Yesterday's yoga class

Full moon,time to center ourselves, half an hour meditation, 16 sequences of sun salutation, drop in sweat, the authentic hot yoga in a tropical land and outdoors!:-) exercises for balance (physical, mental and emotional), happy mantra in the end.
Fe, from France, she is doing yoga classes since the last one and half month, she was complete beginner, Roberto from Italy also complete beginner with a  strong physical facility for the yoga,  he is doing classes since one week, Lisa, medium, advance practitioner, she is doing the classes since the last week and Cris, just arrived since 3 days, follow very well the intense rythem of this class.
Here is the asanas sequence photo session:

Sarah

Sarah come in September and stayed 4 months in Shiva Garden, practicing yoga almost every day.
She was a complete beginner with spine and legs stiff. 
After 4 months of practice, she become flexible, stronger, centered,  and completely independent to do her own practice of meditation, mantras, pranayama, asanas  and relaxation by her self.
Sarah is an example of dedication, work and focus. During the time she stayed here, she also learned in a different place and teacher, the course of Thai Yoga Massage, which she was practicing and become very good.
Tomorrow she is living back to UK, living close friends that she met here during this time.
This is the link to her review about the time she spend in Shiva Garden Trip Advisor Sarah's review
We live a photo sequence of her today's yoga practice.
We wish you all the very best sweet friend.
You were a strong pillar in the yoga classes, and we are so grateful to you for all the time you spend with us. Thank you for everything.
Love, 
Sonia

“My favourite hostel in Kerala” * Thank you Carina!

Really nice place - amazing people. Lovely outdoor communal areas - really easy to meet guests and chat to staff. Delicious, cheap food served there, yoga every morning. Great location - 5 min walk to the beach. My favourite hostel in Kerala!

• Stayed February 2014, travelled with friends
• Review on Trip Advisor

“Home away from home” * Thank you Lulu!***

I visited Shiva Garden in November when I was on holiday in Varkala, when I returned in late December it was a no brainer that I was going to stay here. So for two months Shiva Garden was my home, the rooms offer everything you need, I had an en suite bathroom (cold water only, but this was no issue, as it was so hot outside) and a balcony. What makes Shiva Garden so special is the lovely people who run it and the beautiful garden, that encourages guests to socialize. It just has a very chilled and relaxed atmosphere, I made fantastic friends here and it was ridiculously hard for me to leave. Try Yoga lessons with Sonja, you won't regret it. A big special thank you to Afzal for always being happy and attentive. I can't wait to stay here again! Thank you Sonja and Jayan, until December ;-)

Stayed December 2013, travelled solo Review on Trip AdvisorReview on Trip AdvisorReview on Trip Advisor

“Found a home” * Thank you Anna!

I came to Shiva Garden in October and didn't leave until December. Coming to Shiva Garden was the best thing I could do. There I found a home an a family.

I started doing yoga with Sonia and for me it was the best introduction to yoga. Sonia respects everybody's limits and guides you through the sequences gently. Two months of yoga with Sonia inspired me, who was a complete beginner, to take a teacher training course which I will do soon.

Shiva garden is a place for meeting good people and there I found friends for life. I am happy to call Shiva Garden my second home in Varkala and will definitely come back.

• Stayed November 2013
• Trip Advisor

“BEAUTIFUL SETTING, HOMELY, GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY” ** Thank you Lucilla!

I stayed here in January after recommendations from a few travellers I had met. Although the location is not right on the cliff top, a quick five minute walk and you are there! It was actually very nice not staying right in the middle of the hustle and bustle as it gave you time to relax and absorb the wonderful surroundings. Shiva Garden had a lovely homely feel to it, which is great when you are travelling! The guest-house is surrounded by wonderful gardens, palm trees and hammocks - perfect for chilling out. The staff were very sweet and helpful and definitely contributed to the wonderful energy of the place. We stayed in a treehouse on the first night which was lovely and comfortable, we then moved to a double room with a little balcony which was spacious and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious - lots of fresh fruit and Masala tea! The communal area was great to relax in, either talking to other travellers or checking emails. My overall experience was a very positive one and I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Varkala. It was extremely good value for money! And the owners baby daughter is so adorable (an added bonus!) Thank you for such a wonderful stay!

• Stayed January 2014, travelled with friends
• Trip Advisor

“Magical garden of India” * Thank you Yellie!!!

I've stayed in Shiva Garden a month ago, with my husband.
At this very moment I'm listening to some Indian song and thinking about all wonderful thing happened there. Shiva Garden is one of the best thing I've experienced. If you go to Varkala, you have to visit this place!
Accommodation is great, food is amazing, people are lovely!
Owners wife, Sonia, does amazing Reiki massage, yoga classes, numerology... I feel blessed for meeting her. Miss everybody so much :(

Afsal, the manager, was really helpful too! Thank you for everything!

Hope to see you soon guys...
Beijo para Divia!
Jeja

• Stayed January 2014, traveled as a couple

Trip Advisor

“Good place to chill out”

Really relaxed spot.
There is a sort of courtyard in the middle of the premises, we're they've build a roofed place with comfortable cushions and low tables, with nice lighting. Good speakers, nice mellow (Indian) music.
Besides plenty of hammocks, they also have a massive swing, attached to two palmtrees...
The guys running the place are nice and relaxed and the rooms are clean.
I went out for a couple of days on a motorbike in the countryside and it was OK to leave my things there, they looked after them.

• Stayed January 2014, traveled as a couple
• Trip Advisor

“My soul place.” ** One of the best reviews ever, Thank you sweet Marianne!!!...

I came back to Shiva Garden for the third time this season. what can I say? it is my soul place in India. I go there when I want to connect with myself and meet my "Shiva Garden family" - that is a group of people who return every year and the owners, Jayan, Sonia and their family.
Shiva Garden is a place about the inner. about a certain vibration, a feeling, a meta theme of healing and wonder and well being.
it is about the smiles you exchange with the people you meet when you go get a chai. it is about the hugs you give and receive. the jokes you make, the laughs you create, the feeling you can allow yourself to relax and just be, in the now.
it is Jayan's smiley "good morning" when he asks you if you want your chai as usual. it is the caress Sonia gives you passing by, with her beautiful daughter Divya on her arm, who is such a radiant being, opening everybody heart. it is the peace you feel when you're "hammocking" with your friends, listening to the palm leaves bristle. it is the talks you come to pass unexpectedly which lead you to a better understanding. it is the small and big miracles that happen when you are there.
Shiva Garden is about belonging and realness and love. this is why I go back every now and then, to sense this freedom and bliss and to remind myself that all is well.

Stayed January 2014, travelled solo

Trip Advisor

“Great accommodation, fantastic food and friendly staff.” * Thank you Tom!

We found Shiva Gardens by chance and end up staying for 7 days. The room was clean and had all that we required, including a mosquito net. Jayan, the manager and his staff made us feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. The resteraunt served the most authentic Keralan food in town with everything cooked fresh. The beach was only a short walk away and the garden was a welcome relief from the heat of the day. I'm not sure when we'll get back to Varkala but when we do we would definetly stay at Shiva Gardens. We would happily recommend this guest house to anyone looking for a relaxing good value place to stay. Chances are you'll end up staying longer than you expected.

• Stayed December 2011, traveled as a couple
• Trip Advisor