Evolution Yoga Teacher Training
At Dragonfly Goa, we bring Evolution Yoga to life. This training is for practitioners who want more than memorised sequences. They want to feel, experiment, and grow. Over the years, we have seen students arrive with questions about their own practice and leave with a clarity that comes from steady, lived experience. Recognised by Yoga Alliance, this training takes place in a space where learning, daily life, and community merge naturally.
Our Approach To Spirituality
Being spiritual in all its senses refers to grounding and integrating real life through practice. We have observed that participants develop confidence not just in performing asanas but in understanding how philosophy, meditation, and movement come together. The teaching here is experiential: you feel the nervous system settle, notice subtle shifts in your body, and learn to guide yourself before guiding others.
Our Somatic Approaches
What makes Evolution Yoga unique is the way we integrate movement awareness into teaching. With the help of somatic practices, you will learn to develop key listening skills that will help nourish a language for your body, identify habitual patterns, and find safe, creative ways to move through the world. This approach gives students practical tools to adapt and respond to dynamic needs, cultivating teaching that is versatile, personal, and sustainable.
Our Approach To Community
At Dragonfly Goa, meditation is studied in lived experiences. The participants practice pranayama, Yoga Nidra, mantra, and mindfulness in ways that reveal how meditation can steady the mind, deepen awareness, and bring clarity to daily life.
We have seen students notice subtle shifts in energy, calmness, and focus that naturally influence how they teach and hold space for others. Within group circles and simple rituals, meditation becomes a practical skill that blends seamlessly with teaching, creating confidence and presence without relying on memorised techniques.
Course Structure
Embodied Movement: Asana, Breath & Subtle Energy
Step into the heart of yoga with classical Hatha Yoga asanas blended with somatic movement. Develop an embodied understanding of your body, movement patterns, and alignment while exploring pranayama, meditation, mudras, and chakra practices.
The Body in Motion: Anatomy, Alignment & Biomechanics
Learn the language of movement through the lens of yoga. Explore the body’s bones, joints, muscles, and systems to understand safe movement, alignment, and biomechanics for every body.
Ancient Wisdom: Philosophy, Ethics & Yogic Living
Immerse yourself in the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads. Discover how to weave yogic philosophy, ethics, lifestyle, rituals, and ceremony into modern life.
Teaching with Presence: Skills, Methodology & Practicum
Grow into a confident and authentic yoga teacher. Learn cueing, adaptive teaching, and class design, while gaining real-world teaching experience. Build professional skills in areas such as marketing, communication, and ethical leadership, supported by community circles, creative rituals, and nature immersion.
What You Will Learn
- Classical Hatha Asanas and Yogic Philosophy.
- Somatic practices for nervous system balance.
- Energetic anatomy including chakras and breath.
- Mindful Teaching Methods & Facilitation.
- Creative expression through movement, voice, and ritual.
- Community practices such as kirtan, sound baths, and conscious cooking.
Daily Schedule
Morning
- 7:30 AM: Begin your day with Kriya or Shatkarma, followed by a complete asana practice in Hatha, Vinyasa, or Somatic movement, and steady pranayama to awaken breath and energy. Guided by Merle or Sonal.
- 9:00 AM: Nourishing vegetarian breakfast served.
Midday
- 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Philosophy and History sessions with mantra chanting, led by Anjaan.
- 11:40 AM – 1:00 PM: Anatomy and Asana Clinic for a deeper look at movement and alignment, guided by Merle or Sonal.
Afternoon
- 1:00 PM: Vegetarian buffet lunch followed by free time for rest, private study, or reflection.
- 2:30 – 4:20 PM: Afternoon workshops focusing on teaching skills, adjustments, creative expression, and group activities with Merle or Sonal.
Every other day:
- 4:30 – 5:30 PM: Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and community circle held after time to enjoy the sunset. Led by Merle or Sonal.
- 5:30 – 6:00 PM: Evening yoga practice with a gentle flow, closing with a ritual, guided by Merle or Sonal.
Evening
- 7:00 PM: Vegetarian buffet dinner.
- 8:00 PM: Time for rest, personal reflection, journaling, or quiet connection with the community.
Excursions & Special Days
Sacred temple visits, beach yoga, community dinners, and nature walks are woven into the program to balance study with exploration and shared experiences.
Batch
- Tuesday 11 Nov 2025
- Tuesday 6 Jan 2026
- Tuesday 3 Feb 2026
- Tuesday 3 Mar 2026
Fees, Includes & Excludes
Room Options & Fees:
- Dormitory: €1,299
- Twin Share Room: €1,777
- Private Room: €2,222
Includes:
- 22-night accommodation
- 3 vegetarian buffet meals daily
- Training & manual
- Excursions, workshops, and rituals
- 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification
Excludes:
- International flights
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
Course FAQ
What will I learn?
The training is designed to give you practical tools that you can carry into your own practice and your teaching. You will explore each asana in detail, learning step-by-step instructions and how to use props like ropes, belts, blankets, blocks, and chairs to support alignment.
Breathing techniques are taught alongside movement, with a focus on experiencing the five vital energies (Pancha Prana) within the body. You will practice restorative sequences, refine postural awareness in sitting, standing, and walking, and build confidence in inversions such as handstands and elbow stands.
Optional sessions in Kriya and Ayurveda are also available for those who want to go deeper.
What benefits can I expect?
Students often share that the practice brings noticeable changes both physically and mentally. Many experience relief from chronic pain or injuries, improved balance in the musculoskeletal system, and greater strength in muscles that are usually underused. Beyond physical gains, the training helps increase body awareness, fluidity of movement, and ease in daily life. Flexibility, stamina, and energy levels often improve, but just as importantly, students describe feeling more grounded, calm, and present.
Will there be theoretical lectures?
There are short theory inputs, but most of the learning happens through practice. Instead of focusing heavily on anatomy in a classroom setting, you will learn by feeling and experiencing how your body moves and responds. Workshops are intentionally balanced with rest periods, since integration happens not only during practice but also in quiet recovery.
In this way, theory is woven naturally into the experience rather than treated as a separate subject.
How large is the group?
Group sizes are kept small, usually between 5 and 20 participants. This allows the teacher to give individual attention, with personal corrections and guidance for every student.
Ready to Begin Your Evolution?
This is more than training. It is a homecoming to your true self.
- Find your voice
- Reconnect with your body
- Remember your essence
- Step into your purpose
To apply, fill out the online application form on our website. We look forward to welcoming you to Dragonfly in beautiful Goa.
Meet Our Trainer
Sonal Paladini is a yoga teacher, retreat leader, and meditation guide who blends classical yoga with somatic movement, breathwork, and yogic ritual. She is an E-RYT 200 and a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider), with 5.5 years of teaching experience and a lifetime of personal practice.
Sonal’s teaching focuses on making yoga an embodied, practical tool for transformation—aligning breath, body, and awareness so that shifts happen on physical, emotional, and energetic levels. She is passionate about creating supportive spaces where students can deepen their practice, reconnect with themselves, and build the confidence to share yoga authentically.
About 15 years ago, Merle Vayura came to yoga while searching for something to feel grounded and at home within. What began as a practice to find balance gradually blossomed into a deep love and lifelong path. Today, as a 700h+ Yoga Teacher, Merle shares Hatha, Vinyasa, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, and Somatic practices with the same intention: to create space where people can feel safe, alive, and connected.
With a background in architecture and design, Merle learned to see the body as a sacred space ntelligent, beautiful, and full of wisdom. For her, yoga is not about performance, but about presence, creativity, and remembering who we truly are.
