This trip is part spiritual-pilgrimage, part yogis-delight, part cultural-immersion, and part heart-opening bliss.

Spend one or two weeks traveling India and Nepal with Sara Syed and Shannon Carlin

2023  Dates and Travel Options

• March 26 – April 1 (one week option)

• April 1  – April 8 (one week option) 

• March 26 – April 8 (full two-week experience)

Week One - Cultural Immersion

March 26 – April 1 (one week option)

• Delhi, India

• Agra, India

• Jaipur, India 

Week Two - Yogis Delight

April 1  – April 8 (one week option) 

• Delhi, India

• Rishikesh, India 

• Kathmandu, Nepal 

Anyone seeking a safe, adventurous and fun immersion into the ancient cultures and spiritual practices found in India and Nepal.

India and Nepal house some of the most ancient of the civilizations in the world, and therefore lack some of the comforts we have in the western world. We are booking  westerner-friendly hotels throughout the trip, meaning they come with accommodations westerners would appreciate including western-style toilets, A/C, electricity, highly-rated reviews, are clean, etc. However, it is still India and Nepal we are visiting. Participants should expect to be challenged at times, uncomfortable, hot, etc. India has a lot of poverty, noise, and is highly dense in terms of population. India can also be very loud and over-stimulating at times.  

Therefore, participants attending this trip should be:

• Flexibility in mind

• Adaptable

• “Go-with-the-flow"

• Tolerant of noise, pollution and chaos 

Requirements for Travel

Passport and Visa (details on how to obtain the visa will be shared once you register)

You can read more about our previous courses, retreats, and about the wellness studio in Cleveland, Ohio here: http://www.thestudiocleveland.com

You can read more about her previous silent mediation retreats, yoga retreats and yoga & Ayurveda retreats here: https://www.thestudiocleveland.com/previous-retreats.html

Read more here: http://www.meditationandyogaschool.com

Sara Syed

Sara Syed is the owner of The Studio Cleveland, a wellness center located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.  She started practicing yoga at the age of 17 as a way to manage anxiety, depression, eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse. 

Sara was able to stop abusing drugs/alcohol largely through the healing and self-awareness developed with her meditation and yogic practices.

Sara has studied the world, practicing and learning yoga with some of the most well-known teachers, including Kino Macgregor, a direct student of Pattabhi Jois, Saraswati Jois of KPJAYI, Master Santosh Kumar of Yoga Darshanam in Mysore, India, Goenkaji, a meditation teacher in the direct lineage of Guatama Buddha, and Marianne Wells, a direct student of BKS Iyengar.

Sara began hosting spiritual yoga and meditation retreats and trainings in 2019. As someone with major placements in Gemini and Sagittarius, Sara has a fond love for learning, teaching and travel. She has since started hosting trainings and retreats to combine all of her passions and as a way to help inspire others and share tools for personal development & growth.

Sara is an E-RYT 700 with her Masters of Science in Education (Speciality in Curriculum & Instruction) and also holds her Bachelors in Science in Psychology. 

Read more here: https://www.thestudiocleveland.com/sara-syed.html

Shannon Carlin

Shannon visited ashrams with her parents as a child and then many years later, found herself in a yoga class one day. 
Though unfamiliar with the poses, the breath, and of course-sanskrit, she immediately felt a sense of belonging and of coming home. 
The experience resonated so deeply with her that she knew she had taken her first steps on a life-long path of study, practice and devotion. 

She has completed her 200hr certification with Bernadette Birney, Restorative training with Jillian Pranksy, Prenatal Certification with Sue Elkind and her 500hr advanced training with Tiffany Cruikshank of Yoga Medicine.  She also continues to study yoga philosophy with Dr. Douglas Brooks and is working on her 1,000 hour training with Yoga Medicine. 
Shannon is also a certified lifeguard, PaddleFit and Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga Teacher.  She has also completed Trauma Informed and Yoga Activist training with Off The Mat and Into The World with Sean Corne, Suzanne Sterling and Hala Khoury.  She is a also Lululemon Ambassador. 

We will share a more comprehensive packing list for those that register as we approach 2023. 

• Earplugs/Eye pillow for sleeping if you are in a shared accommodation
• Waterproof phone case
• Organic activated charcoal supplements to help your tummy acclimate to a new environment
• Travel insurance 
• Small, portable charger 
• Mosquito repellent/repellent wristbands
• Waterproof shoes (light and airy, yet able to stay comfy in the rain; I recommend crocs or something similar) 
• Camera
• Hiking shoes
• Rain jacket or poncho
• A small, water resistant backpack for day travels 
• Travel towel
• Water bottle with built-in filter
• Spare copies (physical and electronic) of all travel documents (passports, etc.)
• Sunscreen
• RDIF safe wallet for cards and passports 
• Travel-friendly debit/cards with low international fees for ATM cash withdrawals and card purcahses 

• India has a very HOT climate, please plan accordingly when packing.  It feels nice to wear loose-fitting, breezy clothing rather than skin-tight yoga pants due to the humidity and heat in this area.  Cotton and other breathable materials are recommended.  We also highly recommend dressing modestly (keep knees and shoulders covered) to respect the culture in India and Nepal. You can also purchase inexpensive clothing in India. 

• There are A LOT of bugs and mosquitoes in India. Please plan accordingly with potent bug spray. 

• Back-up your photos/phone/devices to the cloud prior to coming and throughout the trip in the case your phone gets lost/stolen/wet/damaged

• We do not recommend bringing valuables and irreplaceables.  Be mindful in your decision to bring a computer or other expensive devices due to the possibility of your devices being damaged or stolen (not likely that items will be stolen as the trip is very secure, but it can still happen while traveling internationally).

1.  Is it safe to drink the water in India?
No! Participants will have to purchase water bottles throughout the trip. Some of the hotels provide clean drinking water. 

2. Are any vaccinations recommended? 

There are no vaccines required. 

3. What is medical care like in India?
Medical care is not something we want to experiment with India. It is less expensive than in America, but the quality and experience will differ greatly. Take preventive cautions while traveling and pack over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, etc., if needed rather than expecting to find it in India. 

4. Do I need a power adaptor to use Indian  outlets?
Yes. India operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Power plugs and sockets In India the power sockets used are of type C, type D, and type M. More details to come after registration and during the packing phase. 

5. Do I need a visa for India?
Yes. More details to come for those that register. 

6. What is the weather like in India?

The weather is HOT and sometimes wet/humid in northern and central India. Plan on having cooler evenings in the higher altitudes of Nepal.

7. Is it okay that I only speak English? 

Yes! We are hiring a native tour guide that can easily translate for us. 

• The deposit is non-refundable.
• Cancellations made prior to December 31, 2022, may receive a 50% refund (minus the deposit).
• Cancellations after December 31, 2022, may not receive a refund (minus the deposit).