a mountainous, rural setting. We do not offer wheelchair accessibility, but we can offer transport between buildings and we do our best to provide assistance to guests with limited mobility. Please call ahead to be sure we can accommodate your needs.
In terms of participation in Hatha Yoga, our gentle approach encourages practitioners to listen to their own bodies and adjust the practice in ways that are suitable to them – for example, visualizing if physically doing a pose is not an option.
We have two main guest buildings – Saraswati Lodge, which is a classic cedar lodge and the Barn, which is a renovated barn converted to a beautiful residence using green technology. Rooms have single beds, closets, dressers and desks. Most rooms are shared with one other person and most bathrooms are also shared. All linens and towels are provided.
Additionally, we have special retreat accommodation options:
Creek Cabin is an original log cabin that was recently upgraded with a private bathroom. It offers privacy and a lovely independent setting right on the Ashram main grounds. Ask for details and rates.
We sometimes have vacancies at Yasodhara Heights, which are independent eco-cabins above the Riondel Road. The Heights cabins have private kitchens and are completely furnished. Ask for details and rates.
We serve three nutritious, organic meals daily. Vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free and bean-free options are always available. We occasionally serve humanely-sourced chicken and fish for those who include it in their diets.
An afternoon fruit snack is available for Karma Yogis. Tea, coffee and sometimes freshly-baked cookies are available for purchase. Our bookstore also carries snacks such as power bars, chocolate bars, nuts and dried fruit.
We always provide options for those with wheat, dairy and bean sensitivities. The ingredients for each menu item are listed. If you have special needs, such as a gluten-free diet, you may want to bring some of your own supplies such as gluten-free bread.
A fridge and cupboard space are available to guests for necessary supplies. However we cannot offer cooking facilities; therefore if you are bringing meal items they should be prepared ahead or easy to heat in a microwave.
Our kitchen prepares a large variety of foods. If you have severe allergies (such as nut allergies), please bring emergency medication. We do not have a nut-free kitchen.
Please note that the Ashram is 1.5 hours from the nearest hospital, and 3 hours from larger hospitals with specialized services. Because of our isolated rural setting, ambulance services are not always immediately available and at best take 20-30 minutes to arrive. Although we have first aid attendants onsite and a medical clinic nearby (open 3 days/week and without emergency services), our ability to respond to medical emergencies is limited. If you have a serious allergies, or any potentially life-threatening disease, it is essential to check with us prior to registering.
Please bring outdoor work clothes, waterproof footwear, loose-fitting clothing for Hatha Yoga, slippers or indoor shoes and an alarm clock. Dress is casual, though you may want something special for satsangs and celebrations. Bring seasonal clothing such as warm boots with good traction for winter, a modest bathing suit for summer. You may also want to bring a phone card, a journal, a prayer shawl and your personal yoga mat (although we have mats and blankets available.)
Be sure to have adequate medical coverage and bring along any medications that you may need during your stay.
Yasodhara Ashram
PO Box 9
Kootenay Bay, BC
V0B 1X0