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Hatha Yoga, breathing and meditation retreat in Kerala, India.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the October 2018 retreat is now canceled.
Dates for 2019 to be released soon.
Please contact us if you are interested in the upcoming retreats in Kerala, India.
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In a nutshell

7 nights at luxury Marari Villas on the shores of the Arabic Sea.
Air-conditioned double en suite rooms with private verandas and direct access to the beach.
Daily Mindful Hatha Yoga with Laurent Roure.
Scheduled transfer from/to Kochi airport to the venue.
Indian vegetarian gourmet meals by local chef.
Boat cruise on the famous backwaters of Alleppey.
Plenty of time to relax on the beach or in the swimming pool.

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This retreat in details:

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Yoga

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In the morning:

We will work with traditional Hatha yoga postures and sequences to prepare you for the rest of the day. The classes will have a different focus each day and will be designed like a mini workshop to allow us to go deeper into our physical or Mindful practice. You will be able to discuss with me how to improve your practice, your goals and to how best to work around any ailments or health conditions. The practice will be a mix of the gentle and dynamic. We will explore breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that you will be able to practice at home yourself.

In the evening:

After a long day of fun and activities, I’ll teach a gentle and restorative hatha class with particular focus on gentle stretches and releasing tension from the body. Most essentially we will be bringing lightness to the spine, focusing on our breathing and learning to meditate away the stresses of the day. After each class, I will be teaching the wonderfully beneficial Yoga Nidra. It provides complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation, and is perfect for those suffering from tiredness, insomnia, anxiety or depression or anyone who needs some blissful chill out time.

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A typical day at Kerala yoga retreat

09.00 – 10:30 Hatha Yoga class, breathing techniques and meditation.

10:30 – 11.30 Kerala vegetarian brunch.

11.30 – 18.00 Relax and a swim or day out sightseeing, Ayurvedic treatments, outdoor activities or a one to one yoga class if requested (pre-booking is essential. Contact Laurent directly).

18.00 – 19.00 Gentle and restorative yoga class, pranayama, meditation, yoga Nidra.

19.00 – 20.00 Your time to prepare yourself and relax before dinner.

20.00 – – – Dinner, relax, enjoy the stars, dance, play games or sleep!

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The Venue

This fantastic yoga retreat will take place at a collection of ‘Boutique Serviced Villas – Marari Villas’ on beautiful, unspoiled Marari Beach.

The venue provides all the ingredients for a great retreat: a stunning setting overlooking the Arabian Sea, fresh local food to nourish the body and soul, caring staff and all the comforts of a superior hotel, managed by a lovely couple who have lived in Kerala for the past 6 years.

Marari Beach lies on a relatively undiscovered shore near the renowned backwaters of Alleppey and is ideally located just 1½ hours from Cochin Airport and within a few hours’ drive of all major tourist destinations in central Kerala.

The beach has not been marred by development, unlike other tourist destinations. Only the local fishermen, their traditional colorful wooden boats and the abundant wildlife share the beach, so you are virtually alone to enjoy the endless white sand under your bare feet, the vibrant green coconut palms, the welcoming warm ocean and an experience of “real India” with a touch of luxury.

The Villas has blended contemporary design and traditional Kerala architecture, offering residents inspiring indoor-outdoor living, perfectly suited to the tropical environment. There are atmospheric shaded verandas for lounging whilst watching the colorful fishing boats and spotting dolphins as well as spacious beach gardens with hammocks, sunbeds and umbrellas surrounded by tropical plants.

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The Food

Healthy vegetarian food prepared by in-house chefs is a fundamental element of our retreat experience:

Daily herbal tea & fresh fruits before the morning class will be followed by healthy buffet brunches with fresh juices, tropical seasonal fruits, muesli, eggs, toast, homemade jams and a variety of delicious South Indian breakfasts like idli, appam, dosa.

In the evening, the chefs will spoil you with delicious vegetarian Keralan dinners offering various dishes including salads, rice and local breads (appam, chappatis or parotha). You will experience a traditional Kerala ‘Sadhya’ Feast on a banana leaf, which is a treat for every visitor to the south of India and a barefoot BBQ in the beach garden (fresh seafood options available on request).

Guests can explore the local market with the chef and have a cooking class, so they can replicate some Kerala dishes back home.

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Optional activities

Ayurveda:

Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda – the ancient Indian medicine and holistic system of health and wellbeing. Ayurvedic Treatments recharge the body, reactivate the mind, recoup youthful vigor and vitality, build resistance to diseases and improve complexion. We can arrange a variety of traditional oil-based Ayurveda massages and treatments with the best local specialists.

If you want to have a deeper understanding of Ayurveda; your body type, what foods are better for you, learn about your constitution and how to balance body and mind, then we can arrange a consultation with local Ayurveda doctor. They will provide a pulse diagnosis to establish your individual mind-body constitution and the nature of any imbalance and then prescribe daily authentic Ayurveda remedies and medicinal diet to enhance health and wellbeing.

Outdoor activities:

Between yoga classes, Ayurveda treatments and sunbathing, you will be free to take part in exciting activities available in the area and discover the local surroundings.

Boat cruise on the famous backwaters of Alleppey: this is the best way to discover the backwaters of Alleppey, the “Venice of the East” and experience breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala.

Cycling: the use of bikes is included in the price for you to explore the area at your own pace.

Other activites: visit to an elephant corral for a ride, village crafts tour, church/temple visit, Alleppey town and Fort Cochin tours. Swimming pools are available at the Orchid/Hibiscus Villas (2.5 km from the Retreat) and the sea is wonderful for swimming most of the year.

Those activities have been hand picked and chosen by ourselves but there is plenty more to see and do…

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Travel information

For flights, we recommend Qatar/Etihad/Emirates airlines via the Middle East, British Airways via Bangalore/Chennai or Air India/Jet Airways via Mumbai to Cochin. Please make sure to book a flight arriving at Cochin (Kochi) International Airport on 30th September before 10:30am. A group transfer is organised and Marari Beach is 1½ hours’ drive.

Follow this link in order to check your eligibility and apply for an Indian e-TOURIST VISA (eTV) online. Please note that the application can be done only between 34 and 4 days before your expected time of arrival in India.

Vaccination is not mandatory for visitors travelling from Europe. However, we suggest you to visit the India travel advice – GOVUK page for further information.

If you are struggling with flight bookings or visa application, please contact jose@yogalaurent.com and we will be happy to help

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