Inside the Shala: Where Rooted 2.0 Practice Happens
Wood underfoot, glass on every side, and pine forest pressing in close. The shala at Dunagiri isn’t just a room where practice happens. It’s part of the practice.
In this article
Key takeaways
- The Rooted 2.0 shala is built from wood with glass walls that open directly onto surrounding pine forest.
- Natural light and views of nature aren’t just aesthetic choices; both are linked to measurable effects on mood and alertness.
- Morning practice happens as the light changes outside, which shifts the feel of the room from session to session.
- A separate meditation pyramid nearby is used for evening stillness, apart from the main shala.
- The space is designed to keep the forest present rather than shut out, unlike a typical indoor studio.
What the shala actually looks like
Picture a single open room, timber-framed, with glass walls on multiple sides facing directly into pine forest.
There’s no attempt to separate the practice from the landscape around it. Where a city studio might rely on mirrors and artificial light, the Dunagiri shala leans on the forest itself, using the trees as the backdrop rather than trying to compete with them. Wood flooring underfoot keeps the space warm and grounded, while the glass keeps the eye moving outward instead of inward.
Why the room shapes the practice
A space built around natural light and natural materials does more than look good in photos.
Natural materials such as wood are widely used in wellness architecture partly because exposure to natural elements like wood, plants and daylight is understood to support occupant wellbeing in built spaces, a principle known as biophilic design. Separately, research into how light affects the body has found that exposure to natural light plays a meaningful role in regulating circadian rhythms, sleep quality and mood, which is one reason morning practice in a glass-walled room facing the sunrise tends to feel different from a windowless studio.
None of that is why anyone chooses a five day retreat, but it’s part of why the space works as well as it does once you’re actually in it.
A morning inside the shala
The room changes with the hour, and the practice moves with it.
Early sessions start as the light is still soft, with the forest outside barely distinguishable from the mist. By the time the group moves into pranayama and meditation, the sun has usually cleared the tree line, and the room brightens noticeably without anyone touching a light switch. Cleansing kriyas and the day’s anatomy lesson typically happen once the room has fully warmed, before everyone moves outdoors for the rest of the day.
Tip: if you tend to feel groggy in early sessions, positioning your mat closer to the glass wall makes the shift in daylight noticeably easier to feel and follow.
Want to practice here yourself?
Rooted 2.0 runs five days of asana, meditation and Himalayan hikes, guided by Anjali Pandey.
See the Full Rooted 2.0 JourneyBeyond the shala: the pyramid and the pines
Not every part of the day happens in the same room.
Evenings move to a separate meditation pyramid, a dedicated structure apart from the main shala, used specifically for quiet sitting as the light fades. The shift in location matters: moving physically from the site of active practice to a separate space for stillness helps mark the change in pace, rather than asking one room to hold both moods equally well.
“People expect the yoga. What surprises them is how much the room itself does the work. You stop needing to force stillness when the space is already still.”
— Anjali Pandey
A word from Anjali
Anjali has taught in plenty of studios over the years, and she’s candid that Dunagiri’s shala isn’t replicable back in the city.
Her approach there leans into what the space offers rather than working around it: longer holds facing the glass, meditation timed to the changing light, and pacing that follows the forest rather than a clock. It’s part of why she describes Rooted 2.0 as a different kind of teaching altogether, not simply her usual class in a nicer location.
Frequently asked questions
Is the shala heated?
The shala relies on natural warmth from sunlight through the glass walls rather than artificial heating, so mornings can start cool before the room warms through the session.
What’s the flooring like?
Wood flooring throughout, which stays warmer underfoot than stone or tile, particularly during cooler mornings.
Is the meditation pyramid part of the same building?
No, it’s a separate structure nearby, used specifically for evening meditation apart from the main practice space.
How many people practice in the shala at once?
Group sizes are kept intentionally small for Rooted 2.0, so the space never feels crowded during a session.
Can I see the shala before booking?
Recent videos from the Yogaendless channel show the space and surrounding forest, linked below.
Here’s what the shala and its surroundings actually look like in motion.
Yogaendless is an online yoga studio led by Anjali Pandey, offering live group classes, private coaching, on-demand flows, corporate sessions, and retreats like Rooted 2.0, with a physical home at Loft 52, Bandra, for anyone who wants to build strength, flexibility and calm, whatever their starting point.