JILL STARLEY-GRAINGER goes to see India's spiritual retreats

FIGHT CLUB
Forget the softly, softly approach to spirituality. You gotta fight, fight, fight for your (inner) love at The Indian School of Martial Arts. Based at Dharmikam ashram in Kerala, devotees knock their demons out of their minds and bodies using Kalaripayatt, one of the world's oldest martial arts techniques, and you can get a taste of it on a stay here.

Luckily, Kalaripayatt goes hand-in-hand with Kalarichikilsa, an intense, occasionally almost painful, massage-based therapy that focuses on pressure points to heal the wounds of injured warriors (and mere mortals with sore muscles or tension knots).

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The Indian School of Martial Arts (dialling from the UK: 0091 471 223 2686/www.dharmikan.com) offers single rooms from £100 per night, full board. Price includes treatments and martial arts training.

Jet Airways (0808 101 1199/www.jetairways.com) offers return flights from Heathrow to Trivandrum via Mumbai from £495.
Incredible India: 0207 437 3677/www.incredibleindia.org

EXPAND YOUR MIND
Stretch your mind as well as your body at SwaSwara in Karnataka, Goa. Set in 26 acres of rolling hills and gardens, this serene retreat attracts an older crowd seeking more than just a morning yoga session. After a week you'll be more flexible, and you'll have expanded your horizons with visits to villages, markets and historic sites, bird-spotting expeditions with the on-site naturalist, Indian cooking classes and painting lessons with the artist in residence. Top quality Ayurvedic massage is also on offer, mixed with plenty of yoga, controlled breathing and meditation.

Spend some time relaxing on peaceful, party-free Om beach or splashing about in the pool, while evenings are spent watching traditional performances from dancers and entertainers. Villas are built in the local style but are blissfully air-conditioned with private bathrooms.

Wellbeing Escapes (0845 602 6202/ www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk) offers seven nights from £1,200pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from various UK airports to Goa, daily Ayurvedic treatments and most activities.

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MOUNTAIN HIGH
Escape from the rat race on an Ayurvedic break in mist-shrouded mountains. A holistic discipline founded millennia ago in India, Ayurveda aims to integrate mind, body and soul for perfect harmony.

There's nowhere better, or more luxurious, to try it than Ananda (137 822 7500/www.anandaspa.com) in the Himalayas. Winning awards for both the quality of instruction and its accommodation and spa, this is the place to head for world-class yoga, meditation, balanced nutrition and indulgent pampering.

The five-day Ananda Stress Management package, doubles from £1,900pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes meditation sessions, yoga, spa treatments and fitness training.

Kuoni (01306 747002/ www.kuoni.co.uk) offers seven nights at Ananda from £1,781pp (two sharing), B&B.

Price includes return flights from Heathrow to Delhi, train and transfers to Ananda.