Everything you need to know about yoga teacher training in Rishikesh

All you need is a general knowledge of yoga. There is no age limit — anybody capable of practising yoga, at any age, can take up the training.

It is not a necessity, though some previous knowledge makes it easier to keep up. We teach the course from the very roots of yoga, so there is no need to worry — even if you are a beginner, we will train you to the best, and our teachers are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with every student.

Yes, beginners can join the yoga teacher training course. We teach from the very root and help develop the inner being that has become unconscious in today's world. Our approach applies ancient yogic traditions to modern daily life, so you develop a unique art of teaching along with a thorough understanding of asana, pranayama, shatkarma, alignment, philosophy, anatomy, mudras, mantra chanting and meditation.

No. Our yoga teacher training courses are suitable for everyone, as we are committed to teaching you from the very root of yoga.

To become a yoga teacher you should have some experience of yoga. If you are a beginner, first build a basic knowledge of yoga and its practices, then join a teacher training course at an institute that suits your comfort and needs.

No. Our students come from all parts of the world, so English is a second language for many of them. The classes are easy to understand and our teachers will help you with anything you need.

Yes, you are welcome to attend the teacher training course together with your partner.

No. The course is too intense for pregnant women to complete safely.

Yes. Our teachers are qualified yogis with E-RYT 200 and E-RYT 500 credentials and many years of knowledge and experience. Some hold master's degrees in yoga science and others hold MA degrees.

• Hatha Yoga Pradipika — Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha — Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• The Art of Joyful Living — Swami Rama
• Light on Yoga — B. K. S. Iyengar
• Yoga Anatomy — Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews
• Yoga Sutras — Patanjali
• Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga Therapy — Mark Stephens

After successfully completing the course, you receive a certificate recognised by Yoga Alliance USA. It validates you as a registered yoga teacher around the globe. With so many people coming to India to learn yoga, a certificate from a registered yoga school gives you better opportunities in other countries too.

Yes. Arogya Yoga School is a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance, USA, providing internationally recognised yoga teacher training certification in India. All our graduates can register online on the Yoga Alliance® website.

RYS stands for Registered Yoga School — a school registered with the American organisation Yoga Alliance that meets its standards. Arogya Yoga School is a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance, USA (RYS 200, RYS 280), providing internationally recognised yoga teacher training certification in India. All our graduates can register online on the Yoga Alliance® website.

Yoga is a multidisciplinary tradition passed down for over five millennia — some call it a science, some an art, some a philosophy to live by, and all are true in their own way. Mastering it takes a lifetime. Yoga Alliance USA, a non-profit accreditation body, condenses this knowledge into structured courses with set hours of mandatory education and sets standards for how yoga schools operate. Today, when there is a yoga studio on every street, a Yoga Alliance accreditation shows that a school or teacher has met rigorous standards and is genuine.

To become a certified yoga teacher, you must successfully complete a yoga teacher training course and show that you can teach a yoga class. A Yoga Alliance certificate confirms your eligibility to teach yoga in any corner of the world and to open your own yoga studio or centre. Yoga Alliance recognises programmes such as 200, 300 and 500 hour trainings in styles including Hatha, Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa. You can see the suggested minimum standards and registered schools at yogaalliance.org.

Yes. Our courses are registered with Yoga Alliance. After you register on the Yoga Alliance website, you can teach in any part of the world.

Yes. You will take a written test and a verbal test. The final decision is based on your performance, attendance and behaviour.

The first step is to complete a 200 hour yoga teacher training accredited by Yoga Alliance (RYT 200), with two years of yoga practice. A Registered Yoga School (RYS®) is a distinction Yoga Alliance® gives to trainings that meet its standards: the school submits its syllabus and training certificate on the Yoga Alliance website, is verified by their credentialing team and stays current with annual fees.

All fees, including your registration and course fees, are non-refundable. In an emergency, or if you need to postpone your programme, you can carry your booking forward and join us on a later date.

Yes. If personal issues come up, we can move your course to later dates. The advance course fee is non-refundable; only in an emergency can students join us on another schedule.

We accept credit card payments for booking amounts. Remaining fees can be paid in cash or by traveller's cheques (TCs). If you choose to pay the remaining fee by credit card, an additional 5% transaction fee applies. You can also use your ATM debit card (Master / Visa / Electron) to withdraw cash in Rishikesh. See our payment page for booking options.

Nothing extra — the course fee includes food and accommodation. You are provided a shared room with basic amenities such as an attached bathroom, 24-hour water supply, hot water heater, shower and wardrobe.

Sometimes we run special promotions to make sure enough students join for a course to go ahead rather than be cancelled. Promotional prices apply to new bookings only.

Your stay includes 26 nights of accommodation, three daily meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), study materials and excursions on Saturday and Sunday. A manager looks after students to make your stay the best it can be.

Our yogic food is simple, elegant traditional Indian vegetarian cooking, prepared and served with love — a blend of taste and nutrition. You get your daily protein and energy from lentils, legumes and vegetables, made with organic ingredients. Please avoid outside and restaurant food during the course. Many people expect Indian food to be spicy and greasy, but that is not always the case.

Yes. We regularly welcome students who avoid gluten or follow a vegan diet, and we make special arrangements for dietary needs or health conditions — please let us know in advance. Food quality always comes first, as it is your main source of energy.

Yes. Pure filtered drinking water is available to students 24/7, free of charge.

Yes. You are free to use your phone whenever you are not in class.

Our Wi-Fi is free, so you can bring your phone or laptop to use it.

We provide yoga mats at the school. They are shared mats, so if you prefer, bring your own. If you are short of luggage space, there are plenty of shops nearby selling good yoga mats at a fair price.

You will have breaks during the daily schedule. Sundays are free days with no classes, so you have time to explore.

Only in an emergency, and you must inform your class teacher.

Yes. On Sundays we take students on excursions to famous places around Rishikesh, and we arrange the transport.

Yes. We organise cultural tours every month on the 28th, the day of the certification ceremony. Please see our 3 Days Himalayan Village and Cultural Tour page for details. The tour is not included in the course fee and is paid separately — about $50 to $70 per taxi, which can be shared with other students.

Yes. Hospitals in India have the same facilities as in Western countries. The brand may differ, but you will be able to get your medication here.

If you are sick, injured or need medical help, we will arrange medical care or take you to a Western-style hospital, whichever is needed. We will also find alternatives so you can still complete the course.

No particular vaccination is required. We recommend bringing mosquito repellent and lotions.

We take extra care by having dedicated staff prepare every meal at the school from fresh ingredients. Eating at restaurants in Rishikesh is generally safe, but if your stomach is sensitive, be careful with street food.

Yes. Rishikesh is in Uttarakhand, one of the safest states in India. Close to the Himalayas, people here live spiritually, calmly and peacefully, and the banks of the Ganga make it one of the best places to practise yoga.

You can find our address on Google Maps. We are in a very beautiful place — the Ganga flows so close that it takes only about two minutes to walk down to the river. We are near Rajaji National Park, where you may spot deer now and then, surrounded by mountains and fields. There is also a playground nearby where you can play games and bring back the child in you.

Rishikesh is known around the world for its beauty and for yoga, and has been one of India's holiest and most spiritual centres for thousands of years. This magical city on the blue banks of Maa Ganga also attracts visitors from all over the world for adventure activities.

Please arrive at least one day before the course starts so you can attend the orientation. The course begins at 10 am on the first day with a yoga ritual. On the last day, the graduation ceremony finishes by 7 pm, so plan your departure for the day after the course ends.

November to February are the coldest months and we do not provide room heaters, so if your course is between December and early March, please bring warm clothes — woollens and jackets are recommended from October to March. April to August is hot and rainy, with temperatures up to about 35°C, so light cotton clothes are best. September is the end of the rainy season, so an umbrella or raincoat is useful.

Rishikesh can be visited all year round, though you may want to avoid May, when temperatures are at their highest. The rafting season runs from mid-September to April.

Most everyday items you need during your stay in India can easily be found in the shops near our school. We suggest bringing any speciality item you cannot live without, such as a specific personal care product or a favourite snack from home.