Are you struggling to choose the right school for a yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India?

In Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, there are over 500 yoga teacher training schools. Which yoga school is right for you? We understand how much time it takes to visit all the websites, read all the reviews, and then to still realize that there are 490 schools you haven’t even looked at yet! 

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Don’t worry. We are here to help, and to guide you in understanding a few basics that will help you find the right yoga school in Rishikesh.

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For starters, have you heard of the Yoga Alliance? The Yoga Alliance is where yoga schools and teachers all over the world register their programs, trainings, and certifications. This means that the schools must follow the Yoga Alliance standards, and that the trainings and certifications issued by that school are recognized globally. 

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Deciding whether or not that is important to you is a good first step. The next step would be to decide which style of yoga you would like to be trained in. As Rishikesh yoga schools offer a multitude of yoga styles— it’s important to figure out which style is right for you!

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1- Choose a style that you resonate with the most

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Which yoga style is right for you? Have you taken classes in hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, Ashtanga yoga, etc? Have you tried different yoga styles with different yoga teachers? We recommend trying out different yoga styles at your local studios or through online offerings to figure out which style of yoga resonates with you the most. 

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2- Word of mouth:

Recommendations from people you know works like a magic wand. You trust your colleagues or friends who have already been to Rishikesh, did Yoga Teacher Training or took drop-in classes or courses with a yoga teacher. If you don’t know anyone yourself who went to Rishikesh and did a yoga teacher training, consider reaching out to online communities like Facebook Groups or you can always search on Instagram using certain hashtags like #rishikeshyogateachertraining

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3- Take Drop-In classes if you can:

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If you have a flexible schedule and are able to come to Rishikesh early, drop-in classes are one of the most powerful ways to get to know about the school, teachers, facilities, food, rooms, location, etc. 

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The most valuable thing is the teaching of the school’s lead teacher through which we connect with the most. 

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A real teacher may not pamper you but show your bitter side in order to bring the best out of you. He knows you more than you do. At times it may feel he is not the right one for you but he is the one you need the most. 

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So ultimately the overall experience of your class will provide an edge to choose the right teacher training for yourself.

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4- Take online classes or engage online with yoga schools in Rishikesh

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Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok are popular social media channels where you can see what is happening daily in Rishikesh yoga schools, what kind of teaching is being offered, how curriculum goes, and much more. Engage with different schools and ask questions to the school or to it’s past students. 

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Some Rishikesh yoga schools even offer online classes— whether they are pre-recorded or held live. Taking an online class can help you decide which yoga school is right for you! It gives a great sense of the teacher’s style and presence.

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5- Keep an eye on lead teacher

There are many Rishikesh yoga schools who offer Yoga Teacher Trainings without having an E-RYT (a teacher who has completed at least 1000 hours of teaching and is registered with Yoga Alliance). Kindly refrain yourself from choosing those schools, as an inexperienced lead teacher is detrimental to your learning. 

Always always always look upon your lead teachers( usually the founder or the owner of the yoga school) and review their credentials. Check to see if they are an E-RYT, and look at the other yoga teachers as well, to see if they have the credentials of RYT and what their experience in their subjects is like. 

We hope that these five tips will help you make the right decision in choosing a yoga school in Rishikesh. We know that it’s a big decision, and making the right one is of the utmost importance to you! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We are here to help you on your path of yoga— and your path on deciding which Rishikesh yoga school is right for you!