Arrive
Settle in and slow down. We open with the prayer to Patañjali, set an intention for the week, and end the day with the Pasaydan, a prayer for the well-being of all.
From class: the opening prayer · the Pasaydan
Aldona · North Goa
Five slow days of yoga, breath and stillness in a Goan village.
Residential yoga & wellness retreats at Happy Moon Homestay, built on what I learn through a one-year yoga diploma, and shared openly as I go.
Now: diploma in progress · First retreat dates to be announced
yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
“Yoga is the stilling of the movements of the mind.”
Patañjali, Yoga Sūtra 1.2
The journey
Learn it properly. Share it openly. Then host it.
I’m Ulhas. With my wife Anuja I run Happy Moon Homestay in Aldona. I’m now a year-long student of yoga, and this site is where that year becomes something useful for you.
Learn
A one-year yoga diploma in four subjects: yoga practical, yoga philosophy, human anatomy and yoga theory.
Share
Every module turns into plain-language notes in the open library below, free to read.
Host
Five-day residential retreats at our homestay for guests from across India.
Draft programme
The 5-day retreat
One theme a day, practised early, explained simply and lived quietly. Small groups, home-cooked food, and a village that goes to sleep early.
Breath
Prāṇāyāma foundations: how breathing shapes energy, focus and sleep.
From class: Anuloma-Viloma · try the breathing pacer
Body
Āsana with attention to alignment, mobility and your own limits.
From class: standing āsanas · sitting āsanas · prone āsanas
Mind
Turning inward: concentration and meditation, from the ground up.
From class: the chariot of the senses · meditation with the Viṣṇu Sahasranāma · practices for the five kośas
Carry it home
A short personal practice to take home, built on the golden rule: same time, same place, same direction, starting with five minutes a day. Then a closing circle before you leave.
From class: the golden rule
A day’s rhythm
- Wake, warm water, quiet morning
- Prāṇāyāma and āsana on the terrace
- Breakfast
- Theory circle: philosophy, anatomy or breath
- Lunch and rest
- Gentle practice or a village walk
- Evening meditation
- Dinner, then lights down early
What the retreat is built around
- Your room at Happy Moon Homestay for the retreat
- Home-cooked meals from the host family’s kitchen
- Two practice sessions a day, suitable for beginners
- Daily theory circle drawn from the diploma notes
- Walks to Corjuem Fort and along the village roads
- A take-home practice plan written for you
This is a working draft. Dates, final schedule and pricing will be shared with everyone who registers interest, before anything is booked.
The open library
Start with the eight limbs
Patañjali’s Aṣṭāṅga, the eight limbs of yoga, is the map most yoga study begins with. Notes from each diploma module will grow out from here.
Outer practice
1Yama
Restraints
How we treat others: non-harm, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, non-grasping.
See its connections
2Niyama
Observances
How we treat ourselves: cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, surrender.
See its connections
3Āsana
Posture
A seat that is steady and at ease, sthira sukham āsanam.
See its connections
4Prāṇāyāma
Breath regulation
Lengthening and refining the breath to steady the energy of body and mind.
See its connectionsInner practice
5Pratyāhāra
Sense withdrawal
Drawing attention in from the senses, the bridge between outer and inner work.
See its connections
6Dhāraṇā
Concentration
Holding the mind on a single point, such as the breath, a sound or an image.
See its connections
7Dhyāna
Meditation
Concentration that has become an unbroken, effortless flow.
See its connections
8Samādhi
Absorption
Complete absorption, where the sense of separation between meditator and object falls away.
See its connectionsThe concept map
How it all connects
Every idea, practice and body system from the class notes, linked to the others. Pick any box to see what it connects to and where it is taught. The map grows with each new class.
How these are counted: ideas are boxes on the map, connections are lines, “taught in class” is the share of solid lines, classes are notes pages, and sources are the Indian websites cited on dashed lines.
On a small screen, scroll the map sideways.
Diploma notes
Four subjects, published as I study them
- Yoga Practical 37 āsanas · 5 class notes
- Yoga Philosophy 4 class notes · read
- Human Anatomy 4 class notes · read
- Yoga Theory 5 class notes · read
Class notes
- Opening a speech, the yoga market in Goa, ten āsanas and the five kośas in practice
- The Pasaydan, eight sitting āsanas, villi and the chariot of the self
- Public speaking, eleven āsanas, digestion and yoga as skill and balance
- The golden rule of practice, a thousand names and a teacher’s memory
- The eight limbs, a steady seat and the body’s eleven systems
Studies
Where you’ll stay
Happy Moon Homestay, Aldona
A family-run home in Corjuem, Aldona, among paddy fields and coconut groves beside the Mapusa river, away from the beach crowds of North Goa.
- 4.9 ★on Google, 130+ reviews
- Superhoston Airbnb
- ~40 minfrom Mopa airport (GOX)
- ~20 minfrom Thivim railway station
Questions
Before you ask
When is the first retreat?
The programme is being shaped alongside a one-year yoga diploma. Dates will go first to everyone who registers interest.
Do I need any yoga experience?
No. The programme is being designed for complete beginners and regular practitioners alike, with simpler and stronger options in every session.
How much will it cost?
Pricing will be shared along with the dates. Registering interest is free and commits you to nothing.
How do I get to Aldona?
Mopa airport (GOX) is about 40 minutes away and the host can arrange a pickup. Thivim railway station is about 20 minutes away.
What will we eat?
Home-cooked meals from the host family’s kitchen. Tell us about any dietary needs when you register.
Is the library medical advice?
No. These are a student’s study notes, shared for learning. Talk to your doctor before starting a new practice, especially if you are pregnant, injured or managing a health condition.
Be among the first guests
Send a WhatsApp message to register interest. You’ll hear about dates and pricing before they are announced anywhere else.
Register on WhatsApp