# Santhi School of Yoga & Vedanta Studies > A traditional Hatha Yoga school and yoga studio in Chirattapalam, Fort Kochi, Kerala, India, led by Master Aksharanand A S (known as Achu), who trained in the Sivananda tradition. Two-hour walk-in yoga classes run every day at 7:30 am and 3:30 pm, taught in English, for all levels. ## Key facts (updated 2026-09-29) - Name: Santhi School of Yoga & Vedanta Studies. Also known as Santhi School of Yoga and Santhi Yoga Fort Kochi. santhiyogaindia.com is the school's domain name, not its name. - Address: House No 1/1790, Chirattapalam Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala 682001, India. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BbwKnL9gK1QzCh8i7 - Phone and WhatsApp: +91 7907714144. Email: santhiyogacochin@gmail.com. Website: https://santhiyogaindia.com/ - Official website: https://santhiyogaindia.com/ is the school's only current website. Its earlier website was santhiyoga.in; where the two disagree on class times or prices, the facts on santhiyogaindia.com are current. - Daily classes: every day, no day off, 7:30–9:30 am and 3:30–5:30 pm. Some mornings the class is held at Secret Garden, an open garden nearby, from 8:00–9:30 am; message the evening before a morning class. - Class order: opening savasana (relaxation), pranayama, Surya Namaskar, asanas for all levels, deep final savasana. - Drop-in class: ₹500 at present — a limited-time offer on the usual ₹600. From November 2026 the class is ₹700. No booking needed. Mats provided. No packages or memberships; students who practise for more than a week get 30% off classes. - Private session: ₹1,500 (₹2,000 from November 2026). - Also offered: a separate meditation class (timing depends on availability), workshops in pranayama, mudras, alignment and Kundalini-focused practices, retreats in Kerala, online group and private classes, and a 28-day 200-hour yoga teacher training (€899 all-inclusive; 2027 batches in January, February, April and June). - Seven-day residential retreats in Fort Kochi and Munnar run under the school’s retreat project, Samya Retreats (https://samyaretreats.com/). The 2027 dates are 13–19 March, 4–10 September, 10–16 October and 4–10 December, chosen so they do not overlap the teacher training months. - Teacher: Master Aksharanand A S. Trained in the Sivananda tradition; holds an Advanced Teacher Training Certificate. Over fifteen years teaching in Fort Kochi, more than 5,000 group classes, more than 70 international teacher training batches. - The school is not a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School; teacher training graduates receive the school's own certificate. - The school is independent and is not an official Sivananda Yoga Vedanta centre. - The school is not connected to Santhi Yoga International in Vagamon, a separate organisation. ## Main pages - [Home](https://santhiyogaindia.com/): overview of the school - [About](https://santhiyogaindia.com/about/): the school and its teacher - [Classes and services](https://santhiyogaindia.com/services/): daily classes, private sessions, retreats, workshops, online classes - [200-hour teacher training](https://santhiyogaindia.com/teacher-training/): dates, fees and what is included - [Reserve a teacher training place](https://santhiyogaindia.com/reserve/): reserve a teacher training place with a €90 deposit (10%), balance due within the first three days of the course - [Gallery](https://santhiyogaindia.com/gallery/): photographs of the school, classes and retreats - [Contact](https://santhiyogaindia.com/contact/): directions, phone, WhatsApp and email - [Book a class](https://santhiyogaindia.com/book/): choose a class, retreat or training and send the details by WhatsApp - [Journal](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/): all guides ## For AI agents - [Pages as Markdown](https://santhiyogaindia.com/index.md): every page has a Markdown copy at its own address plus index.md (for example /about/index.md), and the page address itself answers in Markdown to a request that accepts text/markdown - [MCP server](https://santhiyogaindia.com/mcp): a read-only Model Context Protocol server (Streamable HTTP, no sign-in) with tools for the school's key facts, searching and reading any page, and drafting a WhatsApp booking message - [MCP server card](https://santhiyogaindia.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json): how to connect to the MCP server - [Agent skill](https://santhiyogaindia.com/.well-known/agent-skills/santhi-yoga-fort-kochi/SKILL.md): instructions for helping someone plan yoga at the school, listed in /.well-known/agent-skills/index.json ## Classes in Fort Kochi - [Yoga in Fort Kochi: a complete guide for travellers](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-fort-kochi-guide/): Walk-in two-hour Hatha classes in Fort Kochi every day, 7:30–9:30 am and 3:30–5:30 pm: no booking, mats provided, all levels. What to expect and what to bring. - [The best yoga in Fort Kochi, and how to judge it yourself](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/best-yoga-in-fort-kochi/): How to find the best yoga class in Fort Kochi: what changes between schools, the six things worth judging, questions to ask, and where our own class fits. - [Santhi Yoga in Fort Kochi: your questions answered](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/santhi-yoga-fort-kochi-questions/): The facts about Santhi School of Yoga & Vedanta Studies in Fort Kochi: class times, prices, the teacher, what a class is like, offers, and how to join. - [Your first yoga class: a beginner’s guide](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/first-yoga-class-beginners-guide/): Everything to know before your first yoga class: what to eat and wear, what happens in the room, what to do when a pose is too hard, and soreness afterwards. - [Yoga classes in Kochi: how to choose the right one](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/best-yoga-classes-in-kochi/): Yoga classes in Kochi compared: traditional Hatha schools, studios, gym classes, private tutors and online. Who each suits, what to ask, and trying one first. - [Yoga class fees in Kochi: what you should pay](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-class-fees-kochi/): What yoga classes cost in Kochi in 2026: monthly group fees, private tutors, tourist sessions and drop-ins, why prices differ, and how to judge value. - [Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, power or aerial: which yoga class is for you?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/types-of-yoga-classes/): Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin, power, hot and aerial yoga compared: pace, intensity, who each suits, and how to choose your first class. - [Morning or evening yoga: what is the best time to practise?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/best-time-to-do-yoga/): Is morning or evening the best time to do yoga? The traditional view, the practical trade-offs, how Kerala’s heat changes things, and choosing a class time. - [What to wear to a yoga class in India, and the etiquette nobody explains](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/what-to-wear-yoga-class-india/): What to wear to a yoga class in India’s heat and humidity, what to bring, and the etiquette nobody explains: shoes, phones, arriving late, feet and scent. - [Private yoga classes in Kochi: who they help, and what to expect](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/private-yoga-classes-kochi/): When a private yoga class is worth it, what happens in a first one-to-one session, what private yoga costs in Kochi, and how to choose the right teacher. - [Sivananda yoga in Kochi: the tradition, and where to practise it](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/sivananda-yoga-kochi/): What Sivananda yoga is: the five points, the twelve basic postures, what a class involves, and where to practise it in Kochi and elsewhere in Kerala. - [Meditation in Fort Kochi and Kochi: how to start, and where to learn](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/meditation-fort-kochi/): Where to learn meditation in Kochi and Kerala, from yoga classes with breathing and stillness to residential Vipassana, plus a ten-minute practice to start. - [Online yoga classes from Kerala: how they work, and who they suit](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/online-yoga-classes-kerala/): How live online yoga classes work, whether beginners can start online, how to set up your space, group versus private sessions, and joining classes from Kerala. - [Yoga near Mattancherry, Thoppumpady and West Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-classes-west-kochi/): Daily two-hour walk-in Hatha classes in Fort Kochi at 7:30 am and 3:30 pm, a short ride from Mattancherry, Thoppumpady, Palluruthy and Vypin. No booking. - [Yoga for men: a practical guide for beginners](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-men/): Yoga for men who have never tried it: why so few men practise, what it does for stiffness, strength and stress, the poses to start with, and your first class. ## Fort Kochi and Kerala - [Things to do in Fort Kochi: a local’s guide](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/things-to-do-in-fort-kochi/): The best things to do in Fort Kochi from someone who lives and teaches here: sights, closing days, Kathakali, food, sunset, and a one or two day plan. - [A week of yoga in Fort Kochi: how to plan a yoga holiday](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-holiday-fort-kochi/): How to plan a yoga holiday in Fort Kochi: why a week of daily classes works, a day-by-day plan, costs and the longer-stay discount, and when to come. - [Where to do yoga in Kerala: Fort Kochi, Varkala, Kovalam, Munnar and beyond](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/where-to-do-yoga-in-kerala/): Where to do yoga in Kerala: Fort Kochi, Varkala, Kovalam, Munnar, Neyyar Dam and the backwaters compared by setting, season, distance and who each suits. - [Yoga retreats in Kerala, and what to ask before you pay](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-retreat-kerala-guide/): What a yoga retreat in Kerala involves, how backwater, beach and hill retreats differ, what drives the price, and the questions to ask before you pay. - [The best time to visit Kerala for yoga, month by month](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-kerala-for-yoga/): Kerala month by month for yoga: the dry season, the heat of April, the south-west monsoon and the October rains, with what each means for practice and prices. - [Ayurveda and yoga in Kerala, and how they fit together](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/ayurveda-and-yoga-in-kerala/): How Ayurveda and yoga relate, what a Kerala Ayurveda centre offers, how to choose one carefully, and where the honest limits of both sit. - [Kochi airport to Fort Kochi, and how to get here](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kochi-airport-to-fort-kochi/): Cochin airport is 45 km from Fort Kochi. A pre-paid or app taxi takes about 90 minutes; bus or metro to Ernakulam, then the ferry, takes 2–3 hours. - [Yoga after a long flight: easing jet lag and stiffness](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-after-long-flight-jet-lag/): Arriving in Kochi after a long flight? Gentle yoga and breathing for stiffness and jet lag, what to do on the plane, your first days, and when to join a class. - [A slow morning in Fort Kochi, hour by hour](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/a-morning-in-fort-kochi/): How to spend a slow morning in Fort Kochi: an early class in Chirattapalam, a Kerala breakfast, the Chinese fishing nets, the old lanes and a long lunch. - [Practising through the Kerala monsoon](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-in-the-kerala-monsoon/): Why June to August is a quietly excellent season for yoga in Fort Kochi: cooler mornings, rain on tiled roofs, a quieter town, and what to pack for it. - [A 7-day Kerala itinerary from Fort Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kerala-itinerary-7-days/): A week in Kerala planned from Fort Kochi: the old town, the tea hills of Munnar, the Alleppey backwaters, how long each journey takes and when to go. - [Where to stay in Fort Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/where-to-stay-in-fort-kochi/): Where to stay in Fort Kochi: how the area differs from Mattancherry and Ernakulam, what homestays and heritage hotels are like, and how to choose a location. - [Munnar: Kerala’s tea hills](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/munnar-travel-guide/): A practical guide to Munnar: getting there from Fort Kochi, the tea estates, Eravikulam and Kolukkumalai, when to go, where to stay and what to pack. - [The Alleppey backwaters: houseboat or homestay?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/alleppey-backwaters-guide/): How to see the Alleppey backwaters: houseboats, homestays and shikara boats compared, what a houseboat day is really like, timings, and when to go. - [Kathakali in Fort Kochi: what to expect](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kathakali-fort-kochi/): Short Kathakali shows run most evenings in Fort Kochi: make-up from about 5 pm, the show around 6. What the colours and gestures mean, and how to follow it. - [Vegetarian food in Fort Kochi: what to eat, and where](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/vegetarian-food-fort-kochi/): Eating vegetarian in Fort Kochi: the Kerala dishes to look for, what a sadya is, how to avoid hidden fish and ghee, and where to find a light meal after class. - [Yoga in Kerala or Goa: which one suits you?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-kerala-vs-goa/): Kerala or Goa for yoga: the difference in style, season, cost and atmosphere, who each place suits, and how to choose between them for a week or a month. - [What a month in Fort Kochi costs as a yoga student](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/cost-of-a-month-in-fort-kochi/): A realistic monthly budget for Fort Kochi: rooms, food, daily yoga classes, transport and extras, with three budgets from frugal to comfortable. - [Kalaripayattu: Kerala’s martial art](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kalaripayattu-in-kerala/): What kalaripayattu is, what happens inside a kalari, what you will see at an evening show in Fort Kochi, how it relates to yoga, and whether visitors can train. - [Fort Kochi Beach: what it’s really like](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/fort-kochi-beach/): Fort Kochi Beach is for walking, not swimming: go at sunrise for quiet or at sunset for the promenade. What is nearby, and why Cherai Beach is where to swim. - [The Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/chinese-fishing-nets-fort-kochi/): How the Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi work, where they came from, the best time to watch one being hauled, and how to buy fish from the nets fairly. - [Is Fort Kochi worth visiting?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/is-fort-kochi-worth-visiting/): Is Fort Kochi worth it? Who will love it, who will not, how many days to give it, and what most visitors wish they had known before they arrived. - [Ernakulam to Fort Kochi: by water or by road](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/ernakulam-to-fort-kochi/): The Water Metro from High Court reaches Fort Kochi in about 20 minutes; the old ferry is slower, the road 35–40. Where to board, fares and the best option. - [Fort Kochi for solo women travellers](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/solo-female-travel-fort-kochi/): Travelling alone in Fort Kochi as a woman: what to wear, getting around after dark, where to stay, useful numbers, and easy ways to meet other travellers. - [New Year in Fort Kochi: the Cochin Carnival](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/new-year-fort-kochi-cochin-carnival/): The Cochin Carnival and New Year’s Eve in Fort Kochi: the burning of the Pappanji, when and where it happens, crowds and closures, and how to enjoy it calmly. - [A day in Kochi from a cruise ship](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kochi-cruise-shore-excursion/): A day ashore in Kochi from a cruise ship: getting from the Willingdon Island terminal to Fort Kochi, a realistic plan for the hours you have, and what to skip. - [Working remotely from Fort Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/remote-work-fort-kochi/): Working remotely from Fort Kochi: internet and SIM cards, power cuts, time zones, where to stay, and a daily routine built around morning or afternoon yoga. - [Things to do in Fort Kochi when it rains](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/rainy-day-fort-kochi/): What to do in Fort Kochi on a rainy day: museums, the palace and synagogue, Kathakali, cafés, cooking, Ayurveda and a yoga class that runs rain or shine. - [Panchakarma explained: what happens, and what to ask](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/panchakarma-explained/): What panchakarma is: the five therapies, the preparation and diet, how long it takes, the evidence, the risks, and how to choose a centre in Kerala. - [Mattancherry and Jew Town: a local’s guide](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/mattancherry-jew-town-guide/): Mattancherry Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town and the spice warehouses: opening days, how to get there from Fort Kochi, and a half-day walking route. - [The best beaches near Kochi, from Fort Kochi](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/beaches-near-kochi/): Seven beaches near Kochi compared: distance from Fort Kochi, how to get there, whether you can swim, and which suits a quiet day after a morning yoga class. - [The best time to visit Fort Kochi, month by month](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-fort-kochi/): The best time to visit Fort Kochi is November to February. A month-by-month guide to heat, rain, festivals and prices, plus the best time of day to explore. ## Practice - [What is Hatha Yoga? A teacher’s plain-English guide](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/hatha-yoga-explained/): What Hatha Yoga really is: where the word comes from, the classical texts, what it includes, what a traditional Hatha class looks like, and who it suits. - [Surya Namaskar step by step: the 12 positions, breath and mantras](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/surya-namaskar-steps/): The 12 Surya Namaskar steps in order, from prayer pose to cobra and downward dog, with the breath and mantra for each. Beginners start with four rounds. - [Pranayama for beginners: breathing practices explained](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/pranayama-for-beginners/): Pranayama for beginners: what it is, six breathing practices step by step, including cooling breaths for hot weather, safety cautions, and a ten-minute routine. - [A 20-minute yoga routine for beginners at home](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/beginner-yoga-routine-at-home/): A safe 20-minute yoga routine for beginners at home, in the traditional order: relaxation, breathing, sun salutations, six simple postures and deep relaxation. - [Yoga for back pain: what helps, and what to avoid](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-back-pain/): Yoga for back pain from a teacher’s view: what medical guidelines say, gentle postures that often help, what to avoid, and when to see a doctor. - [Yoga for flexibility, and how long it really takes](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-flexibility-how-long/): How long yoga takes to make you more flexible, what actually changes in the body, how often to practise, and the habits that slow progress down. - [Yoga nidra, and how to practise it](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-nidra-explained/): What yoga nidra actually is, how a session is structured, how long it takes, and how to try it at home — explained by a teacher in Fort Kochi. - [Mudras: eight gestures, and what they are for](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/mudras-explained/): The eight mudras you meet in a traditional yoga class: how to form each one, what the tradition says it is for, and what not to expect from them. - [Bandhas: the three locks, explained](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/bandhas-explained/): Mula, uddiyana and jalandhara bandha explained: what each lock is, when they are taught, how they work with the breath, and who should leave them alone. - [Sattvic food, and why yoga schools serve it](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/sattvic-food-explained/): Sattvic food is fresh, lightly spiced vegetarian cooking eaten soon after it is made, without onion, garlic or alcohol. What to eat, what to skip, a sample day. - [Inside a two-hour Hatha class, minute by minute](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/inside-a-two-hour-hatha-class/): What happens in a traditional two-hour Hatha class in Fort Kochi: breath first, sun salutations, classical postures held long, and twenty minutes of rest. - [Why we keep classes small, and what that changes](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/why-small-group-yoga/): How the size of a yoga class changes the teaching, the corrections and the safety, especially for beginners, and why our classes in Fort Kochi stay small. - [Savasana is a skill: learning to rest on purpose](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/savasana-how-to-rest/): Why the long relaxation at the end of a Hatha class matters, why corpse pose is harder than it looks, and a guided savasana you can practise at home. - [Yoga for anxiety and stress: what actually helps](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-anxiety-and-stress/): Which yoga and breathing practices calm anxiety, why they work on the nervous system, a short sequence to try at home, and when to see a doctor instead. - [Yoga for better sleep: an evening practice](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-better-sleep/): How yoga and breathing help you fall asleep, a fifteen-minute evening sequence you can do in bed, and why the relaxation at the end matters most of all. - [Yoga for neck and shoulder pain at a desk](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-neck-and-shoulder-pain/): Why desk work tightens the neck and shoulders, six yoga movements that release it, what to do hourly at your desk, and the postures to be careful with. - [How to do a headstand safely](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-do-headstand-safely/): How to build up to sirsasana safely: the strength to develop first, a five-stage progression, how to set the head and arms, and who should not practise it. - [Yoga for weight loss: an honest answer](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-weight-loss/): Whether yoga burns enough to lose weight, what it genuinely changes about appetite, stress and habit, and how to use it alongside the things that do work. - [How often should you do yoga?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-often-should-you-do-yoga/): How many times a week to practise yoga as a beginner, why short daily practice beats long weekly sessions, whether you need rest days, and what changes when. - [The 12 basic postures of Sivananda yoga](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/sivananda-12-basic-postures/): The twelve basic postures of the Sivananda sequence in their traditional order, what each one does, why the order matters, and how a class is built around them. - [Shoulderstand: how to do it safely](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-do-shoulderstand/): How to practise shoulderstand without straining the neck: the blanket set-up, a step-by-step way in, plough and fish as its partners, and who should skip it. - [Kapalabhati: how to do it, and who should not](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kapalabhati-breathing/): How to practise kapalabhati, the skull-shining breath: the technique, how many rounds to do, what it does, the mistakes beginners make, and who should avoid it. - [Starting yoga over 50](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-beginners-over-50/): How to start yoga in your fifties, sixties or later: what to expect, how to adapt the postures, which practices matter most, and what to tell your teacher. - [Nadi shodhana: alternate nostril breathing, step by step](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/nadi-shodhana-alternate-nostril-breathing/): How to practise nadi shodhana, alternate nostril breathing: the hand position, the step-by-step pattern, ratios, how long to practise, and common mistakes. - [Yoga for tight hamstrings: what actually helps](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-tight-hamstrings/): Why hamstrings feel tight, which yoga poses help, how long to hold them, the mistakes that keep you stuck, and when tightness is not a flexibility problem. - [Jal neti, and the six shatkarmas](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/jal-neti-and-the-shatkarmas/): How jal neti is done, which water and salt are safe, who should leave it alone, and where nasal cleansing sits among the six traditional hatha purifications. - [Bhramari: the humming bee breath](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/bhramari-pranayama/): How to practise bhramari pranayama, why humming does something measurable, what the research on anxiety and blood pressure shows, and who should be careful. - [Yoga for tight hips: what helps, what doesn’t](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-tight-hips/): Why hips feel tight, six poses that genuinely help, why pigeon is not compulsory, how bone shape sets your limit, and the pain that means stop. - [Yoga and your period: what we actually teach](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-and-your-period/): Whether to practise during menstruation, where the rule against inversions comes from, what the evidence says, and a gentle sequence for the difficult days. - [Chandra Namaskar: the moon salutation](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/chandra-namaskar-moon-salutation/): The moon salutation explained: the fourteen positions, how it differs from Surya Namaskar, when a cooling sequence is the better choice, and how to practise it. - [Yoga props: how to actually use blocks and straps](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-props-blocks-straps/): What blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters are for, how to use each one properly, what to improvise at home, and why props are not a sign of a beginner. - [Yoga for runners: the parts that actually help](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-runners/): What yoga can and cannot do for a runner, why long stretches before a run are a mistake, a short post-run sequence, and the rest-day practice that matters more. - [Ujjayi: the ocean breath, explained](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/ujjayi-breathing/): Ujjayi pranayama explained: what the sound really is, how to find it without straining the throat, what it is for, and where it goes wrong. - [Trataka: candle gazing, step by step](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/trataka-candle-gazing/): Trataka explained: how to set up the candle, how long to gaze, what the afterimage is for, and the eye conditions that mean you should skip it. - [What to eat before yoga, and how long to wait](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/what-to-eat-before-yoga/): How long to leave between eating and practising, what to eat if you need something first, and why pranayama and inversions need an empty stomach. - [Yoga for knees: what helps, and what to avoid](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-for-knees/): Practising with sore knees: which postures to modify, how to sit without pain, why lotus is usually the wrong goal, and when to see a doctor. - [Wrist pain in yoga: causes and fixes](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/wrist-pain-in-yoga/): Why wrists hurt in downward dog and plank, how to spread the load through the hand, which modifications work, and how to build tolerance. - [The benefits of yoga: what the research actually shows](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/benefits-of-yoga-research/): The benefits of yoga graded by the evidence: back and neck pain, stress, sleep, blood pressure, balance, mood and weight, and what is still unproven. - [Brahma muhurta: the yogic hour before sunrise](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/brahma-muhurta/): What brahma muhurta is, how to work out its time, why yogis practise before dawn, what sleep science says about waking early, and how to shift gradually. - [Surya Namaskar benefits, and how many rounds a day](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/surya-namaskar-benefits/): What Surya Namaskar actually does for strength, heart, flexibility and mood, what the studies measured, and how many rounds a day suit a beginner. - [Surya Namaskar A and B, and the Hatha version](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/surya-namaskar-a-and-b/): Ashtanga Surya Namaskar A has 9 movements, B has 17, and the Hatha version has 12. Each one written out with its breath, and which to learn first. ## Philosophy - [The eight limbs of yoga, explained simply](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/eight-limbs-of-yoga/): The eight limbs of yoga from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras explained simply: the yamas and niyamas, asana, pranayama, the inner limbs, and each in daily life. - [The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, explained simply](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/patanjali-yoga-sutras-explained/): What the Yoga Sutras are, what the famous opening lines mean, how the four chapters are arranged, and how to read the text without getting lost. - [What is Vedanta? A plain-English introduction](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/what-is-vedanta/): Vedanta means “the end of the Vedas”: the philosophy of the Upanishads, Gita and Brahma Sutras on the self and ultimate reality, explained in plain English. - [The seven chakras, explained simply](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/chakras-explained/): What the seven chakras are in the yoga tradition, where each sits and what it is associated with — without the mysticism or the sales pitch. - [Om shanti shanti shanti: why three times](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/om-shanti-threefold-peace/): What shanti means, and why the Vedantic tradition repeats it three times: peace from within, peace from others, and peace from what we cannot control. - [Vata, pitta and kapha: the three doshas](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/doshas-explained/): What the three doshas are in Ayurveda, the qualities of vata, pitta and kapha, how to recognise your own tendency, and how a yoga practice fits each one. - [How to meditate every day: a beginner’s method](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-meditate-daily/): How to start a daily meditation practice that lasts: how long to sit, how to sit, what to do with a busy mind, and the traditional order that makes it easier. - [What does Om mean? The sound behind the practice](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/meaning-of-om/): What Om means, where it comes from, why it is written AUM, what the Mandukya Upanishad says about it, and why yoga classes begin and end with the sound. - [The four paths of yoga: karma, bhakti, jnana and raja](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/four-paths-of-yoga/): The four classical paths of yoga explained simply: karma, bhakti, jnana and raja yoga, how they differ, and why the Sivananda tradition practises all four. - [What does namaste mean? And how to use it in India](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/namaste-meaning/): What namaste literally means, how people in India actually use it, the gesture that goes with it, namaskaram in Kerala, and a little yoga-class etiquette. - [The yamas and niyamas in everyday life](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yamas-and-niyamas/): The ten yamas and niyamas of Patanjali explained one by one, what each asks of you in ordinary life, and how to practise them without becoming insufferable. - [Dinacharya: the Ayurvedic daily routine](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/dinacharya-ayurvedic-daily-routine/): The Ayurvedic daily routine: waking before dawn, tongue scraping, oil massage and the midday meal — and the three parts worth keeping if you only keep three. - [How to sit for meditation](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-sit-for-meditation/): Five ways to sit for meditation, how high to sit, what to do when your legs go numb, why knee pain is a stop sign, and why lotus is not the goal. - [The Bhagavad Gita for yoga students](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/bhagavad-gita-for-yoga-students/): What the Bhagavad Gita is, why yoga schools teach it, the three paths it describes, the verses students meet first, and which translation to begin with. - [The five koshas, explained simply](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/koshas-five-sheaths/): The five sheaths of the self explained plainly — body, breath, mind, wisdom and bliss — and how each maps onto what you already do in practice. - [Sattva, rajas and tamas: the three gunas](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/gunas-explained/): Sattva, rajas and tamas explained: what each quality is, how they show up in food, mood and practice, and why the goal is not simply more sattva. - [The five vayus: how prana moves](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/prana-vayus-explained/): Prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana: what each of the five vayus governs, how they appear in breathing practice, and how to use the model. - [Japa and the mala: why 108 beads](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/japa-mala-108/): What japa is, how to use a mala properly, why there are 108 beads, what the guru bead is for, and how to choose a mantra to begin with. - [Is yoga a religion? An honest answer from India](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/is-yoga-a-religion/): Is yoga a religion? Where yoga comes from, what the Yoga Sutras actually ask of you, what courts in the US decided, and how people of every faith practise it. - [Yoga glossary: 106 Sanskrit terms explained simply](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-sanskrit-glossary/): A plain-English yoga glossary of 106 Sanskrit terms: basic words, the parts of pose names, common poses, breathing, philosophy and how to pronounce them. - [Yoga mantras for beginners: eight chants and what they mean](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-mantras-for-beginners/): Eight traditional yoga mantras, from Om and Asato Ma to Lokah Samastah and the Gayatri, with the Sanskrit, a plain English meaning and how to chant each one. - [Ida, pingala and sushumna: the nadis explained](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/nadis-ida-pingala-sushumna/): The nadis explained simply: what ida, pingala and sushumna are, why the texts count 72,000, how they link to the nostrils, and how pranayama uses them. - [What is kundalini? An honest explanation](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kundalini-explained/): What kundalini means in the Hatha texts, how it differs from Kundalini Yoga classes, what an awakening is said to be, and how to learn it safely in India. ## Choosing a teacher training - [How to choose a 200-hour teacher training: a 12-point checklist](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-choose-yoga-teacher-training/): A 12-point checklist for choosing a 200-hour yoga teacher training: what to ask, what a good answer sounds like, the red flags, and an email you can send. - [How to become a yoga teacher in India](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-become-a-yoga-teacher-in-india/): The real steps to becoming a yoga teacher in India: practice first, choosing a 200-hour course, what the month involves, certification and first classes. - [200-hour vs 300-hour teacher training: the real difference](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/200-vs-300-hour-yoga-teacher-training/): What separates a 200-hour yoga teacher training from a 300-hour course: what each covers, which to do first, where Yoga Alliance fits, and how to choose. - [How much does a 200-hour yoga teacher training in India really cost?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-training-india-cost/): Most 200-hour courses in India are advertised at US$900–2,200 with a shared room and meals; with flights and visa, US$1,800–4,000 all in. Tiers and extras. - [Kerala or Rishikesh? An honest comparison](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/kerala-vs-rishikesh-yoga-teacher-training/): An honest comparison of Kerala and Rishikesh for a 200-hour yoga teacher training: climate, cost, culture, daily life, travel and which suits which person. - [What to pack for a yoga teacher training in India](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/what-to-pack-yoga-teacher-training-india/): A packing list for a month-long yoga teacher training in Kerala: clothes for heat and humidity, what the school provides, plugs, medicines and what to skip. - [Six weeks before your teacher training: how to arrive ready](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/preparing-for-yoga-teacher-training/): A practical six-week plan for the month before a residential yoga teacher training in India: daily practice, breath, reading, body care and logistics. - [What actually happens in a 28-day yoga teacher training](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/what-happens-in-a-yoga-teacher-training/): What a month-long 200-hour yoga teacher training is really like: the daily timetable, the subjects covered, the hard weeks, assessment, and who it suits. - [Yoga Alliance explained: what RYS and RYT really mean](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-alliance-explained/): RYS 200 is a school registered with Yoga Alliance; RYT 200 is a teacher who trained at one. What registration checks, what it does not, and when it matters. - [Visas for a yoga teacher training in India](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-training-visa-india/): India’s e-Tourist visa covers most 28-day yoga teacher trainings: it allows short yoga courses. Apply 2–3 weeks ahead online; long courses need a student visa. - [Red flags: how to spot a poor yoga teacher training](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-training-red-flags/): The warning signs of a weak yoga teacher training: unnamed teachers, huge groups, hidden costs, guaranteed certification, and the answers that should worry you. - [Yoga teacher training for beginners: do you need to be advanced?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-training-for-beginners/): Do you need to be advanced to do a yoga teacher training? What a 200-hour course really expects, honest signs you are ready, and a 3-month plan if you are not. - [How much do yoga teachers earn? An honest look](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-salary/): What yoga teachers really earn in the US, UK and India, per class and per year, how the income is built, the costs nobody mentions, and a realistic first year. - [How to sequence a yoga class: a teacher’s method](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/how-to-sequence-a-yoga-class/): How to sequence a yoga class: the arc of a good class, rules for order and counterposes, timings for 60, 75 and 90 minutes, and a template to teach from. - [Yoga teacher training in India as a solo woman: an honest guide](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/solo-female-yoga-teacher-training-india/): An honest guide for women travelling alone to a yoga teacher training in India: vetting the school, arriving safely, dress, and emergency numbers. - [AYUSH YCB vs Yoga Alliance: which certificate do you need?](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/ycb-vs-yoga-alliance/): AYUSH Yoga Certification Board and Yoga Alliance compared: who runs each, levels, exams, fees and validity, and which certificate you actually need. - [Yoga teacher training in Kerala: how to choose a school](https://santhiyogaindia.com/blog/yoga-teacher-training-kerala-guide/): Yoga teacher training in Kerala compared: Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kovalam, Neyyar Dam and the hills, with 200-hour prices, best months and what to ask.