Teachers’ Training Course

Develop the skills to teach yoga asana and meditation, gaining a solid grounding in the classical yoga tradition, and at the same time deepen your spiritual connection to yoga and open yourself to profound inner transformation. In this four-week course you will establish a firm foundation of discipline that promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and build a strong base from which to teach others naturally and with confidence.
The Teachers’ Training Course (TTC) is a four-week intensive residential course, based on the ancient gurukula system of India where teacher and student live together. You will be in a traditional Ashram setting and closely interact with our experienced and dedicated teachers and staff who themselves are immersed in the yogic lifestyle. Connected to an ancient teaching lineage (guru parampara), passed down from guru to disciple through thousands of years, the curriculum is extensive and covers both theory and practice. Devotional practices, traditional to India, are an integral part of the Course.

A vegetarian diet, daily personal practice of yoga and meditation, as well as immersion in nature promote an atmosphere conducive to profound learning. The Course was designed by Swami Vishnudevananda in 1969 with the vision to develop successful yoga professionals and to spread peace in the world through them. A sincere desire to learn and openness to yogic techniques is required – a basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is preferred, but not essential. Graduates of the course receive internationally-recognised certification which is recognised by the worldwide Yoga Alliance for the 200 hours standard for Registered Yoga Schools (RYS).

Students enjoy occasional cultural programmes that are offered during evening satsangs. Each week there is  a day free of lectures. During this day students are required to attend morning and evening satsang. During free time, students can explore the Ashram’s vicinity or join our occasional day trips to places of interest.

A high degree of self-motivation is required for all aspects of the course. A basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is helpful but not essential. A sincere desire to learn and openness to the teachings of yoga is required. The practice and especially the teaching of yoga demand a high degree of self-discipline and purity.
To ensure the success of the programme, participation at all classes are required.  Attendance at all spiritual activities, satsangs, lectures and asana classes is mandatory.
Meat, fish, eggs, black tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, drugs are prohibited during the Course. A dress-code is followed. It is not possible to cater to personal dietary preferences beyond the yogic-vegetarian meals. Participants who do not comply with the Ashram rules may be asked to leave the Course.

The goal of the programme is to produce qualified and inspiring yoga teachers who are able to draw on their own practice and personal discipline in imparting the yoga experience to others.

The curriculum is based on the five points of yoga as taught by Swami Vishnudevananda, which can be understood as the practical application of the traditional four paths of yoga. The intensive daily schedule includes:

  • Two satsangs
  • Two asana classes
  • Two lectures
  • One hour of karma yoga
  • One day a week is lecture-free.

Asanas

  • The twelve basic postures in depth
  • Practice of classical advanced variations
  • Precise and detailed corrections
  • Prolonged holding of the asanas
  • Deeper understanding of hatha yoga

Pranayama

  • Practice of kapalabhati
  • Daily practice of anuloma viloma
  • Advanced pranayamas
  • Use of bandhas

Meditation

  • Guide to meditation
  • What is meditation?
  • Why meditate?
  • Concentration and thought power
  • 12-step daily practice
  • Effects of and experiences in meditation
  • Mantras
  • Mantra initiation (optional)

Yoga Anatomy and Physiology

  • Introduction to the eight major body systems
  • The effects of asanas and pranayama on the: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and skeletal and muscular systems
  • Yoga and physical culture

Yoga Nutrition

  • Vegetarianism for physical, mental and spiritual health
  • How diet affects the mind
  • Principles of nutrition
  • Healing effects of fasting

Kriyas

The six classical purification exercises for the eyes, nose, air passages, oesophagus and stomach, abdominal organs and large intestine. Explanation and demonstration of the exercises and their effects. Individual instruction.

  • tratak
  • neti
  • kapalabhati
  • dhauti
  • nauli
  • basti

Teaching Practice