Guest post by Yashodhara Roy
With edits from Jia Singh
Image credits- Yashodhara Roy & Ashiyana Yoga Goa
Mandrem has always been one of my favourite beaches in Goa; it’s quieter, it’s cleaner and the location is beautiful. With a gorgeous backdrop as this Ashiyana Yoga Retreat could not have found a better spot to lay its foundation. This retreat nestled on a quiet stretch of north Goa is a haven for wellness enthusiasts, yoginis and those who want to do good by their bodies. Ashiyana invites you and almost immediately this place starts to feel like a community- something larger than you where everyone is working towards the same cause. The river that flows by the reception and the wooden bridge adds to the stillness in this retreat
‘Ashiyana’ means home and is the perfect name for a communal retreat because of the comfortable vibe it offers to a guest. “Home is a place where we feel safe, supported, nourished and loved. When we practice yoga we start to come home in another way”, says Laura Nowell, therapist and yoga trainer of the Ashiyana family beautifully describing this wellness retreat.
Ashiyana has earned a reputation in India and overseas of offering relaxing and rejuvenating holidays and this I can absolutely watch for. My first impression of the place was how nurturing it looks; locals don’t tend to notice these places when they plan holidays simply because the grass always looks greener further away. However, as a local, I have to admit I was very impressed with the spa, wellness facilities, yoga nidra, cuisine as well as the design of the institution. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly and ready to answer all my questions. The rooms, especially the tree houses were particularly charming and besides the mosquitoes and bugs that come with any tropical beach paradise- I was lulled into a deep and restful slumber on both nights. The visit may have been too short to have transformed me but it caused an awakening of how my mind and body is deeply connected to my overall wellbeing.
After I settled into my very own tree house, I got ready for my first yoga class. Jia swears by yoga and so does everyone around me and naturally I wanted to give it a shot.It was an interesting experience- one that I will never forget. As a beginner I was not in the flow of the elegant movements like almost everyone around me had but I was focused on listening to my trainer’s voice (and trying not to fall). I learnt that the most involuntary movements of our bodies-inhaling and exhaling cause a spiritual uplifting and a deeper awareness of your breath and body. Yoga isn’t about perfecting asanas and postures and looking graceful but about embracing the pose, holding it in and being mindful.
Everyone at the retreat eats together and breakfast and dinner are both served to you with a focus on healthy, raw, wholesome and vegetarian cuisine. Fish is served to you twice a week so you can make up for your protein requirements. Everyone gets together at mealtimes to discuss their practice, learnings and their days and I think this is a fabulous coming together of ideas and a wonderful way to make friends.
The spa is gorgeous place that offers tranquil and calm settings for ayurvedic treatments. The spa menu is curated to include week long detox (Panchkarma) programs like ‘Basti’ and ‘Virechana’ for physical rejuvenation and various health benefits as well as shorter rituals like ayurvedic masssages, shirodhara and abhyangam
My favourite bit was how welcoming Ashiyana was towards women of all age groups from all over the world to come together to share a safe space to practice their yoga and become kinder to their bodies. Ashiyana also offers yoga teacher training programmes (info on the website) and plan to start life coach training soon. ‘Ashiyana Alto’ Brazil is also on their future plans of taking the Ashiyana family worldwide. I would like to thank Sian Bearcroft and the Ashiyana family for a memorable stay. I would like to end with a quote-
The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Quick Notes-
Ashiyana Yoga Goa
Address: Junas Waddo, Mandrem, Goa 403527
Phone:098504 01714
Email: contact@ashiyana-yoga-goa.com
http://www.ashiyana-yoga-goa.com/
