I wanted an intensive training and I got just that at the Ashtanga school in Rishikesh. The best way I can describe that experience is that it was like a military training but for yoga. Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are ready, it is genuinely transformative.
The days started at 6 every morning and ended at 6 in the evening. Those days were packed with practices that didn't leave much space for the mind to wander off on anything that wasn't yoga related. There was simply no room for distraction, which turned out to be exactly what I needed.
I learned a lot. I love how being around incredible yogis forced me to push myself beyond what I would have found comfortable if I were practicing alone. The teachers were all about expressing some tough love. They know how to ruffle your feathers just enough to push yourself. It's firm, it's demanding, and it's exactly what an intensive training should be.
At the end, I got exactly what I needed from that experience: I learned the ancient breathing techniques to influence my states of mind. Pranayama became a tool I could use anywhere, not just on the mat. That alone was worth every early morning and aching muscle.
Meals and accommodation were included in the school. The curriculum covered theory and practice, all the basics, and gave every student multiple rounds of guiding breathwork and yoga classes with real-time feedback from the teachers. The feedback loop accelerated learning more than any solo practice ever could.
Your body will be so sore at the end of each day. Do yourself a favor and recover quickly with the right dose of magnesium. Recovery isn't optional during an intensive training; it's part of the training itself. Without it, injuries compound quickly.
Injuries can happen when you quickly try to push yourself. My hamstrings got injured from overstretching. Arnica will accelerate your healing process if you get injured and help you avoid missing out on your teacher training while you're there. I kept it in my bag throughout.
Bring earplugs with you. India is noisy and you want to be feeling on your game during the day and get those quality sleeps. The call to prayer, traffic, construction, and general ambient noise of Indian street life will find you regardless of where you stay. Sleep protection is not optional.
A comprehensive review in the Journal of Clinical Psychology confirms that intensive yoga practice significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and cortisol levels, which checks out completely with my experience. The physical and mental transformation from 200 hours of dedicated practice is measurable and lasting.
We had one day a week off, which allowed me and the other students to explore Rishikesh. The Ganges are a trip. It's a different planet alongside that river. Especially during their festivals. It's so surreal. After 2 months in Rishikesh, I was absolutely ready for a change of scene and heading north to the mountains.
A friend told me about Dharamshala, the town in the mountains where the Dalai Lama went when he fled from Tibet. It became my favorite spot in India. Read the full account of that journey in my Rishikesh to Dharamshala guide. For the plant medicine side of my inner work journey, the Ayahuasca in Peru post covers a very different but related thread. And for booking affordable accommodation near yoga schools, visit the Travel Deal Seekers page.