Nepal is home to the highest mountain in the world, the world's only living Goddess (in the tradition of the great Devi - Maa Durga), and is the birth place of the benevolent Gautama Buddha. Nepal has 59 different Indigenous groups, all with their own culture, traditions, & language, and is comprised of 125 different ethnicities. The people of Nepal trace their heritage to Tibetan, Indian, Burman, Bhutanese, Chinese & Mongolian ancestors, making Nepal a melting pot of cultural beliefs and practices. Just over 80% of the population identify as Hindu, and just over 5% as Buddhist. Nepal is the only country with a triangular flag and its national animal is the sacred Himalayan serow - a cow. The serow is a symbol of spiritual prosperity, abundance, nurturing mother energy & fertility. According to Nepalese folklore, the Himalayan serow    is ridden by the great Lord Shiva.

There is something very special about Nepal. It has so much history and cultural diversity, the most phenomenal landscapes and nature, buzzing cities and small ethnic communities, auspicious temples and treasure filled markets. Being a small country it easy to navigate as well, so you can explore a wide range of experiences without needing flights here and there. And it feels so easy to be there. The people are kind and the energy is compelling. As a predominantly Hindu country Nepal shares many spiritual beliefs with India, yet they have their own practices and rituals as well. There are plenty of auspicious and sacred places to visit, temples, deities, and aarati. Being so high up in the Himalaya Nepal also has a strong Tibetan Buddhist (Vajrayana) following so we are spoiled with monasteries, stupas, monks, and prayer flags. Walking around Kathmandu for just a few hours you will encounter hundreds of temples and shrines. The most popular deities in Nepal are Mahadeva or Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu (collectively making the Holy Trinity), and Devi Durga, Maa Kali, Maa Saraswati, Maa Lakshmi, the wise Ganapati & the courageous Hanuman. The vast majority of Nepalese people incorporate Ayurvedic lifestyle practices and healing into their life and observe most spiritual festivals as celebrated in India. 

A yoga adventure retreat to Nepal gifts you so many different experiences in sacred places. The Himalayan mountains are pulsing with a magnificent energy that stops you in your tracks. It almost begs you to connect through meditation and mantra, an an invitation into the creative pulse of the universe, while the lush green landscapes of the valleys welcome gentle yoga asana and pranayama practices that forge interconnections with the earths transformative energy, awakening a humbling respect and reverence for her plentiful boons and offerings. Yet maybe its the people that keep me coming back - kind and eager to please, I always feel welcome in Nepal.