About this retreat
This eight-day immersion offers dedicated Iyengar Yoga students the opportunity to engage in sustained, focused study and practice in the lovely Andalusian hills of southern Spain.
Drawing on Firooza Ali Razvi's lifelong study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and other classical yogic texts, the retreat integrates philosophical inquiry with the direct experience of practice. The teaching is precise, progressive and cumulative, with each session building on the understanding developed in the last.
Across the week, students will explore asana, pranayama and yogic philosophy through a carefully structured programme that emphasises observation, refinement and depth. The extended retreat format allows for a continuity of study that is rarely possible in regular classes or weekend workshops.
This retreat is intended for students who are committed to the Iyengar method and who value careful alignment, clear instruction and sustained attention. It is an invitation to slow down, look more closely, and deepen one's understanding of what yoga reveals in the body, breath and mind.
Accommodation, travel information and booking details can be found on the Logistics and Booking pages.
Precision over novelty. Depth over pace. Study over performance.
A fortuitous beginning
Beginning on Ganesh Chaturthi
The retreat begins on 4 September 2027, which coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha and marking the start of a ten-day observance throughout India.
In the yogic tradition, Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of learning, wisdom and new beginnings. While the retreat is not a religious event, many students may appreciate the auspicious timing of an intensive period of study commencing on a day traditionally associated with opening oneself to deeper understanding.
Your teacher
Firooza Ali Razvi
Firooza Ali Razvi began studying with Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar in 1977 and with Geeta and Prashant Iyengar from 1979. She has taught at the Light on Yoga Research Trust in Mumbai since its founding in 1980 and has been leading retreats and intensive study programmes in India since 1985.
Inspired by her study of yoga she completed a Master's degree in Philosophy in 1982, and she taught philosophy at undergraduate level for many decades. This rare combination of sustained academic inquiry and nearly five decades of dedicated practice gives her teaching a distinctive depth and clarity. Whether working with asana, pranayama or philosophical texts, she encourages students to investigate with precision, intelligence and patience.
Since beginning to teach internationally in 2006, Firooza has taught extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, South Africa and Australia. The Andalucía retreat marks her first teaching engagement in Spain.
Central to her teaching is the understanding that yoga is not a system to be mastered but a lifelong process of study and self-observation. Her classes are known for their rigour, subtlety and depth, inviting students to move beyond the external form of practice and cultivate a more refined awareness of body, breath and mind.
Over the course of this eight-day immersion, students will have the opportunity to engage deeply with this approach through sustained practice, study and dialogue.
The work
What the retreat includes
Over eight days in southern Spain, students participate in a carefully structured programme of practice, study and reflection.
- Three daily sessions of asana, pranayama and guided study, thoughtfully sequenced to build understanding and depth throughout the week.
- Teaching informed by the classical texts of yoga, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
- Dedicated question-and-answer sessions with Firooza Razvi, providing opportunities to explore practice, philosophy and individual challenges in greater depth.
- Close attention to alignment, the intelligent use of props, and the cultivation of sensitivity and awareness in practice.
- Exploration of the philosophical and ethical foundations of yoga and their relevance to contemporary life.
- Individual observation and guidance within a supportive learning environment.
- Time for rest, reflection and integration, supported by the peaceful surroundings of Suryalila Retreat Centre.
The intention is not simply to practise more, but to practise with greater clarity, intelligence and understanding.
The venue
Suryalila Retreat Centre, Cádiz
Set amidst the rolling hills of Andalucía in southern Spain, Suryalila is a dedicated yoga retreat centre offering a peaceful and inspiring setting for intensive study and practice. Its tranquil surroundings provide the ideal environment for a week of focused immersion in Iyengar Yoga.
Full details on accommodation, meals, facilities, and travel are on the Location and Logistics pages.
Explore the location
Who it is for
Who this retreat is for
This retreat is open to students with an established Iyengar Yoga practice and a minimum of 2–3 years of regular study. Students new to Firooza's teaching are warmly welcome, alongside those who have studied with her for many years.
The retreat is designed for practitioners who value depth over novelty, precision over performance, and careful observation over general instruction. It offers the rare opportunity to spend an extended period immersed in the study of yoga, free from the distractions and demands of everyday life.
For Iyengar Yoga teachers, the week provides a rare chance to step back into the role of student — to be observed, guided, corrected and challenged in their own practice. The extended format allows for a depth of exploration and individual attention that is difficult to achieve in a regular class or weekend workshop.
You do not need to be an advanced practitioner to attend, only a sincere and committed one. What matters is a willingness to work patiently, to question established habits, and to engage wholeheartedly with the practice. Those who do so often leave with a clearer understanding of their body, breath and mind, and with fresh insight into the transformative potential of yoga.
Places are limited
Eight days of focused Iyengar practice in Southern Spain
Secure your place with a one-third deposit. Full payment is staged across 2027. See the Booking page for accommodation rates, the payment schedule, and the cancellation policy.
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