Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre Goa — Attraction in Goa

Negatives mosquitos & ants in room, cold dirty cement floor, no walls smelly worn out blankets & props stink of body odor & mold rude teachers & TAs, racist comments, they touch you without asking intrusive policies: they film every moment of class, ask for your passport bad refund / cancellation policy

Positives learned to stretch the soles of my feet better fell in love with Arambol, will return for great beach vibes cheap price relative to other countries, but for Arambol it’s expensive

The facilities were inadequate. Uneven bamboo walls. Mosquito nets. Mosquitos, ants, and small spiders were crawling around on the cold, lumpy, non-level cement slab floor. Full of dirt. Felt like doing yoga in an outdoor construction zone. I got bit several times during class, so did others. When people complained, the “master” teacher (as the owner is known there) responded: “We’re here to make good blood for the mosquitos, so don’t worry about it.” Not relaxing at all.

Props were very old and worn out. Smelly blankets, bolsters, and cushions that stunk of body odor and mold. Not sure when they get washed, seems like never. Very nasty to put your head on. Most straps torn and in tatters.

Teachers were rude, moody, disrespectful of students’ personal space. The “master” exhibited overt racism halfway through the course. At one point he said, “All Chinese people look the same to me.” Not funny. He slapped an Italian woman on the back while she was performing a seated twist. She cried out, “No slap!” She didn’t return the next day. Teacher assistants (all European) frequently over-adjust you and touch you from the side and behind without asking. Verbal cues are rarely given before touching. My arms were yanked around in an unsafe version of halasana (plough pose). You WILL have your personal space invaded. You WILL be verbally harassed and discouraged by multiple teachers if you attempt ANY alternate version of the pose. The teachers also smell of heavy body odor.

The “master” rambled for hours about vague pseudo-philosophy unrelated to poses. Expect to stand on your feet for hours trying to find the “center of your heel” without doing much other than stretching your big toes. TAs live here and they are cranky. Expect them to snap at you if you don’t turn your pinky toe in 1/2 cm. We only ever did half poses. In triangle and side angle pose the hand never came below the knee. In 15+ hours of class time we never did a single forward bend.

Some poses were made unsafe by the inadequate facilities. I observed many students fall out of sarvangasana (shoulder stand) and halasana (plough pose) in a dangerous manner by trying to locate the wall behind them with their feet and missing due to the uneven bamboo wall, thus collapsing to the floor violently. This might lead to a back injury. This would have been a non-issue with a solid wall.

The center has overly invasive practices and policies. Students weren’t given disclaimer that every second of every class was to be filmed by an AV person. On day 1 the “master” read our evaluation forms aloud in front of the whole room. On these forms were personal details and medical histories, which he discussed openly, making snide comments in front of 40+ people, without consent and without warning. (I would have filled out my form a little differently if I’d known he was going to do this). He discussed and revealed topics such as peoples’ thyroid problems, period problems, knee and back problems, etc in front of everyone. While we all sat there and listened. Lastly, I was asked to provide a copy of my passport. Totally intrusive and unnecessary to provide my passport in order to enroll in a 5-day yoga course.

And in case you don't enjoy this, they have a NO REFUND policy! Yay. We asked for a refund on the second week (which hadn't begun yet). After a lot of arguing we were eventually offered a 75% refund, which we took. The other 25% was taken as an “administrative fee.” Wow. So much for peace and freedom.

My advice is if you’re searching for yoga...

Namaste,

I originally studied at HIYC in Dharamkot in June 2017 for the beginners course with Beata/Shivani, Leona and Mihir, then for a second week of the continuing students with Leona again.

I just arrived in Arambol this week and saw that Sharat was taking the continuing students class so I knew I had to go as I had never had the chance to experience his teachings and knowledge. I must say that I am so happy I did. Sharat's take on Iyengar Yoga is extremely rejuvenating, focussing on finding proper balance and ground using the feet, which effects the way we carry our entire body. The use of various props throughout class are catered to each individuals personal needs. This course is great for teaching you the proper techniques that you are able to take with you for your personal practice. Sharat has a unique sense of humour and tons of knowledge which he brings to each class. He was always making me giggle throughout class. I've decided to take the 5-day course again this week as Sharat will also be instructing and I really value his expertise, sense of humour and energy.

This centre itself is tucked away off the main road. It is quite peaceful with shade provided by tall coconut trees. There is filtered water available and also bamboo huts that can be rented. Current students also have access to the yoga halls at set times for personal practice outside of class.

All in all, I enjoy all the teachers that I have had the privilege to study with. They each bring their own unique way of presenting Sharat's style of Iyengar Yoga. I look forward to my next week of studied here in Goa and future visits to this centre, as well as the other...

This training was truly transformational for me. I started out quite resistant and reluctant to do certain asanas, the shoulder stand and the hanging pose, even crying when I attempted them initially. Fortunately, I had the most patient, supportive and caring instructors to guide and support me each step of the way. Maria, Vishal and Beata are all very different in their style of instruction, but each brought a new dimension to approaching and successfully completing each asana sequence. I now have an asana practice sequence I can follow, with the handouts provided, at home. I already feel more aligned and I am more aware of the correct postures for each asana, as well as the many benefits they bring. To top this all, Sharatji, with his vast experience, constant encouragement and focus on mindfulness, encouraged me to have faith in my own abilities. He pushed only when required, and gave me sufficient support to be able to do an asana I never thought I could do, Urdhva Dhanurasana! His knowledge and many years of experience were evident, and his passion for serving others with his therapy work were inspiring. I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from the HIYC team, and the master...