Accommodation - I stayed in their upgraded villa option about a 3 minute walk away (Villas Coco) for the AC and single room. So glad I did - the rooms were spacious with a kitchenette, balcony and shared pool. October wasn’t as hot as summer months and glad we got a decent breeze during our second week, it cooled down so nicely some of the nights. Food/ kitchen staff - like many others reviewed, the food was top notch and one of the selling points for me. As someone who isn’t vegetarian/vegan, I didn’t miss meat at all. Every meal was filling, healthy, delicious, and loved the smoothies/ agua frescas with every meal. The program coordination staff is attentive, helpful, and sprinkles thoughtful surprises throughout - I appreciated the love and little details put into it. Our teacher Stephania has over a decade of experience and is super passionate about yoga teaching, philosophy, and especially anatomy. The fact that she’s studied, practiced, and spends a significant amount of time in India gives her a lot of credibility and was one of the reasons I picked this particular program timing. However, her teaching style is pretty tough and strict, and one of the biggest challenges we had was her tone/attitude and not feeling empowered to ask questions (or make comments) due to inadequate responses. It made for a difficult two weeks, especially for already intensive 12 hour days, where I’d expect a warm, welcoming, and safe environment. Also, be prepared since there is significant time spent outside and no AC, there will be several mosquitoes (bug spray!), and likely sitting on the floor for long periods during lecture. Overall, I learned a great deal, connected with the other students meaningfully, and feel proud to have received my certification.

This trip was incredible and I will remember this experience forever. The staff were amazing and their kindness did not go unnotcied. Everything from a cleaned room everyday, to delicious meals- I couldn't get enough! It was great to be able to connect so well with my other classmates and we have already made plans to connect in the future. The facility was also wonderful and felt right at home pretty quickly. Overall, I'm grateful to have had this experience and would recommend this trip to anyone who has a passion for yoga and learning!

So grateful for this experience! Marcia did an excellent job introducing us to the science of Yoga, I learned to much and still feel deeply touched by it. The Asana sessions in the morning were absolulety amazing, I am still missing our morning routines! It was certainly a life changing experience - thanks to all the wonderful souls I have met! And also a special thanks to the hard-working staff in the kitchen looking after us - the food was simply delicious! Every day we enjoyed different, creative, fresh vegan meals - loved every single one! However, I still need to mention one concern: if you are struggeling with heat, August might not be a good time of the year for the course. It was insanely hot and humid, you are outdoors all day and also the rooms don`t have AC. Some of us had difficulties to deal with the heat - the only thing you can really do about it is swim in the sea several times a day. If I would have known, I would have probably chosen a cooler time of the year.