Form part of our vibrant community of yogis, participating in work as meditation and service. Receive trainings in community living, take part in our yoga classes and make friends for life.
LOW SEASON
COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Would you like to apply to join our volunteer community?
We’d love to hear from you!
Simply fill out the application form below, and we’ll be in touch soon:
We look forward to meeting you and sharing a transformative winter together!
Looking for a paid position? Please check out our careers page here.
Grow through service
Being a karma yogi (volunteer) at Shambala can be one of the most enriching experiences of your life, and it is the backbone of Shambala Gatherings. We come together as a community in selfless service, bringing awareness to our work in a playful way, and supporting each other’s growth along the way.
We welcome volunteers from all walks of life, of different ages and backgrounds. We ask that volunteers be at least 22 years old and bring abundant energy. If you are in a vulnerable or tired place in your life, we recommend applying as a part-time volunteer or to come as a guest instead.
Make friends for life
You will start your volunteering with us, with a short training on how to relate to each other in a loving and conscious way. We empower a loving-kindness connection within our volunteers. At the same time, we invite you to abstain from entering a new romantic relationship whilst at Shambala and harness the energy to cultivate a different kind of intimacy with the group, with life and with yourself.
Be Yourself
We would like our volunteers to engage in that which makes them shine and thrive. For this reason, we have different roles you can apply for(read below). There are two ways in which you can participate as a volunteer. As a full time volunteer, you will engage in 5 hours per day of volunteer work and 1 day off per week. As a part-time volunteer, you engage in 2,5 hours of volunteer work per day, with 1 day off per week. Do you wish to learn to cook from the best? then apply for our kitchen apprentice role!
Live in nature
For your volunteer accommodation you will get a bed in our cosy dorm, shared with 2-3 other volunteers. The kitchen apprentice stays in a hut. All accommodation has shared bathrooms. Our volunteers eat from our delicious vegan buffet for all their meals.
Deepen your yoga practice
As part of your exchange program, you will participate in a minimum of 3 yoga classes per week. There will also be opportunities for you to share your practice with others. You will participate in sharing circles, evening sauna sessions, forest walks and music/chanting sessions led by other volunteers.
Why do we charge a small fee?
With the exception of some of the roles (kitchen apprentice, cleaning leader and handy), Shambala charges a small fee of 55kr per day for full time-volunteering during the low season.
This contribution helps us ensure the smooth running of the volunteer team and supports the ongoing improvement of our community spaces and facilities.
* Please let us know if you have difficulties paying this fee, and we will do our best to support you.
* If you’ve volunteered with us before, you’re welcome to come back and volunteer again for any full-time role, free of charge.
PLEASE FIND BELOW HOW WE AIM AT INVESTING THIS FEE
Paid Volunteer Leader to ensure the smooth running of the volunteer team:
During the high season, with the profits earned from this small daily fee, Shambala employs a volunteer leader that ensures the guidance, support, inspiration and emotional support of the volunteer community throughout their stay.
Training on community living:
On arrival at Shambala, you will receive a 2-day training on community living, where you will learn topics such as conscious communication, the art of listening and other topics on conscious community living.
Participation in international retreats:
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to participate on some of the retreat classes of great international teachers (please note that some of these classes will be in Swedish).
Daily sauna:
As a volunteer, you will enjoy daily sauna sessions, sometimes with retreat participants, and sometimes with the community only. These saunas are often the highlight of our day, with dips in the lake and sun bathing.
We trust that these investments make your daily fee payment worth it!
Abundant food buffet:
Shambala volunteers eat together with our guests and teachers, so you can expect some delicious and abundant meals three times per day, plus tea served all day.
FULL-TIME VOLUNTEERS LOW SEASON 2025 – 2026:
Slot 1:
Arrival: 12 October ’25
Depart: 5 November ’25
Duration: 3,5 weeks
Cost: 1320 sek
Slot 2:
Arrival: 09 January ’26
Depart: 23 February ’26
Duration: 6,5 weeks
Cost: 2500 sek
Full time beautifier / Cleaning leader
This role is ideal for those with a keen eye for order, decoration, and beauty, as well as for plant lovers who enjoy creating beautiful and homely spaces with simple means. As a cleaning leader, your responsibilities will include ensuring that all spaces are clean and well-maintained, guiding and supporting the cleaning team, and actively participating in the cleaning process yourself.
Kitchen Apprentice / Internship
Ideal for those that are passionate about cooking, already have some valuable skills in the kitchen, and wish to learn the ropes from the main chef. You will enjoy 1 day off per week. Accommodation is in your own cozy hut with its own heating and electricity.
This role is FREE of charge. However, please note that to confirm your spot, you will be required to provide a deposit, which will be refunded 10 days after your arrival.
Full-time kitchen assistant
In this role, you will work alongside our chef and kitchen apprentice. The chef sets the menu and distributes the work. We’re looking for people who love to cook, we enjoy team-work, and love the fast-paced, dynamic and creative nature of being in the kitchen.
Full-time cleaning volunteer
If you have an eye for cleanliness and you enjoy making spaces feel and look beautiful, then this is your team. This role also includes clean up after meals. Are you a highly creative individual who has a great eye for details and love to beautify? Please specify this in your application, as we have one role within this team that is mainly involved in beautifying.
Maintenance handy & outdoor carer
Under the supervision of one of our managers, you will be doing some maintenance jobs, such as fixing fuses, light bulbs, easy plumbing and electrical jobs, etc. This role is ideal for those that love being outdoors and who have some knowledge of handy work.
Would you like to apply to join our volunteer community?
We’d love to hear from you!
Simply fill out the application form below, and we’ll be in touch soon:
We look forward to meeting you and sharing a transformative winter together!