Freqently Asked Questions

Curriculum & Syllabus

After successful completion of the Yoga Teacher Training course with IYS, you become a certified yoga teacher. We provide you with a certificate that will be recognised by the USA yoga alliance and permits you to teach across the globe. You will however need to apply to the Yoga Alliance, the USA for registration to become a registered yoga teacher (RYT). We can guide and support you through this process.
Yoga is an ancient science dating back to 5000 years and beyond. Despite its age, yoga is a science based on natural phenomena and is applicable across time and space; it serves to heal and harmonize the mind-body-soul. Some call it a science, some call it an art, some consider it a sport, and some believe it's a philosophy to live by; all these interpretations are true in their own right. Yoga facilitates human evolution and refinement and is the best personal development science known to man today hence it's fast gaining popularity across the globe. Providing flexibility, stability, and balance of mind and body, yoga enables peace and a state of calm. The layers of Yoga learning go deep and penetrated daily; to master yoga in its entirety could take a lifetime or more.
Though Yoga has been practiced since time immemorial, it has attained immeasurable popularity globally over the last two centuries. Various teachers of yoga spread the word and since then yoga has been going from strength and is practiced in many households across the globe. We give special credit to the Yoga Alliance USA for this as this organisation worked relentlessly to find a way to condense the ancient wisdom of yoga into a training course without compromising the authenticity of yoga.
The yoga alliance is a non-profit organization serving as an accreditation facility that provides a mandatory curriculum for Yoga TTCs as well as setting standards and maintaining quality control for how yoga schools function; The yoga alliance is therefore not just for the student but for yoga schools. The yoga alliance sets rigorous standards for students and teachers alike and rest assured if you attend an RYS (Registered Yoga School) for your yoga teacher's training course, you will come out professionally trained with the ability to practice and teach yoga authentically.
RYS is the short term given by the yoga alliance for ' Registered Yoga School.' Where a yoga school has met the rigorous professional and quality control standards of the Yoga alliance, they can apply this term. The Indian School of Yoga is an RYS 200 and RYS 300 with Yoga Alliance, which means that it is eligible to teach the 200 and 300-hour Yoga Teachers Training courses. A student who successfully completes the RYS 200 or RYS 300 from a yoga alliance registered school can register online on the Yoga Alliance website thereby becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher.
RYT 200 is a term that applies to a student who has successfully completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher course and has registered with the Yoga Alliance. RYT enables the teacher to teach worldwide. However, there is one more step after this which is that the RYT must gain insurance to teach in the country he/she wishes to teach. Most insurance companies worldwide offer insurance to teach to Registered Yoga Teachers and this will be available at an extra cost as laid down by the insurance company.
Course curriculum and syllabus
The syllabus incorporates a multitude of facets to give you holistic Yoga Teachers Training; this includes the following:
  • Asanas
  • Pranayama
  • Anatomy classes
  • Alignment classes
  • Yoga Philosophy taught from the classical texts of Yoga
  • How to teach sessions
  • Sound healing through mantras
  • Ayurveda
The Indian School of Yoga is registered by the Yoga Alliance, USA and we have therefore covered the Yoga Alliance syllabus in its entirety.
As the purpose of the Yoga Teachers Training courses is to practice and teach proficiently, you will be given more than ample opportunities to practice your teaching skills; we will spend a great deal of time on this aspect of the course so that you can go out into the world and teach professionally and safely
Chanting is not a mandatory part of the course so please do not hesitate to just sit in on the chanting classes and do your 'own thing' quietly. Some ideas of what you could do are self-contemplation, affirmations, breathing exercises, just sitting quietly or whatever suits you so long as it does not disturb the ambiance of the class
The language used will be 'English.' However, if you are not proficient enough in English, we may be able to arrange an interpreter for you at an additional cost or you may make arrangements to bring your interpreter with prior permission from the School. The latter will also have cost implications so please make sure that you discuss the matter thoroughly with us before making any arrangements.
The daily schedule is based on the principles of the yoga lifestyle which is early to bed and early to rise. The syllabus has already been mentioned above and will be incorporated into the daily routine. All aspects of the syllabus will generally be held at the same times of the day. Sunday will be a day off for all so you can choose whether to join us on an outing or simply do your own thing. There will be 3 sattvic, organic meals a day provided at times so as not to interfere with your daily asana sessions and an abundance of help-yourself herbal teas.
Sunday is a 'day off for our students. We offer a wide range of tours to places of spiritual/historical and natural interest so you may join us for these. Please note that there will be extra costs levied for our tours and you will be informed of these beforehand. Alternatively, you may wish to choose to wander around the area yourself or with others. The choice is yours!

Admission and Reservation

After successful completion of the Yoga Teacher Training course with IYS, you become a certified yoga teacher. We provide you with a certificate that will be recognised by the USA yoga alliance and permits you to teach across the globe. You will however need to apply to the Yoga Alliance, the USA for registration to become a registered yoga teacher (RYT). We can guide and support you through this process.
Yoga is an ancient science dating back to 5000 years and beyond. Despite its age, yoga is a science based on natural phenomena and is applicable across time and space; it serves to heal and harmonize the mind-body-soul. Some call it a science, some call it an art, some consider it a sport, and some believe it's a philosophy to live by; all these interpretations are true in their own right. Yoga facilitates human evolution and refinement and is the best personal development science known to man today hence it's fast gaining popularity across the globe. Providing flexibility, stability, and balance of mind and body, yoga enables peace and a state of calm. The layers of Yoga learning go deep and penetrated daily; to master yoga in its entirety could take a lifetime or more.
Though Yoga has been practiced since time immemorial, it has attained immeasurable popularity globally over the last two centuries. Various teachers of yoga spread the word and since then yoga has been going from strength and is practiced in many households across the globe. We give special credit to the Yoga Alliance USA for this as this organisation worked relentlessly to find a way to condense the ancient wisdom of yoga into a training course without compromising the authenticity of yoga.
The yoga alliance is a non-profit organization serving as an accreditation facility that provides a mandatory curriculum for Yoga TTCs as well as setting standards and maintaining quality control for how yoga schools function; The yoga alliance is therefore not just for the student but for yoga schools. The yoga alliance sets rigorous standards for students and teachers alike and rest assured if you attend an RYS (Registered Yoga School) for your yoga teacher's training course, you will come out professionally trained with the ability to practice and teach yoga authentically.
RYS is the short term given by the yoga alliance for ' Registered Yoga School.' Where a yoga school has met the rigorous professional and quality control standards of the Yoga alliance, they can apply this term. The Indian School of Yoga is an RYS 200 and RYS 300 with Yoga Alliance, which means that it is eligible to teach the 200 and 300-hour Yoga Teachers Training courses. A student who successfully completes the RYS 200 or RYS 300 from a yoga alliance registered school can register online on the Yoga Alliance website thereby becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher.
RYT 200 is a term that applies to a student who has successfully completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher course and has registered with the Yoga Alliance. RYT enables the teacher to teach worldwide. However, there is one more step after this which is that the RYT must gain insurance to teach in the country he/she wishes to teach. Most insurance companies worldwide offer insurance to teach to Registered Yoga Teachers and this will be available at an extra cost as laid down by the insurance company.
Course curriculum and syllabus
The syllabus incorporates a multitude of facets to give you holistic Yoga Teachers Training; this includes the following:
  • Asanas
  • Pranayama
  • Anatomy classes
  • Alignment classes
  • Yoga Philosophy taught from the classical texts of Yoga
  • How to teach sessions
  • Sound healing through mantras
  • Ayurveda
The Indian School of Yoga is registered by the Yoga Alliance, USA and we have therefore covered the Yoga Alliance syllabus in its entirety.
As the purpose of the Yoga Teachers Training courses is to practice and teach proficiently, you will be given more than ample opportunities to practice your teaching skills; we will spend a great deal of time on this aspect of the course so that you can go out into the world and teach professionally and safely
Chanting is not a mandatory part of the course so please do not hesitate to just sit in on the chanting classes and do your 'own thing' quietly. Some ideas of what you could do are self-contemplation, affirmations, breathing exercises, just sitting quietly or whatever suits you so long as it does not disturb the ambiance of the class
The language used will be 'English.' However, if you are not proficient enough in English, we may be able to arrange an interpreter for you at an additional cost or you may make arrangements to bring your interpreter with prior permission from the School. The latter will also have cost implications so please make sure that you discuss the matter thoroughly with us before making any arrangements.
The daily schedule is based on the principles of the yoga lifestyle which is early to bed and early to rise. The syllabus has already been mentioned above and will be incorporated into the daily routine. All aspects of the syllabus will generally be held at the same times of the day. Sunday will be a day off for all so you can choose whether to join us on an outing or simply do your own thing. There will be 3 sattvic, organic meals a day provided at times so as not to interfere with your daily asana sessions and an abundance of help-yourself herbal teas.
Sunday is a 'day off for our students. We offer a wide range of tours to places of spiritual/historical and natural interest so you may join us for these. Please note that there will be extra costs levied for our tours and you will be informed of these beforehand. Alternatively, you may wish to choose to wander around the area yourself or with others. The choice is yours!

Accommodation

We provide ensuite bathroom accommodation. You may choose from a private room or a shared room. When you submit your enrolment application, please mention clearly what type of accommodation you would like.
Should you choose shared accommodation and have a choice of partner for your accommodation, please advise us on this so that we may try and fulfil your requirement. Should we be unable to fulfil your needs, we will of course advise you beforehand so that you are not in for any surprises.
Your room will be fully equipped with a bed, comfortable mattress, a bedspread, pillow, and blanket. Any extra bedding may be provided on request.

Food

There are three vegetarian meals. Our meals are freshly cooked and based on the principles of Ayurveda and Yoga. We prepare our meals so that you can receive maximum nutrition and vitality for your mind and body whilst keeping your body light and your mind clear for the practice of Yoga. We can cater to most food allergies so long as we have prior notice
We can offer you a full diet of nutritious gluten-free meals; please let us know at the time of application.
Should you be lactose intolerant or Vegan we can cater to your needs offering you variety, excellent nutrition, and vitality in your meals; we will not compromise on the quality of your nutrition.
Many people are vegan these days due to ethical choices which we thoroughly respect; we can cater to your needs by offering you the best plant-based nutrition. Will I be getting snacks or tea during my yoga training? You will receive mid-morning and mid-afternoon light snacks and herbal teas. However, we don't want to overload you with food so that you can optimise your flexibility and lightness which is necessary for Yoga

Health and Safety

The Indian School of Yoga is very strict when it comes to the health and safety of all. We follow the health and safety guidelines together with the protocols laid out for Yoga Organisations within India by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Please familiarise yourself with these guidelines for your health and safety and those around you. The MoHFW advice includes the following: The practice of social distancing at all times Limited class sizes depending on the number of students Further guidance related to health and safety concerning COVID has been posted in our centre. The Indian School of Yoga is committed to the guidelines provided by the MoHFW and we encourage you to respect this policy. Should anyone contract COVID during their stay with us, the Indian School of Yoga will not be held responsible; however, we will arrange the necessary quarantine procedures as laid out by the MoHFW which may well result in extra costs for you.
No, the course is too intense for pregnant women to complete. Pregnant women are prohibited from attending the Yoga Teacher Training Course as the course is too intense and may lead to potential difficulties in the pregnancy which the Indian School of Yoga cannot take liability for. We seek to protect you and your unborn child hence the prohibition.
Yes, Indian hospitals have the same facilities as Western countries, might be not the same brand, but you'll be able to get it here as well. Though India does have a good private health care system and is a country well renowned for medical tourism, we cannot guarantee that all the medicines you take will be available in India. Most medicines will be, however, the brand name may differ. We, therefore, suggest you bring a sufficient quantity of your medications to cover your stay in India.
If you are sick, injured, or in need of medical assistance, we will provide you with medical care or take you to a western-style hospital (whichever option is needed). And in this case, we will find alternatives for you to be able to finish the course. Should you fall sick, get injured, or need any type of medical assistance, we will arrange medical help for you but the expenses will be borne by you. We can offer you a range of medical services from alternative medicine to mainstream allopathic medicine depending on the nature of your condition. However, we do recommend that you have medical insurance to cover the period of your stay with us so that expenses can be borne by your insurance. Each medical insurance is different so make sure you get one suitable for you.
At the current time, there is no requirement for any vaccine to attend our Yoga Teachers Training Courses.
We have taken extra precautions by hiring a dedicated staff to prepare every meal at the school from fresh ingredients. Eating outside of school is pretty safe in the restaurants at Rishikesh. If your stomach is sensitive, you should beware of eating street foods At the Indian School of Yoga, we take extra precautions with the type of foods we use and the hygienic conditions around are cooking and serving. Our food is carefully sourced and fresh and we don't serve leftovers and are Kitchen staff are specially trained in hygiene. Should you wish to eat out, then we advise you to eat at places where the food is fast moving. We would advise you against eating street foods. Furthermore, those with a sensitive stomach are advised to avoid eating out if at all possible (particularly in the rainy season)

Travel to Rishikesh

If you are flying into India from abroad, we recommend you book your ticket to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGAI), Delhi. Rishikesh is located about 240 km from Delhi and the various options for traveling from Delhi to Rishikesh are as follows.
International flights can be gotten to India from most destinations of the world; however, not all flights are direct and there may be a need for transit. The closest Indian international airport to Rishikesh is Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi. From IGAI there are connecting flights to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is the closest domestic airport to Rishikesh. When you arrive at IGIA you will need to transfer from the international terminal to the domestic terminal of IGAI; this could take about 30-40 mins and there is a regular free shuttle service between the two airports. You can also take an airport or uber taxi between the airports which may cost in the region of 450 INR. Should there be a long transit time between your international and domestic flight then you can always rest up in the IGIA lounge for which you may have to pay. There are some flights (about 10) operating between IGIA and Jolly Grant airport so ensure that you have adequate transfer times when booking your onward flight to Jolly Grant. The flight fares from IGIA to Jolly Grant range from Rs.3500 to Rs.10000 and flights can be booked online. Indigo, Go First, Vistara, SpiceJet & Alliance Air are the most popular airlines offering flights between IGIA and Jolly Grant. After reaching Jolly Grant airport, you can book a taxi to Rishikesh which costs around Rs.900 to Rs.1000 and takes about 45 minutes to reach Rishikesh. Taxis to Rishikesh can be booked from Jolly Grant airport itself or IYS can send a taxi for which you will have to pay for.
Reaching Rishikesh from New Delhi Airport will take about 6-7 hours, and is available from airport. You can pick up a cab fquite easily at reasonable costs; the journey time is 6-7 hours and the distance is around 240km. The costs can vary depending on the type of car you choose but can be anything from 4000 INR upwards. Indian School Of Yoga can also arrange the cab for you at an additional cost.
From Haridwar Station, you can travel easily to Rishikesh via taxi/ bus/tuk-tuk. Taxis can be booked at Haridwar Station and can cost between 1000-1500 INR depending on the type of car you choose. The journey time is about an hour. IYC can book a taxi for you at an additional cost. There are buses almost every five minutes to Rishikesh which can be found right outside Haridwar station. Buses cost around 175 INR. You can book a bust ticket online via https://www.utconline.uk.gov.in/ which is a government bus service however you can opt for a private bus service like red bus https://www.redbus.in/ You can also take tuk-tuks to Rishikesh from Haridwar which cost around 200 INR and are also available from the Haridwar station area. Traveling by bus or tuk-tuk to Rishikesh can take about 1 hour and 30 mins.
Where you are enrolling for a 200-hour or 300-hour yoga teachers training course, we advise you to apply for a tourist visa. Depending on your country of nationality you may apply electronically for an e-tourist visa on the effro website which is https://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/FormC/dummy1.jsp Please check on this site for your eligibility for an e-visa and please note that the duration of the visa is usually 3 months. Should you not be eligible for an e-visa then you can apply via your local Indian high commission/embassy for a sticker tourist visa which can be valid for 6 months. E-visas usually take a few days to process whilst sticker visas will take longer; for the exact periods of sticker visa processing, please contact your local Indian diplomatic post
We advise you to only book your flight ticket to India once you have received an email confirmation of your enrolment in the Yoga Teachers Training Course and of course, your visa.
For local travel, you can walk/hire a cycle/hire a scooter or motorbike or even a car. Most people use the local transport service which is the tuk-tuk. There are taxis too but for local travel, this is not so practical as parking can be an issue.

Packing List

We advise you to bring the following when coming to our Yoga Teachers Training Courses:
  • Any prescribed medications
  • Any supplements you are taking regularly
  • Sunscreen of the factor you are used to
  • Personal toiletries (There are plenty of natural toiletries sold in Rishikesh but should you have extra sensitive skin) we would advise you to bring those that you are used to?
  • Towels
  • Loose clothing made with natural fibre – choose these according to the season and places you may want to visit. Please note some seasons are very hot whilst others are very cold. The same applies to places around India
  • Shoes according to the season and places you may wish to travel to. If you intend to track, then bring your trekking shoes.
Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive as each person has their lifestyle and needs but we do encourage you to travel as light and simple as possible; less clutter means more clarity. If you do forget anything you can buy most things here however if you have any allergies to toiletries, then make sure you bring enough for yourself and the same goes for prescribed medicines and supplement

Rishikesh Travel Guide

There are 3 primary areas for shopping in Rishikesh which are as follows: Rishikesh Main Market Ram Jhula Laxman Jhula Rishikesh Main Market is the place where most locals go for their daily needs such as food, traditional and western clothes as well as household items. You can also find computer and mobile repair shops there. There are also a multitude of Indian food restaurants as well some of the best medical facilities in Rishikesh are also in the main market area The Ram Jhula area is mostly a tourist-driven area abounding mainly with pilgrims and spiritual seekers from across India and the globe; it is good for clothes, books, jewellery, murtis (Idols), and gemstones. There are shops on both sides of the Ram Jhula bridge and daily needs food items and basics are also available there. The Laxman Jhula area which is about a 20-minute walk upstream from Ram Jhula is a very buzzing area abounding with tourists from India and across the globe; there are many
Most cafes and restaurants have wi-fi these days. Some of the restaurants/cafes also offer a delivery service. Listed below are some of the most popular joints in Rishikesh along with the type of cuisine they offer: Tattv – multi-cuisine Divine Resort – multi-cuisine Vasundhara Hotel restaurant – multi-cuisine Madhuban restaurant – Indian sattvic cuisine German bakery – western cuisine 60’s café – western cuisine Beatles Café – western cuisine Buddha café – western cuisine Uttar Dakshin – south Indian cuisine Madras Café – south Indian cuisine Ata vole Conte – Italian cuisine Iras Garden – Multi-cuisine Secret Garden – Western cuisine AyurPak restaurant – Ayurveda cuisine Please note that all restaurants and cafes listed above are vegetarian and should you have any food intolerances or preferences, please ask the staff and they can usually be catered for. We do recommend a vegetarian diet as part of the yoga lifestyle.
Triveni Ghat is the largest and most ancient place on the banks of the river Ganga where the Sacred Ganga has been worshipped in public for centuries. Here you will find ancient evening ceremonies taking place wherein you will hear the sounds of prayers accompanied by bells and traditional instruments; there are also ghee lamps offered to the Ganga as well as natural light made of ghee floated along the Ganges. Certainly a feast for the senses and a must for anyone who wishes to experience the sanctity of Rishikesh Location: Within Rishikesh’s main market
Founded in the year 1936 by the Swami Sivananda, one of the first Yogis (also an allopathic doctor) to spread Yoga to the western world. The ashram is situated amidst mountains and comprises temples, prayer halls and lecture halls, and a Yoga hall. The Ashram has a range of rooms for guests however rooms will be provided only to serious aspirants of Yoga through prior application. Location Near Ram Jhula and in the vicinity of Ram Jhula post office.