In a world that rarely slows down, the idea of stepping away from everyday life has become more than a luxury. It has become a necessity. Across continents, professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs are increasingly turning to wellness retreats as a way to reset their minds, reconnect with themselves and rediscover balance. These journeys are no longer simply about travel. They are about transformation.
International retreats have quietly become one of the most meaningful travel trends of the past decade. Unlike conventional holidays that revolve around sightseeing and packed itineraries, retreats invite people to pause. They offer space for reflection, physical wellbeing and emotional clarity. For wellness entrepreneur Ashmita Sitoula, this movement is deeply personal.
Ashmita has been living in Dubai for the past five years. Before relocating, she worked in Nepal with an advertising agency and was known to many as the former Miss Grand International Nepal 2013. Her early professional years followed a conventional trajectory, moving from the creative world of advertising into a corporate career in Dubai.
Yet somewhere along that journey, something felt incomplete. “I realised that I was always inclined towards yoga and spirituality,” Ashmita reflects. “Yoga was always with me. Whenever I needed to relax or come back to myself, I chose yoga.” Like many professionals navigating the intensity of corporate life, yoga became her quiet refuge. It offered stillness in a fast-paced environment.
A turning point arrived during a visit to Nepal a few years ago. While on holiday, Ashmita had the opportunity to study yoga at a school in the country. What began as a personal exploration soon opened a new path. That experience sparked a profound career shift. Today Ashmita runs her own wellness company in Dubai called Yoga Aurum, which she established two years ago. Through Yoga Aurum, she organises international yoga retreats that bring people together from different countries to explore mindfulness, wellness and cultural discovery.
Her retreats are intentionally intimate, carefully designed to prioritise personal connection over scale. “In the past two years we have organised around four international retreats,” Ashmita says.
“In the first year it was mostly among friends. In the second year it grew through word of mouth. So far, we have not done any other kind of social media marketing.” That organic growth reflects a broader truth about wellness travel. Authentic experiences often travel further through genuine recommendation than advertising. For many participants, a retreat represents a rare opportunity to disconnect from routines and reconnect with something deeper.
“Yoga is not about poses,” Ashmita explains. “It is great if you can achieve them but that comes with time. Yoga is not about workout. Yoga is about connecting with your soul.” This philosophy forms the foundation of every retreat she curates.
The destination itself also plays a powerful role in shaping the experience. A retreat is not simply about practising yoga in a new place. It is about absorbing the spirit of the location. Recently Ashmita organised a retreat in Nepal at Meraki Wellness, a tranquil setting surrounded by nature. The gathering brought together participants from across the globe. “We had people from Nepal, France, Germany, the Arab world, India and South Africa,” she says. “Most of them were visiting Nepal for the first time.”
The group consisted of 10 participants representing seven different countries, with ages spanning across generations. Some participants were in their 30s while others were close to 60. That diversity is something Ashmita finds especially meaningful. “Wellness does not belong to one age group,” she says. “Even people who are 60 come to retreats because they want to reconnect with themselves.”
Her retreats are structured around a three night, four day programme designed to balance yoga practice with cultural immersion. Each gathering is intentionally kept small to maintain a personalised atmosphere. “We restrict the number of people in each retreat so that it stays intimate,” Ashmita explains. “That allows us to focus on every participant individually.”
Participants follow a sattvic diet during the retreat, which emphasises fresh, nourishing foods that support mental clarity and physical wellbeing. Yet the experience goes far beyond the yoga mat. For the Nepal retreat, Ashmita curated activities that introduced visitors to the country’s culture and landscape.
Participants sampled traditional Thakali cuisine, explored the historic courtyards of Bhaktapur Durbar Square and took part in a guided hike through the surrounding hills. Every experience was designed to encourage travellers to engage with Nepal not as tourists but as mindful observers. “We want people to discover the destination as well,” she says. “It is about meeting locals, experiencing the landscape and understanding the culture with a yogic mindset.”
This blend of wellness and cultural exploration is increasingly defining the global retreat movement. “Travellers today are seeking more meaningful journeys, ones that nurture both inner and outer discovery,” she shares.
Experts in the wellness industry note that retreats offer something modern life often lacks: intentional space. In a digital world dominated by constant notifications and expectations, retreats create a rare environment where people can disconnect from technology and reconnect with presence.
For many participants, the results can be surprisingly powerful. A few days away from routine can spark reflection, inspire life changes or simply restore mental clarity. Ashmita believes the future of retreats will continue to grow globally as more people recognise the value of mindful travel.
Her upcoming retreats reflect that international outlook. The next destinations on her calendar include Sri Lanka, Berlin and India, with several more locations already in discussion.
Each retreat will follow the same guiding philosophy that shaped her journey. For Ashmita, yoga is not about performance. It is about presence. “In a world that rarely pauses, the chance to pause together may be the most powerful experience of all,” she concludes.
Text: Ankita Jain
Photo: Ripesh Maharjan
