50 Day 500-Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India

Certification

Students who complete the training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).

Course overview

This course is a fully residential course systematically designed with theory as well as practical classes. The course is the grand combination of the 200-hour and 300-hour Hatha yoga teacher training courses. In the course, the various components of Hatha yoga such as asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, satkarma and meditation and other topics such as anatomy and physiology, philosophy, alignment and adjustment, teaching methodology and practical approach of yoga teaching are discussed in the beginning at their basic and intermediate level and as the course progresses it includes the advanced and deeper levels such as energy and psyche.

In the 500-hour traditional Hatha yoga teacher training course, at first a student completes the 200 Hours traditional Hatha yoga teacher training course form the school or if he already has completed a 200 hours yoga teacher training course from any yoga school accredited with Yoga Alliance USA, then he begins with the 300 hours traditional hatha yoga teacher training course which together makes 500 hours yoga teacher training course. By the end of the course, the student receives the certificate, which is 2 different certificates of 2 different levels (one of 200 hours and another of 300 hours).

Yoga teacher training course and assessment

The entire teacher training is the assessment of the students at all levels, including practical and written tests. At the successful completion of the course, an aspirant will be conferred a certificate indicating that the aspirant is qualified to impart the techniques in which he or she has been trained.

Why Choose Sanatana Yog Sandesh

Sanatana Yog Sandesh's yoga courses and retreats are strictly traditional and yogic life-style oriented; therefore, they adhere to the teachings of authentic schools of Yoga and spirituality such as Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Aurobindo Society, Yogoda Satsang Society of India, Bihar School of Yoga, and so on. they do not teach any modern trends of Yoga such as Iyenger, Ashtanga, Acro, Yin, Vikram, Power or so on.

From their educational and cultural backgrounds as well as experience of authentic yoga, they create a unique space for the opportunity to learn, heal, and grow in a congenial, safe, and relaxed environment.

They believe in the common values of life rooted in compassion, kindness, and love for one another, and this is their main driver. Therefore, they promise to provide you with the very best of pre- and post-course assistance, answering your questions, whatever comes up, and more that you may require for your growth and well-being.

Sanatana Yog Sandesh invites all of you to study, learn, and grow as an evolved human with the help of Yogic tools.

Course eligibility

• The participants should have a basic understanding of yoga which means they are exposed to yoga practices.
• The participants who have already completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training course may also join the training.
• The participants should be able to practice the discipline of yoga, such as purity, punctuality, early waking up, participation in daily activities, and so on.
• The participants must have good command of the English language as this is the medium of education.
• The participants must have medical fitness, physical as well as mental. In cases otherwise, the individual limitation must be detailed along with the medical report.
• The participants must have commitment for a longer stay in order to undergo the intensive training of total 500 hours split into 2 different levels of trainings - 200 and 300 hours.

Course information / syllabus / Curriculum

The training incorporates a variety of topics. All these topics come under these following heads:

1. Techniques, training and practice

It incorporates several practices of Hatha yoga, which students will study in the yoga teacher training course. They are:

• Asana - Postures of Hatha yoga such as preparatory movements of joints, muscles, and parts of the body, standing, supine, prone (backward, forward, spine twist), inversion, and balance at intermediate and advanced levels.
• Pranayama - Udar Svashan, Vaksha Svashan, Griva Svashan, Yogic Svashan, Kapalabhati, Bhastika, Nadi Shodhana, Sheetali, Sheetkari, Bhramari and Ujjayi. In addition, altogether 12 classical pranayama.
• Mudra - Specific, selected and important gestures to affect energy in the body
• Bandha - Important locks to block the flow of energy in the body (Jalandhara Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, and Moola Bandha)
• Satkarma - Purificatory practices in yoga (Laghu Sankhaprakshalana, Vaman, Jala Neti and Sutra Neti)
• Meditation - Fundamental and intermediate practices of yoga Nidra, yogic breathing with awareness, fundamental practices of developing awareness, kaya asthairyam (stillness of body) and its intermediate level, awareness of natural breath and its intermediate level, awareness of peace, antarmouna (inner silence) with awareness of natural sensory responses, awareness of natural thought process, conscious creation and disposal of thought and awareness and disposal of spontaneous thoughts, japa (chanting) of sacred mantra or holy syllables with rosary, ajapa japa (spontaneous chanting) with awareness of frontal psychic passage and awareness of frontal psychic passage with SOHAM, developing awareness with mantra such as AUM, fundamental dharana (concentration) practices and concentration with sacred mantra, trataka (gazing) and group meditation for universal peace and harmony.

2. Teaching methodology

This is a combination of complex topics such as designing the yoga class, how to teach different practices of yoga, how to be a good yoga teacher, ethical guidelines, develop communication skills, time management, principles of demonstration, assistance, awareness, correction, styles of teaching, specific needs of individuals in a yoga class and business aspects of yoga teaching etc.

3. Anatomy and physiology

a. Modern human anatomy and physiology - Skeleton system, muscular system, digestive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, urinary and reproductive system (female and male), endocrine system, immune system, important joints and their movements in different asana, and important muscles and their movements in different asana.

b. Yoga human anatomy and physiology - Discussion on human body according to Hatha yoga and its relation to the study of human body in modern study regarding 3 bodies, 5 elements, 5 kosha, prana, mind, 5 sense organs and 5 motor organs, nadi, chakra, and Kundalini.

c. Holistic approach of yoga - Learning how the system of Hatha yoga needs to be incorporated for human well-being of body, mind, emotion and spirit.

4. Yoga philosophy, lifestyle and ethics for yoga teachers

History - The term ‘yoga’, historical perspective of yoga, yoga in ancient texts, school’s lineage, style and methodology, important dates and key ideas - Vedic period, pre-classical era, Classical era, Middle Ages, Hatha yoga 11th century, colonial era, modern revival - 19th century with Swami Vivekananda and other great saints and yogis, Vedas, Vedanta and Hatha, historical context of asana, specific asana from the school’s lineage, historical context of pranayama, meditation methods by lineage and ability to practice school’s chosen meditation practice.

Philosophy - Definition of yoga, philosophy and key terms, tradition of yoga, important scriptures of yoga, important Darshan (schools of philosophy), branches of yoga (Gyana yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Raja yoga, Hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga, Kriya yoga, Nada yoga, Swara yoga and Mantra yoga), Brahman and Atman, yuga (age) and its characteristics, individual existence (Sharira Traya, Pancha Tattva, Gyanendriya and Karmendriya, Antahkaran, Triguna, Pancha Kosha, Nadi, Prana Vayu, Chakra and Kundalini), Sad Bhava Vikar (six modifications of body), Sadurmi (six waves), Sadripu (six enemies), Karma, Mrityu and Punarjanma (death and reincarnation), Mukti, key terms of meditation, japa, mantra, mudra. Relationship between asana, pranayama and meditation with reference from yoga sutra and according to school’s approach, relationship, message and similarity between yoga sutra, Bhagavad Gita and Hatha yoga Pradipika, self-reflection on how philosophy relates to practice, Sristi (Creation) and Pralaya (Dissolution), Concept of Dharma, Dharma and Karma relation, religion and its true essence with reference to comparative study of different faiths of the world, Hinduism - a way of living with reference to other ism’s as ways of living, reflection on the lives of great Gurus of different parts of the world with special reference to Swami Vivekananda, Bhakti yoga as the yoga of Kaliyuga, yogic lifestyle, ethics for a yoga teacher, ethical guidelines as an individual and as a yoga teacher and Yoga Sutra of Patanjali (important topics from all four chapters - Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada and Kaivalya Pada).

5. Practicum

Practice of teaching different practices in groups as the lead instructor, observing and assisting while others teach, focusing on specific practices, and compiling feedback, etc.

Suggested yoga books

• Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• Raja Yoga - Swami Vivekananda or
• Four Chapters on Freedom - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• Yoga Darshan - Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati
• Anatomy and Physiology - Not specified

Daily schedule

The daily schedule is tentative and subject to change according to need. All classes are held for 6 days in a week.

• 6:30 - 7:00 Herbal tea or drink
• 7:00 - 8:30 Hatha yoga asana, pranayama and other practices followed by relaxation
• 8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
• 10:00 - 11:00 Anatomy
• 11:15 - 12:15 Yoga, humanities,s and philosophy
• 12:15 - 13:00 Personal cleaning and Karma yoga
• 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
• 15:30 - 16:30 Meditation and relaxation (lecture, practice and vice-versa), professional essentials (teaching methodology, professional development, practicum), and yoga business tools
• 17:00 - 18:30 Asana alignment and adjustments (theory and practical training with teaching practices)
• 18:30 - 19:30 Dinner
• 19:30 - 20:30 Kirtan, chanting and video show etc. (optional session)
• 21:00 Bed time