AYURVEDAFEST MEXICO
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2026
MALINALCO, MEXICO
A GATHERING OF AYURVEDIC PROFESSIONALS AND AYURVEDA FANS
TO CELEBRATE THE SCIENCE WE ALL SO LOVE
Fill your Ayurvedic cup with this four-day festival packed with high-level Ayurvedic workshops, Ayurvedic connections, and sattvic fun!
We’re gathering the Ayurvedic community in the “pueblo mágico” or magic town of Malinalco, Mexico; a land rich with Aztec history and its own traditional natural medicine wisdom and herbal apothecary, where tulsi and gotu kola grow in abundance.
Connect with some of your favorite (or soon-to-be new favorite!) Ayurvedic and natural medicine doctors: Dr. Manjusha, Dr. Prasad, Vaidya Jay Parla, and Vaidya Anu, who will be sharing their decades of knowledge in a packed lineup of Ayurvedic workshops.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make connections and create community with your fellow Ayurvedic colleagues, classmates, and others who follow this way of living. In this niche and tiny industry of Ayurveda, it can get a little lonely and isolating, which is why we want to bring us all together for an event that’s not only educational, but fun!
Pack your bag and get ready to marinate in Ayurveda in a traditional Mexican town that you’re going to adore!
GET READY FOR FOUR DAYS FULL OF VEDIC festivities!
*Deepen your knowledge with high-level learning workshops taught by our expert Ayurveda doctors
*Fill your cup with sattvic connections with fellow Ayurvedic professionals
*Geek out on herbs on our field trip to Yolitia, Dr. Kai’s wellness center and herb sanctuary
*Nourish your ears with a live music concert
*Get that prana moving with morning yoga in our gorgeous mountain-view yoga shala
*Nerd out on Ayurveda with birds of a feather Ayurveda fans
*Get your shop on in our Ayurvedic and local goods market
*Take a break from cooking kitcharee and let us nourish you for the long weekend
Our All-Star Lineup of Guest Teachers and Artists
Dr. Manjusha Vinjamury - Gynecology, baby and pregnancy massage
Dr. Manjusha is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Licensed Acupuncturist with more than 30 years of clinical and teaching experience both in India and in the U.S. She is the founder and director of Acuveda Holistic Health Center in La Mirada, CA, where she helps her patients through both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Prior to moving to the US, she was a professor and head of the department of Kaya Chikitsa at Goa Ayurvedic Medical College.
Dr. Manjusha is a pancha karma expert, and has been teaching both pancha karma and Sanskrit for over a decade at the Southern California University of Health Sciences in California.
She’s the author of the Ayurvedic Terminology Pocketbook for Students, a go-to manual for all Ayurvedic students with the most common Sanskrit terms in Ayurveda and their translations.
Vaidya Jayagopal Parla - herbology field trip
Dr. Jay is a world-renowned speaker, professor of Ayurvedic medicine and a NAMA registered practitioner with more than 23 years of experience in Ayurvedic practice and teaching. He is a professor of Ayurvedic medicine at American University of Complementary Medicine in Beverly Hills and a visiting faculty member at Southern California University of Health Sciences in California and Japan School of Ayurveda in Tokyo.
Dr. Jay is an herb expert and co-founder of the Ayurvedic herb company Athreya. He’s a master “Ayurvedacizing” western foods, herbs, and lifestyle for the western world, making Ayurveda accessible for all. In his podcast “Wellness Through Ayurveda”, Dr. Jay dissects cuisines from around the world through the lens of Ayurveda for a fascinating discovery of Ayurvedic principles in non-Indian cultures.
Dr. Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury - Classical Ayurvedic Formulations
Dr. Prasad has over thirty years in clinical experience in integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. He is a Professor at Southern California University of Health and Sciences in California, teaching both traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Dr. Prasad graduated from the University of Kerala, India earning a Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda degree. He then received his Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from Southern California University of Health Sciences, his Master of PublicHealth degree from Cal State Fullerton, and the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degree from Pacific College of Health and Science.
Dr. Prasad is also deeply involved in clinical research in complementary and integrative medicine. He has been a Principal Investigator of studies on Fibromyalgia, Hypertension, Insomnia, Cancer and Osteoporosis.
Vaidya Anupama Kizhakkeveettil - THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF AN AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE
Dr. Anu is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, licensed acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and Professor and Program Director of Ayurvedic Medicine at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Her many contributions to the field of complementary and alternative medicine include extensive travel to propagate Ayurveda worldwide, numerous research presentations at national and international conferences, frequent publication in various peer-reviewed research journals, and regular participation as a peer reviewer at conferences as well as journals.
She currently serves on the Research Working Group of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health and is Co-Principal Investigator for an NIH-funded research study. She has received a number of awards for her work on Ayurveda and complementary and alternative medicine.
Sekou Conté
A kora master and talented multi-instrumentalist, dancer, and singer, Sekou has been part of the renowned National Ballet of Guinea. Through his art, he shares his country's rich cultural heritage with us.
Jerónimo Zoe
A master of the Indian tabla, Jerónimo is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. His music is a journey through diverse cultures, exploring rhythms from India, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
The Location
Our home for this FESTIVAL is the pueblo mágico (magic town) of malinalco, mexico.
It’s a charming and traditional Mexican town rich with Aztec history, and it’s just a quick two hour drive from Mexico City. The climate here is lovely: warm during the day and cool at night.
You’ll fly into Mexico City (MEX) airport. MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
If time allows, you can stay an extra day in Malinalco town itself and explore this traditional Mexican pueblo. We’ll send your our Locals Guide to Malinalco PDF with our favorite places for tamales and French pastries, the best way to visit the Aztec pyramids, and everything you need to know for that insiders local experience.
Ayurvedafest will be hosted at LAS SUCULENTAS…
an expansive retreat center surrounded by greenery and set against one of Malinalco’s gorgeous mountain cliffs.
You’ll love this indoor-outdoor living experience, as many of our activities and even our meals will be in outdoors.
The real gem of Suculentas is its stunning yoga shala with a view of the cliff—perfect for our Ayurvedic workshops!
There are tons of cozy indoor and outdoor nooks to have a CCFtea and chat with a new friend. Hello, fresh air!
Every room at Las Suculentas is unique and its own little work of art. It’s a small village of connected and some independent bungalows. All are a short walk to the yoga shala and dining area.
We have additional accommodations at Casa Luna next door, a stunning private home just a 5 minute walk away.
The Rooms
YOUR HOME DURING THE FESTIVAL WILL BE A UNIQUE AND ARTFULLY DECORATED ROOM either at las suculentas or casa luna next door.
All rooms have hot water and a private or shared bathroom.
Choose the room type that works best for you:
- Private room with a private bathroom
- Private room with a shared bathroom
- Shared room with a private bathroom
- Shared room with a shared bathroom
Book a shared room with one of your Ayurveda buddies or come solo and we’ll pair you with a roommate.
Men and women are welcome.
The Food
ENJOY nourishing, balanced meals prepared by MASALA MALINALCO.
We know how important it is to nurture agni during travel and stay grounded with the right food amidst all the Ayurvedic excitement and learning. We’ve mindfully crafted a menu that follows Ayurvedic principles for a happy belly.
All food will be as fresh as it gets, made from scratch, and prepared with love by our Ayurvedic chef, Rosi.
The retreat packages include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and digestive teas and beverages.
Whether you’ve been a practitioner of Ayurveda for years, are in the midst of your studies, or you’re a die-hard Ayurveda fan or natural medicine enthusiast, this experience is going to fill your cup.
AYURVEDAFEST is for you if…
You’re an Ayurvedic professional or student
You’re not an Ayurvedic professional or student but you love Ayurveda or natural medicine
You’re feeling isolated and alone in the Ayurveda field and want to connect with like-minded people
You want to meet birds of a feather and expand your Ayurvedic community
You’d like to expand your Ayurveda knowledge (“forever a student!”)
You’d like to learn from Ayurvedic and natural medicine doctors with decades of experience
You love having sattvic fun!
the schedule
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5
2-5pm - Arrival, Check In & Snack
5:30pm - Welcome Event
7pm - Dinner
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
6:45-7:45am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:00am - Breakfast
9am-12pm - Morning Workshop
12pm-7pm - Shop Open
12:30pm - Lunch
2-5pm - Afternoon Workshop
6:00pm - Dinner
7:15pm - Live Concert
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
6:45-7:45am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:00am - Breakfast
9am-12pm - Morning Workshop
12:30pm - Lunch
2-6pm Field Trip to Yolitia
6:30pm - Dinner
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8
6:45-7:45am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:00am - Breakfast
9-11:00am - Closing Event
12pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Checkout
Meet Your Hosts
julie bernier
Julie is an Ayurvedic Doctor based in Oaxaca, Mexico, and dedicated to helping women with their health. She frequently travels to India to steep in Ayurveda and shares that wisdom with her students via online programs, consultations, and international retreats.
This is Julie and Cecilia’s fourth event collaboration in Mexico—these two vata pittas make an event planning dream team!
CECILIA MOLINAR
Cecilia is a movement educator and Ayurveda technician as well as a craniosacral therapist. Originally from Mexico City, she’s now a Malinalco local and has lived in this beautiful town for 13 years. Cecilia is excited to co-host this festival to connect and expand the community of people working with ancestral medicines.
The Details : Please Read!
-
You can either fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC). MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
Malinalco is about a 2-hour drive from both MEX and TLC. Once you’re out of Mexico City, the drive takes you through scenic forest and countryside. We don’t recommend flying into Mexico City’s newer airport, NLU, as it adds 1–2 extra hours to the trip.
SHARED TRANSPORTATION
Pre-book a spot on one of our shared shuttles to and from MEX airport.
The cost is $35 each way.
There are 3 options from Mexico City to Malinalco on Feb 5:
12pm leaving from MEX airport
12pm leaving from La Condesa/Roma Norte
2pm leaving from MEX airport
Your flight must land at MEX by 1:00 pm to catch the 2:00 pm shuttle. For this reason, we recommend booking a morning flight or staying overnight in Mexico City beforehand. (Julie recommends this hotel if you’d like to stay near the airport.)
There are 2 options from Malinalco to MEX airport on Sunday, February 8:
11:30am
2pm
Please allow about 5.5 hours between your shuttle departure and your flight departure. The drive takes about 2 hours, and we recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
ARRANGING YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION
If our shuttle times don’t fit your schedule, or if you’re flying into Toluca (TLC), we’ll share a list of trusted taxi drivers so you can book directly with them.
Important: If arranging your own ride, your flight to MEX must land by 3:30 pm at the latest. Evening traffic is heavy, and it’s not advisable to drive to Malinalco after dark. If your flight arrives after 3:30 pm, plan to stay overnight in Mexico City and travel to Malinalco on Saturday morning.
-
All bookings will be processed through WeTravel. A $400 nonrefundable deposit is required to book.
You can pay the remainder in full or with a payment plan. Final payment is due January 5, 2025.
All deposits are 100% non-refundable. You may cancel your reservation up to December 1 and receive a full refund of the amount paid, minus the $400 deposit. There will be no refunds thereafter for any reason. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your personal security.
While we try to be as compassionate as we can in our cancellation policy, as festival organizers we have to protect the financial and time investments that we have made to create this experience and so, the deposit and cancellation policy are black and white.
Hence, we encourage you to book with the full intention of attending, and highly recommend purchasing a cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance policy to cover your costs in case you can’t make it.
In the event that the retreat has to be canceled due to a force majeure, we will reschedule the retreat and your payments will be applied toward the new retreat date.
-
We know that you’ll book this event with the intention of attending, but the unexpected does happen, which is why we HIGHLY recommend purchasing international travel/medical insurance for you trip, flight cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses, and emergency evacuation expenses.
The most comprehensive insurance is generally a Cancel for Any Reason policy, which needs to be purchased within a few days of your trip purchase. Insuremytrip.com has several options but please be sure to read cancellation policies carefully before purchasing.
-
Americans do not need a visa for Mexico—just a passport with at least 6 months validity at the time of travel. Please check the requirements for your country.
-
For all of you NAMA members, you can submit your Ayurvedafest hours for PACE credits. We are working on getting the hours officially approved by NAMA.
-
You can either fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC). MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
Malinalco is about a 2-hour drive from both MEX and TLC. Once you’re out of Mexico City, the drive takes you through scenic forest and countryside. We don’t recommend flying into Mexico City’s newer airport, NLU, as it adds 1–2 extra hours to the trip.
Check in is at 2pm on Thursday, February 5 and check out as at 1:00pm on Sunday, February 8.
Our welcome event on Thursday starts at 5:30pm and dinner is at 7pm. Look for a flight that arrives on Thursday between 10am and 1pm for plenty of time to settle in before we get started.
For departure day, our closing event ends at 11:00am. Look for a flight that departs after 5pm, or after 7:30pm if you'd like to join us for lunch (starts at 12pm) before flying home.
If you’d like to hop on one of our shared shuttles, your flight must land at MEX by 1:00 pm to catch the 2:00 pm shuttle. For this reason, we recommend booking a morning flight or staying overnight in Mexico City beforehand. (Julie recommends this hotel if you’d like to stay near the airport.)
Important: If arranging your own transportation, your flight to MEX must land by 3:30 pm on February 5th at the latest. Evening traffic is heavy, and it’s not advisable to drive to Malinalco after dark. If your flight arrives after 3:30 pm, plan to stay overnight in Mexico City and travel to Malinalco on Saturday morning.
See “How to Get There” for more details.
Room Options & Pricing
Come solo or bring a friend or partner. Men and women welcome!
If you’re a solo traveler and would like to share a room, we’ll pair you with a roommate. We invite you to be open minded about sharing with someone you haven’t met before. People who attend Ayurveda events are typically birds of feather and ideal roommates.
BOOK BY SEPTEMBER 18 FOR A $50 EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT
Gold Package: private room with a private bathroom - $1250 USD per person
Pearl Package: private room with a shared bathroom - $1200 USD per person
Silver Package: shared room for two with a private bathroom - $1120 USD per person
Loha Package: shared room for two or four with a shared bathroom - $850 USD per person
Copper Package: our off-site option. If you would like to book your own accommodation and stay in a hotel or AirBnB in town, you can join the festival during the day for all the activities and meals - $650 USD per person
Reserve your spot with an $400 nonrefundable deposit. All deposits are nonrefundable under any circumstances. Payment plans available.
Please carefully read the Payment Policy above before booking.
Questions? Contact Julie at hello@trueayurveda.com.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
*3 night / 4 day stay at Las Suculentas or Casa Luna
*4 Ayurvedic workshops with our all-star lineup of Ayurvedic and natural medicine Doctors
*Field trip to Yolitia wellness center
*All meals and drinks: wholesome, vegetarian and Ayurvedically aligned breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
*Daily all-levels hatha yoga
*Live music concert
*Ayurveda swag bag with local gifts
*Our Locals Guide To Malinalco
*A certificate of completion to submit for continuing education credits
NOT INCLUDED
*Airfare
*Transportation to/from Malinalco (our shared shuttles are $35/each way)
*Travel insurance
