Twelve Justified Motives Encouraging Your Yoga Instruction Education in India
Discover the Benefits of Learning to Teach Yoga in India
Embark on a transformative journey by learning to teach yoga in India, the birthplace of this ancient practice. Every year, thousands of individuals flock to India to immerse themselves in its deep yoga traditions, as evidenced by the increase in foreign students from 34,774 in 2012-2013 to 49,348 in 2019-2020, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE). Here's why learning to teach yoga in India could be the perfect choice for you.
Authentic Yoga Philosophy
By learning to teach yoga in India, you'll gain access to the foundations of yoga that date back at least 5,000 years. Early teachings on yoga appeared in the Vedas, ancient philosophical texts from India, as well as in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. More extensive descriptions were recorded in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, making India the ultimate source for authentic yoga philosophy.
Ashram Experience
Living in an ashram, a residential school focused solely on learning, is a unique experience that offers a structured and disciplined program based on the yogic lifestyle. This simple, minimalist environment allows you to take a step back from your daily routine, develop healthy habits, and achieve balance in your body and mind.
Personal Growth and Challenges
Studying yoga in India provides an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and experience new realities that challenge you in unexpected ways. The initial days in India can be overwhelming due to unfamiliar sounds, different customs, new foods, and communication barriers. But this deliberate displacement becomes one of the most valuable parts of your yoga journey, fostering resilience and new perspectives.
Discipline and Dedication
India's renowned educational system emphasizes strict discipline and structure. Throughout your training, you'll deepen these qualities, which help you maintain a dedicated and disciplined practice in your life.
Connecting with Others
Training in India attracts dedicated practitioners from all over the world, creating a diverse learning environment that fosters deep bonds among students. As you support each other through challenging practices, share insights, and navigate foreign culture together, you'll form lifelong connections that span continents.
Cultural Immersion
Learning yoga in India provides a direct connection to yoga's birthplace, serving as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the country's rich landscapes, traditions, and spiritual practices. Daily life becomes an extension of your formal education, offering insights that textbooks can't provide.
Self-Understanding
The intensive ashram setting creates space for self-reflection and self-awareness. Away from distractions and daily roles, you'll see yourself with new clarity, gain a deeper understanding of your purpose, and transform your practice beyond just learning poses.
Value and Quality
Travel and accommodation costs in India are significantly lower than in Europe or the US. Yoga teacher training programs often include comfortable accommodation, nourishing meals, and comprehensive training in one straightforward price, allowing you to focus entirely on your practice.
Nature and Serenity
India's vast and varied landscape offers remote, peaceful settings for your yoga training. Arhanta Yoga Ashram, for example, is located 20 km away from the town of Khajuraho and surrounded by lush nature and a serene environment, creating the perfect atmosphere for your deep yoga practice.
Embracing the Complete Yogic Lifestyle
At an Indian ashram, you'll live, learn, and practice yoga in a holistic environment that integrates essential components of traditional yoga, such as proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, and diet. The daily schedule is designed around these principles, fostering healthy patterns and deepening your practice long after returning home.
Transition from Self-Study to Community Learning
In India, the traditional way of learning is called the Gurukula system, where children lived, studied, and worked with the main teacher for several years. During a yoga teacher training, you'll have the opportunity to be part of this community, working, living, and learning together, ensuring a more authentic experience.
A Journey That Changes You
Studying yoga in India goes beyond physical postures. It transforms you beyond recognition by connecting you to the origins of yoga, immersing you in the philosophical teachings, and providing an unparalleled cultural experience. After your training, you'll leave India not just as a capable yoga teacher, but as a transformed individual.
Sources:
[1] Elson, L. (2019). Journal of Yoga and Human Spirituality. Yoga in the Transpersonal Framework: A Review. 29(2), 356-367.
[2] Yoga Alliance USA. (n.d.). Welcome to Yoga Alliance. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.yogaalliance.org/
[3] Yoga Alliance International. (n.d.). About YA International. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.yogaallianceinternational.org/about-us/
[4] Yoga Vidya Gurukul. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.yogavidya.org/about-us
[5] Yoga Alliance Professional (UK). (n.d.). Why Study Yoga in India? Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://yogaprofessionals.org/india/why-study-yoga-in-india/
- Immerse yourself in ongoing education and self-development by participating in continuing education programs for yoga teacher training in India's ashrams, where you can deepen your understanding of yoga philosophy and the yogic lifestyle.
- Traveling to India for yoga teacher training offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from across the globe, fostering lifelong relationships and sharing insights about education, lifestyle, and travel.
- By investing in yoga teacher training in India, you'll not only return home as a more capable teacher but also as a transformed individual, having gained a deeper appreciation for yoga's cultural roots and philosophical teachings.
