Socials for the soul: a peek into a new-age wellness retreat

Four friends in Kochi are encouraging locals to replace that Sunday boozy brunch with an outdoor workout at Aurah Socials

We’ve seen ‘socially distanced’ running and cycling groups, and had our fill of Instagram live sessions and Clubhouse rooms on lockdown fitness and home workout guides. With restrictions now easing, a group in Kochi is now blending these elements together with a bit of the outdoors. The brainchild of 20-somethings Riya Jithu, Ashwini Nandakumar, Hannah Muthoot and Anna Pauly, it came about when they were looking for a social experience that went beyond just dinner and drinks. “We wanted to go for a workout and smoothie bowl. But a Google search revealed no results for Kochi. So, we decided to host our own ‘socials’ and co-founded Aurah Socials,” says Nandakumar. The idea was to get people to step out of their gyms and makeshift fitness studios, aka living rooms, once a month. “You meet like-minded individuals at a scenic location such as the beach, on a pool deck, in a garden, or overlooking the backwaters, get in a group workout [HIIT, pilates, yoga], and end it with a nutritious meal,” explains the 25-year-old, who works at an edtech startup.