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Located 51 kms away from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is Varkala, slowly and steadily gaining popularity among the aspiring yogis and practitioners of yoga. Varkala is also known as Dakshin Kashi (Varanasi of South India), this little town is cementing its hold as one of the prominent destinations for yoga, Ayurveda and wellness in South India.
Blessed with the sights, sounds and smells of nature, Varkala is home to clean (tourist free) beaches, two thousand year old Janardhana Swamy Temple, legendary Sivagiri Mutt - and some of the excellent yoga retreats South India (particularly Kerala) has to offer. Kerala in general is said to be God’s own country, and motherland of Ayurveda – an ancient medicinal system that is believed to be more than five thousand years old.
The tranquil locales of this tiny hamlet make it an ideal place to learn and practice different forms of yoga and attend a yoga retreat in Varkala. Varkala was historically known as Udaya Marthandapuram, after its 16th century ruler King Udaya Martha Varma. The Papanasam beach, located ten kilometers away, is believed to purge the individuals of their sins.
A yoga retreat in Varkala offers the calm and much needed break from the daily grind. Here you will find quaint shops selling paraphernalia, shacks on the cliff, a sense of calm – and your inner balance. The first step in finding that sense of calm involves finding out information about the various yoga retreats available here. To simplify that step for you, we have compiled a list of some of the best yoga retreats Varkala has to offer for a yogic soul. The list of popular yoga retreats in Varkala mentioned below are sorted in descending order of price (highest to lowest)
Definitely check number 9 if you are looking for a true digital detox and want to participate in the oldest yoga retreat in Varkala.
Cost per day USD 148.2 | 11,102 INR
Agnihotra Yoga Varkala is different from the rest of the centres in the way it functions. The yoga centre makes use of organic materials in the best possible ways. While its roof is thatched with the coconut leaves, its floors are kept shiny and neat with cow dung.
The Temple of Fire inside Agnihotra Yoga ashram premises also makes use of organic materials wherever possible. Here, age-old Homa Therapy is practiced to replenish the being. Founded by Yoga Acharya Shri Rajeev Kumar ji, the centre conducts various Vedic fire customs on a daily basis.
These customs lend a positive aura to the place and de-stress a stressed out mind. The group at yoga retreats in Varkala is kept small so that the instructors are able to attend to each and every student properly. The yoga centre also gives weightage on what you eat during your stay here. The meals are served as per the person’s dosha (vata, kapha and pitta). Agnihotra Yoga Varkala substitutes sugar with the healthier alternatives such as honey. One is also given a glassful of wheat grass juice to cleanse their system. All in all, the yoga retreat here is designed to work on multiple levels of one’s being.
The 6 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Varkala Organized by Agnihotra Yoga Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 741 | 55,580 INR
Cost per day USD 121.6 | 9,109 INR
Soul and Surf Varkala combines surfing with yoga. Armed with 8 years of experience, this Varkala based yoga retreat offers an immersive surf experience at some of the isolated beaches in the vicinity. Besides that Soul & Surf regularly organizes bonfire sessions in their lovingly tended gardens.
The yoga classes at Soul & Surf Varkala are conducted at the rooftop amidst scenic views of the beach. As per the website, their outdoor clifftop surf-cinema with stone baked pizza is wildly popular among its visitors. Soul & Surf was started by Ed & Sofie Templeton after they winded up their business and shifted to Kerala post globetrotting. Their Slow Flow yoga class is paced slower, and is an experience in itself. The postures at these classes are held for a longer duration of time while the transitions in-between are minimized for a greater effect.
At Soul & Surf, attention is paid on the class size so as not to burden the instructors. The centre is also affiliated with various charities on a local level. Recently, they associated themselves with Mossy Earth to protect the environment. Under their new initiative, Soul & Surf will plant two saplings for every new yoga retreat booking made.
The 7 Days Yoga & Surf Retreat in Varkala Organized by Soul & Surf Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 730 | 54,686 INR
Cost per day USD 108.8 | 8,141 INR
Kerala is considered the birthplace of Ayurvedic medicine. It is often billed as the God’s Own Country. Casa Eva Luna in Varkala, Kerala is located at a short distance from the Varkala beach. This yoga retreat in Kerala has two buildings that stand surrounded by tall coconut, avocado, and fragrant mango trees. The retreat’s air carries a faint aroma of the spice and herb garden it houses.
Established in 2007, Casa Eva Luna is an offshoot of Kerala Konnections. The retreat has intercultural roots and was formed by an English, Spanish and Indian partnership. Casa Eva Luna originally had three rooms, which were subsequently expanded to seven in 2014. The retreat is founded by the trifecta of Katrina Benito -an Anglo Hispanic national with twenty-plus experience in the tourism sector, Stanley- a Keralite, and Esther Cuevas – a Barcelonian.
The spacious rooftop yoga shala at Casa Eva Luna Varkala can accommodate up to twenty people at a time. The students here are taught the Sivanand style of yoga with a focus to improve their immune system and immunological responses. Each yoga retreat at Casa Eva Luna Varkala comes with three sessions of Abhyanaga massage along with three head and foot massages.
The 7 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Casa Eva Luna Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 653 | 48,864 INR
Cost per day USD 66.6 | 4,984 INR
Pachamama Beach Resort in Varkala is nestled in between coconut, palm and banana trees. The resort is just ten minutes away from the Varkala beach and promises to offer a home-like ambience. A home away from home is what it seeks to provide at its yoga retreat in Varkala.
The beach resort was founded by Orissa born Manoranjan Chand. After a destructive cyclone, Manoranjan, then a sixteen-year-old teenager, left his home to embark on a yogic journey. His journey took him to Delhi before he made Kerala his base. Today, Manoranjan has a decade worth of yoga teaching experience.
The Pachamama beach resort offers a wide selection of health and relaxation-centered services in a family-like ambience. The visitors can pick up the packages that are best suited according to their needs and concerns. The resort also pays detailed attention to the standard of cleanliness. Each room at the resort is serviced daily by the staff and maintained according to European standards.
The 10 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Pachamama Beach Resort Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 600 | 44,898 INR
Cost per day USD 91.6 | 6,862 INR
Chandra School of Yoga in Varkala is located right next to the helipad. Still, the yoga school has a lush garden containing various trees. While the Varkala beach is two minutes away from Chandra School of Yoga; the local market is also not so far and is just a fifteen-minute walk from the retreat centre.
The yoga school was started in 2014 by Dr. Chandra Kumar. Dr. Kumar carries an experience of more than fourteen years in Naturopathy and Yogic Science with him. After completing his Bachelors in Naturopathy and Yogic Science from Tamil Nadu Medical College of Naturopathy and Yogic Science (affiliated to Dr. MGR Medical University); he went on to do a Master’s in Psychology from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, and a PG Diploma in Fitness Management from Bharathiar University.
Dr. Kumar has also finished E-RYT 200 and 300 RYS training programs. The yoga and meditation retreat at Chandra School of Yoga employs an individualized approach by restricting the batch intake to a maximum of fourteen students for its yoga retreat in Varkala. The retreat integrates yoga with wellness treatments and yoga with meditation. The wellness treatments are bespoke in the sense as they are decided after a consultation with the doctor for a targeted approach.
The 7 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Varkala Organized by Chandra School of Yoga Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 550 | 41,202 INR
Cost per day USD 81.6 | 6,112 INR
Nidra Yog Foundation in Varkala is located near the Janardhana Swami temple, a Vishnu temple believed to be more than 2000 years old. Nidra Yoga Foundation was started in 2014 and offers Better Living Yoga Retreat in Varkala to enhance the quality of living.
Anyone can enroll themselves in the Better Living Yoga Retreat Varkala and reap the benefits of the program as it's open for all. The centre was founded by Ramesh Menon, a yoga motivational speaker.
The retreat serves yogic food made with minimal / zero oil and spices. The students are nudged to eat their meals in silence so that they are able to absorb more nutrients. Through a combination of yoga and meditation, the students are taken to the path of self-discovery and self-knowledge.
The 7 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat Organized by Nidra Yog Foundation Varkala, Kerala includes
Information was not updated on the website regarding this yoga retreat once it is, we will update this section.
COST USD 490 | 36,707 INR
Cost per day USD 66.6 | 4,984 INR
Mathatitu Yogaashram in Varkala is located amidst the serene proximity of Varkala beach. It was founded in 2014 by Yogacharya Anoopanand. Yogacharya Anoopanand’s vision is to fuse the best teachings of the west and the east.
The yoga centre has some of the best views of Varkala beach. As per Yogacharya Anoopanand, yoga contains the power to unite the nations and can make the world a better place to live. Anoopanand further believes that yoga can bring harmony in the lives of people irrespective of their color, gender, or other such social markers.
That said, Mathatitu Yogaashram believes in walking the talk. They have taken the first step towards equality by keeping the fee structure same for both Indian and foreign nationals for the yoga retreats in Varkala. Though the prime focus here is on the Hatha style of Yoga, the students are made to practice each and every style so that they gain practical knowledge about different styles and forms of yoga. The centre also aims to make the yoga training program affordable so that it is accessible to all.
The 7 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Mathatitu Yogaashram Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 400 | 29,932 INR
Cost per day USD 65 | 4,864 INR
Shiva Rishi Yoga in Varkala is enveloped in quietude. It is situated nearby other places of attraction such as Sivagiri Mutt and an ancient Vishnu Temple that is believed to be around 2000 years old.
Shiva, the founder of Shiva Rishi Yoga, is a devout Lord Shiv bhakt. At fifteen, Shiva used to frequent Shiva Temple near his native place and meditate deep inside the jungles in the vicinity. Shiva has now been developing yoga techniques for more than a decade.
The yoga retreat at Shiva Rishi Yoga is an ode to the collective teachings by luminaries of Vedic tradition: Swami Sarasvati Satyananda, Swami Sivanada, Swami Vivekananda, Adi Shankara as well as Samkya yoga philosophy (one of the six astika school of Indian philosophy), Swara yoga teaching (the ancient science of breathing), nondualism, tantric traditions, and the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism.
The 7 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Shiva Rishi Yoga Varkala, Kerala includes
Information was not updated on the website regarding this yoga retreat once it is, we will update this section.
COST USD 390 | 29,185 INR
Cost per day USD 61.1 | 4,572 INR
Sharanagati Yogahaus in Varkala is located in a silent part of Varkala beach. Situated in an acre of well-maintained garden containing coconut, banana, papaya and mango trees, Sharanagati Yogahaus is the oldest residential yoga retreat in Varkala.
Established a decade ago, it has stayed true to its purpose thus, maintaining its energy in the purest form. Since its establishment, the centre has not been used for another purpose than a residential yoga retreat. The batch size at the retreat is restricted to a maximum of fifteen people for individualized attention.
One is discouraged to use their digital devices (such as cell phones/laptops) here. The yoga retreat also doesn’t offer any teacher training program or allows any drop-in classes in order to keep its focus intact and laser-sharp. The asanas practice here are based on Sivananda Yoga and taught by the centre’s founder Hari Herbst. Hari has spent three years at Sivananda organization in India, California and Canada. He has also learnt Vipassana in-depth at the Abhayagiri monastery wherein he spent one year in the dense forest as an Anagarika.
The 7 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Varkala Organized by Sharanagati Yogahaus Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 367 | 27,462 INR
Cost per day USD 82.3 | 6,159 INR
Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort is built on the concepts of Vedic wellness. It opened its doors to the public in 2009. Spread across five acres of manicured lakeside gardens, the resort, like its name, is fragrant with the sights, smells and sounds of nature.
The resort is located near the erstwhile office of EIC (East India Company) and houses a vintage Trompe L'Oeil on the walls of its lobby. The resort’s kitchens serve up a host of flavorsome dishes using pesticide-free ingredients grown in its certified farm. Located near Mala Lake in Kollam, the yoga retreat at Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort is perfect for those seeking solitude and quiet.
The visitors here have an option to sign up for Ayurvedic therapies post consultation with the in-house Ayurveda specialist. By blending yoga and Ayurveda, the visitors at the yoga retreat can make use of the diverse practices and follow a personalized healing module post consultation with the experts at the facility.
The 4 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort Varkala, Kerala includes
COST USD 247 | 18,449 INR
Cost per day: Price on request
Adishakti Yogashala in Varkala is surrounded by palm tree jungle and the tranquil Varkala beach, also commonly known as Papanasam beach. The yogashala was formed by three yogis belonging to different parts of India.
The yoga retreat has an interesting story about how its founders met. Manoranjan, one of its founders, was working as a therapist and Ayurvedic chef in Rishikesh. One day, he met Anil at his workplace. An instant connection developed between the two. In 2017, when Manoranjan was invited by his brother for a class in Pachamama, his path crossed with Binoy. Soon, they all came together and decided to set up Adishakti Yogashala.
The yoga retreat blends Ayurveda and yoga for all levels of courses. Adishakti believes that yoga and Ayurveda are inter-connected; and are like siblings. At Adishakti, it’s not uncommon to come across the program centered across long-established practices such as kriyas, yamas, niamas and bandhas. The Yoga retreat is also focused on acquainting its visitors about the other traditional art forms of the state such as Kathakali and Kalaripayattu (Kalari).
The 10 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Varkala Organized by Adishakti Yogashala Varkala, Kerala includes
COST Price on request
Cost per day: Price on request
Aatmashanti in general means a peaceful soul. To embark on an inner peaceful journey, the role of the external environment (stimuli) cannot be overlooked. Aatmashanti Yoga in Varkala is situated within a peaceful corner so as to facilitate the journey of inner transformation speedily.
The centre was the brainchild of Dr Pramitha Rateesh. Dr Rateesh founded Aatmashanti Yoga to promote yoga as a conscious way of life. She feels that yoga can teach life skills which can be put to use at a physical, spiritual and emotional level.
The Yoga Ayurveda retreat at Aatmashanti is a part of 200 hour yoga teacher training retreat. The retreat includes three Ayurvedic body massages, breather activities and a combination of yoga styles to get you there.
The 10 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Aatmashanti Yoga Varkala, Kerala includes
Price on request
Cost per day USD Price on request
Rama School of Yoga in Varkala is quite close to the famed Varkala beach. Varkala is a yogi's delight because of the vistas it offers. The place is also famous for its cliff formation and regarded as a marvel among the geographers.
In here lies Rama School of Yoga founded by Mr. Ramrajan. Ramarajan has been fascinated with yoga since his childhood. He has received teacher training in Sivananda Ashram, Madurai. Rama school of yoga was started to promote Ashtanga and Hatha styles of yoga.
Rama School of Yoga believes in keeping the batch size small. Here no more than twenty students are allowed in the yoga retreat for a comfortable exchange of knowledge between the instructors and the students. The students here come together from different nations with a common objective to learn and look within.
The 7 Days Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat in Varkala Organized by Rama School of Yoga Varkala, Kerala includes
Price on request
Here is a quick recap of the 13 most popular yoga retreat in Varkala sorted in descending order of price
**Banner image credits Aahuti
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