Yoga

My Review: 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

My Review: 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

This year, I completed a long-time goal of a 200-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India, and my experience couldn’t have been any better! My goal with this article is to share my experience with you – the good and the bad, to help you find a training that suits you best.

The number of options available, the potential for scams, the unknown territory you’re about to start exploring… it can all be overwhelming. So, hopefully this article helps you set some realistic expectations and guide your journey as you find the perfect YTT for you!

I completed my 200-hour YTT at Mimamsa Yogshala, and it was more than I could have wanted. I completed my 27-day course in the month of July, and made life-long friendships, learned more than I thought possible, and did it all for a price that seems to good to be true. 

A square fire decorated with flowers and spices at the opening ceremony at Mimamsa Yogshala
Opening Ceremony offerings at Mimamsa Yogshala

Table of Contents

Check out the 10 things to know before you go to Rishikesh, so you're prepared before you go!

Why YTT in Rishikesh

First you have to ask, “why do I want to do a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at all?” Is it for improving your self practice? Is it to learn the skills to teach others? Is it because it’s cheaper than a Yoga Retreat?All are great options, and they all may change throughout and after the program! So, be open minded about the training you choose and don’t put yourself in a corner that won’t support your future aspirations.

The second part is: Why Rishikesh?

As a spiritual hub in the Himalayan foothills, it’s a great place in the world. Of course, you could go to Bali or Costa Rica where spiritual communities have gathered over generations… but Rishikesh is the birthplace of the practice, and has been a part of culture here for thousands of years.

Pros

  • Birthplace of Yoga – authentic traditional teaching and philosophy
  • Some of the best teachers in the world with 50+ years of experience
  • Among the cheapest YTT’s in the world
  • Diversity in trainings and styles of practice
  • Immerse in the spiritual community outside of training, in ashrams, meditations, community gatherings
  • India is a great travel experience

Cons

  • There are many spiritual scams, fake gurus, mass-produced YTTs with low quality trainings
  • Problems with safety for women and food hygiene (many people get food sickness while in India)
  • Accommodation may be less comfortable – no A/C or heating, hot water, and rudimentary lodging
  • May be some challenges with obtaining a visa
  • Traveling in India can be challenging – “India isn’t for beginners”
Grey Langur sitting on a green balcony, with a temple in the distance on a foggy morning
View from our Yoga shala, with the peaceful Grey Langurs

Tapovan vs. Ram Jhula

When you’re talking about a Yoga Teaching Training in Rishikesh, it’s hard to know exactly where that is before diving into research. Rishikesh is a big city, but it’s really the far East part of the city when YTT’s dominate. 

There are 2 towns to consider: Tapovan, which is North of the Ganges, and Ram Jhula, which is South of the Ganges across from Tapovan. While they seem close and accessible, it’s about a 30 minute walk, or 30 minute drive to go between them, so where you choose will determine a lot of your experience. 

I spent a week before my YTT, and a week after in Tapovan, and my training was in Ram Jhula. This is my opinion on the two different areas and what to expect from each.

Tapovan

The majority of schools are in Tapovan, with many other offerins to enjoy during your stay. From sound baths, meditations, drop-in classes, and some cozy cafes, Tapovan is a great place to post-up for a month of yoga. 

Rishikesh is also the ‘adventure capital of India’, and much of this is based in Tapovan. So, while you get many Yoga practitioners, you also get your typical Indian tourist, who may have never seen a foreigner (and boy do they stare)! 

Tapovan is definitely more crowded, with people, with fun opportunities to explore, with cafes and shops, and YTTs. Maybe that’s your thing, maybe you want something more quiet. If you choose a YTT in Tapovan, I would suggest prioritizing one on the outskirts of the town to get some serenity from the lush forest, rather than the beeping of motorbikes. 

Ram Jhula

When you cross the Ram Jhula bridge to the opposite side of the Ganges, you’re in what is commonly called Ram Jhula (it doesn’t have a name on the maps). This section is backed by steeper mountains of lush forest, where monkeys come out much more often. 

There are fewer schools, fewer Indian tourists, and also fewer shops, cafes, drop-in classes, and everything else. There are also fewer motorbikes, noise, and disturbances, making it a great place for a YTT if you’re interested in immersing and enjoying the silence that doesn’t exist in Tapovan. 

My training was in Ram Jhula, and I was really happy with this decision. However, had I not spent a week in Tapovan before my YTT to see what all the buzz was about, I may have felt like I was missing out!

Statues along the Ganges river where tourists enjoy white water rafting
The adventurous and spiritual sides of Rishikesh

My Experience: Mimamsa Yogshala

I booked my 200 hour YTT at Mimamsa pretty last minute. It was something I’ve wanted to do, but after talking to teachers trained around the world, I knew I would do it in India where the experience was more authentic.

As I was searching the what felt like hundreds of options in Rishikesh, I had a gut instinct about Mimamsa. I continued to search, adding more and more options to my decision matrix that fit what I was looking for, but nothing came close to what I felt for Mimamsa. 

It was a perfect fit for me, the courses, the teachers, the traditional aspects and western adapatations, and the location was all perfect. Luckily, this school brought in amazing people that I learned alongside with. I made lifelong friends (hi Chloe, if you’re reading this <3), and we all truly became a family in the 27 days that felt like a week and a year all at the same time.

The days were long but the weeks went by so quick, and by the end, I feel confident and prepared to teach others the amazing skills I learned at Mimamsa, and continue to learn after!

Courses

I chose Mimamsa Yogshala due to the additional lessons included beyond what many of the other schools taught. I was trained in teaching Hatha & Ashtanga style, as well as many other subjects. In total, during my 200-hour course, I received:

Hatha: 28.5 hours
Ashtanga: 28.5 hours
Pranayama: 19 hours
Mantra Chanting: 4 hours 
Meditation: 19 hours
Philosophy: 19 hours
Alignment: 6 hours
Anatomy: 6 hours
Teaching Methodologies: 3 hours 
Kundalini: 5 hours
Ayurveda: 5 hours
Reiki: 2.5 hours
Sound Healing: 3 hours

Most schools offer Hatha, Ashtanga, Pranayama, Philosophy, and Meditation. However, the inclusion of Kundalini, Ayurveda, Reiki, and Sound Healing was what sold me. Although it was only for a few hours each, it was a great introduction to learn the foundations so that we had some awareness, and could potentially go on for more training in that subject!

A group of students sitting around a teacher and his sound healing bowls
Sound Healing training at Mimamsa Yogshala

Teachers

For me, the teachers in Rishikesh is why I chose this region. The teachers here likely grew up with Yoga in their life, and have been practicing for 30+ years! They truly are experts and have so much wisdom and knowledge to give to those curious enough to ask.

At Mimamsa, there was a variety of teachers, from the younger teacher for Hatha, to the very experienced and wise Philosophy teachers, each one felt perfectly aligned for the subject they taught.

Girl getting adjustments from head yoga teacher and school owner at Mimamsa Yogshala
Ashtanga alignments from our head teacher, Manoj

Food

Mimamsa provided 3 meals a day, every day of the week. They followed a ‘yogic diet’ that was vegetarian, little to no spices, and were nutritous and made fresh daily. Every meal was timed perfectly with our classes so we never felt too hungry or too full while practicing, which can take away from your course.

During our second week, 9/20 of my group (me included) came down with a digestive sickness that lasted for 2-4 days… it definitely wasn’t fun. Luckily our school took great care of us, providing special food, relief from class to rest, and medical support if needed.

It is VERY common to get some type of food-related sickness while in India, especially in the monsoon season of July-September, which is right when I was there. The rains lead to runoff, which can contaminate drinking water and cooking resources. Most of the people that did NOT get sick took probiotics early. 

Take probiotics well before you go to India to prepare your digestive system. The food is different, and the water may be less-clean.

Accommodation

The accommodation in Mimamsa was simple and easy. There were a few options to choose from based on your comfort needs, from a private room with A/C, to a shared quadruple. A lot of people think the beds in India are really hard, but I disagreed. Maybe it’s because I came from Vietnam, where the beds are basically a blanket on plywood, but it was really comfortable!

Each room has a bathroom, a big ceiling fan, a balcony (that is fenced in, because the monkeys can be savage), a wardrobe and table. There were definitely some nights that were pretty hot, but it was the middle of summer and there was a record-breaking heat wave so what do you expect. 

Three girls smiling in a messy room in a yoga teacher training in India
New friends from Mimamsa Yogshala, in my very messy room

Cost

The cost for my training was definitely a selling point for me! It included accommodation, 3 meals every day, a weekly excursion, airport pickup and drop off, and training material!

Additionally, we received a canvas bag, a t-shirt, a notebook and pen, a book on asanas and pranayama, equipment for class (jal neti and sutra neti), mala beads, and the Ashtanga primary series on a small poster to refer to in class.

In total, I paid: $679, which is a crazy good price for all of the knowledge and experience I got! 

Most trainings do not include registration with the Yoga Alliance, required for most formal teaching positions. This is an additional cost of $115 inital fee and an annual renewal fee of $65.

Excursions

The excursions included in this training was a great break up to the week. Every Wednesday, we had a half day excursion. Since I went in rainy season, we were limited in what we could do, but it was always so much fun! 

During my stay, our excursions included an Indian cooking class, visiting the evening Aarti Ceremony on the Ganges, a sunrise at the Kunjapuri temple, and a trip to the Tatwala Baba Caves where we meditated and drank Chai with the Swamis that stay there. We were limited since it was monsoon season, but what you can expect in non-rainy season is anything including:

  • Yoga classes along the banks of the Ganges
  • Swimming in one of the many waterfalls
  • Sunrise treks in the Himalayas
  • A day trip to sacred-city, Hardiwar
  • Safari tour through Rajaji National Park & Tiger Reserve

Excursions during Monsoon season may be limited due to the safety of driving in the mountains. If excursions and exploring matter a lot to you, then avoid monsoon season!

Women holding a plate with a candle at the local Aarti Ceremony in Rishikesh India
My beautiful friend Chloe at the Aarti Ceremony

How to Choose a Yoga School

It’s one thing to know you want to complete a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, but actually choosing the school is a whole different beast.

If you do a quick Google Maps search for ‘yoga school’ in Rishikesh, there are easily over 100 options! It can definitely be overwhelming, but there are some key things to look out for to narrow down your options.

It’s best if you know what you’re looking for – considering the price, subjects covered, timing of availability, and some other things that may be offered. For me, I considered the price, the inclusion of unique teachings like Kundalini and Ayurveda, a longer program that included some downtime, and only Indian teachers, with extra points if they had an Indian woman teacher!

I made a decision matrix to help stay organized, because the names get pretty similar it’s easy to lose track of which ones you liked or didn’t! 

  1. Check reviews
  2. Does it meet your wants?
  3. Is it within budget?
  4. Is it available when you are?
  5. Ensure certification through Yoga Alliance (if you want to teach later)
Yoga students and teachers smiling in the rain during an opening ceremony in Rishikesh India
Celebrating the start of our YTT, while being blessed by the rain <3

When to Go to Rishikesh

Every Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh run year long, with many starting on the 1st or the 15th of each calendar month. When you go to Rishikesh depends on a few preferences you may have, as each time of year has some pros and cons. 

The main season to be aware of is Monsoon Season, which runs from July-September. During this time you can expect heavy rainfall, potential travel inconveniences, limited excursion possibilities, and higher chance of sickness. However, most Yoga Schools offer discounts during these rainy months, so if you’re concerned about budget, this might be a good time for you!

The winter months of December-February offer relief from the hot and humid summer months. With temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F), layers are necessary! You won’t be going for any waterfall swims during this time, but you can expect cozy trips to mountain temples, and warm nights inside. Often yoga can be tough to do when your body is cold and stiff, so consider this for your YTT experience.

The summer months are hot and dry, running from April-June. With temperatures ranging from 30-40°C (86-104°F), you’re going to be sweaty and hot – especially since there is rarely A/C! Everyone is sweaty, and you get used to it pretty quick, but be prepared with a few extra towels and changes of clothes to stay dry and comfy during this time. A swim in the Ganges and the many waterfalls around can help break up the hot weather.

The Best Time to go to Rishikesh for a YTT

The best experience – Shoulder seasons (October-November & March-April) when the temperature is most comfortable and weather is ideal.

Budget options – June & July with discount trainings, before it’s too rainy!

Whenever you can! – Any season is great in Rishikesh, as long as it fits your schedule and the openings of the school you want. Don’t settle for an experience that isn’t perfect for you!

  • International Day of Yoga – June 21st, where thousands get together and practice (including the Prime Minister!)
  • Diwali – The Festival of Lights is annually in October or November
  • Holi – The Festival of Colors is annually in March
Group of students at the Kunjapuri Temple smiling
My Yoga group cheezing during sunrise at the Kunjapuri Temple

Summary - 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh India

Choosing to go to a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is a big decision! The financial investment, time commitment, and prioritization of this sacred practice is definitely not for everyone. However, I have known for a long time that it was for me.

My time with Mimamsa Yogshala was nothing short of perfect. The teachers were so knowledgable, and supported our education, the courses were chosen with us in mind, and the accommodation and food was comfortable and convenient. The included excursions broke up the week well, and the location was peaceful and serene.

But really, it was the group of people that all came together for an unforgettable experience. We laughed, we learned, we cried, we danced every chance we could, and sh*t ourselves together (literally). We came from all over the world, and while we went separate ways, we each gained 18 new friends we will never forget. 

Thank you Mimasa for brining such beautiful people together <3

Posted by Taylor Mallaber in India, 0 comments