How to Choose the Best Yoga Teacher Training Program: 10 Things Most Students Forget

You're looking to become a yoga teacher by completing a training course. You've already searched for potential schools, saved a few, and compared prices. However, there are many factors that most people overlook when choosing a training school.

Typically, when searching for a school, people will only pay attention to the school's cost and location. However, smart students do a bit of research about their potential training schools.

Here are 10 things that most students forget to verify and why not verifying them can make or break your entire training experience. 

1. Check Yoga Alliance Accreditation (Really Check It)

There are many yoga teacher training schools that claim they have certification; however, their program is not recognized by the Yoga Alliance. The Yoga Alliance is an organization that establishes curriculum requirements for 200, 300, and 500-hour yoga teacher training programs. If you obtain your certification from a non-Yoga Alliance registered training school, your certificate may not be recognized in other yoga studios around the world.

To verify whether or not a school has Yoga Alliance accreditation, go to the Yoga Alliance website and search for the training school's Yoga Alliance registration. Please do not take the school's word for it and verify with Yoga Alliance 

2. Who Is Actually Teaching You?

A brochure may contain a famous guru, though who is actually teaching you on a daily basis? Many students do not ask this question and therefore do not know. So investigate your instructors to see how long they have been teaching and what their qualifications and lineage are. The quality of the teachers at a school is what really determines the quality of the school.

Teachers at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram have all trained with classical Himalayan Masters and therefore possess deep and valid knowledge.

3. The Difference Between 200-Hour and 300-Hour Programs

Beginners often jump straight into advanced programs without understanding the structure. The 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is what builds the foundation and covers asana, pranayama, anatomy, philosophy, and teaching methodology while the 300 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh builds upon the 200 Hour program with more advanced studies in asana, teaching methodology, and specialized areas of training.

Before enrolling in a school or program, make sure you have completed the prerequisite program which will prepare you adequately for your intended track in yoga teacher training; sending someone who has not completed their grammar school program directly to university will only provide them with a rude awakening about their lack of preparation. 

4. Full Immersion vs. Weekend Training — The Science Backs Immersion

If you're really committed to your yoga practice and want to grow as a teacher and practitioner, a full immersion (one-month") yoga teacher training course would be the right choice for you. The research shows that people retain far more information from an immersive environment than from a fragmented part-time learning program, according to the National Training Laboratory: "The average lecture or passive reading has a retention rate of 5-10%, while experiential and immersive learning can yield retention rates of up to 75%". Therefore, yoga is not simply transferring information; it is a physical practice and a way of life. Through living in an immersive environment (like Rishikesh) for a month, you will be able to incorporate these teachings into your body, mind and daily life experiences, which would not be possible through weekend-only programs. 

5. What Does "All Inclusive" Actually Mean?

Be sure to read all the fine print when researching "all-inclusive" yoga teacher training programs. Many schools will advertise low tuition prices and then charge you separately for meals, accommodation, certification, course materials, and excursions. Conversely, many yoga teacher training in Rishikesh include everything in the price: food, accommodation, certification, course materials, and aid with registering with Yoga Alliance, all in one flat rate. To properly compare costs of different schools, calculate your total costs for everything. 

6. The Style of Yoga Being Taught

Each type of yoga class, such as Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin and Kundalini, offer something unique. If you're taking a course that is heavy on Ashtanga and you have never taken an Ashtanga yoga class before you might feel over-whelmed in that class. Make sure to take a style of yoga that fits with your own personal practice and with the type of teacher you want to be. Most schools will recommend taking a broader classical style for students who are just entering their first 200 hour training.

7. Student-to-Teacher Ratio

Smaller classes offer students more one-on-one interaction with their teachers. Classes that are 8-12 students typically offer students detailed feedback regarding alignment, sequencing and hands-on adjustments while students in a class consisting of more than 40 students typically receive more of a presentation than training. Be sure to ask the school directly what their largest class size is as most schools do not provide this information easily. 

8. The Environment Is Part of the Education

The environment you learn in greatly impacts how thoroughly you learn. For instance, taking a yoga class in Rishikesh (the birthplace of yoga) at the base of the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganges River is not just an aesthetically pleasing thought. The environment is part of your yoga experience; meditating early in the morning by a flowing river, practicing your asanas in the crisp Himalayan air, and studying philosophy where it was first written will change your experience of yoga more than attending an urban yoga studio ever could.

That is why Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh is one of the most reputable and highly desired 200 hour yoga TTC in Rishikesh, India — the environment is a teacher. 

9. Alumni Reviews — Look Beyond the Website

Every school will have glowing reviews on their website, but you should dig deeper. Search for the school's name on Google Reviews, Yoga Alliance, TripAdvisor, and/or Trustpilot. Look for commonalities in what past students have said about teaching quality, class schedule, food, support systems, etc.; and how they felt when they left. Reviews from real people will tell you more about the school than a marketing brochure ever could. 

10. Post-Training Support

Your journey does not end on graduation day. Does the school have an alumni program? Can you go back into your classes? Is there a community that you are part of? Will your teachers have access to you for questions once you go home? These types of things become extremely important when you start teaching your first class and realise that there is still much to learn.

The best yoga schools will treat their students as if they are lifelong members of the community and not just paying clients. 

The Bottom Line

Choosing a yoga teacher training program is one of the most significant decisions you will make on your yoga journey. Don’t just choose based on cost or how pretty the Instagram Page looks. Check the school’s accreditation. Meet the instructors. Understand the program format. Choose a location and program that will help with your transformation.

If you are ready to train where yoga originated, with experienced teachers, in a Yoga Alliance accredited program that offers everything you need, Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh will be happy to welcome you. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the minimum experience needed to join a 200 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh? 

Most schools of yoga suggest you do basic practice regularly for at least 3–6 months before registering for a 200-hour program and, whilst you won’t be expected to be an expert, you will find that the training is far more effective if you are comfortably familiar with the mat. At the Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh, students of all levels and all backgrounds receive a warm welcome and will be helped along their journey. 

Q2. How is a 200-hour TTC different from a 300-hour yoga TTC in Rishikesh? 

The 200-hour training program is your introductory (foundational) yoga teacher certification, and is the first step in your journey as a yoga teacher (you will always refer back to it). The 300-hour training is your next (advanced) step as a teacher – you will continue to build upon the foundation established during your original training. When the two programs are combined, you will have completed a total of 500 hours of training, which is the highest level of certification available and recognized by Yoga Alliance. 

Q3. Do I need Yoga Alliance certification to teach yoga?

In the majority of countries the law does not require you to have an accreditation from Yoga Alliance. However, it is an industry standard which most studios and gyms will look for when hiring instructors. Holding either an RYT 200 or RYT 500 Qualifications indicates to potential employers and students alike that you have successfully completed an internationally recognised curriculum of training. If you intend on teaching in numerous countries or at an established studio, then registration with Yoga Alliance is an invaluable requirement rather than simply a detail. 

Q4. What are the teachers like at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram?

The instructors at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh are highly qualified individuals with extensive experience in the practice of yoga who have been trained by traditional yoga teachers of yoga. All instructors provide authentic tradition and a wealth of practical knowledge to each class. Additionally, classes at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh are limited in size so that there can be adequate time for individual attention, personalized instruction including thorough evaluations and physical guidance during training. In addition to teaching their students the various aspects of their practice, the instructors for Rishikesh also serve as mentors, helping their students with many of the aspects related to their practice of yoga, including physical, philosophical and personal.

Q5. Why is Rishikesh considered the best place for yoga teacher training in the world? 

Rishikesh is known to the world as the birthplace of yoga and as its capital. It has been a center of yoga since Vedic times. Thus, when you study in Rishikesh, you are learning from teachers who have studied in the direct lineage of this tradition (i.e. from teachers trained by Himalayan masters), and you will experience the yogic lifestyle in every aspect of your daily life. For teacher training, Rishikesh is unparalleled in its authenticity.