500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India

Hatha yoga is one of the most ancient branches of yoga, with a history dating back over a thousand years. Sessions in Hatha Yoga Teacher Training are rooted in ancient practices that evolve your consciousness to a higher understanding.

What will you gain?

• Learn different variations and modifications of the asanas according to different flexibilities
• Learn the English names and Sanskrit names of the asanas
• Learn the right alignment during the class and hands-on adjustments for beginner and advanced students
• Use props (belt, bolster, pillow, wall, block) as supporting agents
• Establish creative and challenging classes using the right voice and words
• Asana knowledge in traditional, therapeutic, and healing contexts
• Important contraindications and necessary modifications in relation to modern problems (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and so on)

K. Pattabhi Jois developed a modern-day form called Ashtanga Vinyasa in the mid-20th century, an energetic practice of mindful movements with breath awareness. In a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, the primary series of Mysore-style Ashtanga is taught in a systematic manner to help you achieve your goal.

What will you gain?

• Role of Drishti in Every Asana
• Synchronizing breath with asanas
• Doing Bandhas in Asanas
• Transitioning to self-practice
• Contraindications of postures
• Learn English and Sanskrit names 
• Learn the right adjustment during the asana class
• Learning how to teach Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series

Vinyasa Flow has movement sequences with focus on the breath. Vinyasa Flow is all about the deep inhale and exhale of your breath as you move from one posture to another.

What will you learn?

• How the Vinyasa yoga will decrease stress, anxiety, and depression
• Increase in energy and improvement in cardiovascular conditioning
• How the Vinyasa flow will burn calories faster
• Combining proper breathing with the flow

Pranayama is the practice of rhythmic breathing to purify the body, provide oxygen, and enhance the mind–body connection. It promotes calmness, focus, and concentration. This course teaches various breathing techniques, locks, and mudras for effective practice.

What will you learn?

• Introduction, importance, and benefits of Pranayama
• Preparing yourself for practice and sitting postures
• Nostril activation for effective practice
• Functions, levels, and balancing of pranas; breath retention
• Breathing techniques, prana flow, and connection with chakras
• Beginner and intermediate practices integrated with meditative postures

Mudras are the divine gestures that channel and distribute prana in the body. Most of the mudras are performed by hand. Practitioners can have immense benefits from mudras if they are performed in the right manner under the guidance of an expert.

What will you learn?

• The secret of mudras
• The position of different elements in your hands
• The importance and advantages of mudra

While doing yoga, your body generates a lot of energy or prana. With mudra, channel this energy and with bandhas, control and maintain it in the body to prevent it from draining. When done right, the bandhas can also help awaken the Kundalini.

What will you learn?

• Meaning of Bandhas and their importance
• Draining of Pranas and how to retain them
• Understanding the chakras and the role of Bandhas
• Benefits and precautions during the practices

Shatkarma is a series of six types of cleansing activities that help with physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual cleansing. Cleansing your body is a fundamental step toward working on your yoga journey.

What will you learn?

• What Shatkarma is, along with its benefits and precautions
• Who should practice it and who should avoid it
• Preparation steps and post-practice guidelines

Yoga asanas make the body stable and pranayama soothes the nervous system, thus preparing the flow of prana to be channelized effectively and making it easier for the mind to focus. Practicing pratyahara, or the controlling of sense, further facilitates control of the mind which is the preparation for meditation.

What will you learn?

• Introduction to Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi
• History and philosophy of meditation
• Preparation, aim and objective of meditation
• What meditation is and what it’s not
• Meditation traditions
• Correct sitting posture and role of diaphragmatic breathing
• Correct breathing during meditation
• Meditation practice

Yoga Nidra (psychic sleep) is sleeping in awareness in such a way that takes you from a conscious state to a superconscious state of awareness.

What will you learn?

• Meaning, basics, purpose, and Tantric origin of Yoga Nidra
• Various schools, traditions, lifestyle guidelines, and practitioner rules
• Benefits and precautions
• Difference between meditation and Yoga Nidra
• Yoga Nidra experience and healing applications
• Three-body awareness, four states of consciousness, and stages of Yoga Nidra

Mantra Meditation employs the power of chanting to align mind, body, and spirit, expanding awareness and facilitating inner and outer healing.

What will you learn?

• What is a mantra – understanding its meaning, significance in life, and the process of personal mantra initiation.
• Healing of body with mantras
• Use of mala in mantra recitation 
• How will mantra help you in your life?

Understanding the history and philosophy of yoga not only helps you to grasp the deep meaning Yoga has in our life but also helps you integrate the philosophy into your life. Various ancient philosophies will be introduced to you like Bhagwat Geeta, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Patanjali Yoga Sutra and much more.

What will you learn?

• Introduction of Yoga Philosophy (Yog Darshan) and its Evolution
• Introduction of Patanjali Yoga Sutras
• Nadis (Ida, Pingala & Sushumna)
• Introduction of Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga
• Pancha – Vayus, Panchakoshas
• Sattva, Rajas & Tamas (Trigunas)
• Four Padas of Yoga Sutras
• Life stories of yogis (Inspiring stories)
• Introduction of Chakras – energy centres of the body & Kundalini
• Introduction to Vedas

Kundalini Philosophy

Kundalini Yoga is practised to activate the kundalini energy, which sits at the base of the spine. Kundalini awakening is called the ultimate form of yoga sadhana that is attained after steadily mastering the previous layers of yoga sadhana.

The term kundalini comes from the Sanskrit word "Kundal" which means circular or the coiled snake at the base of the spine. 

During the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, you will have a comprehensive introduction to Kundalini Yoga which will help you in understanding what the subject entails and how to move ahead in the future regarding an in-depth understanding of this vast subject Kundalini Yoga.

What will you learn about Kundalini Yoga practices during the training?

• Introduction, definition, core principles, unique features, aims, and historical evolution of Kundalini Yoga
• Recognizing energetic blocks/flow and traditional methods to balance, activate, and harmonize the subtle body
• Understanding various meditative practices for different chakras and their role in spiritual awakening

Yoga is not only a set of postures to keep you fit but also a holistic lifestyle and philosophy that enhances one's mind, body, and soul. A yogi's lifestyle opens doors for every individual to the highest form of knowledge.

What will you learn?

• Understanding what a yogic lifestyle is, who a yogi is, and why a healthy lifestyle matters
• Importance of a yogic lifestyle, including vegetarian/vegan diet and basics of the yogic diet
• Daily routines: morning–evening practices, sleep cycle, and preparation for restful sleep
• Living with awareness: behaviour toward others and following Yamas & Niyamas

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of holistic healing that nurtures balance of the body, mind, and spirit. Through traditional Ayurvedic practices, the body is purified and harmonized by balancing the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, supporting natural health and inner well-being.

What will you learn?

• Introduction of Ayurveda and Definition
• Meaning and importance of Dincharya - Daily routine activities according to Ayurveda
• Introduction to tridoshas - Vatta, Pitta & Kapha
• Explanation of Basti - Kati, Geeva, Uro Janu and nabhi basti
• Understanding the concept of Abhyangam
• Introduction, importance and definition of marma Therapy
• Classification of Marma - according to Anatomy & Shadang and identification of Marma
• Identification of Marma - Upper and lower Extremities

Applied Ayurveda

Applied Ayurveda focuses on bringing ancient Ayurvedic wisdom into daily life. By understanding and practicing these principles, one learns how to live a balanced, healthy, and harmonious life in alignment with nature.

What You Will Learn To:

• Prepare Ayurvedic detox teas, including liver detox, Tulsi, and herbal infusions
• Create natural Ayurvedic face and hair masks
• Practice Ayurvedic gardening and understand medicinal plants
• Learn the basics of Basti therapy
• Detoxify the body using traditional Ayurvedic cleansing methods
• Perform Abhyanga (self-massage) with Ayurvedic oils for relaxation and vitality

At Rishikesh Yoga Ashram, you will explore the connection between emotions, trauma, and the body as part of the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. Students learn the theory and practical application of techniques combining Marma Therapy, Meditation, Breathwork, and Asanas to understand how emotions are stored in different parts of the body and how to release them.

With these sessions, you will explore the theory and practice of Marma Therapy, you will learn to identify key energy points, understand how they store emotions, and apply for emotional healing. You will also gain the skills to support emotional balance, inner resilience, and holistic well-being for yourself and others, integrating these methods into your yoga practice and daily life.

What will you learn?

• Understanding Marma Therapy, the 72 Marma points and how they store emotional memories
• Techniques for stimulating Marma points to release blocked emotions
• How Marma point therapy enhances the flow of prana and promotes healing according to Ayurveda
• Key points and precautions
• Effects of Emotional Healing through Marma Therapy on the body, mind, and spirit
• Ways to achieve physical, mental, and spiritual wellness

Anatomy is an essential subject for ensuring a safe, effective, and personalized yoga practice. Empowering the newly certified yoga teachers with the skills needed to guide students safely and effectively.

What will you learn?

• Anatomy Foundations & Movement Basics: Understand the role of anatomy in yoga, basic bones and joints, movement terms, flexibility vs. mobility, and injury prevention essentials.
• Spine, Core & Breathing Anatomy: Learn spine structure, core muscles, pelvic awareness, diaphragm mechanics, and the connection of breath to the nervous system.
• Upper & Lower Body Anatomy: Focus on shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and foot alignment to support safe and effective movement.
• Asana Biomechanics & Functional Movement: Explore anatomy in forward bends, backbends, twists, and side bends, balance mechanics, and fascia/connective tissue in movement.
• Energetics & Safe Alignment in Yoga: Study bandhas, parasympathetic activation, common yoga injuries, and safe alignment for diverse body types.

Learn the posture alignment in accordance with Iyengar Yoga. Expert teachers of Gurukul Yogashala will help in understanding how to align yourself while you are doing self-practice and also will help you understand how to align others in your class as Yoga Teacher.

What will you learn?

• Why is it important to align your own body during the asana practice?
• Alignment and precision in the practice of asanas.
• Use of props such as blocks, straps, and blankets for correct alignment according to Iyengar yoga
• Learn the right alignment in various asanas: standing, seated, backward/forward extensions, twisting, and inverted postures
• Understand the common mistakes, precautions, benefits, and modifications according to strength and flexibility

It is not enough to learn and practice yoga to be a great yoga teacher. Teaching yoga is an art, as it can change lives, so a lot of preparation and skills go into it.

What will you learn?

• Blending traditional teaching methods with a modern outlook prioritizing holistic approach in teaching.
• Crafting an engaging curriculum; Connection and empathy during the sessions
• Efficiency in class management
• Safety and effectiveness
• Preparing yourself mentally and emotionally before teaching
• Keeping a positive attitude during and after the practice
• Developing step-by-step class structures
• Proper adjustments with and without yoga props
• Establishment of yogic personality

Teaching Practice:

There will be teaching practice done by all the participants of the batch in the presence of the teacher that will help you in giving hands-on practical experience.