For many of us, our calling for yoga instructor training course takes us to India. But with the plethora of options both in terms of place, type of yoga, and the school how does one take an informed decision? You can speak to your local yoga school for recommendations or talk to your friends who have already come to India for taking up the course or a vacation.
If you don’t have access to either, then here are some helpful tips:
1. Have a clear purpose
Your decision to come to India should be based on a good reason. For example, if you are looking for a holiday coupled with yoga then you may not be able to enjoy either by doing a full yoga course. You should know whether you are coming to India for a deeper dive in yoga, in the birthplace of this great science or for something else as coming to India will cost both time and money.
2. Choose your style of yoga
For doing yoga teacher training in India, it is advisable to choose a style of yoga. This will help you with your search for the right school too. For example, if you are looking for ashtaang yoga courses you will only need to search for schools offering this course. Making a choice early on also ensures that you will feel motivated and enjoy your learning time.
3. Check where in India do you want to go
India is a big country and you can pick up a location based on your preference. Yoga retreats in Goa are popular for offering yoga courses on the beaches with pristine beauty. The temperatures are generally warm and the place has some western influence owing to the multitude of tourists who come here for various reasons including beach holidays, yoga, and adventure sports. If you prefer the mountains then Dharamshala in the Himalayan region is another great option for learning yoga.
4. Review all the yoga institutes offering your choice of yoga in your location
Today, many yoga institutes have websites online. With the knowledge of your preferred location and type of course, searching for yoga retreat becomes much easier. You can shortlist the best options online. When you select the choice of yoga schools, do confirm that they offer yoga courses in English.
5. Environment for foreigners
Many yoga retreats follow strict discipline. Ensure that you know what your chosen institute offers. For example many institutes may not be open to students wearing shorts and tank tops during the sessions. And most retreats will want their students to follow a strictly vegetarian diet both on and off premises. Given the admiration of the place amongst international travellers, yoga class in Goa is a preferred choice.
6. Speak to previous students
Many yoga retreats allow students to come and live with them for a day to experience the retreat’s style and ethos but for students living in foreign countries, this is not an option. You should find other ways to get relevant information. Watch their videos to learn about their environment, facilities teaching style etc. You can also connect with some of the previous students of that institute and get authentic feedback.
Doing some self-analysis and basic research online will help you identify the best suited yoga retreat, even while sitting thousands of kilometres away from India.
