200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in the Himalayan Foothills of Pokhara, Nepal

The 200-hour training takes place at the Annapurna Eco Village in Astam, a village about 45 minutes from Pokhara. The property is a working eco-farm with a large garden, a yoga shala, and views of the Himalayas from every room. The food is organic, much of it grown on the farm, and meals are taken together in the dining area. The days are long but structured with breaks and rest times built in.

On a typical day, you wake to a 7am meditation and pranayama session, followed by a 90-minute Hatha yoga class. After breakfast, the morning lecture covers philosophy, history, or Ayurveda. After lunch, the focus shifts to anatomy, teaching methodology, and ethics, before a second asana class in the late afternoon. Evenings close with meditation, mantra, or kirtan, and dinner. It's an intense schedule, but the weekly day off gives you room to breathe and take in what you're learning.

The curriculum covers a broad range of topics: asana history and alignment, pranayama techniques and theory, meditation and mantras, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, anatomy and physiology, yoga biomechanics, Ayurveda, teaching methodology, ethics, and professional development. This is a proper teacher training, not just an asana retreat. By the end of the three weeks, you'll have a thorough grounding in the classical yoga tradition and practical teaching skills.

The course is led by Madan, who trained in India and has been teaching in Nepal for many years. He is known for his therapeutic approach and his attention to individual students. Linda and Shanki bring their own styles to the teaching team, creating a rounded experience. Graduates of the course receive an internationally recognized certification, and the training is registered with Yoga Alliance for the 200-hour standard.

What's included

- 20 nights accommodation in shared or private room - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Snacks and tea - 200-hour yoga teacher training course - Course manual - Certification upon successful completion - Registration with Yoga Alliance - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Group excursions and activities - Transportation during the retreat - Evening activities (kirtan, movie night) - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Flights costs - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments