11-Day Hatha & Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in the Hills of Chiang Mai, Thailand

The training runs on a rhythm that holds for all 11 days. Mornings begin with shatkriya (cleansing practices like jala neti) and pranayama, followed by a Hatha asana class. Afternoons bring an Ashtanga vinyasa session, then space for the more academic material — yoga anatomy, philosophy from the Yoga Sutras and Samkhya, and the basics of Ayurveda and the doshas. Evenings are given to mantra recitation, a yoga nidra practice, or meditation. There's also a Karma Yoga component built into the day, where students share in simple chores that keep the school running — like the class itself, it's part of the training and part of the experience.

The teaching is rooted in the Indian tradition rather than a modern Western style. Lead instructor Acharya Chandramani was raised in a traditional spiritual family, initiated into the Sanskrit gurukulam tradition at age ten, and later studied under Swami Veda in Rishikesh in the lineage of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. He holds a Ph.D. in Sanskrit and 500 E-RYT certification and taught full-time in Rishikesh from 2004 to 2018. He's joined by Siddhesh Vishare, who teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa with a therapeutic approach, plus Iyengar, Yin, and Wheel yoga, and an Ayurvedic doctor who covers anatomy and physiology from both traditional and modern medical angles.

What sets this training apart is its length and focus. At 11 days, you're getting a condensed version of the school's longer 200-hour course, covering the same fundamentals — classical Hatha postures, the first series of Ashtanga, the main pranayama techniques, the six shat karmas, meditation, and teaching methodology — without the extended time commitment. It works as either a first step before committing to a full teacher training, or as continuing education for existing teachers who want to refresh their foundations.

The location deserves its own mention. The guesthouse sits on the route to Doi Inthanon, and the excursion is a trip into the national park area, where you'll visit ancient Buddhist temples and get views over Thailand's highest mountain range. The school books out 90% of the resort during the training, so the resort's other customers — Thai tour groups, mostly — are around, but the students' common areas are effectively your own. There are rules to respect: no alcohol, no smoking, no meat or eggs on the premises, no phones in class, and 90% attendance required to pass.

What's included

- 10 nights non-AC accommodation in Thai-style wooden bungalows - 3 daily vegetarian/vegan meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga classes - Daily shatkriya and pranayama practices - Mantra recitation and Karma Yoga - Relaxation and meditation practices - Yoga Anatomy and Physiology workshops - Yoga Philosophy sessions - Excursion to ancient Buddhist temples and sightseeing on Doi Inthanon - Textbooks, printed study handouts and 100-hour yoga teacher training manual - Homemade local herbal detox drinks - Yoga mat and equipment for classes - Neti pot and rubber for cleansing practices

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Travel expenses (flights, taxi, bus, etc.) - Travel insurance - Laundry expenses (service available at additional charges) - Medical expenses - Air conditioning (available as add-on) - Other personal expenses