Yoga Teachers Training in India: Detailed Guide

India is still considered to be among the best destinations for yoga holidays. There are several yoga ashrams as well as yoga resorts in India, that offer a great spiritual and meditative experience. You can even attend a beginner yoga course when on your India yoga vacation.

Here are the best traditional yoga centers, located in different cities in India, that provide yoga teachers training.

These centers offer short-term as well as long-term courses so you can choose from a wide selection of beginner yoga courses. While the short-duration classes do not provide a deeper understanding of the subject, the course schedule is designed in such a manner that you can learn the systematic way of doing yoga.

What are the requirements for a teacher training course?

It depends from where you’re going to do your teachers course. The oldest and the more esteemed ones require you to have some background of yoga and are for the serious yoga students.

However, currently there’s a good demand for teachers training courses, and most students are not ready to devote a lot of time (at the maximum 1 month). There are many who want to get employed in the wellness industry. Then there are some who’re employed full time and are looking for an alternate career or wish to change their profession.

What they’re ideally looking for is shorter-duration courses that will equip them with the skills to teach yoga to students, and in the process kick-start their career as a Yoga Teacher.

Sensing a good demand for such courses, several Yoga ashrams / studios have started conducting 1-month Yoga Teachers Training courses.

Some schools request you practice for a couple of years before enrolling. Other schools are flexible on the matter, requiring just that you’re fit enough to keep up with classes. The shorter one month courses are intense.

Best Schools for Yoga Teachers Training in India

These esteemed Institutes conduct various teachers’ training courses.

Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, Maharashtra

This renowned Institute conducts regular classes in Iyengar Yoga (a form of Hatha Yoga which focuses on postures) for all levels. Unfortunately there can be long waiting period to get in. Besides, the Institute requires students to have prior experience in practicing Iyengar Yoga.
Address: 1107 B/1, Hare Krishna Mandir Road, Model Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Pune. Ph: (91 20) 2565-6134.
Course Duration: One month.

Ashtanga Institute, Mysore, Karnataka

The esteemed Ashtanga Institute offers intensive ashtanga yoga classes (for serious yoga students only) throughout the year. Their courses are also much sought after.
Address: #235 8th Cross, 3rd Stage, Gokulam, Mysore Ph: (91 821) 2516-756.
Course Duration: One month to six months.

Hrishikesh (Rishikesh), Uttarakhand

Rishikesh is known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, where you will find several ashrams offering all kinds of yoga and meditation classes, in an exquisite setting by the fast-flowing Ganges, surrounded by forested hills. Rishikesh is also a popular white-water rafting destination, backpacker hang-out, and gateway to treks in the Himalayas.

Couple of popular institutes in Rishikesh, in case you want to totally immerse in Yoga.
shivayogapeeth.in
rishikeshyogdham.com

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Trivandrum, Kerala

Renowned for its hatha yoga courses. There’s an exacting schedule (5.30am to 10pm) of yoga practice, meditation and chanting. Month-long yoga-teacher training available.
Address: Neyyar Dam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695572. Phone:094956 30951
Courses run for a minimum of two weeks and batches start twice a month.

Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre, Bodhgaya, Bihar

Also known as Dhamma Bodhi, the Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre in Bihar offers courses in meditation using the Vipassana technique. The centre is surrounded by agricultural fields making it conducive for serious meditation. The centre offers short as well as long courses. Read more here.

Yoga Alliance Standards for Teachers’ Training Programs

The Yoga Alliance is an organization dedicated to yoga education in the United States. It is best known for setting recommended standards for yoga teacher training programs.

A Yoga Alliance accredited school means that the school meets the Yoga Alliance’s standards for 200 and 500 hour courses for teacher certification.

If it is, upon completion of the course, you get a RYT (registered yoga teacher) symbol to place next to your name.

You can check this list of Yoga Alliance accredited schools in India.

Yoga Centers in Mumbai (Retreats and Classes)

Here’s a listing of the various Yoga Classes in Mumbai. They impart yoga teacher training courses as well.

The Yoga Institute (TYI), Santacruz (East)

Founded in 1918, The Yoga Institute (TYI) is a government-recognized non-profit organisation and the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The facility is located over a one-acre land with 3 buildings, each having 2 floors.

They run a wide range of courses and camps – for children, adults and teachers. TYI have also authored several books on Yoga and have other publications such as magazines.

Address: Shri Yogendra Marg, Opposite Railway Quarters, Yoga Institute Rd, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz East, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Courses: From 1 week to 1 days. Teacher training courses of various duration are also conducted.

Website: theyogainstitute.org

Dhamma Giri Vipassana International Academy, Igatpuri

Located in Igatpuri (45 km away from Nashik and 136 km away from Mumbai), their 10-day meditation course is quite popular, although its tough. The daily schedule is from 4am to 9:30pm. Limited food intake, limited sleep allowed, no talking, no electronic devices, no pen and paper for 10 days.

Nashik District, Igatpuri, Maharashtra 422403.
Courses: Conducts Ten-day residential courses throughout the year.

Website: Dhamma.org

Yoga Vidya Dham, Nasik

Yoga Vidya Dham is a Non Profit Organization (NGO) established with the aim of imparting Yoga Education to all sections of the society. They offer different Yoga courses (Training Courses), the duration varies from one hour to few months.

Located in the Sahyadri mountain range, the ashram is surrounded by scenic landscapes and is an ideal location away from city and stressful modern life.

Website: Yogapoint.com

Kaivalyadham, Lonavla

Spread across 170 acres in Lonavla, Yoga institute KaivalyaDhama was established in 1924 and runs various academic courses such as teachers training, BA in Yoga, and more. They also run a CBSE school where Yoga is taught extensively.

They have a dairy with around 50 Indian breed cows, they have a farm where organic vegetables are grown. ‘Sattva’ cafe serves cold press juices and healthy snacks. They also have a library with thousands of books to enhance your intellectual curiosity.

Website: kdham.com

Yogacara, Mumbai

Yogacara operates a chain of yoga & meditation centers in Mumbai where you can learn & practice yoga exercises from top yoga teachers.

Website: Yogacara.in

Yoga by the Bay, Mumbai

Everybody knows the benefits of doing yoga and now keeping healthy doesn’t have to be a drudgery at all. And its okay if you are not ready to join a gym or take the services of a yoga instructor yet, you can do yoga along with hundreds of other enthusiasts at ‘Yoga by the Bay’, a monthly get together on the last Sunday of each month, where participants do yogic asanas accompanied by the breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.