500 Hrs Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh

500 Hours Traditional Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course is a fully residential course systematic designed with theory as well as practical classes. The course is the grand combination of 200 hours and 300 hours Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Courses. In this course all the components of Hatha Yoga such as Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha and Shat-karma are discussed beginning with at their basic level and as the course progresses it includes deeper aspects of Hatha Yoga.

6.30am to 7am – Herbal tea/Drink

7am to 8.30am – Hatha Yoga Asana, Pranayama and other practices followed by Relaxation

8.30am to 9.30am – Breakfast

10am to 11am – Anatomy

11.15am to 12.15pm – Yoga Humanities and Philosophy

12.15pm to 1pm – personal cleaning and Karma Yoga

1pm to 2pm – Lunch

3.30pm to 4.30 – Meditation and Relaxation (lecture, practice and Vice-versa), Professional essentials  (teaching methodology, professional development, practicum) and Yoga business tools

5pm to 6.30pm – Asana alignment and adjustments (theory and practical training with teaching practices)

6.30pm to 7.30pm – Dinner

7.30 to 8.30pm – Kirtan, Chanting and video show etc. (optional session)

9pm – Bed time

500 Hours Traditional Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course (Split into 200 hours and 300 hours), 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 - (Journey from different basic postures of Hatha Yoga such as purificatory asana for lightness and purification of body, Standing, supine, prone - (backward, forward, spine twist), inversion and balance to intermediate and advance asana.

Pranayama - From techniques for correction of breath, breathing to heat and energise, breathing to balance, breathing to cool  and to harmonise, to advance techniques such as breathing with internal as well as external retention with mudra and bandha. 

Mudra - Important gesture of fingers, head, perineum and body to affect energy in body. 

Bandha - Important practices of locking the energy in the body. 

Shat-karma - Some specific purificatory practices in Yoga such as nasal cleansing, vomiting, intestinal cleansing etc.

Meditation - Basic practices for mind management such as study of sitting asana, Yogic breathing with awareness, peace establishment,  Stillness of body, awareness of senses, awareness of thought process and Various kinds of classical meditation and Yoga Nidra.

2. Teaching Methodology - This is a combination of complex topics such as designing Yoga class, how to teach different practices of Yoga,  how to be 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 (Nervous System, Skeletal System, Muscular System, Respiratory System, Digestive, Cardiovascular System, Endocrine System), important Joints and their movements in different Asana, important muscles and their movements in different Asana).

(b) Yoga Human anatomy and Physiology (composition of Human body (3 Bodies, 5 elements, 5 Koshas, Nadis, Chakra, Kundalini).

(c) Holistic approach of Yoga (learning how the system of Yoga needs to be incorporated for human well-being of body, mind, emotion and spirit).

4. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers - Description of the term Philosophy, Philosophical perspectives of Yoga, Yoga, its meaning, definitions, aims and objectives, Historical development of Yoga. Schools of Yoga, Brief discussion on Vedas, Samkhya Philosophy, 3 Bodies, 5 elements, 5 Koshas, Nadis, Chakra, Kundalini, some glimpses from Shrimadbhagavada Gita, Yoga Sutra of Patanjali full study.
5. Practicum - Practice of teaching different practices in groups as the lead instructor, observe and assist while others teaching, focus on specific practices and compiling feedback etc.

Suggested Yoga Books for 500 Hours Traditional Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course -

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

Strict vegetarian meals suited to Yogic lifestyle and filtered water provided.