Ayurvedic Cooking

Spend a weekend with us learning to craft nourishing meals that feed your soul.

Whether you’re just learning or an experienced cook, you will take away a new way of relating to cooking that will inspire you.

Fall in love with cooking

Next available weekend, May 30th - June 1st, 2025

YOU’LL LEARN TO

  • Simplify the way you cook and enhance flavor at the same time.

  • Gain confidence to cook mouthwatering meals for friends and family.

  • Turn everyday ingredients into easily digestible, nourishing, and delicious meals.

  • Discover how to discern each of the 6 Ayurvedic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, astringent, pungent) in any dish.

  • Take the first steps toward approaching all food as medicine.

  • Portion meals optimally without counting calories.

  • Get creative with your spices in order to balance the taste profile of a meal.

  • Optimally season meals.

  • Learn Ayurvedic recommendations for health and longevity that include and transcend food.

  • Plate your meals with beauty in mind.

  • Practice basic knife skills and the main cooking techniques.

  • Get tips that make your cooking process cleaner and more efficient.

  • Spend time tasting each morsel of your meal without distractions.

No experience in cooking or Ayurveda is necessary to attend

Make your food your medicine and let your medicine be your food

What’s Included

THE FOOD

You will learn to prepare unique recipes of entrees, soups, and salads with perfectly balanced flavors and Ayurvedic spices.

THE WISDOM

Two lectures will be given by Stela Balaban, C-IAYT on foundational Ayurvedic principles, like the 5 elements and rasa (taste).

THE EXPERIENCE

Each participant will spend time at all the different kitchen stations. You receive individual guidance on improving your cooking skills.

NATURE

Your schedule includes free time for you to enjoy the property, take a walk or explore the incredible natural wonders that surround the Shala.

COMMUNITY

All meals are prepared and shared together. We enjoy our meals in silence so you can experience what it is like to give your full attention to your food.

PRACTICE

Mindful eating practices will also be offered during the weekend.

FREE TIME

Even though we pack a lot into these weekends, we also allow for some downtime when you can rest or explore the area.

“I joined to further develop my connection with food. As a personal chef, I’ve already been cooking for years! I absolutely loved these weekends and attended several times. I found the wisdom shared in the kitchen by Matt felt like home. The traditional ways of cooking bring connection on all levels. I felt refreshed and encouraged. Highly recommend to all.”

— Lindsey H.

LOGISTICS &

Pricing

Arrival

Friday, between 2 - 3 PM. We start with a brief orientation at 3:30 PM.

Departure

Sunday after lunch, around 1 PM.

All-Inclusive

$625 (shared accommodations) or $695 (private accommodations)

Your facilitator

Join CYS Co-founder Matthew Krepps in the Shala kitchen for a hands-on Ayurvedic cooking experience that will change how you think and feel about food.

Matt is a trained cook with thirty years of professional cooking experience utilizing the principles of Ayurveda.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient system for health and longevity, often called a “sister science of Yoga.” At the center of the teachings are the five elements (space, air, fire, water, and earth) and the 6 Ayurvedic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent).

Ayurveda believes food is central to our well-being, and it offers a detailed map regarding how we should eat, when, which foods, and how to cook them.

Ayurveda is also a highly individualized discipline. While there are general guidelines that everyone can benefit from, Ayurveda is interested in preparing food according to individual needs and external rhythms (weather, climate, season, time of day).

The weekend unfolds methodically and in a way that involves all the senses. When we involve the whole body in our learning, progress happens naturally and joyfully.

"I loved the Ayurvedic Cooking course. I feel the Shala is a beautiful and safe space. One of the things I liked about the weekend was the care put into the meal planning and the discussions around Ayurveda. We discussed the doshas, and it was fascinating to see how varied our reactions are to different foods. I highly recommend attending as you'll receive delicious food, which you'll get to help prepare and wonderfully intelligent discussions."

— Dwayne M

The Ayurvedic Cooking weekend was an immersive experience that I won’t forget. We took our food from start to finish, tasting along the way and noticing the changes. When you experience your food and every step of the process, you start to realize the complexity of the flavors in the finished product. This course gave me a greater appreciation of both the process and the experience of really enjoying my food.

— Emily H

"So many connections were made for me when it comes to finding balance with our food according to our own needs. Learning about this inspired me to continue deepening my awareness in Ayurveda. The experience itself was intimate and I loved the blend of hands-on cooking, Ayurveda talks, and free time in nature. What a wonderful weekend!"

— Leslie E

FAQs

If you still have questions after reading these FAQs, don't hesitate to contact us.

  • This weekend is for individuals 18 years or older who want to learn to cook better and develop a working knowledge of Ayurveda.

  • Many of our students arrive without knowing anybody and within days life-long friendships are forged. So don't worry. Community is what we do and we'd love for you to be a part of it.

  • Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any special diets, food allergies or sensitivities during this course, as it will interfere with the kitchen’s ability to cook the planned meals.

    • Bedding (sheets, pillow, blanket), towels. Soap and shampoo is provided. 

    • Water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, flashlight (phone flashlight works).

    • Apron, knife

    • Personal yoga mat (or you can purchase one upon arrival).

  • You can now search for “Circle Yoga Shala,” and Google Maps will locate us in Jasper, Arkansas. Make note: we are 12-14 miles west of Jasper, although we have a Jasper address.

    Alternatively, you can locate Rio Buffalo Outfitters on HWY 74, zip code 72641, as the closest point of reference on the map. Turn south onto Shiloh Rd (it's called 24 on Google Maps), which immediately proceeds uphill. Go exactly 2.2 miles (the last 1.2 miles will be gravel) to our driveway on the right. You will see a "Yoga Shala" sign marking our driveway.

    Keep these directions handy as you will likely lose signal on your way here. You can also download your map to your phone as an extra precaution.

    There are only a few locations for gasoline. Do not miss an opportunity to fill up!

  • There is Wifi in all the buildings and most other places on property, no password.

    T-Mobile and Verizon provide good signal while on property. AT&T has spotty coverage. Enable calls over wifi, if needed.

    All buildings have A/C.

  • Unfortunately, we are not equipped to host children on property.

    There are absolutely NO PETS allowed. We have plenty for your enjoyment!

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