Iyengar Yoga for vitality and restoration
with Indira Lopez-Bassols and Diana Penny
5th Feb 2023 to 12th Feb 2023 in Goa (1 week)
When you are inspired…dormant forces, faculties, and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” —Patanjali
A Week of Yoga with Indira Lopez-Bassols and Diana Penny
Diana and Indira have taught yoga holidays together for over a decade. They have 35 years of combined Iyengar yoga teaching.
Indira has been practicing Iyengar yoga for the past 25 consecutive years and teaching for 20 years around the world (Mexico, the UK, Turkey, India and Portugal). She has a special interest in the therapeutic benefits of Iyengar yoga; particularly restorative yoga to help alleviate stress/fatigue/insomnia and adrenal exhaustion. She also has a strong interest in women’s health from menarche to menopause. She brings her love for the philosophy of yoga and knowledge of human anatomy into her classes in a user-friendly way. Her teaching style is precise, warm and supportive.
Diana began practicing Iyengar yoga in 2000, and it has become an important support in her life over the years in many different ways: physically, emotionally and socially. Diana trained with Ursula Schoonraad in South London and qualified as an Introductory teacher in 2007. Since 2011, Diana has been running Yogawest in Bristol. Diana particularly enjoys teaching mixed ability groups, and her warm personality and sense of humour are always present in class and appreciated by students. She now lives in Peru.
The Details
One of 3 yoga shalas at Ashiyana
Ashiyana is a fully equipped yoga retreat (it has ropes!), and is in the most beautiful setting in Mandrem, North Goa, with a high level of luxury.
Costs start at £845. You will need to book your own flights to India, transfers to/from the resort, plus arrange visas (NOTE: from Dec22, e-visas are available again for British passport holders), travel insurance etc as extras. We expect many will want to take advantage of being in India and arrive early or stay afterwards to explore (see ‘Tips and Recommendations‘ below).
Prices are fully catered accommodation and include yoga tuition. A non-yoga friend sharing your room will receive a £130 discount.
| TYPE OF ROOM | SHARING | SINGLE |
| Beach Hut | not available | |
| Eco Lodge | £845 | £1135 |
| Palm Grove | £895 | £1205 |
| Raj Double | £995 | £1305 |
| Raj triple-share | £915pp | - |
| Raj quad-share | £875pp | - |
| Raj Luxury | £1105 | £1495 |
Daily schedule:
The first day, Sunday, is our arrival day (check-in from 2pm): a day to settle in, meet the group, do some gentle practice in one of the yoga shalas if you choose and rest. (It may be possible to book extra nights before the course starts, or after, contact Ashiyana directly to enquire).
The class schedule will be decided nearer the time and will depend on the numbers in the group and accordingly the teacher(s) in resort.
When our classes are not scheduled, you are welcome to attend the events and classes offered by Ashiyana.
Sample Daily Schedule Monday– Saturday
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 07:30 - 10:00 | Morning class (when scheduled) |
| 10:15 | Breakfast/Brunch |
| Free time | Go to the beach and take a swim in the Arabian Sea, swing in a hammock, lie by the pool, read a book, enjoy a massage or visit the neighbouring villages and take in some of the amazing Indian culture. |
| 16:30 - 18:00 | Evening class (when scheduled) |
| 18:30 | Dinner |
Ashiyana offer regular evening activities such as meditation, chanting, documentary film shows and talks which we are warmly invited to attend.
Sunday is departure day (unless you book to stay on); check-out is at 10am.
IMPORTANT: Tourist visas for UK passport holders – update at Dec22
For a while earlier this year, UK passport holders had to apply in person for Indian visas rather than online.
This has now changed and (phew!) British passport holders can now get their Indian visas online from the Indian Embassy (be sure to use their site, not ‘agencies’ that charge extra and do the same thing).
The official e-visa site is:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
INCLUSIVE
- Yoga classes
- Seven nights accommodation
- Two buffet meals: brunch and dinner
- All day filtered water, hot lemon ginger and Indian masala chai
- Extra activities such as meditation, chanting and other cultural evening activities
Tips and Recommendations
TIP 1
Book your flight early: we recommend shopping around to find the best deal, which could be direct to Goa, or via Mumbai which would give you more flexibility.
TIP 2
Extend your stay before or after and explore India.
TIP 3
Bring your partner/friend: there will be other non-yogis around for adventures during the day, paddle-boarding, temple visiting and general exploring of the area.
TIP 4
You will need to get an Indian visa before travel, which you can buy online. Be sure you are on the official site as other 3rd party sites exist and will charge you more. NB You will need at least 180 days validity on your passport.
Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/entry-requirements and follow the link to the official site at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
TIP 5
You will need to check if you need any innoculations to travel to India.
TIP 6
Following the payment of your deposit, you can spread the cost of your holiday by paying us in instalments along the way: let us know when you book if you’d like to arrange this.