Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has quickly become a sought-after destinations for yoga teacher training. With its combination of tropical landscapes, ocean air, and slower pace of life, the island offers the perfect setting for an immersive experience. Choosing the right training can feel overwhelming, and finding the right location and teachers will make all the difference. The founders of RILA Yoga, Sri Lankan British couple Ricardo and Nicola, offer intimate group sizes for their Weligama Sri Lanka yoga teacher training courses.
Beyond location and price, one of the most important and often overlooked factors is the size of the training itself. Some courses host large groups, but others like Rila Yoga’s 200-hour YTT in Weligama, intentionally keep things small, typically around 12 students. The studio is nestled in a quiet village, within private gardens just moments from the ocean. Heritage architecture and surrounding landscape remind you every waking moment that you are in an exciting and exotic location.
The group size and location of a YTT can completely shape your experience.
Big vs Small Yoga Teacher Trainings, Which Is Better?
In a growing global YTT market, bigger can sometimes mean a dilution of the experience. If you have paid good money for yoga training, flights, accommodation and taken time off work, small group yoga teacher training in Sri Lanka is likely to give you a more satisfying and rewarding program. Nicola and Ricardo offer a different approach to large training courses, they consider quality over quantity and offer a very personalised yoga teacher training experience, combining Hatha and Vinyasa yoga with a strong focus on philosophy, embodiment, and teaching methodology.
What really sets them apart is the small group structure. In a group of 12 students from all over the world, the time you spend growing together builds strong friendships, insights into other cultures and more time with the teachers. There are four big benefits of a small yoga training course – Attention, Community, Confidence and Immersion.
1. Personalised Attention That Accelerates Growth
In larger trainings, it’s easy to feel anonymous but in smaller groups, students receive:
- individual feedback on alignment and teaching
- support in understanding anatomy and sequencing
- space to ask questions and explore their own practice
Rather than just completing a course, students are able to fully integrate what they learn.
2. A Stronger Sense of Community
One of the most consistent themes in student feedback is the inclusive and supportive environment.
With fewer participants:
- connections form quickly
- the group feels collaborative, not competitive
- students feel seen and supported
This creates a space where people feel comfortable stepping into teaching, often for the first time.
3. Confidence Through Practice and not just theory
Teaching yoga requires more confidence as well as knowledge
Rila Yoga places strong emphasis on:
- teaching methodology
- sequencing
- practical teaching clinics
In a small group, students have more opportunities to practice teaching, receive feedback, and refine their style and voice.
Certification results in actual readiness to teach.
4. A More Immersive Environment for Real Transformation
Set in a jungle-style open-air shala near the ocean, the training offers a calm, nature focused setting.
Without the scale and distraction of larger programs, students can:
- fully engage with daily practice and study
- connect more deeply with yoga philosophy
- experience the embodiment-focused approach
The small size feels more luxurious simply because you have time and space to enjoy the journey and witness personal growth.
Doing a Yoga Teacher Training Alone as a Woman
RILA Yoga offers a haven of tranquility as well as expert led tuition and this feels safe for solo female travellers. Students may ask “Will I be safe?” or “Will I belong?” and this is something that RILA Yoga addresses so well, you’re not just another student.
With around 12 participants, the experience feels personal from the start and every student is known by their teachers, individually supported and part of a close knit group. This is one of the most beautiful ways to travel and experience another land through personal development.
Meet People Quickly
A common fear about travelling alone is loneliness. Shared experiences and daily practice together always leads to bonds and connection. The students that study with RILA Yoga form strong friendships and have even continued their time in Sri Lanka and beyond as travel partners. The group becomes a strong support system and Sri Lankan hospitality extends to YTT students; welcoming smiles, inclusive spaces and rooted in connection to each other and the practice. The cohorts have hosted students from Germany, Italy, UK, India, Sri Lanka, building an international network together.
A Safe Space to Grow in Confidence
For those feeling unsure about being “good enough” the environment really matters, especially for if stepping into teaching for the first time.
What we love about Nicola and Ricardo’s approach is that they focus on a gradual and sustainable way to build student self confidence. We have seen students be encouraged into self expression through yoga, and their learning allows space for mistakes to become part of that growth journey.
Why Yoga Teacher Training is Transformational
Yoga lovers know that the experience is deeply personal and meaningful, so you may start by thinking that YTT is just about teaching, the reality is it starts with understanding yourself and your personal growth. The curriculum includes
- Yoga Philosophy (a major focus)
- Hatha and Vinyasa Asana
- Anatomy and Alignment
- Teaching Methodology and Sequencing
- Sanskrit Basics
The structure is an all round holistic view of body, movement, flow, mind, inner and outer worlds and how to find ways to navigate your way through life’s peaks and troughs. The emphasis is on embodiment and personal transformation, it is impossible to teach others when you are not an expert on yourself.
Previous YTT cohorts have explored these areas through practice but also through discussion and guided learning and journalling. This leads to an integration over time and students often describe the experience as transformative and life-changing, not simply educational.
What happens after RILA Yoga Teacher Training?
Over the course of 25 days we have watched students’ metamorphosis into grounded graduates, confident in their skills to read a room and plan a yoga class. Their understanding of the roots of yoga and the philosophy behind it as a guide for life, and not just the mat, shines through. Many graduates nave incorporated teaching into their daily lives as part of their existing careers or as a new string to their bow. Others have returned to their lives more enriched personally, with mental clarity on where they want their lives to go and how they can flow through their decisions with a sense of ease. Choosing a yoga teacher training is not just a practical decision, it is a personal one. Consider how your time and money is invested, are you getting the attention, community and space that you need?
In a world of large scale trainings and retreat style certifications, there needs to be a balance and a clear intention to choose a yoga teacher training where you are taught and truly seen.
How Do I join a RILA Yoga Teacher Training ?
Find out more about RILA Yoga Teacher Training here https://www.rilayoga.co.uk/yogateachertrainingsrilanka
Dates
05-29 October 2026
newly launched
02-26 Nov 2026
just launched – spaces available
04-28 January 2027
newly launched
01-25 February 2027
newly launched
01-25 March 2027
newly launched
Where Can I stay?
RILA have a trusted list of recommended accommodation all within 5 minutes of the studio and to suit different budgets. We also host students at Kalukanda House at a special rate for RILA YTT students, a bonus for those who are looking to stay on location and want an extra layer of care and comfort provided by our permanent team. Book your place at stay@kalukandahouse.com
