The yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India which is the birthplace of yoga is indeed a life-changing experience, one which I think everyone should and would benefit from at some point in their lives. This the retreat is set in the northern part of India, in the foothills of Himalaya with the Ganga River flowing through it, making this beautiful little city, a wonder to behold attracting meditation and yoga courses.

Many individuals who have gone to the yoga courses in Rishikesh has gone there grossly unprepared for their trips and hence not getting the full benefits of these events. To help avoid the mistakes that prevent you from enjoying the benefits of these yoga teacher training, we have a list of things you need to know to prepare you for your yoga journey in Rishikesh properly.

·        Wean your body of eggs booze and meat

Rishikesh is a dry vegetarian town in which when individuals who visit must prepare themselves for a time of no meat and alcohol. Needless to say, if you love eggs, be prepared to stay without it. Those who are used to eating two to three eggs daily have to face the shock to which they were not prepared when they cannot eat eggs. Therefore, if your daily diet comprises of mainly alcohol, meat and eggs, it would be wise to reduce them from your diet before your trip gradually.

·        Pack Your Medications

Most of the pharmacies in Rishikesh are Ayurvedic. Hence, take necessary precaution and pack yourself with supplements and probiotics and medicines for any health conditions. There might also be stomach aches and pains as the Delhi belly might set in. Hence, packing your medications well in advance would have a way to relieve the pain.

·        Bring your yoga mat from home

Many people are slightly germophobic with high cleanliness standards and with this as a thing for you, let’s say that the yoga mats at the Rishikesh studio have seen better days. Instead of using the free mats and not enjoying your yoga in India, you could bring your yoga mats from home.

·        Pack emergency snacks

Being someone new to the food there, you might likely fall sick from eating Indian food for three meals per day, believe me, I know. Your belly and taste buds would need a break from these foods. Many people in most groups brought nut butter with them which they ate with bread for one meal per day relieving your digestive system from the hard work it goes through digesting heavily spiced Indian food.

·        Plan to buy all your Indian clothes from there

In Rishikesh, it is known that you should wear flowy, full-coverage clothing as you would not want to wear tight yoga tank tops and pants outside your yoga studio. It is going to be a huge task trying to get these sorts of clothes from home as they would be expensive and fake as well. Your best bet to making the best of your shopping experience is to do your shopping upon arrival where you can pick up some pants and scarves to wear during your stay. There are a lot of shops throughout town where you can purchase your new retreat clothes at reasonable prices.

·        Withdraw and exchange your cash before you arrive

We know that normally one should bring enough money to get by for the first couple of days and make use of credit cards as the need arises. You would be surprised by the amount of stress you would go through in search of money. The reason is that most places in Rishikesh do not accept credit cards and sometimes, ATM’s run out of cash for multiple days leaving opting out of town to find the nearest ATM as the only available solution in which we might rightfully say is not the best use of precious time. Save yourself some time and convert enough cash into rupees at home instead of going back to the ATM day after day.

·        Bring your earplugs

India can be very loud; whether it is a motorbike, a horse-drawn carriage, a monkey, a group of people, a car or a cow, you cannot just help but be disturbed by the volume of noise made in India. India has a lot of festivities which can be loud, especially at night when you sleep so save yourself some trouble, pack earplugs, and sleep sound.

·        Satsang

The Satsang is a spiritual event common in Indian culture. Satsang means “association with the wise” where students come from far and near to be in the presence of their religious leaders. Here, the teacher starts to give talks and shares wisdom, followed by a question and answer session. In Rishikesh, satsangs are held daily in various venues throughout the city. If this adventure would interest you in any way, then Rishikesh is a must visit. Many have gained a lot from the Satsang sessions, even more, than they anticipated and so can you as well if you choose to.

It is safe to say that preparation is the mother and foundation of success. If we fail to plan for an event, then we plan to fail in making the most of it. The yoga teacher training in Rishikesh is one to be enjoyed if you make the most of it, use these tips, plan for the trip and make the most of it as I can assure you it is one to be enjoyed. I know you would enjoy it because I already see you planning for it.

It seems obvious that the best place in the world to train to be a yoga instructor is in yoga’s birthplace of India. But India is a big country, with lot of options for enthusiasts. So why not start at the “world capital of yoga”, Rishikesh? Here are some compelling reasons why.

It costs less. Taking a 200-hour yoga teacher training in India would cost the same as taking a retreat elsewhere in the world. Food and accommodation are covered while you are participating in a teacher training, and many programs run about 3 months. The cost of living in India, in general, is a lot less than most other places in the world, so you are really getting a bang for your buck. You just have to get yourself there! The instructors are certified and can help you learn how to build your yoga practice.

You learn from the best. Rishikesh-based yoga instructors teach from a 5,000-year-old discipline (yoga has been around that long). You will immerse yourself in the sights, the smells and the culture of yoga in the heart of where it all began – India.  Rishikesh is a small city. It is also one of the holiest places in the country, so alcohol and anything other than vegetarian meals is virtually nonexistent.

You meet great people. Others in your yoga teacher training in Rishikesh might come from every other corner in the world. Not only will you be learning to teach authentic yoga practices, but you will be able to interact with fellow yoga students from all walks of life, and from many different cultures. It really is a multicultural experience and one you will take with you for the rest of your life. No doubt you will make life-long friends here.

Choose from a variety of yoga practices and skill levels. Rishikesh is the home of Hatha Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, and Vinyasa Yoga. With Vedic spiritual history and yogic ashram culture, it is a complete spiritual energy and healing tradition. Not only will you learn discipline, but your balance and posture will greatly improve.

The Ganges River. Take a holy dip in this famous river, and become renewed! Taking a bath in the pure, clean Ganges waters is a meditative experience unto itself. Mother River Ganga is one of the most sacred freshwater sources in the world, where the waters originate from the Glacier of Himalaya Gangotri.  Whitewater rafting is also enjoyed here!

Experience the whole of India at its best. During your “downtime” which is usually one full day per week, you will have the opportunity to experience India. You will visit temples, see monkeys, visit other ashrams and drink delicious chai tea. The vegetarian food is arguably the best in the world, made fresh by local vendors who take pride in their creations. (But if you just want pizza or ice cream at times, you can find that here, too!) The people of India are the most welcoming and always eager to lend a helping hand.

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