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 ensures that the classroom environment will be one that is reflective of when our graduates go on to teach. We also believe that someone who is experienced in getting into particular postures may not be as experienced as a short term practitioner in other areas integral to the training such as philosophy, yoga lifestyle, ethics etc.

What Style of Yoga will I be learning?

Yoga is a vast art with many traditions and styles. Our program is based on a progressive learning approach designed to get trainees teaching in a short period of time. We use the Ashtanga primary series as a foundation for our practicum and asana classes to ensure students have an in depth knowledge of these postures. 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. Asana practice is only one aspect of our course and trainees will also learn philosophy, yoga lifestyle, meditation, Pranayama, kriyas, anatomy, ethics, Ayurveda, classroom management and business for Yoga.

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

From the beginning of week two our trainees begin to teach the group under the supervision of senior teachers and assistants. We believe this is why we have such a high rate of trainees go on to teach so soon after graduation.

Students who are staying on after the course may also have the opportunity to assist in our drop in classes or on future trainings.

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 may register with Yoga Alliance 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 alongside teaching small groups or beginners 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 ok?

Many students take this option and you are welcome to join the course for this matter however as it is a Teacher Training Course and becoming a teacher is the main objective of the course and therefore our curriculum is geared towards this outcome

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.

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 shall 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). Students have written assignments which must be completed and most students will work outside of the class in groups on sequencing etc.

Will I have free time?

Yes. You will have a half day free on Saturday and all of Sunday off.

How many students are on the course?

We have a maximum of 23 students on all courses. Although our course is in high demand and we typically work off a waiting list we never take more than this number to ensure the highest quality training for our clients.

Who are the 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!

Should I bring my own yoga mat?

Yes. You can purchase a yoga mat upon arrival for approx 10 US dollars. We recommend you have your own mat for the duration of the training for hygiene reasons. Should you wish to borrow a mat until you can purchase one we can arrange that for you.

What should I wear in class?

We provide two sets of T-Shirt and Pants. Please bring loose comfortable clothes. If you wish to buy here in India there are great fisherman and ali baba pants on sale here for around 200rs (2 pounds UK) which most of our students end up living in! It is cooler in the morning for the 6am 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 can bring one or two light jumpers or hoodies for the occasional breezy evening however they are rarely used. In regards to covering up; anyone travelling to North India should be aware that you are expected to dress modestly.

If you are wearing string vests etc you can just throw a light shawl around your shoulders which will do the trick! Goa however is a different story- the locals are used to tourists and you can wear what you wish without any fuss. Swim suits and bikinis are fine but no topless bathing please. Please wear what you are comfortable in for the asana classes but try to avoid any distracting or uncomfortable clothes. Pay attention to the fact that you will be working with certain Indian teachers from a monastic background and dress modestly (shoulders showing etc is fine) Please always wear clean clothes to class.

Do I need travel insurance?

We require all teacher training students to have travel insurance coming to India. If you go online and do a search you can find insurers that will give you a basic package for around 50 US dollars and for more comprehensive insurance the online option is also really competitive. Your other option is to ask your travel agent for insurance if you have booked through them and they will give you some options. If you are with a Credit Union in the UK they usually supply travel insurance at great 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.

Are meals and accommodation included in the price?

Unless otherwise stated the course fee of 1175 GBP covers the training, course materials, and breakfast. We respect that students have different needs and budgets therefore we offer non residential programs. Our course fee works out at approx 40 GBP a day including breakfast per person. We want to keep our fees at this affordable rate to ensure a wide range of people can attend the training.

What should I budget for food?

You can get a great vegetarian meal in a mid range restaurant in India for approximately 2-4 pounds.

Where can I stay?

Goa:

Himalaya Yoga Valley holds our Goa Teacher Training Courses at Oceanside Beach Resort, Mandrem Beach.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Mandrem and limited accommodation is also available at Oceanside where the training is held. Many students arrive and simply find something when they get here and Himalaya Yoga Valley staff are happy to book somewhere for you before you arrive.

The management of Oceanside offer the Himalaya Yoga Valley trainees a reduced rate for the one month duration of the course.

Himalaya Yoga Valley will direct all accommodation bookings to Oceanside resort. For those of you wishing to stay where the training is located please inquire through us and we shall pass on your details to the management of Whispering Lakes.

There are 7 coconut grove huts and 2 one bedroom rooms available for students at a discounted rate of 600 INR per night for the duration of the training. Bamboo huts are approximately 8 foot by 8 foot, clean, basic with attached private toilet and hand held shower 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 must pay the management in full upon arrival for their accommodation. If you have any further questions then please mail this address and we shall pass on your query to the management of Oceanside. Himalaya Yoga Valley are not agents for Oceanside resort or any other accommodation provider in the area- we assist with bookings to make our trainees journey to India as smooth as possible.

Prices at an approximate exchange rate per night for coconut grove hut at Ocean side are as follows:

700 Indian Rupees equals:

14 USD

10 Euro

8 GBP

16 CAD

17 AUD

If your currency is not mentioned above please use the currency converter on our website.

The maximum number of students on our Goa courses is 23. Accommodation tends to fill very quickly at Oceanside so please let us know as soon as possible if you intend to stay there.

We shall be emailing enrolled students who are not staying at Oceanside with a list of accommodation options within the surrounding areas. Students will be able to contact these accommodation providers directly to make bookings or Himalaya Yoga Valley will do so for you. Goa is closed for the monsoon season so students trying to touch base with accommodation providers during that period may have difficulty.

Please send us an email letting us know where you intend to stay once your application has been approved.

A great website where you can contact accommodation providers and read reviews is www.tripadvisor.com

As per our location info the two nearest towns to the training location are Mandrem Beach and Arambol Beach.

Mcleodganj:

Himalaya Yoga Valley holds trainings at our permanent centre in Mcleodganj. Beneath our centre there are studio apartments with Kitchenette and attached bathrooms with hot showers. There are also plenty of guest houses around the area where students can stay.

Students can avail of these options for approximately 130 GBP per month and the Himalaya Yoga Valley staff are happy to book it for you.

Please note that accommodation in India is basic compared to other Asian countries or your home country. We always direct students towards clean, safe and comfortable accommodation within their budget. Please be prepared to take time to acclimatize to new surroundings and culture change. Also be prepared to fall in love with India! We have a 100% rate of people never wanting to leave.

How do I secure my place on the course?

Please fill out an online application form online. Our team will process your application within two working days. Should your application be approved we shall notify you by email. You will also receive an info pack including details on how to secure your placement with a 25% deposit. Please read our terms and conditions on our application page.