How To Choose The Best Yoga School For Yoga Teacher Training?

Choosing the best place to learn yoga is a very daunting task. It is more confusing today, as there are so many schools mushrooming across the country. Seeing the trend after Covid-19, has led to a huge growth in the sector. More and more people want to take up yoga practice. Additionally, many of you might see an opportunity in this trend and may want to take up a career as a yoga teacher. Then again, many of you may be wanting to open your own yoga schools. The yoga school in rishikesh is one of the best schools in India, to give a jumpstart to your yoga career.

Moreover, there is a need for certification, which makes your search worthwhile. If you want jobs elsewhere, then it is a mandate for you to get a certified course. There are various forms and hours covered as well. You should read this article, before you take the final plunge.

Things To Check Before Enrolling At Any Yoga School In Rishikesh

- Yoga Alliance Certification – This is the first thing that you need to check. A yoga Alliance certification, although not mandatory, will form the basis of your education. It gives the student to study a course, which follows international guidelines. All registered schools will follow the same pattern of education in yoga. So, wherever you go outside the country, you will be able to follow a universal syllabus. A RYT 200 is the minimum criteria for some places.

Location – The location of the school is also very important, when it comes to yoga learning. You must remember that yoga is a spiritual topic. So, it is best learned in the serene climate of the hills and meadows. The air should be clean and pure as well. So, that you breathe in fresh air. Silence is also important, along with the chirping of the birds. All these are accompaniments in meditation and breathing practices. So, you need to choose a location, which is in the aforementioned regions. Open spaces can add another dimension to the practices. Locations like Rishikesh are popular for their ancient vibes. Additionally, such places are known for their holy sites and temples. Haridwar is one such place, which is very popular with pilgrims. It is always better to go with such locations, for yoga and meditation. Vinyasa Yoga Academy is one such yoga school in rishikesh which fits the bill.

Accommodation – The 200-hour YTTC or the 300-hour YTTC are the main courses that students go for. You may also enroll yourself in the 500-hour YTTC. A healthy environment is absolutely necessary for students learning yoga. The school ashram will be hosting you for a month or two, depending on which course you are going to enrol for. So, you need to find out from the websites, regarding the cleanliness and hygiene factors. A good yoga school and ashram must have large yoga halls, where students will be practicing yoga. There should be large windows and ventilators as well. The air circulation should be proper, so that you can breathe properly. Additionally, you will need to see if there are open spaces like gardens for yoga practice. Connecting with Mother Earth is one of the main elements of yoga.

Then again, you also need to check what the rooms where you will be staying are like. They should have clean bed linen and towels. Room heaters may be required in winters. Furthermore, you need to check if the pillow covers are washed or not. Ask for reviews from students, who have already graduated. Such things cannot be looked up on websites. Toilets should be clean as well. These are the basic necessities that all yoga schools must provide. Vinyasa Yoga Academy is one such place, which can fulfil all these criteria.

Sattvic Food – Nutrition is an important part of holistic sciences. More so, it is important for yoga ashrams to maintain food guidelines for their students. Sattva guna is the main guna, which facilitates the journey towards the inner self. And, yoga is more about that, in reality. If you want to reach a higher consciousness, then you need to have fresh Prana circulating through the body. If you eat fresh food, then only fresh Prana will get generated inside the body. Check with old students about their diet plan at the ashram. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and juices are advisable. The food can be eaten raw, blanched, or boiled. Most schools avoid excessive usage of spices and condiments.
Yoga Form And Curriculum – When finalizing the yoga school in rishikesh, for your yoga education, you must check what styles and forms are taught at the school. There are many which you may not even know about. The most common ones are Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga. Additionally, you will also hear about Yin Yoga, Restorative yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, and Pre-natal Yoga. It is always best for beginners to start with Hatha Yoga. It is the most grounding form of yoga. Once you strengthen the body, you can move forward towards other styles, which are more mentally stimulating. Multiple styles are also available at some schools. You get to learn a good variety and increase your work scope. The course structure is also important. Some schools follow the universal syllabus, while others create their own. The fees and duration are also dependent on such things. You have to find out what course can guide you. Vinyasa Yoga Academy follows the Yoga Alliance guidelines. So, you can close your eyes and enrol at the school.
Batch Size – It is also important for students to interact with their Gurus and teachers at the school. So, small batches do better, as there is a lot of interaction involved. 10-12 student batches are great. You can also clear all the doubts regarding the science, without hassles. Additionally, you get to build a rapport with teachers and peers.

Final Words

Ideally, these are a few things that you should check, before you enrol yourself at the yoga school in rishikesh. No matter why you are learning yoga, for self-practice or teaching, you need the best guidance.