Rishikesh Vinyasa Yoga School
200-Hour Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
- 24 days
- Max 20 per group
- Ashtanga + Vinyasa
- Yoga Alliance certified
- Beginner to intermediate
Overview
A full 200-hour teacher training in Tapovan, the quiet upper end of Rishikesh, run by Rishikesh Vinyasa Yoga School. Twenty-four days living on site, practising twice a day, and leaving as a Yoga Alliance registered teacher.
The course blends the Ashtanga primary series with free-flowing Vinyasa, and rounds it out with philosophy, anatomy, pranayama, meditation and real teaching practice. It is built for people who want to teach, not only to deepen their own practice.
You arrive on the 1st for a gentle welcome and settling in. Training runs from the 2nd to the 24th, and you check out on the 25th. A new group begins the first of every month.
A day here
What a teacher training day looks like, from the morning practice to dinner. The rhythm is the same most days, and it is what makes a residential course change something.
- 05:00Morning bell
- 05:30Morning tea
- 06:00Pranayama and shatkarma
- 06:30Vinyasa flow yoga
- 08:30Breakfast
- 09:30Anatomy and physiology
- 11:00Yoga philosophy
- 12:30Lunch
- 13:15Rest and self study
- 15:00Body alignment
- 16:00Ashtanga Vinyasa asana
- 18:00Meditation and mantra chanting
- 19:15Dinner
- 20:15Self study and rest
- 22:00Lights off
The training
Why this training
- You finish Yoga Alliance certified and register as an RYT-200, recognised almost anywhere in the world.
- The teaching leans into the whole of yoga, pranayama, kriya, meditation and mantra, not only the postures.
- The setting is right. Tapovan sits above the crowds, a short walk from the Ganga, the ghats and the cafes.
- You leave with a daily practice you can keep, the confidence to plan and lead a full class, and friends from around the world.
- It is honest about the level. Committed beginners are welcomed and taken seriously, and experienced practitioners are stretched.
- The faculty are experienced lead trainers, several of them E-RYT 500, who train teachers full time and actually see you on the mat.
- You learn both a form and a flow, the discipline of the Ashtanga primary series and the creativity of Vinyasa sequencing, so you can teach either.
- It is genuinely residential. You eat, sleep and practise on site with the same small group of up to twenty, which is what makes three weeks change something.
Course highlights
- Functional anatomy for teachers
- Alignment and hands-on adjustment
- Teaching practice in front of the group
- Pranayama, shatkarma and daily meditation
- Vinyasa flow and the craft of sequencing a class
- Ashtanga primary series, taught led and Mysore style
- Two local excursions and one Ayurvedic massage included
- Yoga philosophy from the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita
The syllabus, section by section
Ashtanga Vinyasa asana
- The Ashtanga primary series, taught step by step
- Led classes and an introduction to Mysore-style self practice
- Sun salutations A and B, and the standing and seated sequences
- Back bending and hip opening, approached safely
Vinyasa flow and sequencing
- How to link breath and movement in a flow
- Building a class that has a beginning, a peak and a close
- Sequencing for different levels and intentions
- Transitions, pacing and cueing
Alignment and adjustment
- The principles of alignment in the key postures
- The art of hands-on adjustment
- Using props and modifications for real bodies
- Keeping students safe while they progress
Pranayama, shatkarma and kriya
- The main pranayama, or yogic breathing, practices
- Shatkarma, the yogic cleansing techniques
- How and when to teach breathwork
- The effect of the breath on the nervous system
Meditation and mantra
- Several meditation techniques you can practise and teach
- Mantra and chanting, and the basics of Sanskrit terminology
- Yoga nidra and deep rest
- Building a personal meditation practice
Yoga philosophy
- Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the eight limbs of yoga
- Key teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads
- The yogic diet and the fundamentals of Ayurveda
- How the philosophy sits inside a modern class
Anatomy and physiology
- The anatomy a teacher actually needs
- How the body moves in the key postures
- Common injuries and how to teach around them
- The systems of the body and the effect of practice on them
Who should enrol
- You have a basic yoga practice and are ready to go deeper, fast.
- You are a committed beginner. The course starts from the ground up.
- You want to teach yoga, and you want a certificate the world recognises.
- You already teach and want to add Ashtanga and Vinyasa to what you offer.
- You want three weeks that are only about yoga, in the place it comes from.
How to apply
- 1Leave your details or your number and pick the month that suits you.
- 2A human from our team writes back to answer your questions and hold your place.
- 3Pay the 30% deposit to confirm. The balance is settled with the school, and the deposit is non-refundable.
- 4We send you everything you need before you fly, and your arrival is looked after.
Dates. A new batch begins the first of every month, all year round. You check in on the 1st, training runs from the 2nd to the 24th, and you check out on the 25th. Tell us the month you have in mind and we confirm your place with the school.
Where you stay, what you eat
The school sits in a peaceful spot in Upper Tapovan, surrounded by green hills, a short walk from the market and the Ganga. Rooms are spacious, ventilated and designed for a teacher training, kept clean and cared for through your stay. You can choose a twin sharing room or a private room; both have an attached bathroom, hot water and Wi-Fi.
Twin sharing room
$1,000 / person
Private room
$1,350 / person
Both include an attached bathroom, hot shower, Wi-Fi and all meals. You pay only a 30% deposit to book.
The food
What you eat shapes how you feel, so the kitchen serves a sattvic vegetarian diet, rooted in Ayurveda and made to nourish a full day of practice. Three fresh meals a day, balanced and clean. Tell us your needs in advance and the kitchen will look after them.
On site
- Garden
- Laundry
- Free Wi-Fi
- Close to the market
- Rooms with attached bathroom
- Single and twin sharing rooms
- Spacious, ventilated yoga hall
- 24/7 hot and cold running water
Who teaches you
The course is taught by the school's own faculty, experienced lead trainers who train teachers full time.
Pradeep SinghAshtanga Vinyasa and alignment teacherPradeep holds a Master's degree in Yoga from a Sanskrit university in India and a 500-hour teacher training from Rishikesh. He has trained teachers for years and teaches asana and the art of adjustment with real command.
YashpalLead trainer, Ashtanga VinyasaYashpal is the lead trainer at Rishikesh Vinyasa Yoga School and an Ashtanga Vinyasa instructor. Much of the practical teaching on the course runs through him.
Sarvottam KumarMeditation and philosophy teacherSarvottam is E-RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance and a 300-hour trainer. He teaches meditation through mantra, bhakti and gyan yoga, and his classes are where the quieter, inner side of the course lives.
NaveenVinyasa flow and Hatha teacherNaveen left a mechanical engineering path to follow yoga and earned his Master's degree in it. He has taught Vinyasa flow and Hatha in Rishikesh since 2015 and knows the Vinyasa flow and Ashtanga primary series inside out.
What's included
- Wi-Fi throughout
- Two local excursions
- One Ayurvedic body massage
- The full 200-hour teacher training course
- Course manuals, a yoga mat and a notebook
- Use of the practice hall, props and library
- A Yoga Alliance recognised certificate on completion
- Three sattvic vegetarian meals each day of the course
- 24 nights of accommodation with attached bathroom and hot shower
Add-ons you can choose
- Airport pickup from Dehradun (Jolly Grant) · add at booking
- Private taxi and transfers on request · add at booking
Experiences during the course
What's not included
- Flights
- Medical costs
- Travel insurance
- Your tourist visa
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Airport transfer (available as an add-on)
Where the school is
Tapovan, off Badrinath Road, Village Ghugtayni, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. A short walk from Tapovan Market. Close to Lakshman Jhula and the Ganga.
Places to visit nearby, most within a walk
- 1Lakshman Jhula
- 2Ram Jhula
- 3Janki Setu
- 4Tapovan Market
- 5Sai Ghat
- 6Bhootnath Temple
- 7Beatles Ashram
- 8Neer Garh Waterfall
- 9Secret Waterfall
A short drive away: Kunjapuri temple for sunrise, Vashishtha Gufa (meditation cave), Neelkanth Mahadev temple.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Dehradun (Jolly Grant, DED), about an hour away. From Delhi (DEL) it is roughly seven hours by road. We can arrange your taxi from the airport to the school as an add-on.
Good to know
Pricing
Prices are shown in US dollars, the standard for international yoga trainings. You reserve with a 30% deposit (non-refundable), and the balance is paid directly at the yoga school on arrival.
Visa
You travel on a tourist visa. Most guests use India's e-Tourist visa, applied for online before you fly. We will point you to the current steps once your place is held.
Season
Rishikesh runs through four seasons: summer from April to June, monsoon from July to September, a mild autumn from mid-September to November, and winter from December to February. Courses run every month.
Weather
Sitting in the Himalayan foothills, summer runs from about 10 to 40 degrees Celsius and winter from about 5 to 35. Mornings and evenings are cooler, so bring a layer whatever the month.
Electricity
India runs on 220 volts. Bring a universal adapter for your plugs. Power is steady, and there is hot water and Wi-Fi on site.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and we strongly recommend it. Choose a policy that covers medical care and trip cancellation for the full length of your stay.
Vaccinations
There are no special vaccinations required, but please check with your own doctor or a travel clinic in good time before you fly.
What to bring
- A refillable water bottle
- Modest clothing for temple visits
- Comfortable clothes you can practise in
- A notebook and any personal study material
- A warm layer for early mornings and evenings
- Your own toiletries and any regular medication
Cancellation
Cancel 7 or more days before: full refund. 3 to 6 days: 50% refund. Within 3 days: no refund.
Full payment and refund policyQuestions, answered
Do I need to be experienced to join?
No. The course is built for beginners as well as intermediate practitioners, and it starts from the ground up. A little familiarity with yoga helps you get more from the pace, but it is not required.
Is this certification recognised worldwide?
Yes. The school is Yoga Alliance registered, so on successful completion you can register as an RYT-200 and teach anywhere that recognises Yoga Alliance, which is most of the world.
How many people are in a group?
Groups are kept small, up to twenty people, so the teachers can give you real attention and hands-on adjustment.
Is the accommodation and food included?
Yes. The price includes your room for 24 nights with an attached bathroom and hot shower, and three sattvic vegetarian meals a day during the course.
What is the difference between the twin and private room?
The twin sharing room is shared with one other student and costs less. The private room is yours alone with an ensuite bathroom. Both have hot water and Wi-Fi, and both include all your meals.
How do I pay, and how much upfront?
You pay a 30% deposit to confirm your place, in Rupees. The balance is settled with the school, and the deposit is non-refundable. You never pay the full amount online upfront.
Is it safe for solo female travellers?
Yes. This is a residential course with a small group, on-site staff and other students from around the world, and Rishikesh is one of the more comfortable places in India to travel solo. Tell us any concern and your co-host will talk it through with you before you book.
How far is the airport and can you arrange pickup?
The nearest airport, Dehradun (Jolly Grant), is about an hour away. Airport pickup and private taxis are available as an add-on you can choose when you book.
When do the courses start?
A new batch begins the first of every month, all year round. Check-in is the 1st, training runs the 2nd to the 24th, and you check out on the 25th.
What do I need to bring?
Comfortable clothes to practise in, a warm layer for mornings and evenings, modest clothing for temple visits, a notebook and your own toiletries. Mats and manuals are provided.
This school also runs 100, 300 and 500-hour trainings. Ask us if you would like one of those instead.