Published September 26 , 2026 · By Soniya Rangher
Yoga Teacher Training in Galle, Sri Lanka
Morning in Galle begins the traditional way. At 6:30 AM you practise Jal Neti and pranayama, the cleansing and breathing that yogis have used to start the day for centuries, and only then step onto the mat. The day closes at 8:30 PM with satsang and meditation.
This is how Diksha Yoga School approaches yoga teacher training in Galle, Sri Lanka: as a way of living for 23 days, with postures as one part of it. Founder Yogini Manisha puts it simply: “Flexible yoga teachers are easy to find. A meditative, authentic one is much harder to find.” So the group stays at 10 students or fewer, awareness and breath come before advanced poses, and by week two you are teaching your fellow trainees.
You live at Green Serene Villa on the southern coast, eat three sattvic vegetarian meals a day, and have Sundays free for Galle Fort and the beach. Fees start at €2,000 with your room, meals and Colombo airport pickup included, and you graduate with a 200-hour certificate from a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School.
The next course starts on 5 November 2026, and a deposit from €600 holds your place. Below you will find the courses on offer, the hour-by-hour timetable, fees and dates for 2026–2027, how to get here, the weather and what to pack.
Table of Contents
Yoga Teacher Training in Galle at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
| Courses | 100-hour, 200-hour (23 days) and 300-hour (28 days) |
| Venue | Green Serene Villa, Galle, southern Sri Lanka |
| Season | November to May |
| Next 200-hour course | 5 to 27 November 2026 |
| Lead teacher | Yogini Manisha, E-RYT 500 and YACEP |
| Group size | Maximum 10 students |
| Level | Beginner and intermediate (200-hour) |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | From a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 200 and RYS 300) |
| 200-hour fees | €2,000 to €3,200, depending on your room |
| Rest day | Sunday, no classes |
| Airport | Colombo (CMB), about 150 km away, pickup included |
See the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka →
Why Choose Galle for Yoga Teacher Training?
Where you train shapes how you train. A 200-hour course asks for early mornings, long days and a quiet mind, and Galle supports all three.
- A pace that suits practice. Galle moves slowly. It is far calmer than Sri Lanka’s big cities, so nothing competes with your 6:00 AM start or your evening meditation.
- A culture that understands stillness. Sri Lanka is a largely Buddhist country, where temples and meditation are part of ordinary life. Sitting quietly is nothing unusual here.
- The ocean within reach. The southern coast is lined with beaches, and Unawatuna is only a few kilometres from Galle Fort. After six days of practice, a Sunday by the sea is real rest.
- Four centuries of history on your doorstep. Galle Fort was begun by the Portuguese, built up by the Dutch in the 17th century, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk its ramparts at sunset, past the lighthouse, the cafés and the colonial-era streets.
- An easy place to live. Shops, cafés, pharmacies and ATMs are all close by, so small errands never eat into your study time.
What Is Galle Like for International Students?
Galle has welcomed travellers for centuries, first as a trading port and now as a favourite stop on the southern coast. Daily life here is simple to manage, even if this is your first trip to Asia.
| You will need | What to expect in Galle |
| Money | The currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). ATMs are available around town, and small notes are useful for tuk-tuks |
| Phone and internet | Local SIM cards are easy to buy, and Wi-Fi is available at the villa |
| Getting around | Tuk-tuks and taxis for short trips. Agree the fare before you set off |
| Food and coffee | Restaurants and cafés, especially in and around Galle Fort. Your three daily meals are served at the villa |
| Everyday supplies | Supermarkets and pharmacies in town |
| Language | Your course is taught in English, and English is widely understood in shops and cafés around the Fort |
| What to wear | Light clothes most days. Cover your shoulders and knees when you visit a temple |
For most of your 23 days you will need very little of this. Your room, your meals and your classes are all in one place.
Which Yoga Teacher Training Courses Run in Galle?
There are three ways to train with Diksha Yoga School in Galle. The right one depends on where you are in your practice and how far you want to take it.
| Course | Length | Choose it if |
| 100-hour | A shorter immersion | You want a first taste of residential training |
| 200-hour | 23 days | You want to teach, or to understand your own practice properly. This is the foundation certificate, and where most students begin |
| 300-hour | 28 days | You have completed a 200-hour training and want to go further in teaching, anatomy, sequencing and philosophy |
Not sure which one fits? Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.
Explore the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka →
Explore the 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training →
Inside the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Galle
The 200-hour course is built around one idea: you learn yoga by living it, and then by teaching it.
- You practise three styles every week. Mornings alternate between Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga foundations, and every evening ends with Vinyasa Flow.
- You study what sits behind the postures. Pranayama and shatkarma, meditation, yoga philosophy, and anatomy and alignment each have their own place in the day.
- You teach from week two. In the evening Vinyasa class you begin guiding your fellow trainees, first through simple asanas and later through full classes you have sequenced yourself.
- You are known by your practice. With no more than 10 students, your teachers see how you move and how you teach, so their feedback is specific to you.
- You learn from a teacher of teachers. Yogini Manisha, founder of Diksha Yoga School, holds E-RYT 500 and is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider. She has taught for more than 16 years and guided over 23,000 students from more than 80 countries, and she teaches alongside her experienced team.
- You leave qualified. After your assessment you receive a 200-hour certificate from a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School, which makes you eligible to register as an RYT 200.
Read the full guide: What to Expect From a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka →
What Is a Typical Day Like?
On the 200-hour course, the day runs from a 6:00 AM wake-up to an 8:30 PM satsang, Monday to Saturday. That is about 9.5 hours of scheduled practice and classes, with a two-hour break after lunch.
| Time | Session |
| 6:00 AM | Wake up |
| 6:30 AM | Jal Neti and pranayama |
| 7:00 AM | Morning asana: Hatha Yoga on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Ashtanga foundations on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| 9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 10:00 AM | Yoga philosophy |
| 11:00 AM | Alignment and adjustments |
| 12:00 PM | Meditation |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch and rest |
| 3:00 PM | Anatomy |
| 4:30 PM | Teaching methodology and sequencing |
| 5:30 PM | Evening Vinyasa Flow, with student-led teaching from week two |
| 7:30 PM | Dinner |
| 8:30 PM | Satsang and meditation |
Sundays are free, with no classes.
The first week is tiring, and it is better to know that before you come. The early mornings and long days take a few days to adjust to. Then your stamina builds and the schedule starts to feel like a rhythm.
WWhere You Stay and What You Eat
For 23 days, Green Serene Villa is your home, your classroom and your place of practice. It sits among tropical greenery close to the coast, and everything you need for the course is here.
- Your room. Choose a private room, a twin shared room or a triple shared room. Sharing keeps the cost down and gives you company. A private room gives you quiet at the end of a long day. Wi-Fi is available.
- Your shala. A spacious yoga shala holds your daily practice, from pranayama at 6:30 AM to Vinyasa Flow in the evening.
- Your meals. Three sattvic vegetarian meals are served every day, with a tea break in the afternoon. Sattvic food is fresh, light and simply prepared, which is how yogis have traditionally eaten to support practice. A typical lunch is rice, dal, a seasonal vegetable curry and a selection of local vegetables.
- Nothing to organise. You do not shop, cook or plan meals during the course. Your energy goes into your practice.
How Much Does Yoga Teacher Training in Galle Cost?
The 200-hour course costs €2,000 to €3,200, and the only thing that changes the price is your room. Every course date costs the same, so you pay no more for the popular months.
| Room | Course fee | Deposit to book (30%) | Choose it for |
| Triple shared room | €2,000 | €600 | The lowest fee and the most company |
| Twin shared room | €2,500 | €750 | A balance of cost and space |
| Private room | €3,200 | €960 | Your own quiet space |
What the fee covers
- 200 hours of training and the course manual
- 22 nights’ accommodation at Green Serene Villa
- Three sattvic vegetarian meals daily
- Teaching practicum with individual feedback
- Assessment and 200-hour certificate
- Airport pickup from Colombo (CMB)
- Wi-Fi and local excursions
What it does not cover
- Flights to and from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka visa or travel authorisation fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses and local transport
- Yoga Alliance registration fee, if you choose to register
Booking terms
- Deposit: 30% reserves your place and is deducted from your total fee. It is non-refundable.
- Balance: due 15 days before the course starts.
- Changing dates: you can move to another available course if you tell us at least 30 days before your start date.
- Inside 30 days: bookings cannot normally be changed or cancelled. In a genuine emergency, contact the school and we will review your situation.
- Payment methods: bank transfer, cash, credit or debit card, PayPal and Wise.
One note on comparing schools: look at the whole package. A lower course fee that leaves out the room, the meals or the airport transfer often costs more in the end.
2026–2027 Course Dates
The 200-hour course starts on the 5th of every month from November to May, and each one runs to the 27th.
- 5 to 27 November 2026
- 5 to 27 December 2026
- 5 to 27 January 2027
- 5 to 27 February 2027
- 5 to 27 March 2027
- 5 to 27 April 2027
- 5 to 27 May 2027
The December to March courses fill first. A deposit from €600 holds your place on any date.
For 100-hour and 300-hour dates, see the individual course pages.
Check course dates and fees →
How to Get to Galle
Getting here takes one flight and one drive, and we handle the drive. Fly into Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (CMB), and the school collects you from there. Galle is about 150 km south, around 2.5 to 3.5 hours by road depending on traffic.
| Option | What to know |
| Airport pickup (recommended) | Included in your course fee. Send your flight details in advance and the team arranges your transfer. After a long flight, this is the easiest way to arrive |
| Private taxi | Available at the airport. Useful if you arrive a few days early or want to travel on your own schedule |
| Train | The coastal line runs south from Colombo to Galle, with sea views for much of the way. You first need to get from the airport into Colombo, and Galle Railway Station is roughly 5 to 10 km from the villa, so allow for a tuk-tuk or taxi at the end |
| Bus | The cheapest option, but the slowest, and hard work with luggage |
Before you book flights, check two things:
- Your visa. Rules depend on your nationality. Check the official Sri Lanka immigration website, and make sure your permitted stay covers all 23 days.
- Your arrival. Courses start on the 5th of the month. Once you book, we send your arrival details so you can plan your landing time.
When Is the Best Time to Come?
Galle is warm all year, so the real choice is between drier months and quieter ones. Courses run from November to May, and each part of the season suits a different kind of student.
| Months | Weather in Galle | Courses running | Come now if |
| October to November | Warm, with occasional showers | November | You like a quieter town and do not mind some rain |
| December to March | Warm and generally pleasant along the southern coast | December, January, February, March | You want the most reliable weather. This is the most popular period |
| April to May | Hot and humid, with occasional rain | April, May | You are comfortable practising in the heat |
| June to September | Southwest monsoon, with more rainfall | None scheduled |
If you have your heart set on December to March, reserve early.
Galle or Colombo for Yoga Teacher Training?
Most students land in Colombo, and some wonder whether to train there. The two places offer very different days.
| Galle | Colombo | |
| Setting | Coastal town with beaches and a historic fort | Sri Lanka’s largest city |
| Pace | Slow and relaxed | Fast and busy |
| Between classes | Quiet, greenery and sea air | City streets, traffic and noise |
| Your day off | Galle Fort and the beach | Shopping, restaurants and city sights |
| Best for | Residential training with few distractions | Students who want city life and transport links |
Colombo is worth a day or two before or after your course. For the 23 days in between, Galle is the better place to practise.
What to Do in Galle on Your Day Off
Sunday is yours. After six days of early mornings, how you spend it matters, and you do not need to travel far. Local excursions are also built into the course.
- Walk Galle Fort at sunset. Follow the ramparts round to the lighthouse, then wander the colonial-era streets for coffee, small shops and ocean views.
- Swim at Unawatuna. One of the best-known beaches on the south coast, a few kilometres from the Fort.
- Sit at the Peace Pagoda. The white Japanese Peace Pagoda stands on Rumassala hill above the bay, with wide views back towards Galle. It is a good place to be quiet.
- Eat like a local. Start with rice and curry, try hoppers, the bowl-shaped Sri Lankan pancakes, and drink a king coconut straight from the shell.
- Go further by tuk-tuk. Local markets and nearby coastal towns are a short ride away.
- Do nothing. A slow morning at the villa, a book and an early night. Rest is what lets the next week go deeper.
Can Beginners Join Yoga Teacher Training in Galle?
Yes. The 200-hour course is open to beginner and intermediate students, and you do not need to be advanced, flexible or an experienced teacher. What you need is the willingness to show up at 6:00 AM, day after day.
Be honest with yourself about what that means. Each day includes two asana practices, and the course runs six days a week for more than three weeks. The first week is tiring, whatever your level.
Two things make it easier. Build a regular practice in the weeks before you come, even a short daily one, and arrive rested.
If you have an injury or health condition, speak to a medical professional and tell the school before you book. Your teachers can then advise on suitable modifications.
The 300-hour course is advanced study, for experienced practitioners and teachers.
What to Pack
Pack light. Galle is warm, dress is simple, and most things you forget can be bought in town.
| For | Bring |
| Practice | Comfortable yoga clothing, enough to rotate through two practices a day, a yoga mat and a reusable water bottle |
| Study | A notebook and pen for philosophy, anatomy and your own class plans |
| The climate | Light, breathable clothes, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Add a light rain layer for November, April and May |
| Days off | Comfortable walking shoes for Galle Fort, swimwear, and something that covers your shoulders and knees for temples |
| Essentials | Personal toiletries, a travel adapter and any personal medication |
How to Choose a Yoga School in Galle
A teacher training takes three weeks of your life and a serious sum of money, so ask hard questions. These are the seven we would put to any school, with our own answers beside them.
| Ask the school | Why it matters | Diksha Yoga School |
| Who teaches, and how experienced are they? | Your teachers shape the teacher you become | Yogini Manisha, E-RYT 500 and YACEP, with more than 16 years of teaching, and her teaching team |
| Is the school registered with Yoga Alliance? | Only a registered school’s certificate lets you register as an RYT | Yes, at both levels: RYS 200 and RYS 300 |
| How many students are in a group? | Small groups mean personal feedback | Maximum 10 |
| When do I start teaching? | Teaching is learned by doing it | Week two, with feedback from your teachers |
| Is the daily timetable published? | You should know what your days will hold before you pay | Yes, hour by hour, in this guide |
| What does the fee include? | Extras change the real price | Room, three meals a day, course manual, airport pickup, Wi-Fi and local excursions |
| What are the booking terms? | Plans change | 30% deposit, balance due 15 days before, date changes up to 30 days before |
If a school cannot answer these clearly, keep looking.
What a Graduate Says
Vinka trained with us in Sri Lanka in May 2026. This is what stayed with her:
“The combination of yoga practice, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, and teaching methodology helped me develop a deeper understanding of yoga beyond the physical postures. The beautiful surroundings of Galle, Sri Lanka, made the entire experience even more memorable.”
— Vinka, 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Sri Lanka, May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Galle good for yoga teacher training?
Yes. Galle is quiet enough for three weeks of focused study, and it has a UNESCO-listed fort and south-coast beaches for your day off. Shops, cafés, pharmacies and ATMs are close by, so daily life is easy.
Can beginners join yoga teacher training in Galle?
Yes. The 200-hour course is open to beginner and intermediate students. You do not need to be advanced or flexible, but you should be ready for 6:00 AM starts and two practices a day.
How far is Galle from Colombo airport?
About 150 km, which takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours by road depending on traffic. Airport pickup from Colombo (CMB) is included in the course fee, so you do not need to arrange transport.
How long is a 200-hour yoga teacher training in Galle?
23 days and 22 nights. Diksha Yoga School’s residential course runs from the 5th to the 27th of the month, with classes Monday to Saturday.
How long is a 300-hour yoga teacher training in Galle?
28 days. It is advanced study for experienced practitioners and teachers.
How much does the 200-hour course cost?
€2,000 in a triple shared room, €2,500 in a twin shared room and €3,200 in a private room. The fee includes tuition, your room, three meals a day, the course manual and airport pickup. A 30% deposit reserves your place.
What if I need to change my dates?
You can move to another available course if you tell us at least 30 days before your start date. The 30% deposit is non-refundable.
When do courses run?
Every month from November to May, starting on the 5th. The next course runs from 5 to 27 November 2026, and December to March is the most popular period.
Is there a day off?
Yes. Sunday is free, with no classes, so you have a full day each week to rest or explore.
Will I get a Yoga Alliance certificate?
Yes. You graduate with a 200-hour certificate from a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School, which makes you eligible to register as an RYT 200. Registration is optional, and you pay that fee directly to Yoga Alliance.
What language is the course taught in?
English. All classes are taught in English.
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?
It depends on your nationality. Check the official Sri Lanka immigration website before you book flights, and make sure your permitted stay covers all 23 days of the course.
What can I do on my day off?
Walk the ramparts of Galle Fort, swim at Unawatuna, visit the Japanese Peace Pagoda, try Sri Lankan rice and curry, or simply rest at the villa.
Book Your Yoga Teacher Training in Galle, Sri Lanka
Your first morning in Galle begins with Jal Neti and pranayama at 6:30 AM. Twenty-three days later, you leave with a 200-hour certificate and your first classes already taught.
The next course starts on 5 November 2026. Each course takes 10 students, and booking takes four steps:
- Choose your dates. Courses start on the 5th of every month from November to May.
- Message us. WhatsApp is quickest, or use the booking form. Tell us your dates and the room you would like.
- Pay your deposit. 30% confirms your place: €600, €750 or €960, depending on your room.
- Get ready. We send your arrival details and preparation guidance, and arrange your airport pickup once we have your flight details.
View the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka →
Still deciding? Ask us anything about dates, rooms or travel. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 9130157393 or email contactdikshayoga@gmail.com.
