The Algarve suits yoga teacher training better than almost anywhere in Europe because it combines a mild year-round climate, a quiet stretch of Atlantic coast and short, inexpensive flights from most European cities. Bend it Like Buddha Yoga Algarve runs Yoga Alliance accredited RYT 200 and RYT 300 trainings in Praia da Rocha, Portimao, in cohorts capped at ten students, a few steps from the sand. Faro airport is about an hour away by road, and transfers are included for full two-week students.
What it is like to train by the sea
Nothing quite calms the mind like the sound of gentle waves, the soft sensation of golden sand beneath your feet, the view of serene blue skies. This is part of my daily life on the enchanting southern coast of Portimao in the Algarve, Portugal. It can be yours, too.
After dealing with a heavy heart and major life transitions, I found myself here, on the beach of Praia da Rocha, under the warm sun and greeting the universe daily with the soothing Surya Namaskar. It has proven to be the perfect place for healing and more specifically, to practise and teach yoga.
Yoga has taken me to places around the world, physically, but more importantly, spiritually. It has been a metaphoric exploration. What a gift to wake up to such a peaceful scene and do what I love: sharing the ancient discipline of yoga through my school, Bend it Like Buddha Yoga Algarve in Portugal, a place with so much meaning to me. I believe you will leave with a deep connection, or perhaps, stay forever.
The peaceful setting of Praia da Rocha provides a natural stress release. You will instantly feel the grounding benefits of your bare feet in the sand. The beach setting of salty air, vitamin D-rich sunshine, birdsong and calming waters creates a profound mind-body connection. For me, it has been the ideal place to teach. Our students say it is the ultimate classroom, a truly transformative location for yoga teacher training.
Why Portugal, and why this coast
Now, many years have gone by since I arrived in Portugal, where my family has roots (in the Azores Islands, to be exact). Maybe this country called me back, the ties were so strong that I would inevitably walk the same ground as my ancestors. What is clear is the bond I have formed with the nature that surrounds me and the warmth of the locals. And, the fulfillment I have found in teaching yoga. I have taught yoga to wonderful people from all corners of the world, forming lifelong connections. These beautiful souls have inspired me and taught me so much in return.
Many of our students come from outside Europe and instantly fall in love with the way of life here. Portugal in particular, with its stunning coastline, nourishing food made with vegetables, fruit and herbs within hands reach from our gardens, and the good-natured people who hold honesty and gratitude dear to them, is a healing place. You will see. The Algarve, home to our yoga school steps from the beach, offers a welcoming scene for a yoga retreat. Here, positive energy flows like the water beneath your feet.
How the Algarve compares to Bali, India or Costa Rica
Most yoga teacher training destinations ask you to cross an ocean. The Algarve does not. For European students that means a two to three hour flight instead of a long-haul, no jet lag eating into the first days of training, and a lower total cost once travel is counted. Portugal is also in the EU, so for EU citizens there is no visa paperwork and no currency risk.
- Two to three hours from most Western European cities, into Faro (FAO)
- No visa for EU citizens, with straightforward entry for UK, US, and Canadian passport holders
- Euro pricing, so there are no exchange rate surprises
- Mild enough to practise outdoors from March to December
- Lower total cost than Bali or Costa Rica once flights are included
Where the school is
Bend it Like Buddha Yoga Algarve is at Av. Tomas Cabreira, Ed. Verandas do Sol #3, Loja 1, 8500-802 Portimao, on the Praia da Rocha seafront in the Algarve, Portugal. The training space is a short walk from the sand. Benagil sea cave, named by the Huffington Post as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, is a short drive along the same coast.
Who you will learn from
It has been a joy to see my yoga school grow. With the varied experience of our talented group of teachers, we have helped students realize their dreams of becoming yoga teachers. And there is nothing quite like yoga on the beach.
Bend it Like Buddha Yoga Algarve brings together direct Ashtanga Vinyasa lineage, trauma-informed and somatic methodology, and the full spectrum of yogic wisdom. I will personally guide you, along with our world-class instructors, in yoga teacher training that also includes Ayurvedic massage.
I have been blessed to have received the guidance of masters like BNS Iyengar and the faculty at the legendary school Krishnamacharya Shala in Mysore, India. I can’t wait to share the wisdom of what has been passed down to me from these awesome minds and divine yogis.
That lineage is traceable. BNS Iyengar was a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, widely called the father of modern yoga and the teacher of Pattabhi Jois. Training is led by L. Farrah Furtado, E-RYT 500, alongside a team of eight instructors, with cohorts capped at ten to eleven students. The school has been teaching in the Algarve for eleven years and has certified roughly 1,400 teachers.
What the 200 Hour and 300 Hour training covers
If you are new to teaching yoga or have been helping others on their learning journey for years, you are most welcome to join us. Yoga is a powerful practice that unites and harmonizes the relationship of the mind, body and soul and we look forward to sharing our knowledge with you.
There is so much more to becoming a yoga teacher than breathwork and poses. Each day of our 200 Hour or 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training is designed to provide you with an immersive, unique and transformative experience. You will learn from talented and compassionate teachers who support you through intensive, yet uplifting, training. Through your honed teaching skills, you will be energized and motivated to share what you have learned with others, as well as expand your personal practice.
- Yoga Alliance-accredited certification: RYT 200 or RYT 300, with a pathway to RYT 500
- More than 75 traditional postures in English and Sanskrit, with alignment and hands-on adjustment work
- Daily asana and pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra, and somatic breathwork
- Philosophy covering the eight limbs, the Patanjali Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Vedanta, and the Upanishads
- Applied anatomy, trauma-informed principles, and yoga as therapy
- Ayurvedic massage therapy, Usui Reiki attunement, sound healing, and cacao ceremony facilitation
- Three plant-based vegetarian meals a day on training days, with accommodation a short walk from the beach
- Faro airport transfer included with the full two-week training; charged separately for the three-night hybrid
- Twelve months of post-graduate yoga business coaching
The book behind the training
We continuously create and share heart-opening meditations for students to strengthen their yoga practice and lead more meaningful and abundant lives. The Journey Metamorphosis: Yoga Teacher Fundamentals inspired the birth of the Bend it Like Buddha online school, which has an essential focus on the subtle energetic Anahata (heart) chakra and heart-opening practices.
This book, sparked from my own journey, teaches the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga, which supports the practice of heart-centered living. It is an extensive compilation of what I have learned leading teacher training programs, my home practice and studies in Mysore, India with the last living legend of Ashtanga, BNS Iyengar, the student of Master Krishnamacharya, known as the Father of Modern Yoga, also teacher of the great Pattabhi Jois.
When I started writing The Journey, my goal was to provide an experiential, comprehensive manual of teaching yoga for beginner students, those who are especially preparing for the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training course, or those who want to achieve greater depths of self-exploration. As I delved deeper into the text, I realized all yogis can learn from it as there are many misconceptions to what yoga, meditation and pranayama are.
This book has helped our students on the road to fulfilling their yoga teacher dreams. It demonstrates the methodology of teaching yoga, physical and subtle energetic anatomy, and the philosophy of yoga. There is practical instruction for more than 60 asanas in common English and Sanskrit names, with effective techniques and anatomical muscles used in poses.
Dates and prices
| Intake | Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid 300H | 24 to 27 September 2026 | 4 days in person plus self-paced online |
| Two-week intensive | 7 to 21 October 2026 | Full residential |
| Hybrid 300H | 14 to 17 October 2026 | 4 days inside the October block |
| Hybrid 300H | 2 to 5 December 2026 | 4 days in person plus online |
| Two-week intensive | 2 to 16 December 2026 | Full residential |
| Hybrid | 17 to 20 March 2027 | CONFIRM: the site says 18 to 21 March |
| Two-week intensive | 5 to 19 May 2027 | Full residential |
Places are held with a deposit of 500 euros. The three-night hybrid with a private bedroom in a shared apartment is currently 1,146 euros, reduced from 1,599. Full two-week trainings run from roughly 2,600 to 3,299 euros depending on accommodation. Tuition, meals, course materials and certification are included.
Come and train with us
Let’s discover the compassionate, confident and skilled teacher within you.
Om, shanti love,
L. Farrah Furtado ERYT 500
Shyama Devi
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be advanced to do a 200 hour yoga teacher training?
No. The 200 Hour course is a foundation course, built for people still developing their practice. Students arrive at every level. A regular practice before you arrive helps, but it is not a requirement.
How long does yoga teacher training in the Algarve take?
The full residential intensive runs fifteen days. The hybrid option is four days in person in the Algarve plus self-paced online study, which suits students who cannot take two full weeks away from work.
Is the certification recognised internationally?
Yes. The courses are Yoga Alliance accredited at RYT 200 and RYT 300 level, the most widely recognised standard worldwide. Completing both takes you to RYT 500.
What is the best time of year to train in the Algarve?
October and December sit outside the summer crowds, with warm days and empty beaches. Spring intakes from March to May are similar. July and August are hotter and much busier.
How do I get to the school?
Fly into Faro (FAO), about an hour away by road and served directly from most European cities. Transfer is included on the full two-week training and charged separately on the three-night hybrid.
How many students are in each group?
Ten to eleven. The cap is deliberate. It means you practise teaching in front of the group every day and receive individual feedback each time.
Are meals included?
Three plant-based vegetarian meals a day are included on training days, made with local vegetables, fruit and herbs. Tell the school about allergies when you book.
Can I pay in instalments?
A 500 euro deposit secures your place, with the balance due before the course begins. Contact the school to discuss a payment plan.
