ASHTANGA YOGA & AYURVEDA with Rich & Kate

We are delighted to welcome Kate O'Donnell, Ayurvedic expert and ashtanga yoga teacher, and Rich Ray Zen Buddhist practitioner and ashtanga yoga teacher, for a weekend workshop 13-15th March 2026. Kate and Rich are based in Portland, Maine, USA. Kate is the author of several ayurvedic [cook] books and runs a podcast "Everyday Ayurveda with Kate". Rich runs the shala Ashtanga Yoga Portland Maine and has in the past spent many years in silence in a Zen Buddhist monastery. Read more about Kate and Rich at the bottom of this page.

Kate & Rich will introduce you to methods from the ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Zen Buddhism that support a healthy living for body and mind. The weekend includes morning mysore classes followed by specific workshops in the afternoons. Be prepared for a fun, interactive and informative weekend. Read more below about the detailed programme and about Kate and Rich.

Time and date: Friday 13th, Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th March 2026

Price:

• Full weekend 3350 SEK
• One day 1800 SEK
• Single class 750SEK (doesn't apply to the Saturday pm Auyrveda which is 1200SEK if taken separately)
• Early bird offer: sign up for the full workshop before 31 Dec 2025 and receive a 10% discount

Booking: please email us to reserve your spot. Reservations for the full weekend are prioritised. Book before 13th February 2025.

* Rules: All bookings are binding and non-refundable. Should you have to cancel you can give your spot to a friend or the first person on the waiting list. 

DETAILED PROGRAMME

Friday 13th March

17-19 The Heart of Buddhism and Yoga Practice with Rich (lecture/workshop)

How do we make our asana practice more spiritual, more meaningful? The Heart of Buddhism isn’t simply an idea or a concept. It’s a location, a place within each human being that has limitless expansive capabilities. Yoga asana steadies the body and mind, thereby stabilising the correct environment within which we may investigate the HOW of karma: how it manifests in our conscious awareness, what constitutes karmic conditioning and what is possible beyond its limiting function. The work of self purification, otherwise known as “spiritual practice”, becomes tangible, workable and real.

This is an experiential workshop and will consist of guided meditations, chanting, group processing and journalling. Be prepared to participate! Bring a journal or something to write on.

Saturday 14th March

8-10:45 Morning mysore class

11-12 Breakfast (bring your own) with Kate and Ray introducing themselves + Q&A

14:30-19:30 Intro to Ayurveda with Kate (lecture/workshop)

India’s ancient healing system of Ayurveda is based on maintaining balance in the mind and body through simple, accessible, diet and lifestyle suggestions.  This interactive afternoon will cover some basic principles of Ayurveda, especially how seasonal changes and individualised daily routines can help us maintain a state of ease and grace. 

Learn some basic tools, like circadian rhythms for sleep, meal spacing for digestion and metabolism, and more. This workshop is open to all who are interested in feeling healthy.

Sunday 15th March

8-10:45 Morning mysore class

11:30-14 Ayurveda and the Mind with Kate and Rich (lecture/workshop)

Your mind holds the key to balance. In Ayurveda and the Mind, we’ll explore ancient wisdom and modern practices to shift mental states, improve mood, and deepen your yoga. Simple tools, lasting transformation.

At the heart of this workshop are the Mahagunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—the three mental energies described in both Yoga and Ayurveda. These qualities are always at play, shaping our thoughts, moods, and behaviors. You’ll learn how they work, why they matter, and how cultivating **Sattva—clarity, calm, and balance—**supports mental health and overall wellbeing. You’ll leave with accessible, take-home practices to improve mood, focus, and emotional stability.

Expect a blend of discussion and practice to expand your understanding of Ayurveda, deepen your yoga, and inspire personal transformation. Together, we’ll explore ancient teachings that remain strikingly relevant for today’s fast-paced world—offering tools to stay steady, clear, and connected.

ABOUT KATE O'DONELL

Kate O’Donnell has spent more than twenty-five years traveling through India in search of ancient, time-tested, healing practices to bring back to the United States.  Through her own healing journey, Kate experienced first hand how a holistic system creates lasting health. She’s since emerged as a preeminent expert in Ayurveda—the sister science to Yoga—and has built her own curriculum customized for modern Americans. Her individualized approach has transformed the lives of thousands of people and made her a respected thought-leader in holistic medicine. Kate’s best-selling books, published in seven languages, continue to be the top resources in the field of Ayurveda. As a highly sought-after speaker and the founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute, she has educated a generation of practitioners. 

Find Kate on her webpage Heal with Kate and on her Podcast Everyday Ayurveda with Kate, or follow her in Instagram for daily inspiration and news.

ABOUT RICH RAY

Rich Ray is a KPJAYI Level II Authorized Ashtanga Teacher and the director of Ashtanga Yoga Portland Maine. In 1998 he made his first trip to Mysore, India to study with Pattabhi Jois and has made numerous trips to study with Sharath. At the same time Rich began in depth Zen Buddhist practice and lived as a silent monastic for 4 years under the tutelage of a Roshi. He has been teaching since 2004 and is committed to assisting all those who wish to explore and walk these ancient wisdom paths. 

Find Rich at Ashtanga Yoga Portland Maine and on his Instagram