About
Instagram
YouTube
Disclaimer
Isha Yoga — Samyama Retreat
29 Sep 2022
Disclaimer
What do meditation practitioners eat at the advanced Isha Yoga meditation retreats called Samyama retreats?

Excerpts from Effects of an 8-day Advanced Meditation, Samyama on Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Wellbeing, and Associated Neural Mechanisms (IRB #1801728792, 2018) by Dr Senthilkumar Sadhasivam, which is a detailed narrative for this clinical trial proposal from 2018.

"Participants are required to prepare themselves for over sixty days prior to coming to the 8-day silence treat. Preparatory steps include dietary regulations such as (vegan diet, adding more greens to their food in a stepwise manner), postural (Hatha) yoga practices, and meditation practices. At the silence treat, participants practice one point concentration with guidance."

"The strict vegan diet and the preparatory steps along with the Samyama meditation program is hypothesized to reduce the gut inflammation and improve the gut microbiome."

Does anybody have personal experience with Samyama retreats to validate that the description in the document above is accurate with respect to diet?

Diet for beginners: What do beginners in Isha Yoga eat? They are not taught to be vegan. Meat is strictly forbidden; there is an emphasis on plant foods, especially in raw form. But milk, ghee and honey are part of their diet. The vegan regimen (as outlined in the clinical trial proposal above) is only for advanced retreats like Samyama Retreat.

© Copyright 2008—2025, Gurmeet Manku.