Ashtanga Retreat in India, Christmas & New Year
ASHTANGA YOGA RETREAT IN INDIA
PURPLE VALLEY YOGA CENTRE GOA
December 19 - January 2, CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR
Ashtanga Yoga & Self Enquiry – Practical Tools to Change Your Life
Join Adam for 2 weeks over the holidays to delve into your yoga at Purple Valley Yoga in Goa. We are always a relaxed and friendly group welcoming to people from all nationalities, ages, physical ability and level of experience.
Viewed through the wider lens of the yoga tradition, the style of Ashtanga yoga is part of hatha yoga tradition, one based on the alignment of inner energy in the body. Which is not, so esoteric to be beyond explanation. How to move traditionally, as well as safely and effectively can be explained in clear and simple terms.
So, we explore together how our modern yoga might relate outwards to change the whole of our lives for the better.
How we relate what we’re doing in the practice of yoga asana to yoga ‘off the mat’ needs to be given more practical consideration than it often gets. Yoga asana is meant to be the start and not the end of living a life oriented through yoga. We will come back together before dinner for contemplation through yoga texts, history and philosophy in a practical way in which everyone can engage with, along with some gentle breath work and simple meditation exercises.
This Retreat Is for You If:
- You have a sincere desire to learn more about Ashtanga yoga as it has been taught over the years in Mysore
- You already know or are willing to memorise at least the Ashtanga sun salutation A&B along with most of the standing postures
- You are willing to partake in workshops that are a mix of talks and exercises
- You are not looking for strong adjustments in your asana practice. Adam gives physical assistance and guidance but not ‘adjustments’
What You Can Expect:
- A friendly and inclusive group with a range of ages and abilities.
- To learn practical asana technique and make discoveries in your practice
- Delicious and nutritious meals.
- To experience India in a comfortable way
- To make new friends and engage with a support group.
- To return with a fresh outlook, renewed enthusiasm and energy for your practice.
All Are Welcome
Everywhere we go we are known for being a friendly group without cliques, hierarchy or favourites. We welcome all students with an interest in Ashtanga yoga and using the set sequences to your best advantage no matter what you relate to.
The Yoga
Each week this retreat includes the following sessions:
- 5 Mysore classes
- 1 led class
- 4 workshops on asana technique
- 4 afternoon sessions based on breathwork, relaxation, history of yoga, philosophy
Mysore Self-Practice Classes (5 per week)
Adam teaches the Mysore self-practice classes yoga following the traditional Ashtanga yoga sequences as taught by Sharath Jois Mysore and asks for you to generally stick to these. It is fine if you can’t ‘do’ all of the asanas and he will offer modifications or sometimes let you skip certain postures if he thinks you are not able to work within them.
He does request that you memorise at least sun salutations A and B along with most of the standing sequence before your arrival so that he can focus on helping you with your technique rather than telling you what comes next. If you are unsure about this, feel free to get in touch with us at info@keenonyoga.com
Practice Sheets
You can download and print the PDFs below to learn from and you can bring them to class as well.
Primary Series Practice Sheets
Intermediate Series Practice Sheets
Videos
The YouTube videos below show Adam teaching the primary and intermediate series and can also help you learn the sequences. You do not have to do each asana perfectly, but you should know what comes next mainly until the seated sequence.
Intermediate Series YouTube Video
Led Primary with Instructions (1 per week)
A unique style of led class featuring both the vinyasa count as well as one fundamental cue for each
posture. Everyone will be made to feel welcome and safe in participating in this class, with options given regarding variations so everyone can do their version of the whole Primary series. There is no perfect or ‘traditional’ way we must do the postures, and the sequence doesn’t move sequentially – in as much as some of the later postures are more accessible than those in the middle of the series.
Asana workshops (4 per week)
Our mornings after the self-practice class will be spent exploring how to stretch ‘inwardly’ in yoga asana both to strengthen our outer body as well as regulate our inner (nervous system).
Afternoon Sessions (4 per week)
Afternoons will be a mix of yoga relaxation, contemplation, yoga history and philosophy.
Suggested reading material for before or during the retreat
- Ashtanga Yoga: A Teacher’s Companion – Adam Keen – Free PDF will be sent to you; we will also look into options to print in Goa and costs for that
- The Bhagavad Gita translation by Stanley Lombardo
- The Truth of Yoga by Daniel Simpson
Full daily schedlue linked below
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Daily Meals
8.30 am: Fruit, coffee, tea
11.00 am: Brunch
6.30 pm: Dinner
Weeks Schedule
Sunday 20th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: Mobility Over Flexibility
5.00pm: Getting to Know Names, Breathwork and Meditation
Monday 21st
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: Standing Postures – Understanding the Basic Push-Pull Action
5.00pm: Yoga Breathing Basics - the magic of the diaphragm
Tuesday 22nd
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
5.00pm: History of Classical Yoga
Wednesday 23rd
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: The Seated Postures of The Primary Series and Their Deeper Significance
Thursday 24th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
5.00pm: Basics of Yoga Philosophy
Friday 25th
7.00am: Led Ashtanga Primary with some Intermediate tbc
9.30am: Building Strength in Your Yoga Practice, Arm Balances, Jump Backs and Extra Exercises
Saturday 26th – Free Day Off
Sunday 27th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: Vinyasa, what it means to Ashtanga Yoga and How to Apply the Technique Most Skillfully
5.00pm: Intro to Advaita Vedanta, Breathwork & Meditation
Monday 28th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: Backbends What They Mean and How to Do Them
5.00pm: Bhagavad Gita for Modern Life
Tuesday 29th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
5.00pm: History of Modern Yoga
Wednesday 30th
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
9.30am: An Introduction to The Intermediate Series for Everyone
Thursday 31st
7.00am: Mysore Ashtanga Self Practice
5.00pm: Meditation & Wrap Up Discussion How Yoga Asana Practice Might Be Related to Daily Life
Friday
7.00am: Led Ashtanga Primary with some Intermediate tbc
9.30am: Hip Openers and A Short Hip Opening Sequence
Friday 1st PM or Saturday 2nd AM – Departures
GOA
Goa is a state in western India with coastlines along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony until 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches, houses and the area's tropical spice plantations. Goa is also known for its beaches, wide with white sand stretching for ages, excellent for walking on, or buy a drink and the bed chair is yours for the day.
Panaji, also known as Panjim, located on the banks of the Mandovi River is the state capital of Goa. One of the best places to explore for soaking up this bygone era is the old Portuguese quarter, Fontainhas. The cobblestone streets have some beautiful, colourful houses located in the historic neighbourhood, while primary attractions such as the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and art galleries also deserve a visit.
Goa is special to us as it's where we met many moons ago and it is like no other place.
BOOKING FLIGHTS TO GOA, INDIA FOR PURPLE VALLEY YOGA
Goa Airports
Flying into Goa means landing at either of two airports:
-
Mopa GOX (Manohar) North Goa
This airport is closer to Purple Valley, the taxi drive should take 45 – 60 minutes
2. Dabolim (GOI) (South Goa/main airport)
Dabolim is a longer drive at up to 90 minutes
Flight Times
From London, direct flights take around 9-11 hours, while connecting flights will be longer.
Booking tips
Some people use a travel agent, which can give benefits of someone to help you change your flight if you need to and a point of contact if things mess up for any reason.
If you wish to book your own flight, you can research flights by looking at booking sites like the ones below. This will give you an idea of airlines and flight times / costs / possible connections. Not all airlines are on these sites but it’s a starting point.
Do not book through these sites however, it is best to take this information and book directly with the airline on their website. Double check that you have the correct airline website as often similar sites come up that look like the airlines website but is another third-party provider.
When researching, along with the flight times and cost, check if you can cancel or change the flight and also the luggage allowance.
Direct Flights
- Offers direct routes from the UK during winter (currently Gatwick and Manchester to Manohar
Other Airlines
Qatar Airways & Emirates (pending the current situation)
- Very good service and often options to change or cancel your flight for a reasonable fee
- Qatar transfers in Doha and Emirates in Dubai, usually in the middle of the night
- You could land in Goa in the early hours, but the Purple Valley taxi transfers are very efficient.
Air India
- Cheaper flights, lots of cities to transfer within in India, but not everyone’s favourite service
- Can be lots of cancellations
Indigo Airlines
- A modern Indian airline with a strong network in Asia recent expansions in Europe include Manchester, Amsterdam & Heathrow
- IndiGo’s codeshare destinations include -Athens (ATH), Brussels (BRU), Budapest (BUD), Malta (MLA), Tel Aviv (TLV), Dublin (DUB), Paris (CDG), Copenhagen (CPH), Dublin (DUB), Prague (PRG), Amsterdam (AMS), Vienna (VIE), Zurich (ZRH), London Gatwick (LGW), and London Heathrow (LHR).
- We always use Indigo within India they have good prices, easy to use website and good options to change or cancel your flight relatively easily
- There were big issues with this airline for a week or so in 2025, but operations stabilised soon after and I feel remain a good option.
PURPLE VALLEY YOGA CENTRE
Purple Valley is a peaceful Ashtanga yoga retreat centre set amongst lush tropical jungle gardens. They offer comfortable, simple, but cosy rooms, situated throughout the grounds. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, some have private balconies or terraces.
The infinity swimming pool is the perfect place to refresh after practice or relax around while you meet new friends or catch up with old ones, drink a coconut and watch the swaying palm trees.
There is an Ayurveda specialist on-site who offers consultations at a fraction of the cost in Europe, massage and beauty services are also available.
Perhaps the best part of Purple Valley is the staff and their smiling faces. You will feel taken care of throughout your stay, from being picked up at the airport, no matter what time your flight lands to being dropped off at the end of your adventure.
MEALS AT PURPLE VALLEY
Purple Valley's team of local and international kitchen staff ensure that you are properly fuelled for your practice. They use local ingredients including tropical fruits, homemade yoghurt, jams etc for brunch and a selection of dishes for dinner, all served buffet style. For many this is a highlight of their retreat!
