You have booked your place for 200 hour yoga ttc or at least are very close to clicking that button, but you might still ask yourself, “How do I prepare?” The 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh consists of 22 days (over the span of 4-5 weeks) of structured immersion – early mornings, full days of training, deep philosophical studies, lots of physical exertion and more self-reflection than most would probably anticipate.
Properly preparing makes a significant difference in not only your overall performance but also in relation to how much you enjoy & absorb from the experience. Below you will find some practical & honest tips for getting your Body, Mind and all else in between ready to go!
Physical Preparation: Get Your Body Ready to Learn
Start a Consistent Practice Now
You do not need a lot of experience; however, you do have to establish some level of ongoing practice. Currently only practising 1 time/week? Focus on working yourself up to 4-5 times/week prior to your training. If your body is not used to moving regularly, the amount of physical activity during a TTC can be quite physically demanding for you. Even practising at home for 30 minutes counts! In this way, you can make your way through the Sun Salutations, the Standing Poses, Forward Folds and Seated Stretches just to help your body get acclimated to moving regularly.
Work on Breath Awareness
Pranayama (breathing exercises) is a significant part of any 200-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. However, taking the time to sit and concentrate on how you breathe in the morning prior to training will help you learn the techniques of pranayama more easily. There are many methods you can use to learn how to breathe effectively, such as deep belly breathing or the 4-7-8 method.
Sleep Well and Eat Well Before You Go
While it may seem easy, many students arrive exhausted due to finishing work, relocating their homes, and travelling. In the weeks before arriving at the ashram, make getting rest your number one priority. Limiting alcohol consumption (if you drink), eating cleanly and trying to synchronise your sleeping hours with those at the ashram (where many students start their day before or around sunrise) will aid you in giving your body a head start on the first day of training.
Prepare for Reduced Screen Time
Many reputable yoga schools discourage the use of smartphones and social media during yoga teacher training. If you are accustomed to consistently being connected to a smartphone and/or social media, the transition can be overwhelming. Therefore, you should make a conscious effort to practice small forms of digital detoxification before you travel. You could choose to spend one hour of your morning without looking at your phone; you could choose to have a no-electronics night one day before leaving…Either way, it will allow your nervous system time to adjust to the stillness of your life ahead.
Mental Preparation: Get Your Mind Ready to Open
Let Go of the Need to Be Perfect
It is important to realise that your training isn’t a performance, so you might lose your balance within poses, struggle with concepts and have journey days where everything seems to go completely awry; this doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it just means you learned.
The teachers at the best Yoga Schools in Rishikesh are not there to judge your progress. They’re there to guide it.
Start a Simple Journaling Practice
Your TTC will create a lot of internal changes; therefore, it is important to develop a habit of journaling those changes. You can spend around 5 minutes before your bedtime journaling your thoughts/feelings, etc. You don’t have to be a writer; even writing a few words daily builds a connection to you as an increased sense of self-awareness is ultimately what yoga is about.
Read a Little About Yoga Philosophy
While you won’t be evaluated on yoga philosophy before attending the TTC, knowing the basic definitions of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, the Yamas/Niyamas and who Patanjali is will provide a perspective for the lessons, creating a larger impact when we delve deep into the philosophical classes.
Get Comfortable with Discomfort
A Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh will help you grow physically and mentally. Throughout the program, you may experience emotional discomfort, physical fatigue from using new muscle groups every day and mental confusion as you learn new things. One of the best ways to prepare yourself to be able to sit with discomfort, rather than run away from it, is to develop your mindfulness practice, even just five minutes each day.
Practical Preparation: The Logistics That Matter
Pack lightly but considerately. Bring simple, comfortable, modest clothes for yoga practice. Consider bringing a good quality yoga mat if you have one (yoga teacher training schools have mats). You should also bring a personal journal, plus any personal medications.
Rishikesh is a very spiritual city. You will be expected to wear modest clothing while walking around Rishikesh outside of the ashram, so plan accordingly. If possible, arrive at least a day in advance. Take time to readjust to the time zone you’re in, orient yourself in relation to Rishikesh and obtain a sense of calm from sitting by the Ganga River before your yoga teacher training begins. If you do not, you will enter your first class with a scattered mind.
The Right School Makes All the Difference
The environment surrounding your training is an essential part of your Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh. The Gurukul Yogashala school offers a supportive environment for every student, starting with their first morning in the 200-hour yoga teacher training workshops or programs. Gurukul Yogashala teachers are well-versed in the authentic Himalayan tradition. The small class sizes allow teachers ample opportunity to provide personalised attention. Students are provided organic sattvic (pure) meals during their stay at Gurukul Yogashala, and the curriculum covers an extensive range of information relating to yoga, including philosophy, anatomy, Ayurveda, and meditation, as well as the postures themselves.
For those who finish the 200-hour yoga ttc in Rishikesh and want to continue with their training, the Gurukul Yogashala also offers a 300-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh that is focused on deepening their existing knowledge and skills, and a 500-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh for those ready to enter into an enriched and complete mastery program.
To date, over 1000+ students from around the world have completed training at Gurukul Yogashala, and for most of these students, the time they spent enrolled at the school was beyond comparison. Students describe the time at Gurukul Yogashala as one of, if not the, most growth-producing experiences they’ve had because most had come to the experience underprepared but fully present within the process, and therefore it enabled many to undergo tremendous transformation through their experiences.
A mat awaits you… Prepare yourself to meet yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How fit do I need to be before joining a 200-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh?
The only requirement is to be somewhat physically fit and ideally for you to have been doing some yoga for, say, at least a couple of months. Your willingness to show up consistently and work with your body where it is today is more important than your physical ability. The teachers at Gurukul Yogashala will assist with modifications and offer personal guidance for your practice throughout YTT.
Q2. How many weeks before the course should I start preparing?
Four to six weeks before YTT is the ideal time for you to consciously prepare for your commitment to YTT by developing a daily ritual of yoga, adjusting your sleeping habits, cleaning up your diet/nutrition, and starting a journaling or meditative practice. Even two or three weeks of intentional preparation will give you a noticeably smoother transition into training.
Q3. Can I go straight into the 300-hour or 500-hour programs without doing the 200-hour first?
The 300-hour program of yoga teacher training from Gurukul Yogashala (Rishikesh) requires that applicants have completed a 200-hour certification before being eligible to apply for the program. You can apply directly to the 500-hour program of yoga teacher training (Rishikesh) without having to complete the 200-hour course prior, since this is an independent 50-day program encompassing both levels of training.
Q4. What should I bring to the training?
Bring yoga pants or shorts that are comfortable and allow for lots of movement, a yoga mat if you’d like one, a journal, sunscreen (if needed), any personal hygiene items you think you will need, and any medications you take on a regular basis. If you forget something, you can find almost everything you need in town here in Rishikesh. When packing for this program, pack with less is more in mind — the less you carry with you, the more present you will be.
Q5. What makes Gurukul Yogashala one of the best Yoga Schools in Rishikesh for a 200-hour TTC?
Gurukul Yogashala is set apart from other schools as it offers an authentic, traditional approach to the curriculum, well-trained teachers who come from strong yogic backgrounds, small batch sizes, which allow for more individualised attention, the quality/quantity of food provided (sattvic meals), and its 4.7 rating based on the experience of nearly 1000+ students globally. This school is also fully accredited by the Yoga Alliance, meaning your certification will be recognised worldwide. And, the location of the YS being on Laxman Jhula Road places you directly in an area that has the highest level of spiritual energy in/around the town of Rishikesh. The process of completing this course is truly a life-changing experience that provides participants with a totally immersive environment for real growth.