Ayurveda & Yoga Therapy Retreat
Kerala | India Jan 23-Feb 1 2028
Munnar extension
About Natural Joy Yoga retreats
NJY retreats are an invitation to slow down, listen to your body and reconnect with yourself, with others and with the place around you.
Each retreat follows our own method, a gentle arc in three movements: we first arrive in the body and in the group, then explore through yoga therapy, breath and the senses, and finally give shape to what we have lived through creative expression. No previous experience is needed.
You return home with simple, meaningful tools for wellbeing to keep alive in everyday life.
1./ Experienced facilitaton
Start your day with a yoga therapy practice to awaken body, breath and mind, and close some evenings with a restful meditation.
During the retreat we will also explore Yoga Nidra, sensory practices and workshops, and learn Ayurvedic self-care tools to nurture body and mind.
Classes will be taught by yoga therapist Paulina Copello, C-IAYT, with English guidance.
A talk on Ayurveda with the resort’s doctor and an Ayurvedic cooking class will be offered by local experts.
All levels are welcome and no experience is required.
2./ Your Home in Kerala
The retreat takes place at an Ayurvedic resort by the sea on Vypin Island, Kerala, India.
Between the Arabian Sea and the quiet backwaters, it is surrounded by lush, peaceful nature.
You will stay in an air-conditioned room, cared for by a warm and experienced team.
All meals are vegetarian, prepared according to Ayurvedic principles. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks are included in the retreat price.
3./ Your Own Rhythm
Spend your free time by the pool or at Cherai Beach, a 15 km stretch of soft sand and warm water lined with coconut palms. It is a lovely place to rest, swim, walk at sunset or simply watch the sea.
Explore the island at your own pace or stay at the resort all day. Enjoy some time on your own, or share it with the group: you choose what supports you best.
Vypin Island Retreat
January 22 – 31 2028 (9 nights)
Secure your spot
Non-refundable deposit: € 500
The remaining balance is paid in two halves: the first 60 days before departure, the second on arrival at the venue.
Pre-sale price (until 30 April 2027)
Shared room (2 people): €1,490 per person
Private room: €1,790
Pre-sale places are limited and offered first to our mailing list.
Regular price
Shared room (2 people): €1,590 per person
Private room: €1,990
What’s included
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9 nights at an Ayurvedic resort on Vypin Island, between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters
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Air-conditioned room, shared (2 people) or private
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All vegetarian meals prepared according to Ayurvedic principles: breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks daily
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Personal consultations with an Ayurvedic doctor, at the start and end of your stay
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All traditional Ayurvedic massages and treatments
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Daily morning yoga therapy practice, and Yoga Nidra on some evenings
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A journey through the five elements of Ayurveda: practices, teachings and sensory explorations
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Creative journal and workshop materials
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Optional Afternoon Workshop Series: Introduction to Yoga Therapy, with Certificate of Completion
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Ayurveda lectures
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Ayurvedic cooking class
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Excursion: An afternoon in Kochi
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Visit to the villages and temples of Vypin Island
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Teaching and personal guidance from Paulina Copello, C-IAYT yoga therapist, throughout the whole retreat
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Airport transfers: Kochi airport – resort – Kochi airport
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Extra night at the resort for those flying home the next day
Not included
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Flights to Kochi (COK)
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Indian e-Tourist visa
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Personal travel insurance and vaccines
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Extra treatments or activities
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Personal expenses and tips
"The trip to India is a dream come true for me. Paulina helped me make it happen by designing a complete and flexible program at the same time. It was a perfect combination of tourism and relaxation. "
— Gaby, retreat guest 2023
Sample schedule
Our intention is to create a gentle balance between practice, care and time to rest.
The schedule varies every day; this is an example.
Morning group yoga practice
7:00 – 8:00am
Breakfast
8:30am
Ayurvedic treatments / free time / beach / pool / rest
9:30am – 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00pm
Free time, excursion or Ayurvedic cooking class
2:00 – 4:30pm
Workshop, talk or circle (optional)
5:00 – 6:30pm
Dinner
7:00pm
Yoga Nidra or meditation (some evenings)
8:00pm
Beyond the Practice
Afternoon Workshop Series: Introduction to Yoga Therapy
Three afternoon workshops to understand the principles behind the practice and bring them into daily life: the foundations of yoga therapy, Ayurveda and the individual practice, and Integrating the practice at home. They are included and optional. Those who complete the series receive a Certificate of Completion from NJY.
Cultural Immersion: Meeting Kerala
Beyond the practices, we connect with the culture around us. We spend an afternoon in Fort Kochi visiting the old fishing nets, spice markets and centuries of history. We visit temples of Vypin Island, and enjoy local dances and martial arts the resort
→ Exclusive Add-On!
Optional 3-day extension: Munnar
For those who wish to stay a little longer, the journey continues for two nights in the hills of Munnar, where tea plantations stretch across the mountains and the air turns fresh and clear. These are quiet days to let the experience settle: a gentle morning practice outdoors overlooking the plantations, walks through the tea gardens and a visit to a tea factory to taste and learn how tea is made. On the last evening we stay at a peaceful hotel near Kochi airport, where we share a final circle together before heading home.
Price: €390 per person (shared room) / €540 (private room).
Includes 2 nights in Munnar and 1 night near Kochi airport, breakfast and dinner, and all transfers: resort – Munnar – airport hotel – Kochi airport.
→ Frequently Asked Questions