Retreats
A One-Week Yoga Intensive in Goa (2026-27): 5 Days or 9 Days?
Most people who ask about a "one-week yoga intensive" in Goa are on a holiday with a fixed window, and want to leave with a practice that is actually better rather than just a nice week. This guide compares the four short programs we run at our shala in Arambol. They are our own courses; we are a yoga school, so read it with that in mind.
Quick answer: which one-week yoga intensive in Goa should I do?
If you want your poses to change, take an alignment course at Arambol Beach: the 5 Day Alignment Yoga Course covers the foundations ($150 for the course only, or $250 with food & accommodation), and the 9 Day Alignment Yoga Intensive gives balances, hips, twists, backbends and inversions a day each ($350 for the course only, or $450 with food & accommodation). Both run in fixed batches through the Goa season and teach the method of founder Alpesh Patwari, who has 21 years teaching alignment.
Both courses grow out of one teacher’s work. Alpesh Patwari has 22+ years of teaching behind him, 21 of them centred on alignment, which makes him one of the most experienced alignment teachers working today. That depth is why a short course here can go into detail: the cues, props and adjustments have been refined over two decades, not put together for a short stay.
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| Program | Length | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Day Alignment Yoga Course | 5 days | From $150 | Foundations of alignment; stiff or newer bodies |
| 9 Day Alignment Yoga Intensive | 9 days | From $350 | Alignment in depth, one body region a day |
| 5 Day Yoga & Meditation Immersion | 5 days | From $250 | A quieter, restorative week of meditation |
| 50 Hour Intensive Yoga Retreat | 6 days | Price on request | Experienced students who want long, full days |
What does a one-week yoga intensive in Goa include?
A real intensive is a daily, guided timetable with one clear subject, not a few drop-in classes stretched across a week. On our alignment courses that subject is how you stand, fold, balance and bend: exact cues, blocks, belts, bolsters and chairs, and hands-on adjustments from the teacher, with a region of the body at the centre of each day. The residential option adds a room and vegetarian meals near the shala, so the only thing you organise is the flight.
Should I choose the 5-day or the 9-day alignment course?
Choose five days if you have a week and want the foundations; choose nine if you already know alignment is what you came for. Both courses use the same method and props. Five days can only cover the base of the method. Nine days give standing balances, hips, twists, backbends and supported inversions a day each, plus time to build your own sequence.
For a side-by-side table of the two, with who each one suits, read 5-day vs 9-day alignment yoga course in Goa.
- 5 days: $150 for the course only, or $250 with food & accommodation, for your chosen batch.
- 9 days: $350 for the course only, or $450 with food & accommodation, for your chosen batch.
When can I do a short yoga intensive in Goa?
During the Goa season, in fixed batches at our Arambol shala. The 5-day course runs its own batches across the same months, some starting on days the 9-day course does not use, so between the two there is usually a start date close to your arrival. Every current batch is listed on dates and prices. From May to September our teaching moves to Bhagsu, Dharamshala.
Is a one-week intensive a teaching qualification?
No. A short intensive improves your own practice, but it does not count toward Yoga Alliance registration. If you want to teach, the next step is the 11-day 100 Hour Alignment TTC in Goa (from $440) or the 22-day 200 hour course (from $700). Many students use a 5- or 9-day course to find out whether they want to.
Arambol Beach, Goa
Pick a week, keep the practice
Choose a 5- or 9-day batch and we will confirm your place within 24 hours. No payment to book.
Written by
Alpesh Patwari
Founder and lead teacher of Alpesh Yoga, and one of the most experienced teachers of alignment-based yoga. Alpesh has taught alignment for 21 years: precise postures, props and hands-on adjustments that make every pose safe for every body.
Meet our teachers →Frequently Asked Questions
At Alpesh Yoga in Arambol, the 5 Day Alignment Yoga Course is $150 for the course only, or $250 with food & accommodation, and the 9 Day Alignment Yoga Intensive is $350 for the course only, or $450 with food & accommodation.
Yes. The 5-day alignment course in particular suits newer and stiffer bodies, because props and adjustments let you work in the right shape before you have the flexibility to force it.
At Alpesh Yoga's shala in Arambol, North Goa: Alpesh Yoga Center, Opposite Arcan Bar, Before Piya Guest House, Madhlo Waddo, Arambol Beach, North Goa 403524.
No. The 5- and 9-day courses are for your own practice and do not count toward Yoga Alliance registration. To teach, take the 100 or 200 hour teacher training.
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