500 Hours Yoga Teacher Training 

Rishikesh, India - RYT 500 Yoga Alliance

We welcome you to join our yoga school Yoga Vidya Mandiram centered in the magical Himalayan Valley of Rishikesh, India. Our mission is to spread peace, health and joy, which can be achieved through yoga.  All walks of life are welcome to learn how yoga leads an individual to a healthy body and lifestyle, and also how yogic philosophy can help in maintaining a peaceful mind and a serene spirit.

The intensive yoga course is dedicated to impart, guide and train the students in yogic teach learning to cultivate a harmonious lifestyle and acquire deeper life changing experiences.

Who Should Apply for 500 Hours Yoga TTC?  

This 500 Hour Yoga TTC is designed and perfect for the students who:

• Are looking for a complete detoxification from their life through yogic wisdom, science and practices
• Desires to further their yoga studies for personal development & spiritual growth
• Desires to teach advance group of students as a profession
• Entirely dedicated and focused to become a professional RYT500 yoga instructor under Yoga Alliance, USA

500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course at our yoga School Yoga Vidya Mandiram is offered from a worldwide known organization Yoga Alliance, USA. After the successfully completing the program, the students will receive a 500 RYS (Registered Yoga School). After which they can get registered at Yoga Alliance USA and become a 500 RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). 

Highlights - 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

• 49 night’s non-AC accommodation.
• 3 Daily nutritious vegetarian meals (no eggs)
• Sankhya and yoga philosophies
• Daily Hatha-yoga & Ashtanga-yoga classes
• Daily Mantra recitation guided & Karma Yoga
• Daily Relaxation & meditation practices
• Shat-kriya & Daily guided breathing and pranayama practices
• Yoga anatomy & physiology workshops
• Yoga practicum/practice teaching Instructions to teach and guide others
• Excursion to nearby holy temples and shrines
• 500-hours yoga TTC Certificate from Yoga Alliance, USA

Course Content Overview 

500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Mantra Chanting

• Intro to Mantra science
• Basic mantras: aum, gayatri, trayambakam, guru, shanti etc.
• Morning prayers and Evening prayers
• Meal prayers
• Study prayers
• Health prayers
• Surya-namaskara 12 mantras along with bija mantras
• 1-20 Sanskrit counting
• Names of the asanas
• Selected yoga-sutras recitation

Hatha Yoga & Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

• Meditative steps of performing the hatha yoga; centering, entering, refining, holding, coming out, and reflection
• Astanga vinyasa flow - series 1 & 2
• Surya namaskar (sun salutations) - dynamic surya namaskar, surya namaskar with breathe awareness, surya namaskar with bija-mantra chanting
• Modifications of yoga asanas
• Types of yoga asanas - standing, sitting, backward bending, forward bending, spinal twisting, fire series, inversion, shavasana etc.
• Alignment and art of adjustment
• Preventing common injuries
• Counter pose
• Contraindications
• Yoga asanas benefits

Pranayama (Science of breath)

• Introduction to science of breath
• Physiology of pranayama
• Postures for pranayama
• Establishment of diaphragmatic breathing
• 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 breathing practices
• Different practices of pranayama: nadi shodhana, ujjayee, kapalabhati, bhastrika, shitali, shitkari, brahmari, and anuloma viloma, suryabhedi, and various types of kumbhaka pranayama and others
• Benefits or pranayama practices
• Guidelines for regular pranayama

Bandhas (lock)

• Jalandhara-bandha (chin lock)
• Uddiyana-bandha (abdominal lock)
• Moola-bandha (root lock)
• Maha-bandha (great lock)

Mudra Vijnana (Science of Graceful Gestures)

• Intro to mudras and their importance in yoga practices
• Mudra and its psychology
• The elements residing in the fingers and five mudras: akasha-mudra, jnana-mudra, agni-mudra, varuna-mudra, and prithvi-mudra
• Other important mudras: dhyan-mudra, prana-mudra, apana-mudra, linga-mudra, shunya-mudra, vishnu-mudra, bhairava-mudra, and hridaya-mudra

Satkarma (Cleansing Practices)

• Jala-neti
• Sutra-neti
• Kunjala
• Trataka
• Agnisara
• Nauli

Practice Relaxation and Yoga Nidra

• Introduction to the concept and practices of relaxation
• Relaxation in daily life
• Sequence of relaxation
• Tension and relaxation exercises
• Systematic relaxation exercises
• 31 points relaxation exercise
• 61 points relaxation exercise
• Preparation for yoga-nidra
• 61 blue star relaxation

Meditation

• What is meditation and what is not?
• Meditation in daily life
• Yoga asanas for meditation
• 2-5 minutes meditations
• Steps into basic meditation
• So-ham mediation
• Mantra and meditation
• Spinal breath
• Sushumna breath through chakras

Yoga Anatomy and Physiology

• Introduction about Yoga anatomy and physiology
• Systems: Digestive system, Circulatory system, Respiratory system, Muscular system, Nervous system, Endocrine system, Skeletal system, Excretory system, Lymphatic system, Homeostasis
• Stress: Introduction
• Humoral theory (in ancient Indian medicine, Greek medicine, and modern medical science)
• The Brain and its subcortical centers
• Stress and Neuro-endocrinal changes
• Therapy principles for stress disorders
• Stress management through yoga: Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing practices), Dhyan (meditation)
• Effect of yoga posture on muscles and systems
• Nadis (energy channels)
• Chakras (energy plexus)
• Pancha tattva (five great elements)
• Panchakosha (five sheaths)
• Pancha pranas (five vital energy)

Yoga Philosophy, Life-style and Yoga Ethics

• General introduction: six schools of Indian philosophy
• Philosophy in daily life
• Elementary intro to Samkhya and Yoga philosophies
• The Yoga-sutras of Patanjali
• History of Yogic science
• Astanga-yoga: yama, niyam, asana, pranayam, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi
• Introduction to Vedanta (Yoga of the Upanishads)
• The yoga of the Bhagavad-gita
• The tantric yoga
• Yoga Ethics: Yamas and Niyamas; More on the ethics of a teacher
• Daily life style of a sadhaka

Ayurveda (Science of Life)

• Intro to Ayurveda
• Philosophy of Ayurveda
• The concept of tri-dosha
• The concept of tri-gunas
• Ayurveda and the balanced diet
• Balance of the mind and body through proper diet as prescribed in Ayurveda

Teaching Methodology

• Learning to instruct and guide
• Main points: Teaching to what you observe, Timing a class, Greeting/Centering, Sequence in teaching,
• Theme-ing a specific posture
• Classroom Organization
• Demonstration
• Health Concerns
• Language
• Modification in Posture
• The role of a teacher
• The practice and service of teaching yoga

Yoga Practicum

• Class sequences
• Develop intention for classes
• Self-evaluation
• Assignments
• Practice teaching
• Feed back
• Group discussion
• Questions and answers
• Homework

Daily Schedule

We follow a tight daily schedule to ensure that our students get the most out of yoga teachings and practices during this short yoga teacher training (YTT) program. It is encouraged to take full rest every night by sleeping early as part of your practice and to maintain health and focus throughout the program.

» 06:15 am - 06:30 am - Mantra Chanting
» 06:30 am - 07:30 am - ShatKarma / Pranayama / Mudras / Bandhas (Theory & Practices)
» 07:30 am - 09:00 am - Hatha Yoga Session & Practice Teaching
» 09:00 am - 10:00 am - Breakfast
» 10:00 am - 11:00 am - Yoga Philosophy
» 11:00 am - 12:00 am - Yoga Anatomy & Physiology
» 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Karma Yoga
» 12:30 pm - 13:30 pm - Lunch
» 13:30 pm - 16:00 pm - Self-Study / Silence Practice / Self-Journaling / Free time
» 16:00 pm - 16:30 pm - Tea break
» 16:30 pm - 18:00 pm - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Session & Practice teaching
» 18:00 pm - 19:00 pm - Dinner
» 19:00 pm - 20:00 pm - Meditation & Yoga Nidra (Relaxation) Session
» 20:00 pm - 21:00 pm - Self-Study / Free time

Please note : Schedule is subject to changes without prior notice.

Training takes place 6 days out of 7 days of the week. The 7th day is considered resting day, usually set on Sunday but may shift in busy seasons to avoid the weekend traffic. Students are free to use this rest day to practice, review and reflect lessons and practices during the past week. We also organize a half day excursion during the rest day for students to take some time to explore and experience Rishikesh (northern Indian) attractions, nature and culture.

Yoga Vidya Mandiram Yoga School is a registered Yoga School centered in Rishikesh, India. The Center is dedicated to restore, explore and impart the purest form of knowledge of Yogic studies and its practices with their scientific verification. The Yoga Center intends to maintain the yogic teachings to their ancient and traditional purity as taught by the yogis of the Himalayan masters. Thus, our Yoga School is a bridge between pure and traditional form to contemporary format of teaching yoga.

The Yoga Teacher Training (TTC) are held at Yoga Vidya Mandiram in Rishikesh, India, certified by Yoga Alliance, USA for their 200/300/500 hours Hatha & Asthanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Course.   These Yoga TTC are suitable for students of all levels; beginner, intermediate and advance.

Guides / Instructors - Rishikesh, India

Acharya Chandramani (Yoga Philosophy & Vedic Scriptures)

Acharya Chandramani was born in a traditional spiritual family. When he was 8 years old, he became a serious practitioner of the yogic principles of Swetambara Jaina tradition. Later, he was initiated into the Vedic Sanskrit tradition by Swami Vivekananda at the age of 10 in Prabhat Ashram, UP, India. He was fully dedicated to the teachings and daily discipline of the traditional Sanskrit gurukulam from childhood to adulthood. He has been guiding worldwide yoga students into the Vedic Sanskrit literature and its philosophy and holding yoga retreats and teacher trainings for over 25 years.

Sandeep Pandey (Relaxation & Meditation / Pranayama / Yoga Philosophy)

Yogacharya Sandeep Pandey was born in a traditional Brahamna family and was sent to Gurukul at the age of 8. At the Gurukul, he studied the Yajurveda and mastered all the 16 Samskaras along with Yogasana, pranayama, and Shat Kriyas. He participated in many national-level yoga championships in India and won prizes. However, his quest for knowing the inner self through yoga lead him to Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama where under the direct guidance of H.H. Swami Veda Bharati, he studied and practiced the deeper and subtler aspect of Raja yoga.

Piyush Saxena (Relaxation & Meditation / Pranayama)

Piyush Saxena has been a sadhaka of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition as taught by Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati for several years. He has a great passion for the philosophy and practices of yoga Nidra and meditation, as well as practice Hatha yoga as a meditative process to support his meditation practices. Piyush wants to inspire people and teach yogic practices that can help them in their daily life, business life, student life, family life, corporate life, and more importantly guide them to become an enlightened human being.

Subhash Petwall (Hatha Yoga & Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga)

Subhash Petwal is an asana yoga instructor who is experienced teaching internationally and locally in the styles of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and Hatha yoga. He has undergone his training in Mysore and Kaivalyadhama Lonavala and has been undergoing continuous practices for several extended years at Kishore Yoga Kendra Bangalore. Subhash is passionate about sharing his knowledge of Hatha and Ashtanga yoga and takes great care in layout a strong foundation for his students to further their practices.

Saurabh Mishra (Hatha Yoga & Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga)

Saurabh developed a keen interest in yoga since childhood. He was born and educated in Rishikesh, the world’s capital of yoga. He began his yoga journey in the holy city of Rishikesh. He is an experienced teacher of Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for the past 3 years and is in pursuit of his master’s degree in Yoga, as well as continuously undergoing self-practices and self-studies of yoga.

Manish Kumar (Hatha Yoga)

In Manish’s eyes, Yoga is the gateway to learning and understanding your true-self, to see beyond the physical and discover the subtilities of your authentic character. He believes that the beauty of yoga for him, is that it always gives satisfaction and joy, in every form. On his unique path, he has developed qualities allowing him to enjoy each moment within society, and these qualities he carries with him into his teaching. Manish feels that to practice yoga is to practice conscious living, and this is a view he integrates into his classes. 

Karamjit Singh (Yoga Anatomy & Physiology)

Yogacharya Karamjit was born and brought up in a Hindu and Yogic family, whose roots are deeply emerged with Yogi’s lineage. He learned basics of yoga from a wandering monk, since childhood, he stayed and practiced yoga under the revered Monks and Yogis in monasteries. Yogacharya Karamjit did 300 hours Yoga Instructor course and Post Graduation Degree in Yoga from Swami Vivekananda Yoga University and earned his Master in Yoga Science (M.Sc) Degree. He did Yoga and Vedanta certificate course from Swami Shivanada Ashram (Divine life Society) at Rishikesh, India.

Dr. Sumit Sharma (Yoga Anatomy & Physiology)

Dr. Sumit is an expert in the field of physical therapy and posture imbalance and sedentary life disorders. He did his Masters of Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Disorders in Orthopedic Branch and a diploma in Sports Medicine from West Bengal. He is also a certified Pilate’s trainer from Indian Academy of Fitness Training Mangalore. His simple and contemporary style of delivering deep and practical knowledge of anatomy and physiology endear him to his students. He has taught a few hundred students from more than 35 countries and he mainly focuses on the therapeutic aspects of yoga.