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Our Commitment to Sri Lanka
Our core values & ethos
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At Barefoot Yoga School, being here means being part of Sri Lanka, not just teaching in it —
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Yoga is beyond the mat. For us, social responsibility means running a school that values people, community & planet.
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For us, being here is personal. We live locally year round, working with our community and team daily — and believe in creating opportunities that last beyond a season. We create secure jobs, respect the land, and contribute positively to the community we call home.
For us, yoga extends beyond the mat, this belief is reflected in the classroom and the workplace.
We give 5% of every deposit recieved to local projects. Environmentally, our school was built with reclaimed materials, no trees were cut, and we run low-waste, composting, and energy-conscious practices daily.
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SCIENCE MEETS SPIRITUALITY I SMALL GROUPS I COMMUNITY
Our Values & Ethos
Small Groups
Small groups foster strong connections. At Barefoot, our family-oriented environment allows 12 students to be seen and heard - we provide valuable teaching opportunities and feedback to ensure you leave ready to teach and confident in your knowledge and practice.
Science meets Spirituality
We believe in the equal importance of East and West, Yin and Yang and Science meeting spirituality. This balanced approach enriches our Anatomy and Philosophy curriculums, producing well-rounded teachers and attracting a diverse range of individuals.
Immersive
Immerse yourself for 3-4 weeks on a tropical island. After extensive training, we believe immersion is the best learning method, free from daily distractions. It allows you to deepen your studies and enhance your focus.
Inclusive
We are inclusive in multiple ways. We welcome all ages, abilities and backgrounds, ensuring an adaptable and inclusive learning environment. Our programs also include food and accommodation, allowing you to focus on your studies without distractions.
Support & Mentorship
Small groups allow our leaders and assistants to deliver customized support for each student'. Helping them develop confidence and meet their personal goals. Self-empowerment is at the heart of our approach!
International Community
Our global postgraduate community connects individuals and enhances the BYS network beyond training. Our WhatsApp group inspires and celebrates achievements, and we organize international meet-ups and visits to students in their home countries!
Continuing Education
We offer online postgraduate programs and a 300HR advanced YTT to create pathways for furthering your skills & knowledge. It doesn't end with the 200HR, it's just the beginning! You can even go on to become a BYS assistant teacher.
Experienced teachers
Practitioners, not performers. As you will read below, our founders & facilitators are highly qualified for their roles, not just for their industry knowledge but also for their accreditations and formal education such as studying degrees in Exercise Physiology and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
About our Co-founders
​Adam has an impressive CV, holding a double degree in Exercise Physiology and Traditional Chinese Medicine + Acupuncture. Alongside his formal education, he's completed 200hr TTC in Ashtanga & Hatha, 300hr in Yin & Vinyasa, Cert III + IV in Fitness, and is a Certified Wim Hof Method Level 1 + 2 instructor. Qualifications aside, as a former professional athlete, Adam brings a unique insight into the capabilities of the mind and body. With over 12 years of experience in exercise physiology and rehabilitation, he's worked across rehabilitation centres, youth centres, aged care facilities, and the fitness and yoga industries, and has run BYS with partner Jess for 7 years. Adam's passion for Yoga and Chinese Medicine enriches his teaching, giving students a deep understanding of human physiology, biomechanics, and energetics. He leads the Yin Yoga, Chinese Medicine, and Anatomy modules in our courses.
Adam Kaoullas​
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Lead trainer & Co-founder​​
Jess established Barefoot Yoga School in Australia in 2017, growing it from a small studio-based community into a successful international yoga school with over 320 graduates. By contrast to Adam's double degrees, Jess has studied yoga since she was 19, and rather than pursue higher education, tends to take the path less travelled. She's an inspiration to our community and loves helping others seek and find their potential, no matter their age. Her years of studying yoga are backed by Diplomas in Nutrition, Fitness, and Psycho-Physiology Counselling, which she carefully integrates into her teaching alongside over 1500 hours of accredited YT training. Jess offers insight into Eastern philosophy and its connection to modern psychology, with a gift for making yogic philosophy land in a way that's digestible and meaningful. As co-founder, Jess wears many hats beyond the program, but on the courses she teaches Philosophy, Vinyasa Sequencing and Teaching Methodology, Meditation, and Pranayama.
Jessica Martin-Jones
Lead trainer & Co-founder​​
About our Team
Jamie O'Hare
Program teacher & Graphic design
Coming from a background in high performance sports coaching, a Master's in Counselling, and a Bachelor's in Arts (Psychology), yoga became the perfect intersection of mind and body for Jamie. She weaves a range of modalities — Pilates, Reiki, strength & conditioning, somatic techniques, and mindfulness — into her teaching, blending practical application with philosophy and energies beyond the physical. After completing her 200hr and 300hr YTT with Barefoot, Jamie began teaching and assisting in February 2026, and has since supported over 10 cohorts through their training.
Meet the heart of Barefoot's daily rhythm
Nangi, Sudi, Malli & Appa
On-site therapists
Our local team of gardeners, housekeepers, and chefs, managed by Malki. (Left to right: top - Chandrika, Malki, Amila, Lashika; bottom: Kumudu, Kusum, Champika; Missing: Ahana, Nisha). They're the ones behind the nourishing meals, the clean and welcoming spaces, and the beautiful gardens that surround us, creating the calm, cared-for atmosphere that lets our students fully relax into their practice and their journey with us.
Say hello to Malli and Appa, our two kittens, and our dogs Nangi and Sudi. Our resident four-legged therapists, they're always on site to offer a warm welcome, gentle companionship and plenty of love. (Malli pictured; more photos to follow)
Where we are coming from
Our values are the foundation of our school and community. We believe that having small group trainings, in a safe and nurturing environment is extremely transformational. Our first commitment is always to quality & authenticity in every way. From keeping our curriculums and textbooks updated, to providing excellent accommodation and food, with outstanding levels of support and mentorship throughout. We have built a welcoming international community over the past 7 years which is full of people who share these values.
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Although we don't owe all of our knowledge to Yoga alone, our teachings are greatly inspired by the Yogic teachings and stay true to our own education gained from India itself throughout all TTC's that we have personally undertaken. We are equally grounded in our professional experiences working in the health and wellness world before becoming Yoga teachers (read above).
Mysticism and symbolism are powerful, unwavering belief and religion is a spiritual armour, but science is the sword which pierces reality, science demystifies and clarifies, leaving no room for doubt. Where science can validate what the spiritual teachings have said for generations - two sides of the same coin become one. United in an effort to solve the mysteries of mankind and what it is to be human.
We love exploring where science meets spirituality; therefore, we hope to attract curious students from all over the world who are equally as invested in finding the bridge between the East + West. We see as the world becomes more globalised and different cultures and people meet, we face a very natural evolution and mile stone in history whereby we have the choice to integrate and learn from each other or remain stuck in the past. We are proud to be part of this movement, choosing to share with integrity and authenticity.
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Yoga is something which is evolving, it has been a consistent presence in many different forms across Asia, and now this culture & belief system is firmly influencing the West, where it is aiding people from all walks of life. We feel as a Yoga School it is our duty to help share this knowledge with care, in an all inclusive manor, to keep the flame burning and introducing a holistic way to connect to our mind, body and spirit which helps millions of people across the world evolve and become more conscious around the way we live our lives.
