200 Hours in the City of Yoga: How My Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh Changed My Life

Maxx Parrot

I had no prior experience in teacher training, so I first decided to do the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in India. This decision was the hardest and most rewarding experience in my life. At that time, I had no idea what I was doing and what I was expecting, and maybe like you, I did yoga many times with my friends or saw people on Instagram. Still, I could not understand what effect yoga was having on my life, so today I will tell you how my journey in the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India.

This experience was very special for me. As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I couldn’t even feel anxiety or stress. Because the atmosphere here was so lovely that I couldn’t bear anything else in the evening, let alone anxiety and stress. Many things were unexpected for me, and the bad experience that I thought would happen in India did not happen at all. And I know that there will be many of you who want to do yoga teacher training so that you can become yoga teachers and have CO experiences in life, then Rishikesh in India is the best place for you.

Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is internationally certified and registered (Registered Yoga School) as per Yoga Alliance USA and has global recognition in providing 200 Hour Yoga TTC in Rishikesh, 300 Hour Yoga TTC in Rishikesh, and 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training courses in Rishikesh.

Why India for Yoga Training?

To be honest, initially I was very scared that India would be a very dirty place, then I did a lot of research, and after that I chose India, and this decision was the best decision of my life because India is known as the birthplace of yoga, where it originated more than 5,000 years ago. The biggest advantage of training in yoga in India is that you receive this knowledge directly from its origin. For centuries, there has been a rich tradition of yogis and gurus who have preserved this ancient knowledge in its purity. Yoga training in India is often conducted in ashrams, which offer a holistic yogic lifestyle experience. The discipline, sattvic diet, and natural environment help you find inner peace and deepen self-awareness.

How does India feel?

It may feel a little strange at first, but eventually, you’ll get into the groove and realize there’s no better pace. I think India is my favorite country to visit. It is so unique and special, and it has so much for us to see. It has so much that you might be looking for if you are into yoga, meditation, and spirituality; there are so many gurus and spiritual teachers in this place.

Why choose Rishikesh?

Rishikesh is considered the birthplace of yoga, making it one of the world’s most special destinations for spiritual seekers. The city is filled with yoga schools, many of which offer Western-focused programs in English, good accommodations, and healthy food. It’s also famous for being the place where the Beatles once stayed and practiced transcendental meditation, leaving behind an ashram now known as the Beatles Ashram—a truly unique and inspiring place.

Why I chose this school

When choosing a school, I relied heavily on Google research and reviews, but it took some time. Ultimately, I chose Rishikesh YTTC (this is not a sponsored reference – just my honest opinion). The school was excellent: the teachers were dedicated, the accommodations were comfortable (all rooms had AC), and the food was excellent.

One thing I didn’t realize before coming was that each yoga school has its own unique characteristics. What stood out about my school was that the teachers had been teaching yoga for a long time and were very experienced.

Yogic Lifestyle

Many people think that during yoga teacher training, we just do yoga exercises. But this is not true. In India, they teach you a yogic lifestyle, which is just a lifestyle. It’s everything. It’s about breathwork: how you breathe and how you make decisions in life. How you exercise, what types of food you eat, and how you meditate. So, yoga is much more than a lifestyle and a mind, body, and soul connection.

Food

The food and yoga teacher training was amazing. I miss it so much in my daily life. It’s vegetarian; there is no meat. But the vegetarian food was prepared hygienically by an expert chef, and the vegetables used are organically grown. Slowly, your body will start adapting to this lifestyle, and following this diet helps in weight loss. This diet is really amazing. After yoga teacher training, I have stopped eating 70% meat, and I have realized that my body has reduced the craving for meat. This is a huge change.

Can anyone do 200 hours of Yoga Training?

Yes, anyone can do yoga teacher training. I was not flexible at all, and neither did I have that much strength. I was nervous as to whether I could actually do this, but yes, anyone can do it. I think you just need a little willpower that you are willing to go through this experience. I am not saying that it is very easy. There might be some difficulty in the beginning, but when your body starts adopting it, it will become easy.

Bonus activities in Rishikesh

Rishikesh is full of extra activities, with a huge market where you can buy many spiritual trinkets, but the place that inspired me was the Beatles Temple. You can experience the serene atmosphere and nostalgia by visiting this old ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where members of the Beatles band once stayed. Rafting on the Ganges River is one of the most popular activities. The rapids here are both calm and strong, making the experience thrilling for everyone. Camping on the banks of the Ganges on a star-studded night is a very peaceful and memorable experience. The grand Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat in the evening is a spiritual and enchanting experience, bringing peace to the mind.

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