29 Day 300-Hour Raja Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India
The Most Authentic Raja Yoga Teacher Training India
Raja yoga classically termed also as “Ashtanga yoga” is inclusive of all yogas, and its philosophy goes beyond the frontiers of general human perception which reveals experienced facts of spiritual life towards liberation. In the course we learn various kinds of meditation practices and moral practices to experience deeper states of mind. This is a fully residential course, systematic designed which contains theory as well as practical classes. At the successful completion of the course, an aspirant will be conferred upon a certificate indicating that the aspirant is qualified to impart the techniques in which he or she has been trained.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Learn many kinds of ancient meditation techniques + moral practices
- Practices to work on different spheres of an individual
- 28 Nights accommodation (Shared accommodation & Private rooms)
- Course material (books, notebook, pen, Jala Neti pot)
- Course training, Eligible to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion
- Private Yoga consultation on request
- Vegetarian food (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Wi-fi etc.
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
28 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Hotel Sushila Residency (Tapovan), Tapovan Vatika (Tapovan) and Laxman Jhula Residency (11.11) etc. are some of the best choices to stay in the Yoga Capital of India, Rishikesh. The prime location, nice surroundings, and natural view with easy access to the nearest local market and other daily facilities make them worth staying in. Decent rooms, hot running water, needful air conditioners, and other modern amenities are also available on request. Yoga and spiritual practitioners are also frequently joining and enjoying our venue to attend regular and drop-in classes.
Program
Certification
Students who complete their subsequent training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).
At the successful completion, of course, an aspirant will be conferred a certificate indicating that the student is qualified to impart the techniques in which he or she has been trained.
Yoga teacher training and assessment: the entire yoga teacher training is the assessment of the students at all levels. However, there will be one practical and written test. Successful students in these tests will be conferred a teacher training certificate.
About Raja yoga
Raja yoga, classically termed also as “Ashtanga yoga”, is inclusive of all yogas, and its philosophy goes beyond the frontiers of general human perception. The Sanskrit word “Raj” means secret, hence Raja yoga imbibes the “secret of yoga”. It reveals experienced facts in a succession to the journey towards liberation. This branch of yoga has been discussed in various yoga texts such as Hath Yoga Pradipika (4.3 - 4.7) but traditionally the most detailed text on this is Yoga Sutra by Patanjali.
Course eligibility
The course is open only to those who have ample perfection in Hatha yoga practices. To clarify this more, the participant needs to estimate the followings:
Complete medical fitness; physical as well as mental.
- To be able to hold a posture of meditation for at least 20 minutes without any discomfort.
- To have the capacity to hold the breath for 5 to 10 seconds in continuity of any practice without even slight difficulty.
- To be able to maintain disciplines of Yoga for the duration of the training.
- To have inner motivation towards the subtle practices of Yoga which requires patience.
- To have flair for study and practice as the main focus during the course with strong commitment.
- More importantly long time practitioners who want experiences of causal level to be a guide to themselves and others in this path.
- Some of us gifted with special talents who do not require much preparation. They are always welcome as they are naturally eligible for the training. However, this is an exceptional situation.
More importantly, this program is for long-time practitioners who want experiences of the causal level to be a guide to themselves and others on this path. Some of us are gifted with special talents that do not require much preparation. They are always welcome as they are naturally eligible for the training. However, this is an exceptional situation.
Course objective:
- Providing of the requisite training to the participants who endeavour to blossom into integrated personalities with balance of head, heart and hand.
- Providing of the ancient methods of meditation and moral practices to explore the deeper recesses of mind.
- Fetch the attention of people to other unnoticed aspects of Yoga which we all need for our further evolution.
- More importantly attracting the teachers of Yoga in the world who are stuck into the jugglery of physical exercises so that they may see things beyond and help themselves and other in the path of transformation.
- To offer to the world at large well trained Raja Yoga Teachers.
Course Information/ Syllabus / Curriculum
- Raja Yoga teacher training course incorporates a series of subtle topics for study and practice. All these topics come under the following heads:
1 - Techniques, Training and Practice
It incorporates several practices of Hatha Yoga as well for greater efficiency into Raja Yoga practices which students will study in the Yoga teacher training course.
- Asana - Specific postures from Hatha yoga such as purificatory asana for lightness and purification of the body. Also postures from different groups of asana like standing, supine, prone (backward, forward, spine twist), inversion and balance. Of all the groups of asana, very selective ones would be focused on for the training purpose.
- Pranayama - techniques for correction of breath, breathing to heal and energise, breathing to balance, breathing to cool and harmonise. Special focus on Nadi Shodhana Pranayama as a means of purification of Nadis and sense control.
- Mudra - Some important gestures of fingers and body affect the energy in the body.
- Bandha - Important practices for locking the energy in the body.
- Shat-karma - Some purificatory practices (Shat-karma practices) in Yoga such as nasal cleansing etc.
- Meditation - Study and practice of sitting asana, the stillness of body, Yogic breathing with awareness and visualisation, awareness of layers of the body, elements, energy channels, senses, various methods of concentration, various methods of reflection and introspection and practices of meditation from Yoga Sutra of Patanjali etc.
- Moral Practices – Practices of Yama, Niyama and other moral practices relevant to spiritual growth.
2 - Teaching Methodology
This is a combination of complex topics such as designing Raja Yoga class, how to teach different practices of yoga, how to be a good yoga teacher, ethical guidelines, developing communication skills, time management, principles of demonstration, assistance, awareness, correction, styles of teaching, specific needs of individuals in a yoga class and business aspects of Yoga teaching etc.
3 - Anatomy and Physiology
Modern human anatomy and physiology (nervous system in detail, respiratory system, digestive, cardiovascular system), important joints and their movements in different Asana, important muscles and their movements in different Asana.
Yoga human anatomy and physiology (composition of the human body - 5 elements, 5 Koshas, 3 bodies, Nadis, Chakra and Kundalini).
Holistic approach to yoga (learning how a system of yoga needs to be incorporated for human well-being of body, mind, emotion and spirit).
4 - Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers
Reflection on the previously studied topics such as philosophy, philosophical perspectives of yoga, its meaning, definitions, aims and objectives, the historical development of yoga (pre-classical, classical, post-classical and modern approach), schools of yoga, a brief discussion on Vedas, Samkhya philosophy, selected topics from yoga Sutra (Antahakaran, Chitta, Antarayah, Ishwara, Aum, Samadhi, 5 Kleshas, 8 limbs, Samyama, Kaivalya) and Srimadabhagavada Gita, 3 bodies, 5 elements, 5 Koshas, 5 Pranas, Nadis, Chakras, Kundalini, 5 Senses, Mind and its aspects, states of mind. Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is the main text discussed in detail.
5 - Practicum
Practice teaching different practices in groups as the lead instructor, observe and assist while others teach, focus on specific practices and compile feedback etc.
6 - Karma yoga
During the course, individuals undergo experiences that require those to be assimilated within for which Karma yoga is the best means. Depending upon the requirements Sanatana Yog Sandesh may involve you in this.
Relevant yoga books:
- Raja Yoga: Swami Vivekananda
- Raja Yoga: Swami Sivananda
- Kundalini Yoga: Swami Sivananda Saraswati
- Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha: Swami Satyananda Saraswati
- Prana and Pranayama: Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati
- The Science of Pranayama: Swami Sivananda Saraswati
- Anatomy and Physiology: not specified
The daily schedule
The daily schedule starts at 5 a.m. All students have to wake up at this time except for some contingencies. The daily programs are tentative and subject to change according to need. All classes are held 5 days a week.
- 06:30 - 07:00 Herbal tea / drink
- 07:00 - 08.30 Hatha yoga asana, pranayama, and other practices followed by relaxation
- 08:30 - 09.30 Breakfast
- 10:00 - 11:00 Anatomy
- 11:15 - 12:15 Yoga humanities and philosophy
- 12:15 - 13:00 Personal cleaning and Karma yoga
- 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
- 15:30 - 16:30 Meditation and relaxation (lecture, practice and vice-versa), professional essentials – teaching methodology, professional development, practicum, and yoga business tools
- 17:00 - 18:30 Asana alignment and adjustments (theory and practical training with teaching practices)
- 18:30 - 19:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:30 Kirtan, chanting, and video show etc. (optional session)
- 21:00 Bed time
Instructors
Rohit Kumar
Rohit is the founder and lead trainer of Sanatana Yog Sandesh. Literature, metaphysics, Tantra, and yoga have been matters of interest in his life since a young age. Having started yoga classes at Yoga Sansthan, he visited several places to disseminate the principles of yoga along with its practices. He traveled to many countries of the European Union such as the Netherlands, Germany, etc, where he received a lot of exposure to various aspects of human life and could feel how yoga could be implemented into several walks of life.
Niveda Arora
Niveda Arora comes from Delhi. She has been a trained yoga instructor with five years of teaching experience in various yoga teacher training courses across different states of India and abroad. For the last two years, Niveda has been in Rishikesh teaching at various yoga schools to students coming for yoga teacher training from all parts of the world. In yoga teaching, her interests are Hatha, Vinyasa, and anatomy lectures.
Neha Baliyan
Neha was born and raised in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. She was introduced to yoga in her childhood while reading Srimad Bhagavad Gita. It brought a deep influence in her childhood psyche. Since then she has been naturally attracted towards the practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation.
Naomi Nakajima
Naomi Nakajima is a very experienced yoga teacher. She studied many fields of education. She worked as a designer, a stylist, and an assistant photographer but she continued as a professional photographer. She moved to the Netherlands and studied medicine for a decent livelihood. After her studies, she started working as a pharmacist. She travelled to India to fulfil promises to her mother. Here, yoga and meditation became her interest. She did for several years different kinds of yoga trainings like Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, meditation, Kriya, chanting, prayer, kirtan and rituals etc.
Danny Knight
Danny, from the UK, found his calling much later in life, spending the first 25 years of his career working in London culminating in him becoming head of the department at what is now the world’s largest insurance broker. However, feeling unfulfilled and in great personal suffering he sought out answers and relief through the study of various modern esoteric modalities, as taught by people such as Dr Joe Dispenza. However, this opened Pandora’s box to many experiences he was not able to understand, or in fact, be ready for. This led him to seek knowledge of the forces behind these experiences.
Lidiya Cheresharova
Lidiya was born in Bulgaria and raised in Italy. As a child, she loved asking questions and seeking answers. She travelled to India for the spiritual journey. During her traveling phase in India, she experienced yoga and spirituality which brought inner change within her. She completed her 200 and 300 hours yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh. Now she works as a yoga instructor and uses her skills in tourism work and organization of cultural events to organize various levels of yoga programs all over the world.
Dr. Rohit Chobe
Dr. Rohit Chobe was born and brought up in Haridwar which is one of holy pilgrimages in Uttarakhand, India. He has more than 12 years of experience in Yoga Philosophy and Indian Culture. He did his doctorate in Yogic Science from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar in 2018. He has a wonderful teaching experience as an Assistant Professor in Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh from Sep 2021-Sep 2023 which is one of India’s best private Universities. He is a Certified Sound Healer and Reiki Master. His specialisation is in Meditation and Sanskrit Recitation.
Rajia Nautial
Rajiv is a very experienced yoga teacher. Academically he holds a bachelor’s in Engineering from Graphic Era University. He worked in this field for some months. Later he felt a need to make a substantial change in his life. He found Yoga and he immersed himself in this to experience life deeper. He graduated in Yogic Science from Uttarakhand University and also in Yoga Naturopathy. He is an ERYT 500 Hours. He teaches Asana, Pranayama and meditation.
Yogi Mann
Yogi Mann comes from Delhi, India. He is a very calm and humble yoga practitioner who is always ready to help others in whatever way he can, be it guiding or counselling, teaching the techniques of Pranayama and meditation or teaching the therapeutic effects of Yoga. His main intention is to share with others the real essence of Yoga by which we can make the best use of this human form of life. His journey of Yoga started in teenage when he was quite inquisitive about the deeper truths of life. In search of the real goal of life he came across this beautiful process of Yoga and started practic
Pradeep Singh
Pradeep Singh comes from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Pradeep has done a bachelor in Arts. His inclination to Yoga was more dominant so he went for Yoga education. He completed a Yoga Course from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University and another 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training. He trained students at Nomad Yoga – (May to Aug 2019), taught Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa as a part of Yoga teacher training. He trains international clients and International School students conducting online training sessions since 2015 and has trained approximately 150 students in the last 5 years.
Yogini Aishwarya Ji
Yogini Aishwarya Ji, a certified Yin Yoga and Ashtanga teacher as well as a dietician, has been dedicated to yoga since participating in the XXII National Yoga Meet in 2011. With over five years of teaching experience, she combines her expertise in yoga and nutrition to create a holistic and enriching experience for her students. Holding an M.A. and P.G. Diploma in Yogic Science, along with an M.Sc. in Food Science & Nutrition, she is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher with additional certifications in Yin Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Aerial Yoga, and Tibetan Bowl Sound Healing.
Vedant Karmahe
Vedant, a professional yoga practitioner from Rishikesh, India, has dedicated over 12 years to spreading the benefits of yoga. Holding an M.Sc. in Yogic Science and a B.Sc. in Yoga Science, he is a UGC NET-qualified educator, an RYT 500-certified instructor with Yoga Alliance USA, and a recognized Yoga Teacher and Evaluator under the Government of India’s AYUSH ministry. Vedant has conducted Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC) and workshops across India, including in central and sub-jails of Madhya Pradesh, positively impacting over 1,600 students.
Dr. Medha Bhatt
Medha Bhatt is a calm and dedicated yoga teacher from Rishikesh, with a Ph.D. in Yoga Science from the University of Patanjali. She has over 10 years of experience teaching Yoga Teacher Training Courses (TTC), specializing in Meditation, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Anatomy, Philosophy, and different styles like Yin, Prenatal, and Kids Yoga.Medha studied Yoga Science at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya for her bachelor’s degree and later completed her master’s from Uttarakhand Open University. She is also registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500 and YACEP.
Dr. Akshay Vashisht
Dr. Akshay Vashisht is a dedicated and experienced Yoga teacher from Rishikesh with over seven years of teaching experience. He holds a Ph.D. in Yoga Science from the University of Patanjali and specializes in Pranayama, Meditation, Yoga Therapy, Kirtan Mantra, and Ayurveda. Akshay’s teaching style integrates traditional yoga practices with modern techniques to cultivate balance, resilience, and inner harmony.He began his academic journey with a B.Tech in Computer Science before transitioning to Yoga, earning an M.Sc. in Yoga from SVYASA, Bengaluru. He is also an E-RYT 500 registered with Yoga
Gagandeep
With a Diploma and Master’s in Yogic Science, Gagandeep Ji is a devoted teacher of Yoga Anatomy and Therapy, rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern science. Guided by revered masters of India, he blends traditional healing concepts with contemporary understanding to awaken holistic awareness. His sessions are deeply engaging, empowering students to explore the sacred connection between body, breath, and spirit. Through his heartfelt guidance, learners are inspired to embody the true essence of therapeutic yoga.
Jeet Thapliyal
Jeet is a passionate and experienced Yoga teacher with over a decade of personal practice and nine years of teaching experience. Beginning his yogic journey at the young age of twelve to heal his partial deafness and manage a hyper-acidic body, Jeet discovered the transformative power of Yoga. Through consistent and dedicated practice, he not only regained his hearing but also restored balance to his body, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to the yogic path.Jeet holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and is a Gold Medalist in Master’s in Yoga.
Retreat location
This training will take place at Tapovan in Rishikesh, it is a very ancient city in Uttarakhand province of India.
There are nearby places such as Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Ganga Beaches, Sivananda Ashram, Parmarth Niketan for Ganga Aarti. Students can go and visit many shops, bookstalls, astrologers, priests, etc. Between Laxman and Ram Jhula.
Unique features
General
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Yoga shala
Services
- Free Wi-Fi
- Library
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
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Food
You will be served Sattvik (suitable for yoga) vegetarian North Indian food. Alcohol, drugs, or any kind of intoxicant is strictly forbidden. Non-vegetarian food is also not recommended during the course.
Drinking water
Sanatana Yoga Sandesh provides filtered water for drinking purposes. Bring a water bottle with you. The weather in Rishikesh in summer is normally hot so you need to drink plenty of water. On average, you need to consume 3 to 4 litres of water every day. In the class also, you need to bring your filled water bottle.
General food info and food timings
- 07:00 - 07:15 Herbal tea or lemon, healthy drink, honey mixed with plain water before the class starts
- 09:30 - 10:30 Mealtime. This food is your main meal so feel free to eat as much as you can easily digest. At this time, you will be served rice varieties, chapatti (Indian bread), lentils (daal / sambar), salad, vegetable curries, and a dessert on certain occasions
- 13:00 - 13:30 Fruit / fruit juice (fruit bowl with juice / herbal drink / tea)
- 18:00 - 19:00 Dinner. The meal includes rice varieties, chapatti (Indian bread), dosa, lentils, vegetable dish, salad, herbal hot drinks, and occasional deserts
These food timings and food are a general idea and are tentative. There can be substantial changes according to the need. Sanatana Yoga Sandesh provides food / kinds of food and arranges the timings of the food from the yoga course point of view.
According to the yogic principle, there must be at least six to eight hours gap between two meals. On average heavy food like grains etc. take three hours to digest and fruit takes 30 to 40 minutes to digest. Stomach-full food at brunch is sufficient for sustaining the body for long hours.
At the same time a light stomach is also required for the afternoon classes. If you need to have something in between you can keep something healthy with you always. Rishikesh has many shops from where you can buy many healthy foodstuffs. But make sure that your stomach is empty before you are doing asana and pranayama classes.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Tea
- Detox juices
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Yogic
Things to do (optional)
There are many places to explore in and around Rishikesh. You can go for camping, hiking, meditate at holy Ganga beach, Ganga Aarti, visit – ancient temples, ashrams, holy people and Rishikesh city, waterfall, river rafting, Ayurveda massage, shopping and others. After the course, you can enjoy tours to different places of North India such as Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Pushkar, Dharamshala and Himanchal etc.
What's included
- 28 Nights accommodation
- Eligible to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion
- Course material (books, notebook, pen, Jala Neti pot)
- Course training
- Private Yoga consultation on request
- Vegetarian food (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- Wi-fi etc.
What's not included
- Flight tickets
- Airport pick up and drop
- Longer tours and trips around
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Medical assistance
- Things for personal requirements
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Jolly Grant Airport
14 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Indira Gandhi International Airport
209 km away from your destination
Arrival by airplane
In order to come to Rishikesh, you need to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), New Delhi. Or you can also fly from your place to Dehradun Airport (DED), also named Jolly Grant Airport, a domestic airport, in Dehradun via New Delhi airport or other international airports in India. This way you can make your arrival to Dehradun and from there to Rishikesh.
According to Google, the distance from the India Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi to Rishikesh is around 245 kilometres, which is around 6 hours car-drive and the distance from Dehradun Airport to Rishikesh is around 25 kilometres which is 45 minutes car drive. There are available car services at the airport that you can use. In case of need, Sanatana Yoga Sandesh can organize safe airport pick up / drop back to / from Airports on additional payments.
In that case, if students would be arriving one/two days before the course starts, Sanatana Yog Sandesh can co-ordinate to accommodate two / three students in one car comfortably to reduce the car fare and for a company on a long drive. You need to send them your confirmed e-ticket to let us know the flight number, airlines, airport and arrival / departure timings etc. They will confirm the booking of the car / taxi by email.
A designated driver / staff will be standing at the airport with a placard showing your name and Sanatana Yog Sandesh (yoga school name). There will be phone numbers to reach the school in case of any difficulty in locating the driver.
Airport picks up (from Delhi to Rishikesh) and vice versa costs approximately 4500 to 6000 INR. Meanwhile, the airport picks up (from Dehradun to Rishikesh) and vice versa costs 1200 to 1400 INR. These charges are variable as per the arrival of a number of tourists, but the charges can’t go too high.
At the airport, there are also government / professional car / taxi drivers to take passengers to different routes. Sanatana Yog Sandesh suggests you use these facilities when you arrive at the airport to come to Rishikesh. The government buses or any other bus services are very cheap. You can bargain also with the car / taxi drivers to give you a cheaper fair.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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