La Casa Shambala
Terms of Booking a Yoga Course
Last updated: February 2026
These Terms of Booking apply to all yoga teacher training and retreat courses offered by La Casa Shambala. By placing a deposit or making any payment toward a course, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms in full. For terms governing use of our website, please refer to our separate Terms of Use.
1. Health, Safety & Suitability
The safety and wellbeing of all participants is our highest priority. Our yoga teacher training courses are physically and mentally intensive programmes. It is your responsibility to ensure you are medically and physically fit to participate before making a booking.
1.1 Medical Disclosure
Prior to booking and again before the course begins, you must disclose to us any physical injuries, chronic conditions, disabilities, or health concerns that may be relevant to your participation. We reserve the right to request a letter of medical clearance from your doctor before confirming your place.
1.2 Pregnancy
Important Notice: Pregnancy Our yoga teacher training courses are not suitable for pregnant women. If you discover you are pregnant after booking, please contact us as soon as possible. In such cases, your deposit may be transferred to a future course date at our discretion. If you discover you are pregnant during the course you must inform our onsite team, who will support you in leaving to ensure the health and safety of your baby. In this case please refer to our cancellation policy and your insurance. La Casa Shambala will not issue refunds in this circumstance. |
1.3 Mental Health
Our training programmes are intensive and may involve physically and emotionally challenging elements, including long days, breathwork, and reflective practices. We are committed to a supportive and inclusive environment; however, we are not a therapeutic or clinical setting.
Important Notice: Mental Health If you are currently receiving medical advice, treatment, or support for a mental health condition, we strongly recommend that you consult your doctor or mental health professional before booking and before attending. Please inform your course manager of any relevant conditions so we can ensure appropriate support is in place if available, or in extreme cases assess if the course is suitable for you. |
1.4 Disabilities & Accessibility
La Casa Shambala is committed to being as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or require additional support, please contact us before booking so we can discuss whether our programme and venue can accommodate your needs. We will make reasonable adjustments where we are able to do so, but we cannot guarantee that all aspects of the training will be fully accessible in all locations.
1.5 Fitness to Participate During a Course
If a health concern arises during a course — whether previously undisclosed or newly developed — La Casa Shambala reserves the right, in consultation with the student, to recommend withdrawal from the course for the safety of the individual and the wider group. In such circumstances, no refund will be provided (see Section 3: Refund Policy). We strongly recommend that all students obtain comprehensive travel insurance before attending.
1.6 Infectious Disease & Outbreak Protocol
The health and safety of all participants is our highest priority. In the event of a contagious illness or infectious disease outbreak during a course — including but not limited to food poisoning, viral infections, or any other communicable condition affecting multiple participants — La Casa Shambala reserves the right to suspend or cancel the course, or to require affected students to withdraw temporarily or permanently, in the interests of the wider group.
In such circumstances:
- La Casa Shambala accepts no liability whatsoever for any illness, injury, or communicable disease contracted during or in connection with a course, regardless of cause or origin.
- Any student who believes they may be unwell or contagious is required to seek medical attention promptly. Refusal to seek medical attention where reasonably requested by the course manager may affect a student’s ability to continue the training.
- All costs arising from illness — including medical treatment, travel changes, and any other expenses — must be directed through the student’s own travel insurance. This is a further reason why we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation, cancellation, and curtailment before booking.
- In the event of a course being suspended or cancelled due to an outbreak, La Casa Shambala will make every reasonable effort to complete the students education, and no refund will be issued
1.7 Accompanying Children
La Casa Shambala is an inclusive school that welcomes students from all ages and life stages. We recognise that for some families, an 18-day separation is not possible, and we respect that.
However, our programmes are intensive and demanding and are designed as an immersive experience requiring your full attention and presence. For this reason, we strongly recommend that students make alternative childcare arrangements for the duration of the training.
Should you be unable to do so, children aged 6 and over are permitted at our Monchique venue only, subject to the following conditions:
- A full-time caregiver must accompany the child for the entire duration of the course. The caregiver — not the student — bears full responsibility for the child at all times, including during sacred silence hours (9pm to 9am) and all training sessions.
- The student must be fully immersed in the training programme. Parenting responsibilities during course hours are not compatible with the level of commitment this training requires.
- Sacred silence (9pm to 9am) must be respected at all times. The caregiver is responsible for ensuring the child adheres to this without exception.
- The pool house space is available at Monchique to support this arrangement subject to extra costs and availability
- Bringing a child to the training is entirely at the student’s and caregiver’s own risk. La Casa Shambala accepts no liability for the welfare of accompanying children or caregivers.
No other La Casa Shambala venues are currently suitable for accompanying children
2. Sexual Harassment & Professional Conduct Policy
La Casa Shambala is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and professional learning environment for all students and staff. We have a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment, discrimination, and any form of inappropriate conduct.
2.1 Expected Standards of Conduct
All students, staff, and visiting facilitators are expected to treat every person at La Casa Shambala — regardless of gender, sexuality, age, nationality, religion, or background — with dignity and respect at all times. This applies both during formal course hours and in shared social or accommodation spaces.
The following behaviours are strictly prohibited:
- Any unwanted physical contact, touching, or proximity
- Sexual comments, advances, innuendo, or jokes
- Sharing or displaying sexually explicit material
- Inappropriate use of touch in the context of yoga instruction without explicit, informed consent
- Any behaviour that causes a person to feel intimidated, humiliated, or unsafe
- Discrimination or harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic
2.2 Consent in Yoga Instruction
Where physical adjustment or hands-on instruction is offered during classes, explicit verbal consent must be sought and received before any physical contact. Students always have the right to decline any adjustment at any time, without explanation. Instructors must respect any withdrawal of consent immediately.
2.3 Reporting a Concern
If you experience or witness behaviour that you believe constitutes sexual harassment, discrimination, or a breach of this policy, please report it as soon as possible using one of the following channels:
- Speak directly to your Course Manager
- Email us confidentially at: [email protected]
- If you are not comfortable with either of the above, you may request contact with a senior member of the La Casa Shambala leadership team
All reports will be taken seriously, handled with sensitivity and confidentiality, and investigated promptly. We are committed to protecting those who raise concerns from any form of retaliation.
2.4 Consequences
Any student or staff member found to have engaged in sexual harassment or serious misconduct will be required to leave the programme immediately, with no entitlement to a refund. Where appropriate or required by law, incidents may be reported to local authorities.
For our full Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Policy, including the detailed investigation process, support available to all parties, and your right to appeal, please see our Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Policy.
3. Payment
3.1 Deposits & Reservations
Reservations require a deposit of 30% of the total course price. This deposit is non-refundable but may be transferred to another course date or location, provided that a minimum of 30 days’ notice is given prior to the start of the original course.
3.2 Payment Methods
The remaining balance of the course fee may be paid by:
- Bank transfer: Payment must be received in full at least two weeks before the course start date. International transfers can take considerable time to process — we recommend sending payment at least one month in advance. Please note that all bank and payment fees are your responsibility.
- Cash upon arrival: Accepted and appreciated. Please inform your Course Manager in advance if you intend to pay by cash. Local currency or US dollars are preferred.
Late bookings (made less than 30 days prior to the course start date) require full payment at the time of booking.
4. Refund Policy
The following refund schedule applies to balances paid in addition to the deposit:
- More than 60 days before the course start date: 100% refundable
- Between 30 and 60 days before the course start date: 50% refundable
- Less than 30 days before the course start date: Non-refundable
If a student suffers an injury, medical condition, or experiences a force majeure event after a course has commenced, no refund will be issued in any circumstances.
We strongly recommend that all students purchase comprehensive travel insurance before booking. Your policy should ideally cover:
- Personal injury or illness preventing attendance
- Death of a close family member
- Natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war, or other events beyond your control that prevent travel
- Medical care at the course location
- Course refund in case you become ill during the course.
In the event that any of the above prevents you from attending, La Casa Shambala is unable to issue a refund, as your place, accommodation, meals, and training materials are prepared and committed in advance. At our sole discretion, we may offer a partial credit toward a future course as a gesture of goodwill. This is not guaranteed and does not form part of these Terms and Conditions
If La Casa Shambala offers a promotional discount after a student has already paid the full price, that student will not be eligible to retrospectively claim the discount.
5. What Is Included in the Course Fee
The course fee includes the following:
- Yoga Alliance certification (printed copy) — either RYT200 or RYT300, depending on the course
- Accommodation for the duration of the training
- Meals on training days: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dinner on arrival day; breakfast on departure day)
- Filtered water/ bottled water on training days
- All course materials, including a yoga equipment, TTC manual, NettiPot and handbook
- YTTC related classes, activities and workshops
- Airport/station transfer on the day the course begins (from the nearby designated pick-up point)
- Ongoing support from the training team and course manager
The course fee does not include: activities outside the training programme, meals on days off (other than those described above), visa fees (if applicable), check out transfer, or transportation to the pick-up point.
6. Certification Requirements
Yoga Alliance certification is included in the course fee and will be issued upon successful completion of the course. However, certification is conditional — it is not automatically awarded to all students who attend.
To receive your Yoga Alliance certificate, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- In-Person Course Requirements: 100% attendance (absence tolerance limited to 3 hours for the full 18-day course), active participation, respect for the course structure, non-violent communication, adherence to venue rules, and a substance-free environment on retreat premises.
- Practicum: Successful delivery of a 45–60 minute Hatha or Vinyasa class at the end of the course, meeting the teaching standards set out in the course manual.
- Online Pre-Course Module: Completion of all videos and assessments on the online platform within 60 days of finishing the in-person course.
Students who do not meet these requirements will not receive a Yoga Alliance-valid certificate, and no refund will be issued. Students who receive an attendance certificate (rather than full certification) may be eligible to submit a video and self-evaluation for an additional fee of €90, subject to the conditions set out in the Graduation & Certification Policy.
The full Graduation & Certification Policy, including all requirements and the video submission process, is available on our website and forms part of these terms by reference. Students are strongly advised to read it in full before booking.
7. Cancellation by La Casa Shambala
While La Casa Shambala makes every effort to ensure that all booked courses run as scheduled, we reserve the right to cancel or postpone any training due to unforeseen circumstances. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, your payments may be transferred to an alternative course date or location. La Casa Shambala accepts no responsibility for costs associated with flights, transfers, or any other travel or accommodation expenses incurred.
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance prior to booking.
8. Covid-19 Terms
In addition to the standard cancellation terms above, the deposit is transferable (rather than forfeit) in the following Covid-19-related circumstances, provided that supporting evidence is supplied within 2 days of the course start date:
- A positive Covid-19 test result
- Closure of borders or imposed travel restrictions to the destination country
- Governmental restrictions on group events in the country where the training is held
- Health and safety restrictions that make in-person attendance impossible or unsafe
9. Student Code of Conduct
La Casa Shambala expects all students to engage with the programme with integrity, respect, and commitment. By booking a course, you agree to:
- Treat fellow students, staff, and facilitators with courtesy and respect at all times
- Engage honestly and openly in the learning process
- Respect and follow the community and venue guideline
- Respect the privacy and personal boundaries of all other participants
- Comply with any reasonable requests made by course staff for the safety or wellbeing of the group
- Refrain from disruptive behaviour that diminishes the experience of other students
La Casa Shambala reserves the right to ask a student to leave the course if their conduct is deemed to be seriously disruptive, harmful, or in breach of this policy. No refund will be provided in such circumstances.
10. Photography & Video
During the course, we may take photographs or videos for marketing and promotional purposes. These may be used by La Casa Shambala on our website, social media channels, and other marketing materials. If you do not wish to be included in any such photographs or videos, please inform your Course Manager at the start of the programme and we will ensure your image is not used.
11. Accommodation & Room Sharing
All rooms are mixed-gender unless otherwise specified. If you require a same-sex shared room, please request this at the time of booking. We will do our best to accommodate this request, subject to availability. Private rooms may also be available to book at an additional cost.
12. Communications
By booking a course, you agree that La Casa Shambala may communicate with you electronically — including by email — regarding your booking, course logistics, and other relevant information. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications provided to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
13. Privacy
Any personal information you provide during the booking process will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website. You agree to ensure that all information you provide to us is accurate and up to date.
14. Liability Waiver
Before beginning any training, all students will be required to sign a liability waiver. Participation in yoga teacher training involves physical activity and associated risks. La Casa Shambala, its staff, and facilitators accept no liability for personal injury, illness, or loss of personal property during a course, except where such liability cannot be excluded by law.
15. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms of Booking are governed by the laws of Thailand. Any disputes relating to these Terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Thailand. If any part or provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, that part or provision will be modified, deleted, and/or enforced to the maximum extent permissible. The remaining provisions will not be affected.
16. Contact Information
If you have any questions about these terms, your booking, or any of our policies, please contact us:
Email: [email protected]
Address: Moo 4 63/2 Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, 84280 Thailand