Ayurvedic
Cooking Retreat
A Weekend of Nourishment & Flavor
Hosted @ Kindred Forest, a serene woodland setting located just over an hour southwest of St. Louis, MO
Join us for a hands-on weekend of Ayurvedic vegetarian cooking
at Kindred Forest, a quiet retreat space just one hour from St. Louis, MO.
This is a weekend to remember how good it feels to cook and eat your own food — slowly, thoughtfully, and with great enjoyment.
Who this is for
Professionals who need a reboot or are ready to slow down.
Parents wanting more nourishing options at home.
Yogis who want to bring practice into the kitchen and at the dinner table.
Personal Chefs interested in adding a new dimension to their offerings.
Couples or friends looking for a meaningful shared experience.
Seekers of traditional wisdom, Ayurvedic and beyond.
Anyone who wants to cook a little better, without making it complicated.
This retreat is especially supportive if you’ve ever thought:
“I don’t really know how to cook.”
“I eat out more than I’d like.”
“Cooking healthy food feels overwhelming.”
“I’m tired of counting calories.”
“I rush through meals and barely taste them.”
What Makes our Approach Different
Many Ayurvedic programs begin with memorizing food lists, procuring exotic ingredients, learning Sanskrit, or getting on a strict detox protocol.
We don’t.
Instead, we focus on a far more practical and foundational aspect of Ayurveda: Taste!
We begin with short and accessible Ayurvedic lessons where you’ll learn about:
The 6 Ayurvedic tastes
The 5 elements that form the tastes, and their properties
How taste influences digestion, mood, and overall health
Rather than memorizing rules, you’ll learn to sense food the moment it touches your tongue and recognize how your body responds to it.
This gives you independence and freedom to adjust recipes, while also kindling your intuition.
How the Cooking Works
Under the guidance of Matt Krepps — trained in both Ayurveda and French cooking — you’ll cook lunch and dinner together each day.
This is a fully hands-on experience.
You will chop, peel, dice, grate, crush, juice, and whatever else is needed during the prep stage.
Matt handles the stove, demonstrating technique and explaining what he’s looking for at each stage.
Most importantly — you will taste the dish at every step.
You’ll learn:
When to add spices
How flavors evolve through the cooking process
How to layer tastes instead of adding everything at once
How balanced flavor supports digestion
By the end of the weekend, you won’t just have recipes.
You’ll understand why a dish works.
All meals are vegetarian.
“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.
The experience
Friday afternoon – Sunday afternoon
Shared or private lodging included
Small group: 6–10 participants
Daily hands-on cooking (lunch + dinner, breakfast optional)
Morning Ayurvedic lessons
Evenings spent in community sharing stories and experiences.
Free time to rest, walk, journal, nap, or simply be outside.
Day Passes are available (contact us for details).
Our Pricing ($625-$695)
A $200 deposit saves your spot.
PLUS
$425 for shared accommodations when you pay in full by May 28 ($490 afterwards) or
$495 for private accommodations when you pay in full by May 28 ($560 afterwards).
What You’ll Leave With
Confidence in the kitchen
A deeper understanding of flavor
Practical spice knowledge
Better organization during food prep
An embodied understanding of the 6 tastes
A renewed appreciation for home-cooked meals
Most of all, you’ll leave remembering that food is not just fuel.
It can be grounding. It can be enjoyable. It can be a daily act of care.
Join Us
If you’re ready to slow down, cook with intention, and rediscover the pleasure of preparing your own meals, we invite you to join us.
Reserve your spot today.
"I loved the Ayurvedic Cooking Retreat. One of the things I liked most about the weekend was the care put into the meal planning and the discussions around Ayurveda. I highly recommend attending as you'll receive delicious food, which you'll get to help prepare and wonderfully intelligent discussions."
— Dwayne M
“I won’t forget this Ayurvedic Cooking Retreat. We took our food from start to finish, tasting along the way and noticing the changes. It 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
Kindred Forest —
140 Acres of Wild Beauty in the Missouri Ozarks
Retreat Lodge in the Forest • 4 Bedrooms • 3 Full Baths • Kitchen • Comfortable Living Room for Meaningful Time Together • Walking Trails • Springfed Creeks
FAQs
If you still have questions after reading these FAQs, don't hesitate to contact us.
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Ayurveda is an ancient Indian 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 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.
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Some of our all time favorite dishes from past Ayurvedic Cooking retreats include:
Carrot soup
Saag Paneer (spinach and farmer’s cheese with rice)
Beetroot Palya (shredded beets and carrots) with lemon rice and raita (yogurt sauce)
Mulligatawny soup (lentils and other veggies)
Summer corn chowder with chana dosa (chickpea bun)
Asparagus and white bean soup
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Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any special diets, food allergies or sensitivities during this retreat, as it will interfere with the kitchen’s ability to cook the planned meals.
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Please bring an apron, a knife, and a notebook. If you’d like to spend time outside, bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and bug spray.
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Kindred Forest is located near Bourbon, MO, about 1 hour and 15 mins SW of St. Louis.