Duration: 25 Days
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My Experience During 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh
Hey! Let's begin with a simple question, "What do you do when your mobile gets discharged?" Simply, you just charge it. But why? The answer is as simple as that, You want to use it further.
Don't judge me silly with these Questions. What am going to tell you further is my experience and reason to ask you these. You recharge everything when you want to use it further but what about your body? Have you ever charged it? Do you want to know, how to charge your body? Come, read it further.
It was about last year when I literally got physically and mentally stressed with my life. I eagerly need a break but not the usual one. I quit my job. I felt alone and don't want to enjoy myself. In a conversation with my friend, she suggested I join a yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh. And then it was 30th November 2022 when I moved to Rishikesh for a Yoga Teacher Training Program. Rishikesh is a small town in the Northern state of India, Uttarakhand. It is also known as the "World's Yoga Capital". I choose Rishikesh Yog Temple School for my yoga course. It is a Yoga Alliance-registered school in Rishikesh. The course which I opted for is the 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training and it lasts for around 1 month.
Can you imagine, How it is to put your ongoing life on hold and visit a completely new place, where you are gonna spent a month? You know you are going to stay with unknown people and need to follow a different lifestyle with different food tastes, physical exercises, and even some techniques which you've never heard about.
My Arrival at Rishikesh Yog Temple - 200 Hours YTT in India
I arrived at the school, "Rishikesh Yog Temple" unaware of how it goes. I arrived on 30th July and at the school, I received a warm welcome. They greet me with NAMASTE. Namaste is a Hindi word used to greet someone, just like Hello, but it is done with folded hands. To be honest, I like this first expression. Then they briefly describe my upcoming 25 days.
First Day of the Course
In the last two days, I opened myself a little to the people around me, including teachers, the team, and other yoga students. There were many like me who came to ditch their normal routine. Some came to start their professional career. India is a land of spirituality and customs. In my whole journey, I get to experience many. As per Indian belief, any new thing or journey starts with a Vedic ritual, "Hawan".
What is Hawan?
Hawan is a Vedic Ritual which is done to purify the surroundings. A fire altar is made and various spiritual items are poured into that fire with the word, SWAHA. It is believed that with this ritual, all the negativity of the surroundings and an individual vanishes and a new positive power energises them.
The first day of the course or the Opening Ceremony begins with this Hawan Ritual, which I really enjoyed. We all are advised to wear white and modest clothes. After the ceremony, the priest which they call "Pandit Ji" put "Tilaka" on our forehead. Tilaka is a spiritual mark pur on the forehead to denote sectarian affiliation.
Here Begins My 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course Journey!
After the Hawan Ceremony, we are ready to begin our new journey of yoga teacher training course. You all are excited to know, How a day at the school be? So, be patient and read it further.
We all students woke up at around 5 AM IST. Get freshen up for our first practice which is of Pranayama. Pranayama Class begun at 6 AM as per IST. It is a breathing practice which strengthens our respiratory system. The practice involved inhalation and exhalation and so it is done early in the morning as during that time, there is fresh air in the environment. The class was done in an open environment.
The second class is Vinyasa Yoga Flow which is done at 7 AM IST. The teacher introduced us to Vinyasa flow and its approaches. Then they conducted their practical class where we got to learn more. It was the first day and so was tough to stretch and perform asanas but as days passes, I became able to perform them with ease.
Breakfast time was fixed for 8:30 to 9:30. Detailing about food are given below.
Between breakfast and lunch, we had three classes yoga philosophy, yoga anatomy, and alignment, adjustment and methodology. We had 2 hours rest time then from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Evening classes were scheduled for Ashtanga Yoga and Meditation. Meditation is the mental practice which gives us new energy and power. After meditation class, the day wrapped up and we had our dinner at 7 PM. After dinner, we all had a little chit-chat and get to sleep.
This is how a day at Rishikesh Yog Temple went.
Food - Where we all meet, eat, and chatter!
We really had a good time at the dining area where we eat tasty food. The food was generally plant-based, healthy and Sattvic. Sattvic is mentioned in Ayurvedic cuisine and is considered the type of food which doesn't contain onions and garlic. It is cooked with very less oil. I really liked the meal. We mostly had chapati (bread in Indian style), raw vegetables, rice, lentils, and salad in our meals. We had toast, porridge, tea, and black tea in our breakfast.
Outdoor Yoga
We did yoga at Ganga Ghats, beaches, waterfalls, and other iconic spots of the city. A teacher was always there with us and guide us for performing yoga in the right way. It is a great way to connect with nature and deepen the yoga practice.
Excursions - Where we went!
Our program also included weekly excursions. We were taken to beautiful locations in the city. Early in the morning, we went to Kunjapuri Devi Temple to witness the beautiful sunrise out there. From the location, we got a bird eye view of the whole city of Rishikesh. Wow! That was really amazing. We also went to Beatles Ashram where there were many small huts. Also, we went to Neergarh Waterfall which was majestic and we had a good time there. There were 2 pools where we bathe and beat the weather. In the evening time, we went to Triveni Ghat Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh. Oh wow! Majestic and such a spiritual experience that was. When the sun sets, the ghats of Rishikesh start illuminating with chants of Mantras and Diyas (Lamps). Prayer was offered to Goddess Ganga and the atmosphere become so positive and energetic.
Rooms
Rooms were so clean and spacious with all attached facilities such as a washroom. There were options available for single or twin stays. I opted for a single stay and felt secure and safe at the place. The rooms were cleaned on a daily basis. I had a common balcony from where the stunning view is seen.
My Last Day at the School
Whatever I was experiencing for the past few months before coming to the school, starts vanishing with time. I am happy that I gave myself a chance in the form of this teacher training program. I started feeling better on the first day. Also, I found a career in it as a yoga teacher.
So, it was the final day and we all were happy and sad at the same time. We are happy to learn such a pearl of great wisdom and sad to bid bye to friends, teachers, and teams. We received certificates that allow us to register ourselves as an RYT-200, i.e. 200 Hours Registered Yoga Teacher.
What to Know Before Going to Rishikesh
Better to bring cleaning spray with you to wipe your personal yoga mat from time to time. Though the school provides you with a yoga mat yet it will be better if you bring your own.
If you need certain types of groceries, then there is no loss in asking the manager.
You have an option for a single room and a shared room as well, so, choose one that suits you accordingly.
You are not only changing your country but also your environment, so, it is normal to catch common diseases. So, it will be great to keep medicines with you.
Let's summarise it
So, guys if you are willing to learn yoga, then Rishikesh is the destination for you. There are many schools in Rishikesh and there is not much difference in location, schedule, and curriculum. The difference is in teaching style and the safe surroundings. Rishikesh Yog Temple is the best choice in Rishikesh for this.
