Teachers’ Training Course

Immerse yourself in our world-renowned Yoga Teachers’ Training Course in India, the land where yoga was born.

Come and develop the skills to teach yoga asana, gaining a solid grounding in the classical yoga tradition, and at the same time deepen your spiritual connection to yoga and open yourself to profound inner transformation. In this four-week course you will establish a firm foundation of discipline that promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and build a strong base from which to teach others naturally and with confidence.

The Teachers’ Training Course (TTC) is a four-week intensive residential course, based on the ancient gurukula system of India where teacher and student live together. You will be in a traditional Ashram and closely interact with our experienced and dedicated teachers and staff who themselves are immersed in the yogic lifestyle. Connected to an ancient teaching lineage (guru parampara), passed down from guru to disciple through thousands of years, the curriculum is extensive and covers both theory and practice. Devotional practices, traditional to India, are an integral part of the Course.

A vegetarian diet, daily personal practice of yoga and meditation, as well living in the stunning natural beauty of India, away from town and city promote an atmosphere conducive to profound learning. The Course was designed by Swami Vishnudevananda in 1969 with the vision to not only develop successful yoga professionals but to also spread peace in the world through them. A sincere desire to learn and openness to yogic techniques is required – a basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is preferred, but not essential. Graduates of the course receive internationally-recognised certification. Certified by the worldwide Yoga Alliance for the 200 hours standard for Registered Yoga Schools (RYS). Students enjoy occasional Indian cultural programmes that are offered during evening satsangs. Each week there is one day free of lectures. During this day students are required to attend morning and evening satsang. During free time, students can explore the Ashram’s vicinity or join our occasional day trips to places of interest. Attendance at all activities is mandatory. Changes in the programme may occur from time to time.

The practice and especially the teaching of yoga demand self-discipline and purity. A high degree of self-motivation is required for all aspects of the course. A sincere desire to learn and openness to the teachings of yoga is required. A basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is helpful but not essential. To ensure the success of the programme, participants are required to attend all spiritual activities, satsangs, lectures and asana classes.

Meat, fish, eggs, black tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, drugs and nudity are prohibited during the course as they are counterproductive to the yoga practice. A dress-code is followed. It is not possible to cater to personal dietary preferences beyond the yogic-vegetarian meals and allergy accommodations. Participants who do not comply with the Ashram rules and guidelines may be dismissed from the course.

The goal of the programme is to produce qualified and inspiring yoga teachers who are able to draw on their own practice and personal discipline in imparting the yoga experience to others. The curriculum is based on the five points of yoga as taught by Swami Vishnudevananda, which can be understood as the practical application of the traditional four paths of yoga. The intensive daily schedule includes:

• one pranayama class • two satsangs • two asana classes • three lectures • one hour of karma yoga

One day a week is lecture-free.

Asanas

  • The twelve basic postures in depth
  • Practice of classical advanced variations
  • Precise and detailed corrections
  • Prolonged holding of the asanas
  • Deeper understanding of hatha yoga

Pranayama

  • Practice of kapalabhati
  • Daily practice of anuloma viloma
  • Advanced pranayamas
  • Use of bandhas

Meditation

  • Guide to meditation
  • What is meditation?
  • Why meditate?
  • Concentration and thought power
  • 12-step daily practice
  • Effects of and experiences in meditation
  • Mantras
  • Mantra initiation (optional)

Yoga Anatomy and Physiology

  • Introduction to the eight major body systems
  • The effects of asanas and pranayama on the: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and skeletal and muscular systems
  • Yoga and physical culture

Yoga Nutrition

  • Vegetarianism for physical, mental and spiritual health
  • How diet affects the mind
  • Principles of nutrition
  • Healing effects of fasting

Kriyas

The six classical purification exercises for the eyes, nose, air passages, oesophagus and stomach, abdominal organs and large intestine. Explanation and demonstration of the exercises and their effects. Individual instruction.
• tratak • neti • Kapalabhati • dhauti
• nauli • basti

Teaching Practice

  • How to teach the 12 basic postures and breathing exercises to beginners and intermediate students
  • Setting up of a proper environment for class
  • General pointers on teaching a class
  • The Basic Sivananda class
  • Beginners’ course
  • Advanced postures
  • Yoga for children
  • Yoga for older citizens
  • Yoga for pregnancy
  • Relaxation
  • Detailed correction workshops

In the second half of the training course, participants will teach each other under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

Bhagavad Gita

One of the greatest spiritual texts of the world, the Bhagavad Gita contains subtle and profound teachings and has a universality which embraces every aspect of human action.

  • Study of both the text and Swami Sivananda’s commentary.

Karma and Reincarnation

  • The law of cause and effect
  • The law of action and reaction
  • The law of compensation
  • The law of retribution
  • Destiny and self-effort
  • Samsara, the wheel of birth and death

Hatha Yoga

  • Ethical and moral principles
  • Body, prana and mind
  • From control over the body to control over the mind and meditation

Raja Yoga

  • Ashtanga: the eight limbs of yoga
  • Antahkarana: functions of the mind
  • Concentration and meditation

Kundalini Yoga

  • The Absolute and its manifestation in nature
  • Macrocosm and microcosm
  • The seven chakras
  • The awakening of cosmic energy

Bhakti Yoga

  • Kirtan: chanting of devotional songs. Chanting opens the heart and purifies the mind. In devotional chanting correct pronunciation, devotional attitude and awareness of meaning are all-important.
  • Sanskrit mantras, Indian deities and their cosmic meaning
  • Arati and pujas (traditional Indian devotional rituals)

Karma Yoga

  • Karma Yoga – selfless service: one hour daily in the Ashram community. You will be asked to do various tasks within the Ashram setting necessary for the smooth running of the community. Karma yoga helps to reduce selfishness and egoism, essential for spiritual progress.

Jnana Yoga

  • Basic concepts of Vedanta philosophy
  • The seven bhoomikas or planes of consciousness
  • Space, time, causation
  • The three bodies
  • The three levels of the mind
  • Conquest of death

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram Trust is a recognized member institute of Indian Yoga Association (A self-regulatory body of leading Yoga Institutions of India established 31st October 2008 and approved by Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India & Min. of Health & Family Welfare)

Successful graduates of the Teachers’ Training Course (TTC) are automatically recognised by the IYA as professional members.

5.20am Wake up
6am Satsang
8am Asana, pranayama class
10am Brunch
11am Karma Yoga
12.00pm Bhagavad Gita lecture or chanting class
2pm Main Lecture
4pm Asana, pranayama class
6pm Dinner
8pm Satsang
10.30pm Lights out

Attendance of the entire TTC daily schedule is mandatory.

  • Two sets of uniform and a TTC manual are provided as a part of the course material and are included in the course fee.
  • Simple Indian vegetarian meals are provided at 10am and 6pm.
  • The course is taught in English. An international TTC course with translation is offered in January at Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Kerala depending on demand. Please enquire before making any travel plans if you do not have a good command of both written and spoken English.
  • Refund policy:
    • For cancelling the registration before the start of the course, the original payment will be refunded less
      • Rs 2,000 for Indians (dorm registration)
      • USD 150 up until 3 months from the booking date for foreigners (all accommodations) and Indians (room registrations)
      • An additional USD 50 will be charged after 3 months from the booking date for foreigners (all accommodations) and Indians (room registrations).
    • Once the course starts, if the student decides to leave within five days, the original payment will be refunded less
      • Rs 4,500 for Indians (dorm registrations)
      • USD 450 for Foreigners (all accommodations) and Indians (room registrations)
    • After five days of the course, no refund will be issued.
    • Students leaving the course before completion are required to return all teaching materials and uniforms.
  • Evaluation of students is on:
    • Attendance
    • Performance
    • Theory during the course
    • Final written exam
    • A minimum combined score of 50% is required to pass.
    • Unsuccessful students will have to repeat the entire course with cost to qualify for the certificate.
  • Things to bring – comfortable clothes, sandals, toiletries, personal items, meditation shawl for cool evenings, yoga asana mat, meditation cushion, notebooks, pens, towels, water bottle and torch. You can also purchase these items at the ashram boutique.
  • Apart from the TTC manual, there are some recommended texts for the course. These are not included in the course fee and can be bought from the boutique:
    • Sivananda Training Manual
    • The Completed Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnudevananda
    • Bhagavad Gita – with commentary by Swami Sivananda
    • Sivananda Companion to Yoga
    • Meditation & Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda

Our accommodation is simple and functional. There are separate dormitories for men and women. We also have twin-share rooms. For each guest, a bed with a mattress and supports for mosquito net, plus 2 bed sheets, a pillow with cover and a mosquito net are provided.

  • Dormitories: Separate for men and women and built as double-occupancy cubicles. Shared bathroom facilities are provided with cold water.
  • Twin-Share: Twin-share have attached bathrooms

Please Note: couples are not allowed to share twin rooms during the courses.