200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Wellness Retreat in Rishikesh, India

The 200-hour teacher training at Rishikesh Nath Yogshala is a full month of study, practice, and living like a yogi. The curriculum is built around five modules: yoga teaching techniques, teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, philosophy and lifestyle, and daily practice. It covers the 65 asanas, five meditation techniques, three types of pranayama, shatkarma cleansing practices, body alignment, and how to teach both individual and group sessions. You'll also cover the business side of running a yoga school and teaching ethics — useful if you plan to make a living from this.

The first week focuses on alignment and anatomy, the building blocks you'll need for everything else. Week two is all about Vinyasa — how to structure an hour of movement so breath and posture flow together. Week three teaches adjustment and tactile correction, and the final days have you standing in front of the group teaching real classes. The course ends with a written exam and a practical teaching exam, plus a certificate on completion that lets you register as an RYT with Yoga Alliance.

What sets this training apart is the breadth of styles you touch. The school teaches Hatha, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Japa (mantra) yoga, and Kriya yoga, with a strong emphasis on the more traditional Eastern practices that many Western courses skip — pranayama, kriyas, yoga nidra, and mantra chanting. The instructors include a monk who's been teaching Kriya yoga for decades and teachers with master's degrees in yoga sciences, so you're getting real depth rather than a scripted curriculum.

Location is the other big draw. The school is on the quiet side of the Ganges in Rishikesh, surrounded by Himalayan hills, and the property has a yoga hall, dining area, library, spa, and travel desk. Meals are satvik vegetarian, cooked with organic ingredients, and you can come a few days early free of charge to adjust to the time zone and the rhythm of the place.

What's included

- 27 nights accommodation (choose from triple shared, double shared, or private room) - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks and drinks - Daily yoga classes (Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa) - Daily pranayama and meditation sessions - 200-hour teacher training curriculum - Certificate upon successful completion to register with Yoga Alliance - Course manual - Yoga mats, blocks, straps, and bolsters - Airport pickup from Jolly Grant Airport - Group excursions and activities (temple visit, picnics, etc.) - Free Wi-Fi

What's not included

- Travel insurance - Flights cost - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments (spa, etc.)