300-Hour Multi-Style Yoga Teacher Training on the Cliffs of Varkala

This is an advanced course, so it assumes you already have your 200-hour training under your belt. The focus here is depth – diving into the why behind the poses, the breath, and the philosophy, rather than just learning sequences. You will practice asana twice a day: a traditional Hatha session in the morning and an Ashtanga-led practice in the late afternoon. In between are lectures on anatomy, alignment, and the Yoga Sutras, plus practical sessions on how to teach, correct, and sequence.

The teaching is by Sai Naresh, who started his journey in Puttaparthi and trained at the Shivananda Ashram in Madurai, followed by Ashtanga training in Mysore. He has taught extensively in Russia, Germany, Italy, and Austria, and opened Lalitha Yoga Academy on Varkala’s North Cliff in 2023. Guest teachers include Ivan Bava, a spiritual teacher and author who uses his own ALO Healing method, and Mayank Goswami, who blends traditional yoga with modern anatomy and holds a Master’s in Yoga from Uttarakhand University.

The academy is a short walk from the cliff and the beach, and about 30 minutes on foot (or a cheap tuk-tuk ride) from the main town of Varkala. The campus is green and clean, with yoga halls that are modern and bright. All rooms and the practice halls are in the same building, so you can roll out of bed and into class. Students are expected to help keep the shared spaces clean and wash their own clothes – a small part of the communal, disciplined spirit of the month.

The schedule runs from 6 am to 8 pm most days, with breaks for meals and rest. There is one full day off a week for excursions, and some afternoons are lighter to give you time to rest, swim, or study. The course finishes with an assessment based on written and oral tests, your performance in class, and your attitude throughout the month. It is intense, and the rules are clear: no meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or black tea. But for people ready for a full immersion, graduates say it leaves you with a practice that goes far beyond the mat.

What's included

- 27 nights accommodation - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily Ayurvedic tea - Water, tea, coffee throughout the day - Welcome drink - Certificate upon successful completion - Weekend/day-off excursions - Course manual - Yoga mats, blocks, straps, and bolsters - School t-shirt/tote bag - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (e.g., massage) - Activities not in the itinerary - Airport transfers (optional upgrade)