Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India
Ashtanga Yoga isn’t just a practice, it’s a path. The word “Ashtanga” itself means “Eight Limbs”. This refers to the eightfold path laid out by sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. At Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, our Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh takes you beyond the mat. It blends ancient yogic philosophy with a modern, mindful way to practice and teach.
Experienced teachers guide this Yoga Alliance Certified Training, rooted in authentic Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. It helps you build a strong base in asana practice, teaching skills, and yogic philosophy. You’ll refine your postures and grasp the deeper essence of yoga as a way of life.
We are based in the Yoga Capital of the World. Our peaceful setting, supportive community, and curriculum create the perfect space for self transformation. Begin your journey toward becoming a certified yoga teacher recognized worldwide. Apply now, limited seats available!
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga is a classic, structured style of yoga. It unites body, breath, and mind through a flowing sequence of postures. The word Ashtanga means “eight limbs.” This refers to the complete yogic path outlined by sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. The modern Ashtanga Vinyasa system was codified by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. He based it on the ancient text Yoga Korunta. Our training at Rishikesh Yog Nirvana honours this Mysore lineage. We teach the traditional Primary Series as Pattabhi Jois intended. That means correct vinyasa count, drishti, bandha, and breath synchronisation.
The Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga
- Yama – Ethical principles and moral discipline.
- Niyama – Self-purification and personal observances.
- Asana – Physical postures for balance and strength.
- Pranayama – Control of breath and life energy.
- Pratyahara – Withdrawal of senses and self-awareness.
- Dharana – Concentration and mental focus.
- Dhyana – Meditation and mindfulness.
- Samadhi – Ultimate union and self-realization.
At Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, our Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh brings these timeless teachings into daily life. You can take this programme as a standalone Ashtanga specialisation. Or take it as part of our 200-hour multi-style yoga teacher training. You study in the calm Tapovan area of Rishikesh, beside the Ganges and the Himalayan foothills. Here you’ll build awareness, strength, and confidence. You also discover yoga as a complete path to self-transformation.
Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training – Our Comprehensive Curriculum
The Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh at Rishikesh Yog Nirvana offers a full yoga education. It is rooted in ancient tradition and refined for modern students. We are a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga School in Rishikesh. We guide you from keen learner to a yoga teacher certified to teach worldwide.
Asana Practice & Alignment in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Master the flow of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Learn correct alignment of yoga postures. Our guided sessions help you strengthen your practice and understand body mechanics. You refine each movement with awareness.
Pranayama & Breathing Techniques
Enhance your yoga practice through breath control. Daily pranayama like Kapalabhati and Nadi Shodhana balances energy. It also prepares the mind for meditation.
Yoga Philosophy & Yogic Wisdom
Explore Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and classical yogic philosophy. Learn how the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga guide spiritual growth, mindfulness, and self-awareness.
Yoga Anatomy & Yoga Therapy
Gain a clear grasp of yoga anatomy, physiology, and the healing side of yoga. Learn how asana practice and breathing affect both body and mind.
Teaching Methodology & Practical Training
Build the confidence to teach yoga worldwide. You get real classroom practice, feedback, and teaching method classes. You’ll learn sequencing, adjustments, and class design.
Meditation, Mantra & Yogic Lifestyle
Try meditation, mantra chanting, and Yoga Nidra for inner stillness. Embrace a balanced yogic lifestyle for harmony and spiritual growth.
Yoga Therapy & Reiki Healing
Learn the therapeutic side of yoga and its link with Reiki healing courses. This offers a rounded approach to wellness and self healing.
Yin Yoga & Restorative Practice
Balance your dynamic Ashtanga practice with gentle Yin Yoga sessions. They bring deep relaxation and mindful awareness.
As a Registered Yoga School (RYS), Rishikesh Yog Nirvana offers Yoga Alliance USA certification. You can become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). Then begin your professional yoga journey anywhere in the world.
Eligibility & Certification – Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training
The 200-Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh at Rishikesh Yog Nirvana is open to anyone with a sincere interest in yoga. You may be a beginner or a regular yoga student. Or you may want to start a professional yoga teaching journey.
Eligibility Criteria
- No prior teaching experience is required. You just need a willingness to learn and a disciplined mindset.
- Suitable for all levels, from beginners to intermediate students. It suits anyone seeking a deeper grasp of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
- Basic knowledge of yoga postures and yogic lifestyle is helpful but not mandatory.
- Minimum age should be 18 years (students under 18 may join with parental consent).
- The course is taught in English, so you need a basic grasp of the language.
Certification
When you complete the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Course, you will receive an internationally recognized Yoga Alliance USA Certification. It lets you register as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) with Yoga Alliance. You can then teach yoga worldwide in studios, retreats, and online platforms.
Your certificate comes from Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, a Registered Yoga School (RYS). It stands for authenticity and global trust. It helps you share the wisdom of yoga with confidence and integrity.
Apply now for the upcoming batchOur Ashtanga Yoga Practice Structure
At Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, the Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training follows the traditional Ashtanga Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa). This is a fixed order of postures that never changes. Unlike freestyle Vinyasa or Hatha classes, the Primary Series is practised in the same order every session. This builds discipline, internal heat, and steady mastery. The structure links breath, movement, and focus. It turns each practice into meditation in motion.
1. Sun Salutation A & B (Surya Namaskar A & B)
- The foundation of every Ashtanga Yoga practice.
- Builds inner heat, flexibility, and strength.
- Teaches breath synchronization (Vinyasa) and drishti (gaze) to develop focus and flow.
2. Standing Sequence (Ashtanga Primary Series)
- Enhances grounding, stability, and posture awareness.
- Includes classical Hatha Yoga poses like Trikonasana, Utthita Parsvakonasana, and Parsvottanasana.
- Focuses on body alignment and muscular engagement.
3. Sitting Sequence
- Deepens flexibility, spinal alignment, and concentration.
- Involves seated forward bends, hip openers, and twists.
- Cultivates balance between strength and surrender.
4. Finishing Sequence
- Concludes with restorative and meditative postures.
- Includes Shoulder Stand, Headstand, and Padmasana.
- Cools the body and calms the nervous system, ending in Savasana (deep relaxation).
5. Breath, Bandhas & Drishti
- Mastery of Ujjayi Pranayama (victorious breath) for internal focus.
- Activation of Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha for energy control.
- Use of drishti (gaze point) to stay aware through practice.
Rishikesh Yog Nirvana is a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga School in Rishikesh. Each session helps you live yoga with dedication, balance, and purpose. Begin your Ashtanga Yoga journey in the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh, India.
Apply now for the upcoming batchDaily Schedule for Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training
The Ashtanga TTC follows a classic ashram routine. That means early mornings, disciplined practice, and structured study. The 5:30 AM Mysore-style start mirrors how Ashtanga is practised around the world. It builds the discipline your future students will expect from you as a teacher.
Schedule may vary slightly based on season and instructor availability. One rest day per week.
Our Registered Yoga Teachers
At Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, our Yoga Alliance experienced instructors bring years of experience and dedication to every class. Each teacher brings deep knowledge, compassion, and authentic yogic practice. They guide students on their journey of change.
Co-founder. Specialises in classical meditation, mantra chanting, and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. His teaching is calm and intuitive. It has guided hundreds of international students through inner transformation during their Ashtanga training.
Co-founder and lead Ashtanga instructor. Regarded as one of the most respected alignment teachers in Rishikesh. His hands-on adjustments in Primary Series practice change how students see each posture. He teaches in the Pattabhi Jois tradition.
Leads the afternoon led Primary Series classes with precision and warmth. Guides students through the primary and intermediate Ashtanga series. She builds both physical strength and the mental discipline the Mysore tradition demands.
Deepraj was born in Rishikesh. He adds Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga depth to the Ashtanga core. His smooth transitions and mindful breath cues prepare students to teach many styles after graduation.
Senior teaching methodology instructor. She bridges the gap between Ashtanga practice and real-world teaching. She covers sequencing, cueing, class design, and the business of running yoga classes.
Yoga anatomy instructor. He explains how the muscles and bones work in each Ashtanga posture. This is key for safe adjustments. It also shows why the Primary Series sequence works the body the way it does.
Why Choose Rishikesh Yog Nirvana for Ashtanga Teacher Training
Ashtanga Yoga needs precision, discipline, and true lineage knowledge. Not every school teaches it correctly. Here is what makes our Ashtanga TTC in Rishikesh different from commercial programmes.
Pattabhi Jois Lineage Teaching
We teach the traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Primary Series as codified by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. We keep the correct vinyasa count, drishti, bandha, and breath synchronisation. No freestyle changes to the sacred sequence.
Adjustment-Led Practice
Manish (10+ years Ashtanga) and Priyanka (8+ years) give hands-on alignment corrections. They do this in every Mysore and led session. You learn postures and also how to safely adjust students. Many commercial TTCs skip this skill entirely.
Both Mysore & Led Formats Daily
Morning Mysore-style self-practice (5:30 AM) builds individual discipline. Afternoon led Primary Series (3:30 PM) develops group teaching skills. You graduate confident in both formats. This is rare among 200-hour programmes.
Vedanta Philosophy with Swami Shivabrahmananda
Our visiting philosophy teacher trained for 3 years at Arsha Vidya Peetham (Swami Dayananda Saraswati's ashram). His sessions cover the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, and Samkhya. They give the eight limbs of Ashtanga a depth that textbook-only schools cannot match.
12–15 Students Per Batch Maximum
Ashtanga needs individual attention. This is key for adjustments in Marichyasana, Supta Kurmasana, and other binding postures. Our batches are small. So every student gets spotted, corrected, and guided personally throughout the 28-day programme.
Ganga-View Practice Hall in Tapovan
Our rooftop yoga shala overlooks the Ganges with panoramic Himalayan views. You practise the Primary Series at sunrise with the sound of the Ganga below. Studio training in any city simply cannot match this.
Accommodation & Food
At Rishikesh Yog Nirvana, students enjoy peaceful living and mindful eating. Both are key parts of their yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India. The ashram is comfortable, clean, and calm. It supports deep learning and reflection.
Accommodation
- Peaceful ashram stay surrounded by nature.
- Clean, comfortable rooms with all basic amenities.
- Calm atmosphere ideal for yoga practice and relaxation.
Food
- Freshly prepared sattvic vegetarian meals served three times daily.
- Nutritious diet that supports physical practice and spiritual growth.
- Simple, wholesome meals that reflect an authentic yogic lifestyle.
We offer the perfect balance of comfort, simplicity, and calm. It helps you live the true essence of yoga during your yoga teacher training in Rishikesh.
Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Fees & Inclusions
All fees include 28 days of training, an ashram room in Tapovan and three sattvic meals daily. They also cover course materials, Yoga Alliance certification, and weekend excursions along the Ganga.
Not included: flights, visa, travel insurance, personal expenses, Yoga Alliance registration fee ($50, paid directly to YA).
Watch: Ashtanga Sun Salutations A and B
One of our teachers breaks down Surya Namaskar A and B, the opening sequence of every Ashtanga class, then clips from class and a student review.
What Our Ashtanga Students Say
4.9/5 ★★★★★ from 186 Google Reviews
"Manish sir's Ashtanga Vinyasa classes were outstanding, his alignment corrections completely transformed my Primary Series practice. By week three I could flow through the full sequence with correct vinyasa count and bandha engagement. The sunrise practice sessions on the rooftop with Himalayan views made every morning feel sacred. Best decision I've made."
Harshit Chaudhary
India · 200-Hour Ashtanga YTT · May 2025
"Priyanka ma'am's energy in the Ashtanga classes was incredible — she pushed us to hold postures longer than we thought possible, always with safety and encouragement. The progression from Surya Namaskar A to the full standing and seated series over 28 days felt natural and earned. I now teach Ashtanga at a studio in Berlin with complete confidence."
Lars Eriksson
Sweden · 200-Hour Ashtanga YTT · Jan 2026
"I came to Rishikesh Yog Nirvana specifically for Ashtanga. The Mysore-style self-practice mornings combined with led Primary Series afternoons gave me both independence and structure. Sajan sir's philosophy classes connected Patanjali's Yoga Sutras to everyday teaching in a way no book could. The small batch size (only 14 of us) meant real personal attention."
Alejandra Guraieb
Mexico · 200-Hour YTT · May 2025