Flex Yoga Wooster India Yoga & Seva Retreat
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It is only through this unique relationship of responsible travel + philanthropy, that we have been able to raise $3,500,000 for our partner communities. You inspire and contribute to the impact…so keep traveling with The Village Experience!
India Yoga & Seva Retreat
Join Emily Moorefield Mariola, Flex Yoga Wooster participants, and the Village Experience as we travel through Kolkata, Varanasi, and Thanjavur on this trip to India.
Daily yoga practice, community seva activities with our partners at Women’s Interlink Foundation, visits to incredible UNESCO World Heritage sites and temples, traditional food, aarti ceremonies, fair trade shopping, and so much more awaits you.
Our Pre-Trip gives you the opportunity to arrive early and discover New Delhi and Agra (including the Taj Mahal ❤️). And our Post Trip takes you to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka for more culture, history, and amazing food.
EMILY MOOREFIELD MARIOLA
Emily Moorefield Mariola, ERYT 1000, is the founder of Flex Yoga Wooster and is a certified Yoga Instructor through Amazing Yoga Studios of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Emily took her first yoga class in 2004 and has been hooked ever since. Emily uses her understanding of competitive athletics and awareness of physical capabilities to enhance her yoga practice as well as her teaching. Emily teaches a Power Vinyasa Flow style of yoga that integrates the physical poses (or asanas) with the breath (or pranayama) in a fluid and powerful way. Emily has been working with The Village Experience on yoga programs in Kenya, Guatemala, and Thailand and is excited for India!
FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT
We are asking that as part of your commitment to this trip, you are prepared to raise at least $250 in donations for our Community Seva Activities to support the partners we will interact with on this trip. You can make the donation yourself, you can host fundraisers, you can ask your friends and family for support, or work with Emily to come up with other ideas.
Pricing
$7199 per person single occupancy
$1000 deposit and passport due with registration
$2500 payment due February 16, 2026
Final balances, flights, and travel insurance due August 16, 2026
Send passports, flights, and travel insurance to trips@experiencethevillage.com.
Itinerary
January 25 – Arrive to Kolkata International Airport. Meet your Village Experience representative and transfer to hotel for the evening.
January 26 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Embark on a tour of Kolkata by visiting the Potter’s Village where artisans create statues of gods and goddesses for local festivals and holidays. Then, visit two beautiful Jain temples. Stop for lunch and shopping at Fab India Experience. Photo opportunity at the Victoria & Alfred Monument on the way back to the hotel. (B)
January 27 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Today, we’ll visit our friends at Women’s Interlink Foundation and spend time at Nijuloy House to learn about the Vocational Skills Training Program funded by The Village Experience. Learn how to block print your own scarf, shop for artisan products, grind local spices, and enjoy lunch by the hospitality unit. In the evening, we’ll visit some of the red light district drop-in centers operated by WIF. Return to hotel in the evening. (B,L)
January 28 – Morning yoga and breakfast. We’ll spend today with Women’s Interlink Foundation by visiting Child Care Home and learning about the street kids drop-in center program. Enjoy lunch onsite. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B,L)
January 29 – Transfer to airport for morning flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival, stop for a traditional lunch. Check into hotel and then enjoy an afternoon yoga session. (B,L)
January 30 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Today, we’ll embark on a Heritage Walking Tour of the main sites around old town Varanasi. Varanasi is known as one of the most holy cities in the world for Hindus as a place of pilgrimage, death, and mourning. We’ll then board boats for a tour of the most interesting ghats along the river. Stop for traditional lunch. Aarti ceremony in the evening. (B,L)
January 31 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Tour of the Buddhist holy site of Sarnath – a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. Enjoy a meditation session on site. Continue on to visit the Dhamek Stupa and Chukhandi Stupa. Stop for local lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Durga Temple and Bharat Mata Mandir. Return to hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)
February 1 – Morning transfer to airport for flight to Chennai. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and then check into hotel near Mahabalipurnam sites. Evening yoga/mediation (B,L)
February 2 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Then, spend today visiting the UNESCO World Heritage sites at Mahabalipuram. These temples and monuments were built by the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. Stop for a local lunch. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B,L)
February 3 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Visit two of the Great Living Chola Temples – UNESCO World Heritage sites built by the Chola Dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries. Enjoy a local lunch. Check into hotel in Thanjavur. (B,L)
February 4 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Visit the third Great Living Chola Temple. Stop for local lunch. Afternoon meditation and/or yoga session (B,L)
February 5 – Transfer to airport for flight to Kolkata or continue on to Sri Lanka for the extension trip. (B)
Taj Mahal/New Delhi Pre-Trip
Pricing
$1650 per person single occupancy
Commitment due February 16, 2026
Final balance due August 16, 2026
Itinerary
January 22 – Arrive to New Delhi International Airport. Meet your Village Experience representative and check into hotel.
January 23 – Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and proceed to visit the main sites of New Delhi today including Jamaa Masjid, India Gate, Humayan’s Tomb, and Qutab Minar. Stop for lunch. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B)
January 24 – Morning drive to Agra. Head to Sheroe’s for lunch and to support their amazing cause of empowering women. In the afternoon, visit the Baby Taj (tomb of I’timad ud Daulah) and the Agra Fort. Check into hotel for the evening. (B,L)
January 25 – Sunrise tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal. After breakfast, drive back to New Delhi to catch flight to Kolkata. Meet the group at the hotel. (B)
Sri Lanka Post-Trip
Pricing
$2799 per person single occupancy
Commitment due February 16, 2026
Final balance due August 16, 2026
Itinerary
February 5 – Transfer to airport in Thanjavur for flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Meet your Village Experience representative and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Relax and enjoy the pool and beach in the afternoon. (B)
February 6 – Morning drive to the impressive Dambulla Caves. This cave monastery contains hundreds of images of Buddha. Stop for lunch. Check into hotel in Sigirya. Climb Lion’s Rock for a stunning sunset view in the afternoon. (B)
February 7 – Today, you’ll enjoy a day trip to Anuradhapura – the first (and oldest) ancient kingdom in Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia dating to 437 BC. Stop for lunch. Return to hotel. (B)
February 8 – Explore the second ancient kingdom today in Polonnawura. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas and dates to the 10th Century…becoming the capital after the fall of Anuradhapura. Enjoy a special farm to table lunch. Check into hotel tonight owned and operated by women – the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. (B,L)
February 9 – Morning safari in a nearby national park. Return to hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Then, enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner with the women of the hotel. (B,D)
February 10 – Check out and morning drive to airport for evening flights home. (B)
Flight Reservations
Pre-Trip Arrival: New Delhi International Airport (DEL)
Main Trip Arrival: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata
Main Trip Departure: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata
Post-Trip Departure: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Vaccinations
Visit the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date requirements (www.cdc.gov) and/or speak with a local travel doctor regarding vaccinations.
Recommendations for India and Sri Lanka include:
Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid
Yellow Fever
Required Documents for India
1) Passport – must have at least two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity from date of visa application.
2) Visa is required and must be obtained more than one month in advance. Apply online for an e-Tourist Visa HERE.
3) Travel Insurance – Medical evacuation, repatriation and medical coverage are required by The Village Experience. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.
Required Documents for Sri Lanka
1) Passport – must have at least two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity from expected date of departure from Sri Lanka.
2) Visa is required and must be obtained ahead of time. Apply online HERE.
3) Travel Insurance – Medical evacuation, repatriation and medical coverage are required by The Village Experience. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.