India, July 15 -- Luxury wellness retreats promise relaxation, but some travellers are discovering that true transformation lies elsewhere. Across India, ashrams have long offered a way of life centred on yoga, meditation, mindfulness and selfless service rather than indulgence. Travel vlogger Carla Vianna experienced this firsthand after spending a week at a Sivananda Ashram in Kerala. In an Instagram post, she shared why she would choose the experience over a five-star wellness retreat any day. (Also read: Irish travel vlogger reveals things about India that left her surprised: 'What is a baba? Why are cows on highways?' )

Travel vlogger Carla Vianna recently documented her week-long stay at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, saying the e...