50-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training and Wellness Retreat in Varkala, Kerala, India

The 50-hour Yin Yoga teacher training at Lalitha Yoga Academy is run by Sai Naresh, who founded the school in 2023 on Varkala's North Cliff. Naresh started teaching meditation in 2016, then trained in Hatha, Yin, Ashtanga Vinyasa, and Vinyasa flow, with teacher trainings at Shivananda Ashram in Madurai, in Mysore, and in Kerala. He has taught in Russia, Germany, Italy, and Austria as well as in Varkala. He's joined on the course by Jyoti and by Mayank Goswami, who has a diploma from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, a 500-hour Yoga Alliance USA certification, and a Master's degree in Yoga from Uttarakhand University. Between them they cover asana, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, and the Ayurvedic angle.

A typical day starts around seven with pranayama, followed by a two-hour Yin asana practice. After brunch there's anatomy, then Yin methodology, then philosophy, then another practice and teaching practice in the late afternoon. Dinner is at six-thirty, and on alternate days there's meditation at seven-thirty. It's a full schedule, but the Yin style keeps the physical intensity low — the work is more about holding still and paying attention than about building heat. You'll spend a good part of the course lying or sitting on the floor, working with props, learning how to support the body in long holds.

The curriculum is structured: Yin Yoga asana, pranayama, Yin anatomy with a focus on fascia and connective tissue, the fundamentals and therapeutic benefits of Yin, meridian and energy systems from traditional Chinese medicine, philosophy, meditation, and teaching methodology. You're assessed on your teaching practice during the course, and you'll get a certificate on completion. The school says the certification allows you to teach Yin Yoga anywhere in the world.

The academy is at the Bava Beach Resort & Retreat Center, which is also where you stay. It's minutes from the beach, so you can swim every day if you want. A note from previous students: the course typically doesn't include the advertised sunrise beach yoga during monsoon season, so if that's a priority, aim for the drier months. The retreat is 8 days and 7 nights, and the price depends on the room you pick — there are non-AC, AC, and luxury rooms, all private single occupancy.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in a private room - 3 daily meals (breakfast, brunch, and dinner) - Fruit and snacks available all day - Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day - Welcome drink - 50-hour Yin Yoga teacher training course - Certificate upon successful completion - Group excursions/activities - Weekend/day off excursions - Course manual - Professional event photos - Yoga mats, blocks, straps, and bolsters - School t-shirt/tote bag - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Flights costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Airport transfer (available for €40 per person)