Each year, thousands of International, U.S., Australian, European, and East Indian students travel to a small town in Uttarakhand to attend Yoga classes. The intent is to learn the true form of yoga, not the form taught in gyms, but a style of yoga that has been practiced by people for thousands of years. Many of the instructors for this style of yoga are also graduates from the same program and have lived their practice of yoga to its fullest. Rishikesh is what most would call a sacred place as it is here that the Ganges flows and you will feel its energy each morning.
So why do so many people choose Rishikesh Yoga Ashram as their destination?
It is not just the geographical location. Ultimately, it is about authenticity, trust, complete offerings of yoga, and the transformative experience that comes when your instructor, your environment, your food, and your community all work together to create a cohesive whole.
1. Rishikesh Is Not Just a Setting. It Is Part of Education.
Rishikesh has long been regarded as the capital of yoga, even before it was ever promoted with this phrase by marketers and advertising companies. Where yogic science began thousands of years ago by the Vedic sages, namely: at the point of confluence between the Himalayas mountain range and the Ganges River, and continues to carry the energy of that development today; then, science shows what yogis have known for a long time - the environment plays a major role in how you learn as well as how you transform yourself.
A recent study from Harvard Medical School conducted research that shows a statistically significant difference innovating, as producing academically insignificant differences, through Rishikesh Yog Ahram conduct residential training for yogis. The results were measurable; through this study, it was determined that participants in yogic (group) living (communal) had a tremendous positive experience from their time together, which would ultimately have a very long-lasting effect on their level of mindfulness, optimism, and overall psychological well-being (flourishing).
The Rishikesh Yog Ahram is located along Laxman Jhula Rd., in Swarg Ashram - one of the most spiritually abundant locations in all of Rishikesh and also provides students with the opportunity to truly be part of this living environment throughout their training.
2. Yoga Alliance Certification That Opens Doors Globally
The first question prospective students frequently ask is will their training certification be recognized when they return home? At Rishikesh Yoga Ashram, "Yes" is the answer and yes, worldwide. The school is a Registered Yoga School (RYS) with the Yoga Alliance USA, the international organization responsible for yoga education standards. Once an individual completes their qualifying course, they will receive a certificate that provides them with the ability to work as a teacher anywhere in the world.
From a student's view, this is significant. A student who has taken the 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh to establish a personal foundation, the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh India to begin their career as a yoga professional and graduated with a credential recognized throughout the world, as well as the 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, shall receive the same globally trusted credential.
3. A Complete Program for Every Stage of the Journey
The Rishikesh Yoga Ashram is different from most other yoga schools in that it provides a wider range of options for students to choose from than most other schools do. Since students at all levels of their yoga journey can take advantage of courses specifically designed for them by the ashram, they will find something appropriate for them, whether they are brand new to yoga or have been practicing for a long time.
Teacher Training Courses
The 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course at the Rishikesh Yoga Ashram in India is one of the most widely taken beginner level professional teacher training programs for yoga teachers and is the minimum standard for the ability to teach yoga worldwide. The course will teach students about yoga postures, breath control, meditation techniques, the philosophy of yoga, the anatomy of the human body as it relates to yoga, and how to effectively teach others this practice over a 22-day period.
The 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India, is based on the traditional Gurukul model of learning in which students both study and live together while under the guidance of a single teacher throughout each day. This course should not be confused with a weekend course because it is truly a life-changing course.
The 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh is designed to build upon the foundation that students received from the 200-Hour course, but students in this course will also learn advanced Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga techniques, how to refine their Vinyasa Yoga techniques, and how Ayurveda can be integrated into the practice of yoga.
The 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh is for those people who wish to complete an extensive teacher training course and take their skills as a yoga instructor to the highest level. This course lasts for 50 days and gives students the knowledge and experience necessary to be highly-skilled, well-rounded yoga instructors.
Short Course Specializations
The Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training program in Rishikesh is unique in that it is an RPYS (Registered Prenatal Yoga School) certified program registered with the Yoga Alliance, which trains teachers on how to effectively and safely work with pregnant and postpartum students; this is a specialist skill set that is quickly becoming more common across the globe.
The Sound Healing Yoga Teacher Training course introduces students to the world of vibrational healing through Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, and chimes, which have both significant historical value in yoga philosophy, have gained momentum over time as viable means of therapeutic healing;
Retreats for Students who are Not Ready for Teacher Training.
For students who want to experience being part of an ashram and engaging in yogic practices without being committed to the full training program, the 7-Day Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India, and the 14-Day Yoga Retreat in Rishikesh, India provide structured and restorative experiences in which to pursue yoga and possibly "get started" toward completing their yoga teacher training program; both retreats welcome beginners and experienced practitioners, and many students finish their retreat and then return to enroll in the teacher training program.
4. Teachers Who Learned from the Source
At the Rishikesh Yoga Ashram the staff was taught by the Himalayan masters using traditional methods. Yogi Arvind the founder of the ashram holds a graduate degree in Yogic Science from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Haridwar and studied under masters such as the guru K. R. Murli Ji and the guru Rudra Dev Ji.
His philosophy - समत्वं योग उच्यते, "evenness of mind is yoga" - shapes the culture of the entire ashram.
The teachers are able to provide personalized attention to each student since they only teach to small groups (15 to 20). Most of the students who attend this ashram have reported they were changed by their instructors.
5. The Science of What Happens When You Study Here
The results of the immersive yoga instructor training can be quantified scientifically. The contemporary research being conducted on the relationship between yoga and neuroplasticity supports this idea. According to studies, consistent practice of yoga has been shown to improve both neuroplasticity (developing new connections among neurons) and neurogenesis (growing new neurons). There is also evidence to support that the combination of yoga with other activities, such as meditation and breathing exercises, can help to increase grey matter in various areas of the brain associated with emotion regulation, memory, and self-awareness. Consistent practice of yoga has also been shown to reduce the activity of the amygdala (the "stress" and "fear" centre) and to enhance the functioning of the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain associated with making calm, rational decisions).
A comprehensive scientific review on yoga and neuroplasticity is available here.
Therefore, when you complete a 22-day yoga teacher training program, a 28-day yoga teacher training program or a 50-day yoga teacher training program in a fully immersive environment, you are not simply learning poses - your brain is also going through changes at an anatomical level, resulting in a different way of responding to stress, thinking more clearly, sleeping better and feeling more stable.
6. Gurukul Living - An Experience Unto Itself
Most students at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram have never had the experience of living in a Gurukul-style environment before. The term Gurukul comes from the Sanskrit words that mean house of the teacher. The Gurukul tradition is an ancient form of education where students lived together with the teacher. They not only learn knowledge but also about a way of life.
Life at the ashram combines the following activities: having Sattvik meals (which means freshly made, organically grown, vegetarian foods, according to the yogic way of life); early morning classes; evening meditations; performing Vedic rituals; and building a sense of community. The students from 30+ countries share their lives, practice, and develop friendships while they are there.
You cannot experience this in an intensive weekend program or on-line certification.
7. Accessible Fees Without Compromise on Quality
It is often thought that authentic and internationally certified yoga training is always expensive. At Rishikesh Yoga Ashram, this is not the case! The school is dedicated to providing true yogic education at affordable fees - course fees include room & board, Sattvik meals, course materials, and all classes.
For students who will invest months of savings and take weeks off from work for their training, they feel that the value and transparency of the program are very important.
The Bottom Line
Around the world, students are drawn to Rishikesh Yoga Ashram for truly meaningful experiences – not an extended holiday or a piece of paper – but transformation in the heart of the original yoga tradition with teacher(s) who have been there themselves, supplemented by science and with the location of this town being one of very few towns on the planet that has been attached to yoga since its beginning.
Whether you are joining us for your first time with a 100 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, continuing on through your 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh India, or just taking part in a week-long Retreat in Rishikesh India to see what living in an ashram is like; regardless of how you choose to begin your journey here, all guests always experience some form of transformation.
This is what students ultimately experience every time they return to Rishikesh Yoga Ashram.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Rishikesh Yoga Ashram suitable for complete beginners?
Absolutely! While many programs, including the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training don't require any prior experience, all of our instructors will support your individual journey based on where you begin! Many graduates from this School have been successful because they started at zero.
2. Is the Yoga Alliance certification from Rishikesh Yoga Ashram recognised internationally?
Yes, Rishikesh Yoga Ashram is an RYS with Yoga Alliance USA; graduates may register as RYTs and teach yoga legally globally.
3. What is the difference between the 200 Hour and 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training?
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training is your basic entry-level qualification for becoming a yoga teacher; 200 hour certification is the minimum required to teach yoga internationally. 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training programme consists of more advanced techniques, Mysore style Ashtanga, Ayurveda, etc…Therefore, a student is required to have completed his/her 200 Hour certification in order to enroll into 300 Hour training.
4. Do I need to speak Hindi to study at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram?
No. All courses at the Rishikesh Yoga Ashram are taught in English-though, where appropriate, instructors can provide clarification regarding philosophical/technical points in Hindi, the primary means of instruction will always be in English.
5. What is included in the course fees?
The course fees cover room and board (students may select from either shared or private accommodations), three vegetarian meals daily, yogic materials (books/instruction), a yoga kit (you get this from your teacher) and any classes or practice sessions scheduled. Airport fees; international airfare; other travel (excursion costs) are not included in course fees.
6. Can I do a retreat before committing to a full teacher training course?
Yes! Lots of people start their journey with a seven-day yoga retreat in Rishikesh, India, or a fourteen-day retreat there as well so they can experience ashram life, meet the teachers, and see if the full training option is appropriate for them, this is an excellent and recommended first step in the journey to becoming a yoga teacher.
7. How do I apply for a course at Rishikesh Yoga Ashram?
You can reach us through the website at rishikeshyogaashram.com by email at info@rishikeshyogaashram.com or by calling/WhatsApping us on +91 8445262826 and the admissions team will help you find which course is right for you, available dates, and guide you through the booking process.
