GOA

WHAT? Chaya Yoga retreat WHERE? Goa, India WHY? To learn, or develop, your posture skills without distraction

HOW MUCH? Chaya Yoga Retreats run globally in locations including Ibiza, France and Bali in addition to Goa. Prices start at £1,350 for 10 days; chayayogaretreats.com

WHO? Amy Hopkinson, Digital Editor

Travelling solo in India. Really?

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad apprehensive on the outbound flight, but once you’re sipping a cashew milk chai and chatting with other solo wellness seekers, you’ll question why you were ever nervous at all.

I can’t even touch my toes – would I be wasting my time?

Absolutely not – one of the best things about Chaya retreats is their aim to teach that real-life yoga bears little resemblance to showy poses on Instagram. Yoga should be a practice unique to you, so you’ll be encouraged to spend 10 days learning how your body moves and what you

need to work on to improve. Just how much yoga are we talking about?

Chaya offers 10-day wellness programmes designed to help you reconnect with your body, breathing and digestion. One yoga teacher leads a group of around 12 guests and everything is provided, so rock up sans mat. You’ll practise yoga AM and PM, with two sessions each day lasting between 90 minutes and two hours. It’s vinyasa flow, so pack enough clothes for sweaty changes throughout the 10 days. There’s equal focus on eating mindfully, and in the hours where you’re not either omming or ahhing over curried cauliflower or cacao ice cream, sign up to the workshops on offer. They differ each day, depending on which wellness gurus have pitched up nearby – I particularly loved meditation, an introduction to crystals and breathwork.

Is there somewhere nice to sleep at this retreat?

If eco-lodging is your vibe, then you’re winning. Each room is big and airy, with local incense and crystals to satisfy all your wellness cravings. Outside, you’ll find your shower and a bar of locally made natural soap. What is lacking is a decent internet connection – both wifi and 4G signal are patchy, which is a sign from the universe, no? So take the opportunity, as I did, to totally disconnect from tech and reconnect with yourself, particularly during the few hours of free time you’ll have in the afternoon. Nothing beats a good book and a coconut on Ashvem Beach.