If you like your modern day comforts then this school is the one for you. Based in Goa in a serene setting with fast WIFI, comfortable rooms and excellent food included, not to mention fantastic classes with access to some of the world’s best Yoga teachers. The programs here are notoriously intense, but beginners are not only welcome but also encouraged to sign up!

This is a great choice for beginners as they offer a 5-day introduction to yoga program, which is a compulsory gateway to accessing a much wider range of their intermediate courses. The founder of this Shala is a long-time disciple of BKS Iyengar and the school is always well reputed for excellent teaching. The courses are held in two centres, which are open at different times of the year. The summer months are spent at a stunning retreat in the Himalayas while the winters are down south in the old hippy town of Arambol in Goa.

Phool Chatti (meaning land of flowers) is set beside an ancient pilgrimage route on the banks of the holy river Ganges and 5km upstream from the yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh. The seven-day yoga course is designed to introduce students to a wide range of yoga and meditation practices. The ashram itself is over 100 years old but the building was renovated recently, so rooms come with some modern comforts, including hot showers.

Open to all (beginners – advance) but with quite an intensive schedule to follow that focuses more on yoga as a lifestyle. The program involves early starts (4am) with the inclusion of Seva each day, meaning you will be expected to muck in with gardening, kitchen work and cleaning. Don’t be put off however as the feedback from previous students is that the practice here is extremely rewarding.

The Sivananda School needs little endorsement and is perhaps one of the most established yoga institutions in the world. They have many centres dotted all over the planet, with nine different locations to choose from in India. They offer everything from free intro classes for beginners to long-term teacher training programs. Considering their worldwide presence it might make sense for you to drop into a centre in your own country first for more information about their courses and approach.

Set on a beautiful organic farm is this well placed and highly reputed yoga centre. The main focus here is on Ashtanga yoga, but the Shala also offers a wide range of other classes to choose from, with the teacher training being highly regarded. They also offer up daily drop-in classes and a wide selection of other courses for all levels and timescales.

This ashram entices serious students of yoga from all over the globe. It holds regular classes in Iyengar Yoga (a form of Hatha Yoga) for all levels. Unfortunately, there can be a ​two-year wait to get a place at the Institute. As the Institute emphasizes the in-depth study of yoga, students are also required to have substantial prior experience in practicing Iyengar Yoga.

Located in Mysore and run by descendants of the revered guru Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, the Ashtanga Institute offers on-going intensive courses throughout the year. The classes are for serious students only, and places are much sought after so look to book well in advance. Accommodation isn’t provided but there’s plenty to be found close by in the beautiful city of Mysore.

Classes are taught at this popular institution by the world-renowned guru, BNS Iyengar, famous for developing his own style, which unsurprisingly is known as Iyengar Yoga. Students are required to register for a minimum of one month so as to complete an in-depth yoga experience. Classes are known for being pretty tough, but for some this is the main draw of signing up! The course is definitely for experienced yogis and their website suggests prospective students should have some foundation in yoga practice to gain the full benefits of the course.

Set amongst stunning mountain scenery is this wonderfully spiritual place to practice yoga. The ashram is huge, furnished with 1000 rooms on its ​eight-acre campus. It runs a whole range of programs to suit all from drop-in classes and weekend retreats for beginners to longer teacher-training programs. They even host and perform sacred Indian wedding ceremonies too.

The Yoga Institute is the oldest organised centre of yoga in the world. It was founded in 1918 by Shri Yogendraji, who was a disciple of Shri Paramhamsa Madhavadasji (a renowned yoga master from Bengal). The Institute, while not being as well known as some of India’s other Shalas offers a range of excellent courses, workshops, and camps. The therapeutic health camps are of particular interest to many foreign visitors. These aim to overcome specific ailments including heart and respiratory problems, hypertension, diabetes, orthopedic conditions, and stress related issues. There are also special programs for children and pregnant women.

Located near the coast in the beautiful town of Pondicherry is arguably the most traditional and immersive centre on this list. They teach a very classical style and run a six-month teacher-training course (which only accepts 10 students per year) and requires a year-long correspondence course before you’re even eligible to apply. In a less intense fashion, they also run a three-week course on Yantra (the science of number, name and form) alongside daily yoga and pranayama practice.