Andalucía, Spain
YOGA RETREAT
29th May – 5th June 2027
A wonderful week of sunshine, relaxation & yoga.
You are warmly invited to take part in this special yoga retreat in the foothills of the Alpujarras, part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Southern Spain. This promises to be a relaxing, nurturing and restorative retreat on the stunning land.
Numbers are very limited, so early booking is essential to join this week of sunshine, relaxation and yoga!
What makes this retreat special
A journey, not a timetable
The yoga follows a single thread of self-inquiry from the first session to the last. Each day’s practices reflect it, through movement, breath, meditation and deep relaxation, with time for journal reflections so the week’s inquiry can settle and unfold in your own words.
Gentle yoga for every body
Mornings are a mindful, somatic Hatha Yoga; afternoons slow down even further with Yin, Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga, Walking Meditation and Yoga Nidra. Every session can be adapted to your body, ability and experience.
A place that slows you down
La Catitera isn’t a hotel. It’s simpler, more down-to-earth and wonderfully relaxing: bohemian rooms with a Moroccan touch, a pool on the terrace, friendly dogs and a cat, and a remote, wild landscape made for rest and contemplation.
Rest that gives back
Ecology is at the heart of the house, and all proceeds from the retreats go towards reforesting the surrounding land. A £25 donation from every booking also supports Navdanya’s regenerative farming work in India.
Who This Retreat Is For
-
Anyone who wants a truly gentle, nurturing approach to yoga, whether you’re completely new or an experienced practitioner
-
People feeling the need to slow down, rest and reconnect with themselves
-
Those drawn to self-inquiry, journaling and quiet reflection
-
Nature lovers who’d rather hear birds and river song than traffic
-
Guests happy with simple, eco-minded living: compost toilets, an outdoor shower, no daily housekeeping
-
People with a reasonable level of mobility (the path up to the shala includes steps)
-
Solo travellers as well as friends travelling together
A Typical Day
Morning
8:00 – 10:00am: Gentle Hatha Yoga in the shala, with mindful movement, flowing sequences, longer-held postures, breathwork and deep relaxation.
10:30am: Brunch.
Afternoon
Free time to relax by the pool, read, write, paint, walk, or join an optional outing or activity.
5:00 – 6:30pm: Afternoon yoga.
A slower practice exploring Yin, Restorative or Therapeutic Yoga, Walking Meditation or Yoga Nidra, with time for journal reflections.
Evening
7:00pm: Dinner together, followed by a quiet evening under the mountains.
On the two longer excursion days, there’s usually no afternoon yoga; instead we gather for Yoga Nidra or another non-movement practice in the evening.
The Yoga
Each gentle session is accessible to all, combining asana (postures), flowing exercises and meditation with the breath. Postures and exercises can be modified for each individual, depending on ability and familiarity with yoga. Joy’s teaching style is informed by mindfulness, somatic and therapeutic yoga and spiritual practices.
Classes take place in the beautiful circular timber-framed yoga shala, which looks out over the mountains. Yoga mats, blocks, straps and a blanket are provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own equipment if you prefer. A journal is provided for your daily reflections.
The Venue
La Catitera
La Catitera is a 500-year-old traditional Spanish farmhouse in Almegíjar, Andalucía. Once an inn and a working farm, it has been lovingly restored into a beautiful home and guest house in a remote, wild and breathtaking location. Decorated in a bohemian, casual style with a strong Moroccan influence, it has a swimming pool on the terrace and is the ideal place for relaxation and contemplation, reading, writing, painting, swimming and, of course, meditation and yoga.
The path up to the shala is lined with scented bushes and citrus trees. A couple of friendly dogs and a cat also call La Catitera home.
An eco home, not a hotel
Ecology is at the heart of the place: you’ll find compost toilets and an outdoor shower alongside the indoor facilities, and the pool is kept with fewer chemicals than usual. The owner, Susana, is deeply committed to reforesting the land around the house, and all proceeds from the retreats go towards that project and the upkeep of the house and land. There is no daily housekeeping, so everyone looks after their own room during the week.
The area
La Catitera sits in the foothills of the Alpujarras, a popular walking destination with spectacular mountain villages. The closest small town is Torviscón, and the vibrant, bohemian town of Órgiva is not far away. It’s a lively area, full of musical and talented people, which makes for a rich week of exploring alongside the quiet of the land.
The food
A local cook makes delicious, colourful plates of fresh food. Meals are mostly vegan, with some cheese and eggs, and ingredients are organic wherever possible. Gluten-free and dairy-free options are available; please let us know about any dietary requirements when you book.
Getting here
The simplest route is to fly to Málaga, a 1hr 45min drive away. We will arrange shared transport to and from the venue once numbers are known. It costs around €45 each way (more if fewer people travel together), so it’s best to arrive at a similar time to other guests or wait at the airport so the cars can be filled. If you’d like to join the airport pick-up, please get in touch before booking your flights so arrival and departure times can be matched.
You can also fly to Granada, a beautiful city about 1hr 15min away and well worth a visit before or after the retreat. A very good, inexpensive coach runs direct from Granada to Órgiva or Torviscón, and a lift can be arranged if you’d prefer.
Optional Activities
The week is deliberately spacious, with time to rest, swim in the pool, read, walk and simply be. As La Catitera is in a popular walking destination, we’ll also explore the local area together.
Optional days out include:
-
Órgiva market (€10)
-
Longer excursions (€25), such as a visit to the Buddhist temple and a beautiful mountain village, and a trip to a local beach and flea market
-
Walks in the mountains closer to the house, arranged on the day if someone is available to drive (€10–€20 depending on distance)
There may also be opportunities for other activities, such as singing together, tarot reading, dance, holotropic breathwork, a kirtan and relaxing into a healing sound journey. You can also book an intuitive, healing massage with Hannah, who lives on the land (paid directly to her).
Excursions and activities are often arranged once we arrive, depending on who is available on the land or surrounding area, the number of guests and the transport options.
Your Investment
£750
Shared room
(ensuite)
per person
£850
Private room
(room with single bed)
per person
£900
Private room
(ensuite double bed)
per person
Included
-
7 nights’ accommodation
-
All meals, plus tea, coffee and snacks
-
Two yoga sessions each day
-
A retreat journal
-
A £25 donation to Navdanya
Not included
-
Flights to and from Spain
-
Transfers to and from the venue
-
Excursions
-
Drinks and food during free time
-
Massage and other treatments or activities
-
Travel insurance
Ready to Book?
There is a key information sheet for this retreat, with more detailed information about travel to the venue, arrival and departure times, currency and the local area. Please also read the retreat booking terms and conditions before booking. If you have any other questions, please get in touch. We will be happy to answer them.
Meet Your Yoga Teacher
Hi, I’m Joy, and I’ll be your teacher on this yoga retreat in beautiful Andalucía.
Each session on this retreat will offer gentle, accessible yoga that welcomes everyone, whether you’re completely new or an experienced practitioner looking for a more nurturing approach. My teaching style leans towards gentle Hatha Yoga, infused with somatic awareness and elements of Yin and Restorative Yoga.
Over the week, the yoga will follow a journey of self-inquiry, with yogic practices that reflect it. Morning classes will include mindful movement, flowing sequences, longer-held postures, breathwork, and deep relaxation. In the afternoons, we’ll slow down even further, holding similar themes but exploring a wider variety of restful practices, such as Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Nidra. All sessions are designed to be adaptable to your needs, with plenty of options and space to listen to your own body, and there will be time each day for journal reflections.
I trained with the Devon School of Yoga, completing both the Teacher Training and Postgraduate Yoga Therapy course, and I’m also qualified in Pregnancy and Mother & Baby Yoga. My main focus now is my online course, Reconnect with Joy, and my YouTube channel, which also hosts my podcast of the same name. I also work with people one-to-one, offering yoga therapy or life coaching. At home in Devon, I run The Angel Hall, a beautiful studio and community space where I teach regularly and host a wide range of inspiring workshops and events.
I’m really looking forward to welcoming you on this retreat and sharing a restful, heart-opening week of yoga, nature and connection.