8 Days, 7 Nights | 4-11 Feb 2026 | Kerala Backwaters
Real Kerala spirituality. Real sisterhood. No wellness BS.
Welcome to The Anti-Retreat. None of the usual yoga babes clutching “chai” lattes here! Just a real reatreat in a beautiful Kerala backwaters resort. You start and end your days with chanting and meditation in sync with the rhythms of Mother Nature. You soak up the energy of this bewitching land land with walking meditations, ancient Kerala rituals & visits to sacred goddess temples. You feast on traditional Kerala food. You connect deeper with yourself every day through a series of daily workshops. You connect with your sisters through a series of practises. The best bit? You connect with local women and women-led businesses (because your money supports them!)
You’ll experience things that no tourist ever would. Are you ready?
Your resort
Nestled among paddy fields, your resort is set along the backwaters of Kerala, considered one of the most picturesque parts of the world. It’s perfect place to observe life ebb and flow of life along the backwaters. You’ll see tiny boats bobbing back and forth. Kids being taken to school on boats. Traders and fisherman taking their wares up and down the backwaters. Sunrises and sunsets as they dip into the water. Lotuses opening and closing each day following the rhythms of the sun and the moon. Colourful birds nesting in the backwaters foliage and travel across the sky at different parts of the day.
When you’re not participating in retreat activities, this is your tranquil oasis where you can sit and just be.
Your daily practices
Sunrise meditations. Sunset chanting. Moon gazing rituals. You’ll enjoy daily practises that keep you deeply aligned with the rhythms of Mother Nature.
You’ll also experience daily movement practices to keep you grounded and sisterhood circles to keep you connected deeply to yourself and each other.
Your diet
Food is medicine, in Ayurveda. And in this retreat, you’ll be enjoying breakfasts, lunches and dinners that are great for your body and your spirit. You’ll eat the authentic traditional Kerala dishes, cooked in exactly the same way they’ve been made for thousands of years. We call it food for the body and for the soul.
Your routines
On this retreat, each day is an opportunity to build a deeper connection with ourselves – and each other. In a world where social media and other distractions continually disconnect and distract us, this is your opportunity to reset. You’ll go through a series of deep connection exercises and activities that I’ve specifically designed. You may find that the connections you develop last way beyond this one week.
Your trips
Walking meditations along tranquil fields, watching birds fly, learning about local trees and plants, rooted in the divine Kerala earth.
A traditional Kerala houseboat trip along the backwaters, at a leisurely pace with stopovers at scenic spots.
Spiritual trips to Goddess temples to experience the real spiritual divinity of Kerala.
Visits with local Kerala women to really connect with the people of this land.
Every trip we take together is designed to help you feel expansive and truly connected.
Your workshops
A Kerala cooking workshop, where a local female chef teaches us how to make traditional Kerala dishes – which we then get to enjoy.
A workshop with an experienced female Ayurvedic doctor, who will explain the benefits of this 5,000 years old ancient holistic medical system.
A flower workshop, where together we create an intricate floral carpet called Athapookkalam made during the Onam festival.
A garland making session, led by local women where we learn the age-old Indian art of turning flowers into feminine adornments. A joyous celebration of sisterhood.
Your rituals
You will participate in daily rituals that tap into centuries’ old Kerala wisdom and traditions. From learning ancient Ayurvedic practises to simple rituals like drinking soothing cumin water – you will experience a ritual every day.
Certain rituals have been curated in a way that you experience the sense of sisterhood and nurturing that women in Kerala have enjoyed over many millennia.
Your spirituality
Your spiritual side will be nurtured each and every day with simple easy-to-follow meditations, ancient chanting, goddess rituals, visits to temples – you’ll learn so many spiritual traditions that uplift your soul.
Your legacy of supporting local women
Your money goes to support local sisters who need it the most. I have carefully chosen amazing women I’ve met in Kerala to be our suppliers. These are strong women who could use some financial assistance so that their small businesses and lives can flourish.
Your joy
This retreat is the opposite of strict schedules, rigid practises and self-punishment packaged as heath and spirituality. This is all about joy, ease and celebrating our bodies and our lives.
On our final retreat day, this joy extends to performing a dance together, a dance practised by Kerala’s women for many centuries. With simple steps and connecting movements, this will leave you feeling in harmony with each other and, hopefully, add to your joy.
Your final retreat day
After 7 days in rural tranquillity, you’ll head to cosmopolitan Fort Kochi to experience its unique combination of Kerala soul, artsy vibe and colonial influences. You’ll enjoy one of the finest international art events in the world: the Kochi Kochi-Muziris Biennale. You’ll end your retreat with a lovely meal as we say our goodbyes – and then be dropped to the airport.
Created by a Kerala-born, London-based feminist & podcaster
I’m Sangeeta Pillai. I was born in Kerala and now live in London. I went on a personal journey to experience the ancient healing techniques and incredible goddess energy of my birthplace (I write about this in my book Bad Daughter.)
Now I want to share what I learnt with other women. That’s why I put this retreat together. (Also I’m tired of ignorant white feminists peddling the spirituality of my birthplace and I’d like women to enjoy REAL Indian spirituality.)
Do you want to know more about me? I’m a feminist activist, a podcaster, an author – recognised as a leading voice for South Asian feminism globally.
My multi–award-winning Masala Podcast (winner of 6 British Podcast Awards & a major Spotify competition) is part of my South Asian feminist network Soul Sutras, which includes theatre shows, workshops and live events. I’ve been featured extensively in the press from BBC Radio, The Guardian, Metro, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, The Standard, Brown Girl Magazine, Deccan Herald to Huffington Post – as well as on giant billboards in New York & London.
