7 Day Yoga and Healing Retreat in Goa, India

The retreat runs out of Yoga Nisarga, a registered yoga school that Swami Chaitanya Hari founded in 2007 and that has since graduated over a thousand students. Nisarga means 'union with nature,' and the property sits in a rural part of Mandrem, away from the noisier beach towns. Guests stay in simple rooms on site, and the beach is either a five- or ten-minute walk depending on the room booked.

A typical day begins at 8:30 with a yoga practice, then breakfast at 10. Late morning is mostly free—guests often walk to the beach—until lunch and a long rest break in the afternoon. Around 16:30 there's an optional hatha class, followed by group sunset time on the beach and dinner at about 19:30. The retreat menu is vegetarian, sometimes vegan, with fresh, organic, and Indian-style cooking, though dinner is not included in the package.

What makes this retreat different from an ordinary beach holiday is the teaching. Swami Chaitanya Hari has been practicing since childhood, trained in Hatha, Sivananda, and Ashtanga (including Mysore-style Ashtanga under Rolf, himself certified by Pattabhi Jois), and has taught across India, China, Russia, Nepal, Thailand, Egypt, and Lebanon. He emphasizes the path from yoga into meditation, and past participants single out the philosophy and pranayama components as highlights.

Reviews mostly describe a warm, welcoming community, with particular praise for assistant teacher Ankit Pandey and for Sita's cooking. The small group size (6 to 15 participants) means you won't get lost in a crowd. One dissenting review, posted by a guest who left after a day and a half of a longer teacher training, disputes the quality of instruction; Yoga Nisarga responded, explaining their side of that story. It's a reminder to check the full reviews before booking if this matters to you.

Located in Mandrem, the retreat also serves as a base for exploring other parts of North Goa—Arambol, Anjuna, and Chapora Fort are all within reach—but many guests seem happy to just stay put and let the rhythm of classes, beach, and meals carry the week.

What's included

- Airport pickup - 6 nights accommodation - Breakfast and lunch daily - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama classes - One 1-hour treatment - Transportation during the retreat - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Flights costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Dinner - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary