Himalayan Yoga in Nepal
Himalayan yoga is not a branded style. The term describes the meditation and breath-led yoga practised by yogis and monks in the mountains of Nepal, Tibet and northern India, often in caves and ashrams.
Founder, Swamini & Lead Instructor
Reviewed and updated October 2026
What is Himalayan yoga?
Himalayan yoga is the meditation-led yoga of the Himalayan ranges of Nepal, Tibet and northern India. It puts pranayama (breathwork), meditation, mantra and yoga philosophy first. Postures (asana) are there to prepare the body to sit still.
Our founder, Maa Nisha Kabir, practised this way. She spent six years in Vipassana practice and then two years alone in a cave in Mustang, in silent meditation, before she founded Jivan Parivartan in 2021. Meditation and breathwork are still at the centre of what we teach.
What sets Himalayan practice apart
Breath and meditation first
Pranayama and meditation are the main practice. Postures support the breath and prepare the body to sit.
Quiet and solitude
The tradition values long periods of silent practice, sometimes alone in a cave or hermitage for months or years.
Teacher to student
Practice is usually learned from one teacher over years, in what is called the guru-shishya relationship.
Slow practice
Postures are held for longer and moved through slowly, with the breath setting the pace.
Practising at altitude: what to know
Higher altitude changes how the body responds to breath and movement. At elevation there is less oxygen, so vigorous practice feels harder and acclimatisation matters. This is one reason Himalayan practice leans towards slow, conscious breathing and gentle, sustained postures rather than fast flows.
If you practise in the mountains, give your body time to adjust, drink plenty of water, and keep the practice gentle for the first days. Our Himalayan Luxury Retreat is based at about 2,700 m in lower Mustang, with day trips up to 3,800 m.
How to experience Himalayan yoga
Our online morning meditation runs every day from 6:00 to 8:00 AM Nepal time. At our Kathmandu centre you can join the 1, 3 or 5-day wellness retreats or the 200-hour teacher training. To go into the mountains, the Mustang retreat is five days and four nights at Lodge Thasang Village, led by Maa Nisha Kabir and Swami Anish Ji.
Written by
Maa Nisha KabirFounder and lead instructor of Jivan Parivartan, with 20+ years of meditation practice, including two years in a Mustang cave. She has taught Usui Reiki since 2021.
Go deeper
Yoga Retreats in Kathmandu
All our retreats in one place.
Learn moreMustang Luxury Retreat
5 days, 4 nights in lower Mustang.
Learn moreWellness & Spiritual Retreats
1, 3 or 5 days at our centre.
Learn moreMeditation in Kathmandu
Our meditation programs.
Learn moreYoga Culture in Nepal
Hindu and Buddhist roots of yoga in Nepal.
Learn moreOur Teachers & Healers
The three people who teach here.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
Practise Himalayan yoga with us
From the daily online meditation to a retreat in Mustang, tell us your dates and we will help you choose.