warmth beyond the sun
Join Johnny for an enriching 9-day yoga immersion by the Indian Ocean in vibrant, tropical Varkala — in India, the birthplace of yoga.
We’ll blend movement and mindfulness into playful, conscious practices that focus on the process, not just the poses — energising, balancing, and awakening the body and mind.
Alongside Johnny, we’ll learn from energetic, knowledgeable local teachers and friends, and enjoy freshly cooked, wholesome South Indian cuisine that’s both delicious and nourishing. With plenty of free time to relax, swim, sip coconuts, hit the beach, get a massage, try Ayurvedic treatments, or explore Varkala’s spiritual side, India offers a sensory adventure that invites you to go beyond the surface.
This immersion is an opportunity to dive in both on and off the mat, tune into the energy around you, and explore the magic of living.
Leave feeling grounded, inspired, and connected to something greater.
Sounds good?
What to expect
Yogasana
Flow, stretch, strengthen your body
Meditation
Explore presence and awareness
Philosophy
Share, discover, enquire
Pranayama
Shape breath to shape the mind
Mantra
Sound as a tool for transformation
Relaxation
Gently restore and recharge
the venue
the venue
Tamarind Villa, Odayam Beach, Varkala, Kerala
Our venue is homely, simple, and comfortable, shaped by the warmth of the Indo-French family who run it. Set in a tropical garden, with a small pool for cooling off, it’s a 4-minute walk from the beach, and offers a peaceful and welcoming space to settle in with nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. We’ll practice in the large, open-sided rooftop shala, offering shade from the sun and a peaceful scene among the trees, with glimpses of the Indian Ocean and the setting sun to the West. The bedrooms are clean, spacious and air-conditioned, each with a small terrace. Our meals will be freshly prepared in the kitchen and we’ll eat together in the covered garden dining area. Think laid-back and real, with everything you need for a deep, immersive experience.
We’re a 15-minute amble from Varkala’s famous north cliff, where backpackers, tourists, and locals mix in a colourful and semi-hectic strip of bazaars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, yoga shalas and Ayurvedic centres. With everything from crystals to coconuts, tattoos to tiger prawns, the north cliff is a vibrant blend of people and culture where there’s something for most.
the schedule
Yoga is an ancient and multifaceted approach to living, of which making shapes with the body on a mat is just a tiny (and relatively new) part. That said, much of the yoga we see in UK studios—and the yoga I teach—uses physical practice as a gateway to calming the mind, and to new ways of seeing and understanding. Our yogasana practices therefore take centre stage in the schedule, though this is a broad term. This immersion isn’t about mastering postures (though there will be opportunities) as much as experiencing yoga as a way of being—through movement, breath, stillness, and reflection. Our practice will take different forms, shaped by the energy of the group and the moment. Some sessions will be dynamic and energetic, others will be slow and introspective. Sometimes the real work will happen in silence, in rest, or in the questions that arise. No particular experience is required—just curiosity, a willingness to be present, and an openness to seeing things differently.
The following schedule is indicative of where we will aim, and is much less a prescription than an offering – take what we need, without giving ourselves a hard time. No expectations, no requirements, no rights, no wrongs.
Day 1 | Friday 9th January 2026
Arrival and orientation
1600 | Opening circle
1800 | Sunset meditation
1900 | Dinner
2030 | Night time practice
Days 2 – 9
0630 | Sunrise meditation
0730 | Tea, coffee, juice
0800 | Morning yogasana
1000 | Big Breakfast
1100 | Workshop (ie mantra, philosophy, kirtan)
1200 | Lunch and free time
1530 | Chai time
1600 | Evening yogasana
1800 | Sunset meditation
1900 | Dinner
2030 | Night time practice
Day 10 – Sunday 18th January
On the final day, we’ll offer a morning practice and breakfast for those who are still around. The immersion officially concludes on Saturday night, 17th January, with a closing circle. This gives participants the opportunity to depart for early flights and travel the following day.
the cost
Single occupancy with bathroom | £950
Twin sharing with bathroom | £790 pp
Secure a place with a £300 deposit
If cost is a concern or barrier, please get in touch to discuss.
Your payment includes everything on the schedule, as well as 9 nights’ accommodation, meals, and airport transfers between Trivandrum Airport (TRV) and the venue.
It does not include flights (London to TRV return tickets are around £450–650), Indian tourist visa ($25), airport transfers in the UK, or personal expenses in Varkala.
The chart below gives a rough breakdown of how your payment is allocated.
register your interest
Get in touch for more information!