Goa and yoga retreat Christmas 2022/23 

I am of to Goa, India on Boxing Day 2022 for a ten day yoga retreat. My first visit to India, my first yoga retreat, my first adventure on my own since I was 18 years of age. I am scared and excited. Let's see what happens. 
Wow what a trip. I did it.

I have below listed the top learning and improvements for myself and I wanted you to know.
1. Travelling abroad on my own for the first time since I was 18 yrs, I am now 52. This has helped to build my confidence.
2. My understanding of yoga is now significantly greater than before and I have really enjoyed the philosophy classes and general inputs thread through all classes.
3. My stomach has really benefited from the food. ( Although after 9 days really need to eat a variety of food.)
4. I am really proud of myself for going vegan ( I eat a lot of meat) I have not had any caffeine ( coffee, tea or coke), alcohol or chocolate  in 10 days. This is a minor miracle.
5. I am more flexible in my lower back, hamstrings, shoulders and waist. I have really noticed a difference in how much further I can go in postures.
6. I can now join the breath work with the postures. Clearly I put  in extra effort before I came on the trip as this was a big motivator to concentrate on yoga. It makes me happy to feel and see the difference.
7. Not sure what you call if but I do the stronger - from Plank lower down to updog … I don’t touch the floor. This is new to me and feels great doing it.
8. Meditation. I move a lot less and have enjoyed my first experience of meditation.
9. Almost forgot… I have had my first massage. I had five… really relaxing.
10 I realised that I enjoy the feeling yoga gives me and being relaxed however I am no yoga teacher and I won't be taking my learning further into yoga philosophy.