About our school
Yoga Alliance Registered School
Barefoot Yoga School is a purpose built international training provider, currently offering Yoga teacher trainings in Sri Lanka.
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What makes Barefoot Yoga school different?
Our level of care and attention to detail means that everyone feels seen and heard. We have an all inclusive community, attracting people of all ages and ability on our courses. Our programs are limited to a maximum of 12 students per intake to ensure the highest level of mentorship and education can be attained by each person. Another reason people pick us is because our lead trainers are also highly experienced and qualified in their topics. For example, your anatomy module is taught by Adam, who has a major in exercise physiology.
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What is the schools ethos and approach throughout the curriculum?
The phrase 'Science meets spirituality' is how we summarise our teachings. We have a professional, yet grounded and friendly approach when teaching which is multi level, leaving no one behind. We like to balance our time on the programs carefully as we feel application of knowledge and feedback is key to producing competent teachers.
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What are the benefits of an immersive course?
We are very passionate about the lifestyle in which Yoga requires - hence why we are passionate about the immersive style of training. Yoga is not just physical, a real Yogi adapts their entire life around having a Yogic practice which is evident on and off the mat.
We feel that true self mastery and comprehending this knowledge requires your full commitment and focus, which is why we enjoy providing a space which is safe for people to open up and rediscover themselves.
About our co-founders & facilitators
Adam Kaoullas
Lead Trainer of Anatomy & Yin | Co-founder | Chinese Medicine practitioner | Former pro athlete | Exercise physiology major | 500HR ERTY | Level 2 WIM HOF instructor
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As a retired professional boxer, Adam brings a fascinating perspective on the power of the mind and body. He is now leading a very different life as a lifelong student of Yoga & Chinese Medicine practitioner. Originally using Yoga as a supplement to his athletic career, Adam went on to study in India on two separate occasions and completed further training in Pyrenees & Poland with the world renowned Breath work & Ice master, Wim Hof on two separate expeditions.
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Adam's formal education & experience spans over 12 years +, completing two degrees with modules in exercise physiology, rehabilitation and anatomy. After Adam's first degree, he had the pleasure of going on to work in rehabilitation centres in the US, helping the injured and disabled to find their feet and even walk again. Adam's career has always been centred around rehabilitating people which is very much reflected in our Yoga Teacher trainings.
He has always found a way to help people regain strength and functionality, be it through Yoga teaching, writing courses, teaching anatomy, volunteering with the elderly, personal training, leading Ice bath plunges and breathwork journeys, or fitness instructing.
Years later, his second degree was in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, which has been an equally major attribute to our programs as he weaves this knowledge in to the curriculums.
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He has a rare passion for helping people and making Yoga a fun and more effective form of movement therapy. Adam is incredibly invested and makes it his mission to give Yoga teachers a better education and understanding of the human physiology and thus produces highly trained Yoga teachers whose anatomical knowledge is outstanding.
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Adam has an overarching enthusiasm for the human body and biomechanics which is very apparent in his teachings. His expertise goes beyond the physical, as he has been on a personal journey with tales to tell of his travels all over the world and success in his business and athletic career.
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He runs the Yin Yoga, Chinese Medicine and Anatomy modules in these courses.
Jessica Martin-Jones
Lead trainer of Philosophy and Eastern practice | Co-founder | Psychophysiologist & counsellor | Nutritional therapist | 1500HRS of YT study | 500HR ERTY
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Jess is the original creator and driving force behind Barefoot Yoga School. This passion project and school was built from the ground up after moving to Australia in 2017 with nothing but a backpack and passion for health. Jess transformed her original Melbourne based studio, into a purpose built school which focusses on immersive trainings over 5 years ago after discovering that she wanted to form a more holistic model which harnessed deeper connections with her students & clients.
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Jess finds herself with a deep philosophical connection to the teachings of Yoga, after being inspired by her trips and trainings across Asia & India. She realised there was much to be gained from exploring a spiritual connection and deeper understanding of human nature. Jess always had a passion for psychology & physiology and has found a way to connect these two worlds through Yoga and more formal training as a counsellor, specifalising in psycho-physiology. This is where the core of her teachings come from.
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With over 1000 + hours of accredited Yoga and Yoga therapy training, Jess offers broad perspectives on the meeting point of Eastern & Western philosophy which she weaves throughout her teaching. As a qualified counsellor, nutritionist and fitness instructor, Jess has worked professionally with individuals on a mental & physical level for over 6 years. This professional experience allows all of our programs to be trauma-informed, offering students the much needed support throughout their personal journeys.
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Jess has always had an underlying passion for creativity, having been an art teacher in Melbourne before becoming a Yoga & fitness instructor, this hidden talent has played a major role in creating Barefoot Yoga. This side of Jess brings an element of creativity into every part of her teachings, encouraging artistic and deep levels of thought throughout her classes, with carefully curated models to help students comprehend the Yogic teachings.
Jess runs the Philosophy, Hatha-Vinyasa, Meditation, Psychology & Mindfulness aspects of our programs.
Our mission & message
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 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 6 years which is full of people who share these values.
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We simply 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. 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.