OM Yoga Awards 2024

Favourite Yoga Teacher Trainer: Vidya Heisel and Favourite Yoga Retreat: Suryalila Retreat Centre

Reading time: 4 - 5 minutes

Vidya Heisel, who founded Suryalila Retreat Centre in Spain and the long-established Frog Lotus Teacher Training, enjoyed a double celebration at our 2024 awards. As well as being named Favourite Yoga Teacher Trainer, Suryalila was once again named your Favourite Yoga Retreat for the second year in a row.

“I am really grateful for this recognition,” she told OM. “After leading trainings for 25 years and graduating over 3,000 students, I am grateful to have been able to make a significant contribution to the world of yoga. I am turning 70 in February, so this is a wonderful birthday present. I feel truly blessed.”

As to why people voted for her as their favourite teacher trainer, she added: “I give 100% of myself in my trainings. The students benefit from my 50 years of teaching yoga and my deep ongoing study of meditation and yogic texts. I have devoted my life to yoga, so have a lifetime of hard-earned wisdom to share.”

She was also delighted for Suryalila to win the Favourite Yoga Retreat award once again. “I feel it is a tribute to all the love and hard work that every member of our team contributes to Suryalila; it is far more than a business, it is an oasis of love and creativity. We strive for perfection and love to come up with new ideas to surprise returning clients. For example, we have just installed a beautiful wooden sauna and, in 2024, we created ‘The Pathless Path’ a 40-minute meditation walk around the perimeter of the property, adorned with art, philosophy, quotes, as well as a magical forest shala.”

As for 2025, expect more good things. “We are renovating some of our accommodation this winter and will be extending the dining room. We have also refined and improved our own in-house Retreat Yourself offerings to make sure guests have the very best experience.”

There are things planned on the teacher training side too. “In 2025, as well as offering two of my signature three-week intensive trainings at Suryalila, I will be offering two hybrid yoga teacher trainings for the first time, a combination of extensive self-paced online material and one week of immersive training at Suryalila. I think the hybrid training will be a great option for anyone who cannot take the luxury of three weeks off work, has kids at home, or is on a lower budget, so hopefully it will be accessible to more people.”

Any further words of wisdom for others keen to enjoy a fruitful career in the world of yoga? “For me it's always amounted to putting all of my eggs in one basket and whole-heartedly following my dreams. Anything that you give everything to, with love and devotion, for a long period of time, will eventually bear fruit.”

Visit: suryalila.com
Connect on IG @suryalilayoga

Visit: froglotusyogainternational.com
Connect on IG @froglotusytt

Photos: Andrew Prod Photography - @andrewprodphotography