7 days / 6 nights Flexible Art Forest

Alternate way of living in a Forest Community

A forest-based living experience rooted in yoga, art, play, music and community.

Book Experience

About this program

IMPORTANT NOTE : We welcome new participants only on every MONDAY. The Art Forest Residency is not just a retreat, but an immersive lifestyle experience designed for people who feel disconnected from themselves and are seeking a deeper, more authentic way of living. It is for individuals who want to live life with a sense of playfulness, clarity, or inner connection that has been lost in the noise of daily life. This residency is for those who are tired of constantly performing, achieving, or β€œfiguring life out,” and instead want to just live and reconnect with the childlike joy of being. We welcome creatives who feel blocked, individuals experiencing burnout or anyone on a path of self-growth & wants to move beyond intellectual understanding into real, embodied change. What makes the Art Forest Residency unique is its focus on reconnection through lifestyle. The residency brings together a blend of practices including art, music, play, nature immersion, healthy diet, yoga, body movement and conscious community living. These are not treated as separate activities, but as interconnected tools that support holistic well-being. Participants engage in creative expression, mindful movement, and grounding practices that help them reconnect with their body, emotions, and inner world. At its core, the residency is about reconnecting with the inner child β€” not as an abstract idea, but as a lived experience. Through play, creativity, and presence, individuals rediscover a sense of curiosity, freedom, and joy. The environment encourages authenticity over performance, creating a space where people can feel safe to be seen as they are. Alongside this deeper transformation, participants often experience practical benefits such as reduced stress, improved sleep, increased energy, better flexibility and mobility, enhanced mental clarity, and the formation of healthier daily habits. Ultimately, the essence of the Art Forest Residency lies in helping individuals unlearn the patterns that disconnect them from themselves and relearn a way of living that feels natural, balanced, and fulfilling. It is a space where people stop trying to become someone else, and instead reconnect with who they have always been.

Key Outcomes

Stress Reduction
Better Sleep
Increased Energy
Pain Relief
Emotional Resilience
Weight Management
Flexibility & Mobility
Mental Clarity
Detoxification
Habit Formation

Program Overview

Duration 7 days / 6 nights
Age Range 10 β€” β€”
Program Type Flexible
Fitness Levels All Levels
Primary Focus Connecting back to your inner child

Accommodation
All Meals (Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic)
Daily Movement
Meditation
Body Therapies (- sessions)
Take-home Kit
Post Program Support (Online sessions)
Cultural Activities
Transportation (Internal Transport)
Other

Vegetarian
Plant-Based
Special Diets Available

Time
Activity
Duration
06:00 AM
Pranayam (breathwork) & Body movement
60-90 mins
08:30 AM
Healthy Breakfast
60-90 mins
12:00 PM
Karma Yoga
60-90 mins
02:00 PM
Simple Lunch
60-90 mins
04:00 PM
Arts & Craft
60 - 90 mins
06:00 PM
Sound bath / Philosophy
60-90 mins
08:00 PM
Early Dinner
60-90 mins
09:00 PM
Jamming / Journaling
60-90 mins

Yogic Practices
Nature Immersion
Flow practices (Body movement)
Art & Music
Healthy food

Art Forest
Art forest, Mathur rd, near Auroville, Tamil Nadu - 605101
Art forest, Mathur rd, near Auroville, Tamil Nadu - 605101
Country: India
State: Puducherry
City: Puducherry
Venue Highlights
Nature Setting
Eco-Friendly / Sustainable Design
Meditation / Yoga Hall
Outdoor Activities Space

Distance from nearest city
115 km
Nearest city
Chennai & Pondicherry
Transport option
No

The health and well-being of all participants is a priority at the Art Forest Residency. We maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, with regular sanitization of living areas and shared spaces. Participants are encouraged to be mindful of their health before arrival and inform the team of any symptoms. Basic first-aid support is available on-site, and nearby medical facilities are accessible if required. The residency is designed with open, well-ventilated spaces, allowing fresh air and natural surroundings to support a low-risk, healthy environment. Shared spaces are managed consciously to avoid overcrowding while maintaining a sense of community. We also encourage personal hygiene, mindful interactions, and respect for personal space. Our approach is simple, responsible, and community-oriented to ensure a safe and comfortable stay for everyone.

Riddhi Jai
Riddhi Jai
Conscious living coach
Qualifications:
900Hrs YTTC | 500RYT | Certified Advanced Sound Therapist
I’m Riddhi, a facilitator of inner journeys through yoga, sound, movement & art. My work lives at the intersection of ancient practices and modern science where silence & playfulness becomes a tool to reconnect with the self. I’ve been teaching for over 4 years now and I create spaces where people can pause, feel, and soften. I share the knowledge of yoga philosophy integrated with psychology to help you understand yourself at deeper level & connect back with your inner voice, your true guide for life. I will support you in creating & building the habits that stay with you even after you go back home. Above all I love to make people fall in love with themselves & their life.
Gopal Dalami
Gopal Dalami
Movement artist
Qualifications:
Contemporary dance & aerial movement training | 10+ years teaching & performance experience
Gopal Dalami is a professional dancer, teacher, and aerial performer whose practice moves fluidly across disciplines and continents β€” from the stages of Edinburgh to the temples of Auroville. Trained for five years at Voxpop Dancers India under Vikram Mohan, and for a year in aerial arts at Vertical Circus under Catherine Daniel, Gopal's work spans ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, Bollywood, contact improvisation, and his own evolving practices of Authentic Flow and Dance with Prana. He has danced alongside A.R. Rahman, performed in Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding Musical at the FIFA World Cup in Doha, and appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He is also a certified massage therapist with a somatic approach β€” he understands the body from the inside out.

Most residencies help you master a skill. This one helps you redesign how you live. While traditional residencies focus on mastering one craft like pottery, dance, or music, the Art Forest Residency is built around a complete lifestyle experience. The goal is not expertise, but reconnection with yourself through multiple forms of expression. At its core is a thoughtfully designed daily structure that everyone follows, creating rhythm, consistency, and grounding. Within this, participants can adjust certain sessions based on their interest, allowing both guidance and flexibility. What makes this experience unique is that it does not separate life from practice. Every part of the day becomes an intentional experience. Over time, this builds healthier habits, clarity, emotional awareness, and a deeper mind-body connection.
Accommodations

The accommodation at the Art Forest Residency is designed to feel less like a place you stay, and more like a space that gently holds you. Built with natural materials like bamboo, wood, and earthy textures, the rooms blend seamlessly into the surrounding forest, creating a warm, grounded ambiance. Soft neutral tones, minimal design, and open layouts allow the mind to slow down, while subtle details like warm lighting, sheer curtains, and handcrafted elements add a sense of quiet comfort. The design encourages both introspection and interaction. Quiet corners invite stillness and reflection, while shared spaces organically bring people together for conversations, practices, jamming & dance. It is a place where comfort meets simplicity, and where every element is aligned with the intention of helping you to reconnect, and feel at home within yourself.

Studio room / Family room
Capacity: 3 | Available: 2
β‚Ή2,000
per room
Total: β‚Ή0
Tree house / Private hut
Capacity: 2 | Available: 2
β‚Ή1,500
per room
Total: β‚Ή0
Shared Dorm
Capacity: 18 | Available: 2
β‚Ή650
per room
Total: β‚Ή0
Pricing Packages
Soft Reset (7 Days) 🌱

πŸƒ A gentle exhale into nature. Step out of routine and into more conscious living where you begin to reconnect with your body, nature, and self. ✨ Includes: + Welcome kit (surprise) + All healthy meals + Daily yogic practices (breathwork, meditation, hatha yoga) + 1 Sound Bath + Community introduction + Light exposure to art + movement ✨ Add-ons (optional): + Advanced Yogic practices ( Philosophy / Jalneti / Sutra neti / Vaman ) + Clay / Painting Workshop + Movement Sessions ( Rope flow / Animal flow / Strength Training / Aerial silk) + Dance workshops (Contemporary, Contact Improvisation, Kathak) + Online session to continue the practice

β‚Ή8,000
The Realignment (14 Days) πŸͺ΄

πŸƒ You don’t just rest. You reset your patterns. Stay long enough to settle in, experience the flow of mindful living, and see how your energy, habits, and inner state begin to shift. ✨ Includes: + Welcome kit (surprise) + All healthy meals + Daily yogic practices (breathwork, meditation, hatha yoga) + 2 Sound Bath + Structured daily flow + Introduction to body movement + creative practices + 2 included sessions (art / movement) + Deeper community bonding ✨ Add-ons (optional): + Advanced Yogic practices ( Philosophy / Jalneti / Sutra neti / Vaman ) + Clay / Painting Workshop + Movement Sessions ( Rope flow / Animal flow / Strength Training / Aerial silk) + Dance workshops (Contemporary, Contact Improvisation, Kathak) + Online session to continue the practice

β‚Ή16,000
Boot Reset : Back to Your Natural State (21 Days) 🌳

Undo the conditioning. Return to your natural rhythm. Where your default state becomes calm, clear, and connected. ✨ Includes: + Welcome kit (surprise) + All healthy meals + Daily yogic practices (breathwork, meditation, hatha yoga) + Advanced yogic practices ( Jalneti / Sutraneti ) + Weekly Philosophy Circles + 3 Sound Baths + Structured weekly flow + Learn about body movement + creative practices + 3 included sessions (art / movement ) + Community living experience ✨ Add-ons (optional): + Advanced Yogic practices ( Philosophy / Vaman ) + Clay / Painting Workshop + Movement Sessions ( Rope flow / Animal flow / Strength Training / Aerial silk) + Dance workshops (Contemporary, Contact Improvisation, Kathak) + Online session to continue the practice

β‚Ή23,000
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