Little Cove Yoga Resort
Far too early for my liking the alarm went off and I had to wake up as my next destination was waiting for me. I collected the breakfast package from my hotel and took an Uber to Terminal 2 of Delhi Airport. Over there I was truly amazed how efficient the check-in process had become over the years. I Checked-in at a self-service post, dropped my luggage and went through security, the whole thing did not take longer than 30 minutes, something I never before experienced in India.
The 2 ½ hour flight was comfortable and according schedule we landed in Goa. I collected my luggage and went to the exit where a driver was already waiting for me. Another two our drive to my beloved Little Cove lied ahead.
I recognized quite some places on the way but the excitement really grew when I recognized the village where we would leave the road and follow a dirt track for the final two kilometers to the coast. It did not take long before my heart skipped a beat when I got the first glimpse of what I call Paradise on Earth.
Tucked among swaying coconut palms on the peaceful shores of South Goa, Little Cove Yoga Resort feels like a hidden sanctuary by the Arabian Sea.
Mornings began with soft sunlight and the sound of gentle waves. Yoga was practiced twice a day in an open shala overlooking the ocean, where breath and movement flow with the rhythm of nature.
Simple beach cottages rested quietly beneath the coconut trees, just steps from the sand, offering a calm and intimate space to unwind. Days unfolded slowly with yoga, meditation, vegetarian meals, and walks along the quiet beach. At Little Cove, life became beautifully simple; sun, sea, stillness, and the quiet joy of reconnecting with myself.
I was greeted by Ram, who I knew from my previous visits and he immediately organized a fresh fruit salad and a steaming cup of ginger tea for me. When I finished those, I decided to go for a nap and the sound of the crushing waves on the shore quickly guided me into a happy sleep.
Two hours later I woke up, slipped into my swimming trunks and enjoyed my first dip in the Arabian sea, followed by a short stroll on the beach where I met Hellen, the only other guest at Little Cove.
Not much later I met my friend Pardeshi and we had a lovely conversation which had to be cut short as it was time for my first yoga class. Somehow yoga at Little Cove has a different feel, it must be the breathtaking location of the shala at the waterfront whilst the sun is setting. The class was not too strenuous and from the first moment I could move with the flow. It was the perfect beginning of my time here at Little Cove.
Shortly after class dinner was served which I enjoyed with Hellen. Talking about a treat, after dinner I returned to the resort at the end of the bay and I was extremely happy to meet Nez again, who I befriended two years ago. An old monk rum with coke was the perfect closure of a perfect day. Like last time it promises to become an extremely tranquil experience.
After going to bed, it did not take long until I slept like a rose, guided by the waves on the shoreline, sent into a deep dreamworld. Next morning the alarm went off but I wasn’t ready to stand up yet until Deepak knocked on my door and brought a cup of steaming lemon-ginger tea to my terrace. Time to prepare for yoga which started at 07:30. Like at most places in India Ashtanga Yoga is practiced at Little Cove.
Ashtanga Yoga is a dynamic and traditional style of yoga that combines breath with a flowing sequence of postures. Each movement is synchronized with inhalations and exhalations, creating a continuous, meditative rhythm throughout the practice. The method follows a set series of poses that gradually build strength, flexibility, and endurance while also improving focus and inner awareness.
This practice emphasizes discipline, consistency, and mindful breathing, helping practitioners develop both physical vitality and mental clarity. Over time, Ashtanga Yoga can deepen body awareness, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of balance and calm.
The two-hour session was at times strenuous but I managed to follow it till the end. The hardest part were the extended series of sun salutations after which things slowed down a bit again and we focused on asanas (postures).
Traditionally a fresh fruit salad was served after the yoga class, followed by a cup of ginger-masala tea. Then I had a nice conversation with Hellen after it was time to relax. A bit later during the day five other guests arrived so we were now with a total of seven in the resort. It still felt we had the place for ourselves.
The weather was great, with a light sea breeze taking care of some coolness. The perfect condition for a coupe of days practicing the art of doing nothing. And so, I did….
After a relaxing afternoon nap, I returned to the Arabian Sea for a swim and to cool down a bit. The rest of the afternoon I sank in an even further state of relaxation till shortly before 6 the bell rang and another yoga class started.
A short break and dinner was served again, a tali filled with delicious vegetarian food. Another day had come to an end and it could not have been more relaxing.
The next day I was gently woken with a cup of ginger-lemon tea at my terrace which was followed by a 2 hour-yoga session. A delicious fruit platter and more tea after which I took a quick shower.
Ram, one of the staff, was already waiting for me as I had booked a relaxing ayurvedic with him. It’s is a traditional healing therapy from India that uses warm herbal oils and rhythmic strokes to relax the body, improve circulation, and balance the body’s natural energies (doshas). It helps reduce stress, detoxify the body, and promote overall physical and mental well-being.
As I knew from previous experiences Ram is a very good masseur, by the end of the one-hour session I felt completely relaxed and my skin felt pleasantly covered with a thin film of ayurvedic oil.
In the afternoon I went for a short photo session in order to at least have some physical memories of my stay. I was ready for the remainder of the day, ready to indulge in the art of doing nothing.
The last two days followed a similar pattern; tea, fruit salad, yoga twice a day, great vegetarian food and the ultimate relaxation.
On day three, when I woke up there was no electricity. Apparently, the light had died all over in the south of Goa, a situation that would last all day. Also, because of the war in Iran, gas supplies in India were extremely low. Neha had told me a couple of days before about this problem but I just heard today that Sandeep, the cook at the resort, has been cooking our wonderful meals at woodfire for the last couple of days.
Having no electricity nor gas made me feel even more disconnected from the world than I already did. A nice and extremely relaxing feeling in a way but the only unsettling thing is that I had not been able to warn Vladi ahead and tell him about the situation. The only thing I could hope was that he would not be too worried about the fact I was unreachable and all my devices went offline. It was not the first time after all during my trips to India I had disappeared from the grid for a couple of days.
During the night I was woken up by loud thunder but fortunately not much later I was able to continue my sleep. Unlike other days I woke up before the alarm and was now ready for one final day at Little Cove.
I could not have thought of a better way to finish my journey in India than at this place. However, unlike recent years this is not the end, there are still 2 more places to visit as an additional bonus to “Paradise on Earth”.
Ravi Yoga Resort
One final time Deepak knocked on my door to announce a fresh ginger-lemon tea was waiting for me at my doorstep. After that I followed my final yoga practice at little cove. Then it was time to shower and pack my suitcase. After lunch I said my goodbye to everybody after which a taxi was waiting for me to bring me t0my second and final destination in South Goa.
Some years ago, my friend Ravi and his wife Talita opened their own beachfront yoga retreat located on Polem Beach even further south from Little Cove. I was supposed to go and visit in in 2020 but Corona had other ideas in mind (you can read about that on my website at 2020 India page).
They decided to sell the place, but in October 2024 reopened at another spot at the secluded Polem beach, close to the border of Karnataka, and this time there was no stopping me. I just had to see the fruit of their hard labor with my own eyes and experience the unique atmosphere myself. There were some familiar faces under the staff and I was given a warm and friendly welcome.
Ravi Yoga Retreat is surrounded by coconut trees and the Arabian Sea, with other words, the perfect setting; calm and natural, ideal for a couple of days more of yoga, relaxation and… the gentle art of doing nothing.
There are 18 bungalows, two yoga shala’s, a dining area, and a relaxing area at a wide stretch of land in front of the beach. Plenty of beach beds available. It was simple perfection!
My beautiful bungalow looked out over the garden, the beach and the inviting Arabian sea, which seemed to be much calmer here than at Little Cove.
The retreat provides daily yoga and meditation classes, ayurvedic treatments, and (very) comfortable beach hut accommodation. Ravi and Talita have really created the perfect place to unwind (even further), deepen my yoga practice, and experience the tranquility of South Goa.
Whilst I was enjoying my tea at the terrace a familiar voice spoke out to me, it was my friend Ravi who I had not seen since 2019. That didn’t matter though as we immediately were engaged in a wonderful conversation at the lounge area of the retreat. There were so many things to talk about and both of us were extremely pleased to finally see each other again!
After my conversation with Ravi when I met him the first day it was lunch was being served but as I had already eaten, I skipped it and returned to my bungalow to unpack my things. Next, I changed into swimming pants and went to the Arabian Sea for a relaxing swim, followed by a long beach walk.
Polem Beach is a quiet, scenic beach located in the southernmost part of Goa, close to the border with the state of Karnataka. It had a peaceful atmosphere, stunning natural beauty, and lacked the heavy tourism compared with more famous Goan beaches. Actually, I was the only one on the beach and had the whole cove for myself.
I relaxed a while on one of the beach beds but then moved to a hammock where I finished my book I had started at the beginning of this trip. Whilst I finished the last pages the sun was setting, the end of another day. Back at my bungalow I took a refreshing shower and was ready for the evening.
I met the participants of the yoga teacher training at the dining table and had a nice conversation with them. The vegetarian food was one of the best I had tasted so far, inventive, original and full of flavors and textures. Magic on a plate.
Before I went to bed, I made my daily videocall to Vladi and then it was time to sleep, a deep, relaxing and comfortable sleep.
Next morning I had set the alarm as I didn’t want to be late for my private class with Ravi. The participants of the yoga teacher training had their own program and as the only “other” guest in the resort Ravi had decided to give me daily private classes.
I had told Ravi the day before that I was slightly ehh.. more mature (means older) than the last time I had classes from him and definitely less flexible. He had already told me he didn’t believe that and age is just a number.
Today class he completely focused on stretching and flexibility. After warming up we did a set of sun salutations and the next hour or so Ravi made me bend, stretch and flex. He pushed me behind my limits but watched very carefully I did not overdo things. Where necessary he aligned my position and stretched me further than what I thought was possible. At the end there was a relaxing pose where I could recover from my efforts.
Yes, it was strenuous, yes, I was pushed beyond my limits but I felt absolutely great after this private class, a personalized class completely focused on what I needed most, regain confidence in my flexibility again. Without doubt the best yoga class I had since years. (And I have ben enjoying lots of good classes in recent years).
A quick shower (Highly needed), a short rest and then the most delicious breakfast you can imagine was served in the dining area. Then it was time to mentally prepare for the rest of the day and practice the gentle art of doing nothing…
Next day started again with a fantastic private class from Ravi. And yes, like yesterday I must have pulled some stressed faces and made some funny noises but thanks to Ravi’s guidance and alignment corrections It simply felt amazing. He made sure I synchronized my breathing with the movements and guided me through the whole session. By the time I prepared for Shavasana (end relaxation, or yogi sleep) I felt content and extremely proud of what I had achieved.
Next was a shower after which breakfast was being served. Once again completely different dishes as the day before but the curd (yoghurt) was fortunately there, together with some of the most delicious cereals I have eaten.
I decided to book a massage for the next morning and go on a small photo safari on the beach. When I had brought back my camera to my bungalow it was time to check whether the water of the Arabian Sea was still wet (It was). With a full day ahead of me I could only sit down with a huge smile on my face, I could not have felt happier now my trip to India was slowly coming to an end.
Late afternoon I found a hammock overlooking the beach where I nested and listened a selection of my favorite music. An hour or so later the sun started setting and the most spectacular sight unfolded in front of me.
Whilst the sun slowly lowered a powerful Jacobs ladder formed around the clouds above it, it was absolutely spectacular and every moment my feeling of happiness became more and more intense. The whole scene was from an almost unearthly beauty. Shortly I considered getting my camera but that would have broken the magic of the moment so I decided to remain in the hammock and simple enjoy!
I slept very well that night and woke up just before six. That meant I could start my day at ease with a cup of tea and relax at my terrace before the class with Ravi began. It was another challenging class but at the end I felt rejuvenated and fresh, however a shower was definitely needed.
After a light breakfast and a break to digest I went to the massage center for an ayurvedic massage with aromatic oils. Balram did a perfect job, he applied enough pressure but it didn’t get painful. The aromatic oils were massaged deep in my skin and after an hour and a half I felt rejuvenated
Next was a swim in the Arabian Sea, or should I say a plunge. It was wonderful floating up and down on the waves while the undercurrents made me drift away and back towards the beach. Such a relaxing experience. The rest of the day was as relaxing. Good food, nice conversations, some reading and practicing the gentle art of doing nothing.
When I woke up the next morning, I could not believe it was my final day at Ravi Yoga already. Today I did not have my yoga class with Ravi as he had to teach a class for the upcoming yoga teachers. Instead, I had class from Nandini, an Indian teacher who was also involved with the teacher training. Her instructions were very clear and she guided me through a balanced and very well-structured yoga class that I enjoyed. Lot. It was also the last yoga class of my stay as it is slowly coming to an end.
But what a fantastic stay it has been. The beautiful location, secluded Polem beach, the more than beautiful resort with everything I could wish for, the mouthwatering food, the super friendly staff, the private yoga classes, and last but definitely not least, the hospitality and friendship from Ravi.
It without doubt has been my best stay in Goa so far and I during my stay I have felt intensely happy. And that feeling stayed with me the remainder of the day until I went to bed.