Who Should Join Rooted 2.0? A Guide for First-Timers
Short answer: if you’re curious and willing to show up, you’re the right fit. Here’s the longer, more honest version.
In this article
Key takeaways
- Rooted 2.0 is built for a wide range of experience levels, from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners.
- The retreat asks more for openness than for flexibility or fitness.
- Solo travellers are common and well looked after; you won’t be the only one arriving alone.
- People managing an unstable medical or mental health condition should check in with their doctor or therapist before committing to any physically and emotionally immersive week away.
- Anjali adjusts pacing and guidance through the week based on who’s actually in the room.
Rooted 2.0 is a good fit if…
You don’t need to be advanced. You need to be willing.
This retreat tends to suit you if
- You’re new to yoga, or have a casual home practice
- You want consecutive days of practice, not just one more class
- You’re drawn to Dunagiri’s history and sacred sites, not just the yoga
- You’re comfortable being unplugged and slowing down for five days
- You’re open to shared meals, group activities, and a bit of unstructured time
You might want to wait if
- You’re managing an acute injury that hasn’t been cleared for movement
- You’re in the middle of an unstable medical or mental health situation
- You need constant connectivity for work or family reasons during the retreat
- You’re looking for a purely physical, high-intensity fitness retreat
Tip: if you’re unsure which side you fall on, it’s worth a short call with the Yogaendless team before booking. They can walk you through the daily pace honestly.
You might want to wait if…
A retreat is intensive by design, and that’s not right for every season of life.
Guidance from the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that yoga is generally considered safe for most healthy people when practiced correctly, but that people with certain health conditions should speak to their healthcare provider before starting. That advice applies just as much to a five day immersion as it does to a weekly class, arguably more so, given how much time you’ll spend on the mat and how far from familiar medical care you’ll be. If in doubt, a quick conversation with your doctor or therapist beforehand is worth the five minutes it takes.
Do you need yoga experience?
No. Genuinely.
Anjali structures the week so complete beginners and experienced practitioners are both met where they are, with options to modify poses and adjust pacing throughout. What matters more than flexibility is a willingness to sit through five mornings of practice, five days of shared meals, and a fair amount of quiet. If you can commit to showing up each morning, the rest tends to follow.
Tip: if you’re brand new to yoga, a few sessions at home or online in the weeks before Rooted 2.0 will help your body feel less unfamiliar with basic postures, but it isn’t required.
Think Rooted 2.0 might be for you?
Five days of asana, meditation and Himalayan hikes in Dunagiri, guided by Anjali Pandey.
See the Full Rooted 2.0 JourneyGoing solo vs. going with a friend
Both work well, for different reasons.
Going alone tends to open you up to the group faster, since you’re not defaulting to a familiar face at every meal. Going with a friend gives you a shared reference point afterward, someone who understands exactly what those five days meant without you having to explain it. Neither is the “better” choice. It comes down to what you’re looking for from the week.
“Half the group at any given Rooted retreat arrives solo. By day two, nobody remembers who came together and who didn’t.”
— Anjali Pandey
A word from Anjali
Anjali has taught first-timers and long-time practitioners side by side for years, both online through Yogaendless and in person at Loft 52 in Bandra.
Her view is simple: readiness has less to do with how deep your forward fold is and more to do with whether you’re willing to be uncomfortable, quiet, and a little bit changed by the end of it. She adjusts what she teaches based on who shows up, not the other way around.
Frequently asked questions
I’ve never done yoga before. Will I be able to keep up?
Yes. Anjali offers modifications throughout the week, and the pace is built to accommodate a genuine range of experience levels in the same room.
Is Rooted 2.0 suitable for older adults?
It can be, depending on general mobility and health. If you have concerns, a conversation with your doctor and with the Yogaendless team beforehand is the best way to plan.
What if I get anxious in group settings?
You’re not required to socialise constantly. Quiet time is built into most days, and it’s entirely normal to keep to yourself between sessions.
Can I bring a friend or partner?
Yes, several people attend together. Room arrangements can be adjusted to suit, so it’s worth mentioning when you book.
Is this retreat religious?
Rooted 2.0 includes visits to sites significant within the Kriya Yoga tradition, but you don’t need to hold any particular belief to take part. Many guests approach it simply as history, culture, and stillness.
Still deciding? Here are a few recent videos from the Yogaendless channel that give a real sense of the practice and the community.
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.