How much experience do I need to join the course?
What style of yoga will I be learning?
Will I have the opportunity to actually teach on the course?
Will I be qualified to teach when I graduate and at what level?
I want to join the course to deepen my practice, is this okay?
Do I have to purchase any text books?
What happens if I miss a class?
How much homework will I have?
Will I have free time?
How many students are on the course?
What type of students attend the trainings?
How do I secure my place on the yoga teacher training course?
Should I bring my own yoga mat?
What clothes should I bring?
Do I need a visa?
Do I need travel insurance?
Do I need vaccinations or malaria pills?
What is included in the course fee?
What should I budget for food?
Can you give me an idea of the cost of living?
Are toiletry products easily available?
Where can I stay in Goa?
Where can I stay in Dharmsala?
What is the standard of accommodation?
I want to spend some time traveling before/after the course, any recommendations?
What is the exchange rate for Indian rupees (INR) / other currencies?

How much experience do I need to join the course?

We encourage students from all backgrounds with different levels of experience to join the course. We believe that a seasoned practitioner can learn so much from a less experienced practitioner and vice versa. Having students with different levels of experience on the course ensures that the classroom environment is reflective of the type of students that will make up your class when you go on to teach. An integral part of the course is breaking down asana to their absolute basics with an emphasis on integrity and alignment. Similar to the way that Yoga is not just asana, other areas such as philosophy, anatomy, ayurveda, classroom management, yoga lifestyle etc. are also integral to developing yourself as a yoga teacher.

What style of yoga will I be learning?

Yoga is a vast subject area with many traditions and styles. Our program is based on a progressive learning approach designed to get trainees teaching safely and effectively in a relatively short period of time. We use the Ashtanga primary series as a foundation for the teaching practicum and asana classes to ensure students have an in-depth knowledge of these postures when they graduate. We also incorporate styles such as Iyengar, Vinyasa flow, Raja, and Hatha yoga during the course. Our teachers are experienced in many different styles and come from various lineages and therefore we ask students to arrive with an open mind and heart ready to get the most from the course.

Will I have the opportunity to actually teach on the course?

From the middle of week two our trainees begin to group teach under the supervision of senior teachers and assistants. By the end of the course trainees have experience of a number of hours of small and whole group teaching, with a corresponding increase in your self confidence. We believe this is one reason why a large number of our graduates go on to teach immediately after graduation. Graduates may also have the opportunity to complete our internship programme. This allows students to deepen and expand their knowledge and teaching skills in a supportive environment. Please see the continuous education page for further details.

Will I be qualified to teach when I graduate and at what level?

Graduates who attend all classes, complete all assignments and pass all assessments will be issued with a certificate and are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance and the Yoga Federation to become an RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) at the 200 hour level. You will learn the skills to manage and teach a group safely and with confidence. Most graduates without prior teaching experience who wish to teach go on to start teaching beginners classes when they return home. We recommend that graduates volunteer as an assistant in their regular yoga class at home and at the same time teach small groups (maybe some of your friends or family) to build up experience. Trainees who are 100% committed during the course and afterwards with their own practice have a very high success rate as teachers.

I want to join the course to deepen my practice, is this okay?

Many students join the course with this objective in mind and they invariably get as much out of the course as those who have enrolled with the main objective of becoming yoga teachers. However, as it is a teacher training course, the curriculum is geared towards teaching and all trainees are expected to achieve learning outcomes regardless of personal goals.

Do I have to purchase any text books?

Yes, you will be sent a list of text books that you are required to purchase upon approval of your application. These are in addition to the yoga teacher training manual which will be supplied on course commencement.

What happens if I miss a class?

To receive certification trainees must attend 100% of classes. Should you become ill during the course you will be required to see a doctor and we can arrange for you to make up any missed classes.

How much homework will I have?

You will have approximately 1 hour of homework per night (this will be at the discretion of your teachers and dependent on individual and group needs). You will have three written assignments to complete and group work on sequencing, anatomy etc.

Will I have free time?

Yes, you will have a half day free on Saturday and all of Sunday off. There are also breaks built in for meals and between some classes. Classes finish at 6:30pm every evening. You can have a look at the daily schedule on the yoga teacher training page.

How many students are on the course?

We have a maximum of 28 students on our course in Goa and 17 on our course in Dharmsala. Although our courses are in high demand and we typically work off a waiting list we never take more than these numbers to ensure the highest quality training for our students.

What type of students attend the trainings?

Our students range in age from 18 to 70 and come from all over the world! Most of our students are European, Australian, Canadian and American. We have many families join us and lots of new mums also. Some of our trainees have been practicing for 20 years and some for 6 weeks. Basically a great blend!

How do I secure my place on the yoga teacher training course?

Please complete the application form. Our team will process your application within two working days and we will notify you of the outcome by email. In the unlikely event you do not hear from us, please check your “spam” filter or contact us. The approval email will include lots of information and also details on how to secure your placement with a 25% deposit. Please read our Terms & Conditions before submitting payment. The outstanding fees are payable on your arrival in India before course commencement and may be in GBP, US$, AU$ or Indian Rupees (INR). Use the currency converter below to check current exchange rates.

Should I bring my own yoga mat?

Yes, we recommend you have your own mat for the duration of the training for hygiene reasons. If you want to reduce the weight of your luggage you can also purchase a yoga mat upon arrival for approximately 4GBP.

What clothes should I bring?

We suggest you bring loose comfortable clothes of a light, preferably cotton, material. If you wish to buy clothing, or indeed gifts, here in India there are great "fisherman" and "ali baba" pants on sale here for around 2GBP which most of our students end up living in! It is cooler in the morning for the 6:30am meditation (we provide blankets) and warms up for the morning asana class and the afternoon class will require you to definitely have loose cool clothing as that’s when it heats up. You may want to bring a light jumper for early morning or the occasional breezy evening, however they are rarely used. We suggest that you respect Indian culture by dressing appropriately especially if you are planning to travel in North India. Goa however is more relaxed and you can wear what you wish (within reason) without any fuss. Swim suits and bikinis are fine but no topless sunbathing please.

Do I need a visa?

Do I need travel insurance?

We require all teacher training students to have travel insurance covering their trip to India. Apart from checking for quotes online, you may also wish to check with your travel agent. If you are with a Credit Union in the UK they usually supply travel insurance at competitive rates for their clients. Whatever option you take please make sure to obtain travel insurance before you leave your home country and please provide us with a print out of your details upon arrival.

Do I need vaccinations or malaria pills?

What is included in the course fee?

The course fee includes the cost of training, training manual, breakfast and morning tea (at our Goa training centre), uniform (tee-shirts and white pants) and a blanket (for morning meditiation). The following are not included in the course fee: accommodation, text books, food (apart from breakfast in our Goa centre). Our courses are non residential because we respect the fact that students have different needs and budgets. Our course fee works out at approximately 40 GBP a day which we feel represents real value for money. We endeavour to keep our fees at this affordable rate to ensure the training is accessible to as many people as possible.

What should I budget for food?

You can get a great vegetarian meal in a mid range restaurant in India for approximately 2-4 GBP. Meat is also avaiable. There is a wide range of restaurant and cafe options available with menus that cover very varied cuisines.

Can you give me an idea of the cost of living?

India is comparatively cheap compared to the cost of living in the West. Basic accommodation in a double room with attached bathroom is in the range of 8-12 GBP per day. A litre of bottled mineral water costs 20p. A taxi from Goa airport to Mandrem Beach (taking approx 1 and a half hours) costs 15GBP. Local transport on trains/buses is very inexpensive. There are also a number of low cost airlines operating in India. Tee-shirts cost approximately 1.50GBP. A one hour professional ayurvedic massage costs approximately 10GBP. You can hire a moped for approimately 3GBP per day (cheaper for long term rentals).

Are toiletry products easily available?

Local shops have a wide range of products available. Shower gels, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, shavers etc are widely available and you should buy them here if you wish to save. Any pharmaceutical items you may wish to buy are usually available here and about a third of the price. There are some great natural Ayurvedic products available too. However, we advise you to buy your sunscreen in your home country. Sunglasses in India are not of a high standard unless you buy designer ones, so you should consider bringing a couple of pairs from home.

Where can I stay in Goa?

Himalaya Yoga Valley holds our Goa Teacher Training Courses at Oceanside Beach Resort, Mandrem Beach. Limited onsite accommodation, subject to availabilty, is in basic bamboo huts with private attached bathrooms. There are 7 coconut grove huts and 2 one-bedroom concrete rooms, set amid coconut groves five minutes walk away from a beautiful beach. Bamboo huts are approximately 8 foot by 8 foot, clean, basic with attached private toilet and hand held cold showers and double bed with mosquito net. The huts are cleaned to the highest standards and have a reputation as some of the most comfortable and clean in this area. Students attending the Himalaya Yoga Valley Yoga Teacher Training Course are offered a discounted rate of 600 INR per night by the management of Oceanside Beach Resort for the duration of the training period. Students must pay the management of Oceanside in full upon arrival to avail of these discounted rates.

There is also a wide range of accommodation options in the vicinity of the training centre. Many students also simply arrive and find something when they get here. Students will receive a detailed email including details of accommodation providers and rates upon approval of your application. Note that most businesses close in Goa during the monsoon season (typically June to September) so students trying to touch base with accommodation providers during that period may have difficulty. We are happy to assist you in making initial contact with accommodation providers to suit your budget and personal preferences. Himalaya Yoga Valley are not agents for Oceanside resort or any other accommodation provider in the area. Please send us an email letting us know what your accommodation preferences are once your application has been approved.

Where can I stay in Dharmsala?

Himalaya Yoga Valley holds trainings at our centre in Mc Leod Ganj. Beneath our centre there are studio apartments with kitchenette and attached bathrooms with hot showers. There are also many guest houses around the area where students can stay. Many students also simply arrive and find something when they get here. Students can avail of these options for approximately 130 GBP per month. We are happy to assist you in making initial contact with accommodation providers to suit your budget and personal preferences. Himalaya Yoga Valley are not agents for accommodation providers in the area. Please send us an email letting us know what your accommodation preferences are once your application has been approved.<

What is the standard of accommodation?

Accommodation in India is more basic compared to other Asian countries or your home country. We always direct students towards clean, safe and comfortable accommodation within their budget. Standards of accommodation will vary according to your budget.

I want to spend some time traveling before/after the course, any recommendations?

If you are attending the course in Goa, you may be flying into or out of Mumbai, where it is worth spending a few days. Ellora and Ajanta caves are north east of here (overnight bus). Hampi is almost directly inland (overnight bus or train) from Goa. South of Goa there is Gokarna and Kerala where you do a backwater boat trip, visit tea plantations in Munnar, visit Cochin and a number of other interesting places. You may also be flying into or out of Delhi, again the capital has many sights to see and a sprawling city to explore. Rishikesh and Dharmsala are peaceful towns with a number of yoga centres at the foot of the Himalayas. South of Delhi there is of course the Taj Mahal in Agra. There is any number of possibilities in a country the size of India. Our suggestion would be that you choose a few sights that interest you and try not to cover too much ground in a short space of time, especially if you are travelling before the course commences, you will need your energy! CHeck online or in travel guides for other ideas.

What is the exchange rate for Indian rupees (INR) / other currencies?

Use the currency converter to get current exchange rates.