Here’s how yogi entrepreneurs have made thriving business out of Yoga.
Yoga Teachers Training in India
India is still considered to be among the best destinations for yoga holidays. There are several yoga ashrams as well as yoga resorts in India, that offer a great spiritual and meditative experience. You can even attend a beginner yoga course when on your India yoga vacation.
Here are the best traditional yoga centers, located in different cities in India, that provide yoga teachers training.
These centers offer short-term as well as long-term courses so you can choose from a wide selection of beginner yoga courses. While the short-duration classes do not provide a deeper understanding of the subject, the course schedule is designed in such a manner that you can learn the systematic way of doing yoga.
These esteemed Institutes conduct various teachers’ training courses.
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, Maharashtra
This renowned Institute conducts regular classes in Iyengar Yoga (a form of Hatha Yoga which focuses on postures) for all levels. Unfortunately there can be long waiting period to get in. Besides, the Institute requires students to have prior experience in practicing Iyengar Yoga.
Ashtanga Institute, Mysore, Karnataka
The esteemed Ashtanga Institute offers intensive ashtanga yoga classes (for serious yoga students only) throughout the year. Their courses are also much sought after.
Hrishikesh (Rishikesh), Uttarakhand
Rishikesh is known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, where you will find several ashrams offering all kinds of yoga and meditation classes, in an exquisite setting by the fast-flowing Ganges, surrounded by forested hills.
Couple of popular institutes in Rishikesh, in case you want to totally immerse in Yoga.
shivayogapeeth.in
rishikeshyogdham.com
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Trivandrum, Kerala
Renowned for its hatha yoga courses. There’s an exacting schedule (5.30am to 10pm) of yoga practice, meditation and chanting. Month-long yoga-teacher training available.
Address: Neyyar Dam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695572. Phone:094956 30951
Courses run for a minimum of two weeks and batches start twice a month.
Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre, Bodhgaya, Bihar
Also known as Dhamma Bodhi, the Bodhgaya Vipassana Meditation Centre in Bihar offers courses in meditation using the Vipassana technique. The centre is surrounded by agricultural fields making it conducive for serious meditation. The centre offers short as well as long courses. Read more here.
The Yoga Institute (TYI), Santacruz in Mumbai
Founded in 1918, The Yoga Institute (TYI) is a government-recognized non-profit organisation and the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The facility is located over a one-acre land with 3 buildings, each having 2 floors.
They run a wide range of courses and camps – for children, adults and teachers. TYI have also authored several books on Yoga and have other publications such as magazines.
Website: theyogainstitute.org
Dhamma Giri Vipassana International Academy, Igatpuri
Located in Igatpuri (45 km away from Nashik and 136 km away from Mumbai), their 10-day meditation course is quite popular, although its tough. The daily schedule is from 4am to 9:30pm. Limited food intake, limited sleep allowed, no talking, no electronic devices, no pen and paper for 10 days.
Nashik District, Igatpuri, Maharashtra 422403.
Courses: Conducts Ten-day residential courses throughout the year.
Website: Dhamma.org
Yoga Vidya Dham, Nasik
Yoga Vidya Dham is a Non Profit Organization (NGO) established with the aim of imparting Yoga Education to all sections of the society. They offer different Yoga courses (Training Courses), the duration varies from one hour to few months.
Located in the Sahyadri mountain range, the ashram is surrounded by scenic landscapes and is an ideal location away from city and stressful modern life.
Website: Yogapoint.com
Kaivalyadham, Lonavla
Spread across 170 acres in Lonavla, Yoga institute KaivalyaDhama was established in 1924 and runs various academic courses such as teachers training, BA in Yoga, and more. They also run a CBSE school where Yoga is taught extensively.
They have a dairy with around 50 Indian breed cows, they have a farm where organic vegetables are grown. ‘Sattva’ cafe serves cold press juices and healthy snacks. They also have a library with thousands of books to enhance your intellectual curiosity.
Website: kdham.com
Yoga Booms in China: Indian Teachers in Demand
Yoga is booming in China and other south-eastern countries. The good thing for India is that the Chinese prefer to learn from Indian yoga teachers, as they feel Indians have a better grip over the science behind Yoga. Thousands of Indian yoga teachers, trained in Rishikesh and Haridwar (home to several yoga schools) are already teaching in China, and the number is expected to grow in the future.
Ashish Bahuguna, who has been teaching yoga in China for over a decade now, learnt his asanas at the Parmarth Niketan ashram in Rishikesh. He runs his own studio ‘WeYoga’ in Beijing. “The Chinese prefer us since we have a grip over the basics of the science,” says Bahuguna (was conferred the title of ‘The Most Beautiful Yogi of China’).
Mohan Bhandari, one of the first yoga teachers from Rishikesh to settle in China, says that the Chinese are very particular about learning yoga “the right way.” “It is a characteristic of the Chinese that they want to learn things from people who they consider as subject natives. That is why the demand for Indian yoga teachers is high in the country.” Bhandari, who went to China in 2003, now has a chain of ‘Yogi Yoga’ studios across China.
“I have seen a sizeable number of well-qualified boys from Rishikesh come to China to teach yoga. All of them are earning upwards of Rs 1 lakh per month.”
Although there are several types of yoga styles being taught in China, Iyengar Yoga (which uses props) is a big hit with the Chinese. Iyengar Yoga, despite being tough, gives great results and has impressed the Chinese.
“Yoga has given me great benefits and rejuvenation. Last year, I got the opportunity to visit the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh and became completely enamoured with the practice. I soon enrolled in an Indian yoga studio in my city. I think I must have done some good deeds that I am able to learn this ancient practice from traditional teachers,” David Li, a Chinese yoga practitioner.
Full article on TOI. Read more here.
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