Ashtanga Christmas Retreat, Spain
Ashtanga Christmas Retreat
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20TH - 27TH, 2025
Ashtanga YOGA, Breath and Meditation Week
Our aim for this retreat is to offer a space over the holidays for people to come together to focus on their Ashtanga practice away from the bustle and indulgence normally associated with this time of year.
This is a week where you can really pause and take stock away from the traditional Christmas busyness. Reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one with a supportive group of all ages and walks of life
Your time will be supported by morning Ashtanga self-practice sessions, clear and practical workshops on asana technique, breath work and meditation along with thoughtful discussions based on yoga philosophy.
Adam holds space without a strict Ashtanga dogma. He will allow you to go into your own process here, in the healing natural surrounds of the hills or southern Spain.
There will be plenty of personal time for rest and personal space and also to partake in some available activities such as:
- Long walks in nature
- Visit the local beach town, Rincon de la Victoria
- See the Christmas lights and markets in Malaga City
- Visit the coastal town of Nerja
- Some guests even went skiing last year!
This workshop is for you if:
- You have a sincere desire to learn more about Ashtanga yoga as taught over the years in Mysore
- You already have memorised at least the Ashtanga practice of sun salutations through to most of the standing postures
- You are willing to partake in workshops that are a mix of talks and exercises
- You are looking for advice and guidance rather than strong adjustments in your asana practice. Adam gives physical assistance and guidance but not ‘adjustments’
If this sounds like you, join us at Santillan retreat, in a magical finca where the Dalai Lama himself once stayed. With views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea it’s only a short car ride into the beautiful Moorish town of Malaga where they will be celebrating with their famous Christmas lights and traditional Andalucian market.
Check in: Saturday Dec 20th arrivals, check-in from 3.30 pm to 11.00 pm
Check out: Saturday Dec 27th departures, check out by 10:30 a.m., departures until 12.00 noon
Expand below to see the daily and weekly schedule
Location
Although you can see the Mediterranean Sea from Santillán, by road it is about 7 km to the sea, local beaches and cafes. You can take an Uber, ask the staff to help book a local taxi or some guests walked.
There are two walks accessible from Santillán:
Route 1: Around the hotel, about 30–40 minutes. Walk down the mountain to the water basin, climb round the other side of the hotel.
Route 2: Through the mountains with beautiful sea views, can be as long as you want.
There are some very nice towns nearby, Rincon de la Victoria, Nerja and Frigliana and Malaga centre is great to visit for shopping and soaking in the local culture.
Christmas is an ideal time to visit Malaga city, there are spectacular light and music shows and markets offering lots of ideas for gifts from Andalusian foods and handmade items, arts and crafts and accessories.
Venue
Our host for this retreat is Santillan Retreat, an incredible Andalucian cortijo with gardens located at the top of a countryside valley with views onto the Mediterranean Sea 5 km away. It’s only 35 minutes from Malaga airport and train station.
Santillan offers a wide range of therapies, walking, swimming & paddle tennis, with many beaches, tennis clubs & stables close by as well as a golf course 5 minutes away. There are numerous paths for hiking around the centre for all levels and durations.
Although it's great to have a car if you wish to explore further a field, you can also use Uber to get around and students get together over the WhatsApp group to keep costs down.
Yoga Shala
The incredible shala is one of the most outstanding yoga spaces in Europe. It is a spacious state-of-the-art yoga shala with huge south-facing windows and sea views that allow you to fully appreciate the natural beauty of Santillan’s valley location.
It has thermally insulated sprung wooden floor and biomass heating to help warm up those winter morning practices. All the essential yoga props of the highest quality are for our use, including 6mm thick yoga mats, so no worries on Ryan Air!
Accommodation
The rooms at Santillan are rustic and simple, they all have:
- Ensuite bathroom
- Heating and air-conditioning for your needs
- Either a balcony or terrace with views down the valley to the sea or to the tropical gardens.
Each room is individually furnished with a desk, ample cupboard space, a hair dryer, bidet and some rooms have four-poster beds.
Single rooms are limited, and this retreat sold out last year so if you are interested do book early!
Food and beverages
Meals are lacto-ovo vegetarian (eggs and dairy included) served buffet style for brunch and dinner. If you are vegan or have specific dietary requirements please let us know upon booking so we can ensure that the team provide options.
The cooks at Santillan Retreat enjoy sharing their popular Spanish-influenced healthy Mediterranean cuisine. Some of the produce is grown in their own organic vegetable gardens and they also source from local farmers. Their onsite free-range chickens supply the fresh eggs daily.
You can explore their farm and horticulture anytime. All food waste is processed in their wormery, providing natural fertilizer for the gardens. Lower food miles, organic produce, and minimal waste help to keep our carbon footprint and waste low.
Unlimited coffee, tea and water is available 24/7 in the guest kitchen.
Cost
Shared Room: €1,395 (approx. £1,150 or US $1,440 ) CONTACT US FOR AVAILABILITY
Single Room: €1,795 (approx. £1,490 or US $1,850 ) ONE SINGLE AVAILABLE
Single rooms are always the most popular, so we recommend booking early if that is your preference.
A non-refundable deposit of €400 will secure your place.
What’s Included:
- 7 nights’ accommodation
- 6 brunches
- 1 breakfast
- 7 dinners
- 6 Morning Mysore classes
- 4 Afternoon workshops
What’s not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance (required)
- Airport transfers
- Extracurricular events
The closest airport is Malaga Airport and Santilan can organise local taxis to pick you up for approximately €60. If students land within half an hour of each other they will group you into shared taxis.
Uber and Cabify also operate if you prefer to use that. To and from Malaga city centre in a local taxi is €45.
Climate
Andalucía is the warmest region of Spain, and the local area boasts the highest level of warm sunlight hours in all of Europe. The Costa del Sol climate is Mediterranean with mild winters, due to its geographic situation, protected from cold winds to the north by the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Mountain ranges, and the warm Mediterranean Sea to the south.
The coastal area’s climate is exceptional. In 2024 we had highs of 22 and lows of 12º C with sunshine all day. This is not guaranteed however but is typical.
Clothing
In December it can be cool, sometimes cold, in the evenings, at night and early mornings, so a fleece top, a warm sweater or a woolly jumper, a warm shawl, warm pyjamas and warm socks might be needed. It hardly ever rains in December, but check the forecast before you leave home.
Address
Ctra. Macharaviaya. Km 3
Post Office box: 101, Postal code: 29730
Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga. Spain.
Information phone:
00 34 952 40 09 49
Cars:
GPS Coordinates:
Longitude: -4.230852 Lattitude: 36.741773
It is a condition of booking at Santillan that you take out full travel insurance to cover cancellation, travel costs and other eventualities.
Below are the Terms & Conditions for in-person retreats & workshops organised by Keen on Yoga. Where an event is hosted by another centre it will be subject to the centre’s terms and conditions.
Payments
Full payment must be made before the workshop/retreat begins to attend. Where applicable, you can reserve your place by making a deposit payment of the amount stated on the event page.
The balance payment is due no later than 8 weeks before the first day of the yoga event you’ve reserved. In most cases once the deposit is received we will set up for the second payment to be taken 8 weeks before the event.
Payments are made through our secure website with a credit card. If you are unable to make your payment this way, send us an email so we can provide our bank transfer details.
Cancellation by Student
Below is the amount of refund we can offer if you need to cancel your booking. Where there is a refund offered there will be a 10% admin fee deducted which includes our loss due to the card transaction processing fee. All cancellations must be made in writing by emailing info@keenonyoga.com. The date that we receive your email will be the date that we calculate your refund.
Deposit Payments: All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Full Payments: If you have paid in full and must cancel, the following applies:
- More than 8 weeks before the start of the course or workshop: 100% refund less deposit.
- 4 to 8 weeks before the start of the course or workshop: 50% refund less the deposit.
- Up to 4 weeks before the start of the course or workshop: No refund will be given.
Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for refunding any other costs incurred, i.e. your travel.
Cancellation by Us
We reserve the right to make any changes to our programme. If Keen on Yoga / we / Adam Keen needs to cancel the retreat due to situations outside our control alternative arrangements will be offered to the best of our ability. However if not accepted, we do not accept responsibility for any costs incurred, including airfare.
If we offer a discount to some students or last-minute discount prices, this does not affect the status of any students who have previously paid full price, and no discount will then become due to them. Students who have paid for a single room do not qualify for a discount in the case that another student happens to be alone in a “shared” room.
All students are strongly recommended to have travel insurance to cover any loss or injury, including repatriation if necessary.
If you are on medication, are currently under therapy and/or counselling, or have any known mental or emotional condition(s) that would in any way hinder your participation in a yoga course, please let us know before registering. We do not provide any specialists at our retreats who would be able to help, should the need arise.
If your behaviour causes disruption for other participants and the teachers, you will be asked to stop participating in the course and to seek appropriate help. In such a situation, we do not offer refunds but can provide documents for insurance claims.
ADAM KEEN
Adam has been practising yoga since 1999 and teaching since 2004. He is one of only a few students to have completed the Advanced A series in Mysore with Sharathji and received Level 2 Authorisation in 2012.
Equally at home teaching all levels, he gives all students attention and interest. He is democratic in his approach and kind and believes that the practice should not feel like a test. Coming from an academic background in philosophy and a professional one as a chef, he is knowledgeable, practical, and relatable in his approach. Many consider him humorous too.
Adam and his wife Theresa run the online yoga platform Keen on Yoga and he hosts the Keen on Yoga Podcast & YouTube channel, interviewing many of the world’s most renowned Ashtanga teachers and philosophical academics.
Instagram: @adam_keen_ashtanga & @keen_on_yoga