How I did Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh (Part 2)
To be continued…
I arrived quite late in Rishikesh and could not manage to find the yoga center and had no intention to continue searching for it. Basically I crossed the Laxman Jhula Bridge and stayed in one of the guesthouses there, where I contacted Rishikesh Yog Dham online. They promised to ‘collect me’ (because that’s precisely how my state was– I was just totally exhausted, and needed collection))) and the next morning at 10am they did! Two guys came by with motorbikes and at that point my best month of yoga started! Welcome to Rishikesh! (I love motorbikes so much that it immediately lifted my energy up and I managed to have a walk around after dropping off my luggage in my new room).
The yoga course started with an orientation and introduction. It needs to be noted that the timetable is quite intensive and it will certainly benefit one to be totally involved in the practice. Every morning begins with a cleansing process, herbal tea and hatha yoga practice from 6.30 am to 8.30am, after that a full vegetarian breakfast is served, followed by two hours of anatomy and philosophy lessons. Then, there are a couple of hours of break and meditation/ pranayama class commences at 4pm, and evening yoga class from 5pm. You finish the practice by 7.30pm and have a diner. Sunday is usually the day off. From time to time different teachers/ swamis/ gurus are organized to come and present lectures and talks to students.
During the course you’ll learn how to teach yoga, do the corrections of asanas (postures), stretch people (literally and metaphorically))), how to perform postures and breathing during yoga practice, plus other details. Pranayama class is all about breathing – yogic, cooling, energizing, abdominal etc. You’ll become aware of the way you breathe and how it affects your life, mood and state of mind and being. Learning meditation helps to control thoughts and mind in general, to become stable and calm. Both techniques will definitely help you to understand more about yourself and improve many sides of your life.
Yoga classes are made to relieve stress, relax your mind and body, make you stronger (mentally and physically), also gain muscles, endurance, calm down, get energy in the body. After that you basically learn more about how to teach and what areas to pay more attention in. You’ll also teach a few classes yourself – starting from short 15-mins sequences and finishing with a 2-hour class at the end of the Teacher training course.
Conducting your own 2-hour course will bring you to the point where you are comfortable and confident with yourself and your individual teaching. You’ll meet people from all over the world, learn about new cultures, experiences, trekking and walks around the mountains and the city, where you can enjoy living in a remote place surrounded by nature and animals. Animals you say? Yep, there are various types of animals living in Rishikesh: two types of monkeys, cows, dogs, pigs and others, not to mention many lovely insects and flying creatures in the evenings, including some colorful butterflies; Funny though.
Every week you can have get-togethers with newfound friends or walk somewhere along the Ganga River or mountains, to have a tea next to the river or the many temples. There are some very notable cafes and restaurants suited for all kinds of travellers and tourists frequenting Rishikesh, notably: The German Bakery and Little Buddha Café, among others (most of them containing much needed Wi-Fi). All things you need are to be found in this amazing little city: book stores, massage centers, friendly laundry services, organic supermarkets, vegetable markets, ATM, money changers, and pilgrims dressed in orange! All in all the rewards of visiting Rishikesh and doing a yoga teaching course are invaluable and the wonderful memories you create are bound to stay with you for many years to come.
