This extended residential program in Goa brings together two senior teachers of the Iyengar tradition, Rita Keller and Alan Goode, in an extensive study program exploring the depth of yoga practice and its relationship to the inner life. The program will run from 30 December to 20 January, with Rita Keller teaching 30 December – 8 January, followed by a two-day conference on Yoga and Spirituality (9-10 January), and concluding with Alan Goode’s intensive program from 11–20 January.
The intention of the program is to create a sustained environment for study and practice, allowing students to deepen their understanding of yoga through daily classes, reflection, and discussion and subject based study. Participants may attend individual sections or remain for the entire program, creating a rare opportunity for continuity of practice over several weeks.
Participants may enrol for either five-day or ten-day study options, enabling flexibility for those wishing to attend part of Rita Keller’s program, Alan Goode’s program, or both. Certified teachers and those wishing to participate in the teacher-level study groups will be asked to submit a brief outline of their yoga background and experience to ensure the program remains focused and relevant.
The retreat will take place at the Kripa Foundation centre in Goa, India, an environment known for its contemplative atmosphere and long association with Iyengar Yoga through the work of Fr Joe Pereira. The program will be jointly promoted by Light-on-Yoga.International (LOY.i) and Yoga Mandir, with bookings available through each teacher’s respective website.
Fees
Participants may enrol for the full nine-day program or select a five-day option.
- Details to be released soon
Fees include tuition, accommodation and meals
Bookings for the Rita Keller program and the Alan Goode program will be available through their respective websites: Light-on-Yoga and Yoga Mandir
Participants wishing to attend both workshops and the conference are encouraged to register early, as places are limited.
11-20 January. Alan Goode.
‘Seeking the heart of Yoga through Practice’
Alan’s program, titled “Seeking the Heart of Yoga Through Practice”, is designed as a progressive program for both students and teachers. Recognising that practitioners approach yoga with different levels of experience, the program will work with several streams of participation. These include students who are relatively young in practice, more experienced practitioners wishing to extend their study, assistants and trainee teachers who wish to deepen their skills, and certified Iyengar Yoga teachers seeking further professional development.
Morning classes will establish the foundations of practice, beginning with introductory sessions that support developing students while also allowing more experienced practitioners to extend their work through extended class time. Afternoon sessions focus on inversions, forward bends and pranayama. In addition to the daily program for students, early morning sessions will be dedicated to assistants and teachers, providing space for discussion on teaching methodology, observation, and the practical application of yogic principles in the classroom. Evening gatherings will include talks, presentations, or film, creating a reflective atmosphere in which the philosophical dimension of yoga can be explored
The program will use the Yoga Sadhana booklet as a foundation and participants are encouraged to purchase a copy. The booklet is available for purchase as a downloadable pdf: HERE
Program Sample
Light-on-Yoga. International (LOY.i) vision
Under Light-on-Yoga. International, advanced and senior teachers collaborate to share a mature understanding of yoga as an integrated discipline in the lineage of Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar. Our work is concerned with balance across body, breath, and mind, and with the cultivation of steadiness and equilibrium that emerges through practice-based learning.
A particular emphasis is placed on self-study (swadhyaya). Students are supported to cultivate a reflective discipline alongside their basic studies, learning to observe cause and effect in practice. In this way, Technique, Timing, Sequence and Repetition in asana and pranayama become instruments of inquiry rather than ends in themselves; What is learned is confirmed in one’s own experience and carried back into daily life.
‘Our mission, and obligation is to pass on the study and practice of yoga in the tradition of B. K. S. Iyengar and Geeta S. Iyengar in its wholeness, preserving its rigour while making it immediately practicable in the life of each student’.
Accommodation. Kripa Foundation. Goa
The Kripa Foundation centre in Anjuna, Goa, offers a unique environment in which the practical and contemplative aspects of yoga can be experienced within a setting shaped by both history and purpose. Located along the Anjuna–Vagator Road, the centre is anchored by the historic Casa Albuquerque, a traditional Goan residence that reflects the region’s Portuguese heritage and long cultural lineage . Alongside this, a newly constructed Yoga Sanctuary and hall has been developed, providing a fully equipped space for Iyengar Yoga practice, with all necessary props and a design that supports this contemplative practice.
Accommodation is excellent, with single rooms and twin share featuring ensuite bathrooms in the newer buildings, allowing participants privacy and ease during extended stays. The centre is known for its excellent, nourishing food, with meals prepared to support both health and practice, offering vegetarian and other dietary options within a communal setting.
Set within walking distance of Anjuna Beach, part of Goa’s long coastal stretch along the Arabian Sea, the environment offers both natural beauty and a sense of openness. In January, the weather is particularly favourable, with warm days, cooler evenings, and almost uninterrupted sunshine, creating ideal conditions for practice and reflection.
Goa Fact Sheet is available: Goa Workshop Fact Sheet
Collaboration between Rita Keller and Alan Goode
Rita Keller and Alan Goode, two of the most senior and respected teachers within the Iyengar Yoga tradition, collaborate closely under the umbrella of Light-On-Yoga. International (LOY.i). This partnership brings together decades of extensive experience in Yoga practice, philosophy, and therapeutics. Their collaboration uniquely combines deep experiential insights and meticulous attention to alignment, practice-based learning, and self-study, embodying Iyengar Yoga’s essence and transformative potential.
Both Keller and Goode have contributed significantly to the dissemination and understanding of Yoga through their writings, including influential books and publications that explore Yoga’s therapeutic and philosophical dimensions. Their collaborative efforts are further enriched and deepened by LOY.i’s comprehensive Digital Research Library and Yoga Vidya online study platform, which offer extensive resources for both teachers and students seeking deeper knowledge and understanding.
Their respective institutions, Yoga Mandir in Canberra and Light on Yoga Academy in Germany, reflect their shared commitment to quality education, authentic practice, and continued study. Together, Keller and Goode foster an environment of ongoing research and inquiry, inspiring countless practitioners worldwide to explore the profound depths of Yoga and its meaningful integration into daily life.
