Level 1 – 200 Hour Teacher Training

Over 15 years, Himalaya Yoga Valley has graduated over 4,500 successful yoga teachers from all corners of the globe at our training centers in India & Ireland.

Our world-renowned in person 200 Hour intensive Yoga Teacher Training Course (YTT) is internationally accredited by the Indian Yoga Association, Yoga Alliance U.S, Yoga Alliance Professionals UK, Yoga Alliance International, Canadian Yoga Alliance, The World Yoga Council, and the International Yoga Federation.

Upon successful completion of the training, graduates become Level 1 yoga teachers and are Certified by Himalaya Yoga Valley to teach in their own country and internationally. With their 200 Hr Certificate, graduates can apply to any of the Yoga Alliance associations for registration as RYT’s ® (Registered Yoga Teachers).

NEW Flexible Learning Options.

We now have flexible learning options available across all of our programs. Trainees can complete their course fully in person over one month, or blend two weeks of online learning, and 11 days of in-person training in Ireland or Goa to become fully qualified yoga teachers. We also have flexible payment plans available to make our trainings more accessible than ever.

About our 200 Hour Training

Our 200 Hour Teacher Training Course delivers a comprehensive, theoretical and practical hands-on training designed to deepen their practitioners personal practise and elevate them from student to teacher. Trainees emerge from our TTC as confident teachers with a strong and solid teaching skill set ready to begin their career. Alongside developing the art of teaching, trainees also gain a comprehensive understanding of the practice of yoga asanas, philosophy, physiology, adjusting, mantra chanting, chakras, anatomy, ayurveda, mudras, pranayama and meditation and other traditional and contemporary Yoga techniques.

Our curriculum takes you through the essential elements required to deepen and enrich your own yoga practice and to teach students with confidence. Our expert team of teachers will guide you from the fundamental stages of leading a class to teaching with ease and confidence.

At Himalaya Yoga Valley we believe that the priority outcome of a Teacher Training Course for a trainee should be the ability to teach a professional class with premium skills when you complete your training. Our training courses are intensive because the curriculum is outcomes focused and we encourage those with the specific goal of becoming teachers and deepening their practice to attend our training. Our curriculum includes a high number of teaching hours, practicums and teacher orientated lectures to ensure trainees graduate with the ability to begin their career when they return home and also maintain a disciplined practise.

“Thank you for all that Himalaya Yoga Valley did for me, and us all. It was truly a life changing experience, and I am so grateful. I have come back to Australia and have had lots of interest in classes. I am loving every second of it. Students are loving the traditional feel the classes have. You will see me again, I’m saving hard to come back for my 500 hour, and an internship one day! Just can’t get enough of Himalaya Yoga Valley!”

Mollie Cox – Jala Yoga (Australia)

Our training blends traditional Eastern teachings by Indian experts in the area of Yoga practices and Ayurveda combined with teachings from highly experienced and specialist Western teachers in the fields of Philosophy, Anatomy & Physiology, Sequencing, and other subjects complementary to becoming a well-rounded yoga teacher.  This marriage of backgrounds gives our students the opportunity to learn in an authentic, traditional Yoga setting whilst gaining the skills required to impart these teachings practically and relevantly in a global yoga environment. Please enjoy this Testimonial Video Below which gives insight into our Teacher Training Course from a student’s perspective

Becoming a Teacher

The main aim of our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training is to provide trainees with the foundational building blocks to teach with confidence and ease as soon as they graduate. In the past ten years of program delivery, we have developed a tried and tested method of progressive learning practicums. This is reflected by our international alumni of well recognised and successful graduate teachers.

Our training stands alone by providing students with expert lecturers and teachers assigned to each theory subject with renowned international teacher Yogacharya Lalit leading students in the area of asana, alignment and adjusting as well as assisting students in deepening their own practise . Our school recognizes the value of having multiple teachers specific to each subject rather than one or two teachers covering the entire syllabus. Students also benefit greatly from our trainings being led by our School Director and founder Lalit who has over 15 years teaching experience and a decade of experience training exceptional teachers.

Our post-course graduate teaching rate is extremely high due to our unique outcome based, progressive learning approach.  Trainees teach in a safe and supervised environment from the first week of training so as to develop full confidence during the month and to find their teaching voice early on. Under close supervision, trainees begin to teach in pairs during their first week, move on to teaching small groups by week two, larger groups by week three and finally the entire class by week four. Alongside theoretical immersion and abundant feedback and coaching, this method has seen trainees with varied levels of confidence blossom into confident yoga teachers.

“I am writing to say a huge thank you. When I came back last year I put my head down and have been working really hard with the experience and traditional teachings you gave me. Without all of your hard work, support  and encouragement, I wouldn’t have achieved this spot so soon.”

Natasha Pinter (Australia) TTC

We are entirely dedicated as a team to providing each individual student with the care and attention required to attain a high level of knowledge and teaching competence. We recognise that each trainee is as unique as each student they will go on to teach and this is a major success factor for our graduates.

“Thanks for all I have learned over the last month on the training course. It was a great experience and an honour to be one of your students. I am very happy that I made this journey with you to my inner self. Thanks for your open arms (and ears), you made me feel so welcome!”

Tobias Frondorf, Germany

Trainees receive consistent personal and group feedback and are given the opportunity to apply the feedback to each new teaching practicum progressing with ease and support towards the end goal of a confident and professional teacher.

One of the most rewarding and popular aspects of our training is the focus placed on learning adjustments under the guidance of Yogacharya Lalit who brings his experience in this field from his studies in Mysore the home of Ashtanga Yoga. These adjustments are geared towards multi level students and practiced throughout the training. This skill greatly benefits our graduate teachers greatly when they begin to teach back home.

Style of Yoga

School Director and senior teacher Yogacharya Lalit comes from an Ashtanga yoga and Vinyasa Flow lineage. He utilises elements from these traditions as a consistent and solid foundation from which students can develop their individual teaching style. With his background as an Iyengar student Lalit places strong emphasis on correcting alignment and maintaining integrity in asana as both a trainee and teacher. During the course, you will have opportunity to apply these alignment techniques to your own practise and as a teacher you will learn how to safely guide multi level students through our established trainee sequence developed by Lalit.

“Teacher Training with Himalaya Yoga Valley was a truly wonderful experience. Together with students from all four corners of the globe we bonded in our shared love and passion for the beautiful practice of yoga. Completing the curriculum took effort but the environment, staff and teachers provided me with the support and nurture I needed to see me through to the end. Not only did I graduate a competent yoga teacher but I also learnt so much about myself, and the type of yoga teacher I can be. Today, in each class I teach, I endeavor to pass a little piece of this wonderful experience on to my own students. I am so content with my direction in life as a yoga teacher. I have found my calling. Thank you Himalaya Yoga Valley.”

Claire McGrath, Shalini Yoga Ireland

Students work from an established training sequence inspired by the Ashtanga Primary Series  and the principles of dynamic flow style yoga in order to develop confidence through an in depth knowledge of a specific set of postures. Trainees us this series as a solid platform to teach from and to develop their own unique styles utilizing the various traditions and techniques taught during the training.

After being immersed in this series with Lalit, students then go on to teach from the same series – graduate teachers leave with a wealth of knowledge being able to teach over 40 postures with confidence. Students also learn the ins and outs of correct alignment, adjustments and modifications for these postures to ensure they can teach with maximum emphasis on inclusiveness and safety.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is developed from the Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Teacher Training Standards and has developed and been shaped by our experience training teachers. Our curriculum includes the following:

• Asana techniques including identification of common misalignments, including training and practice in Bandhas, Pranayama, Kriyas, chanting and meditation
• Yoga philosophy of Eight Limbs of Ashtanga and Raja Yoga and Yoga Sutras
• Anatomy and Physiology including chakras, mudras, nadis and health benefits of yoga
• Ethics for Yoga Teachers
• Yoga Lifestyle
• Yoga Business Management
• Introduction to Ayurveda
• Teaching Methodology including sequencing, adjusting , teaching standards, and teacher and learner styles
• Classroom Management

In conjunction with taking the journey to becoming a teacher, trainees study Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga Philosophy with an emphasis on how you can incorporate this into your own practice and day-to-day life. Daily chanting, meditation and pranayama provide spiritual structure and compliment the more physical practices of the curriculum.

Developing a physical practice under the guidance of Yogacharya Lalit and his team is one of the highlights of our training. Trainees will experience a blend of led Ashtanga classes with Iyengar-inspired alignment techniques and also practice Mysore style with a strong focus on fine tuning alignment and deepening their practice through adjustments from our teachers.

As a team, we aspire to support trainees develop a holistic practice during their training that they can sustain when they return home. We aim for our trainees to see the value of the more subtle practices such as pranayama and meditation as well as their physical asana practice.

“I just want to say thank you! And after almost four years I want to give you a big compliment…taking part in a YTT in Goa was not only easy… but it was the BEST I gained since then…I did not much appreciate it so far…and so I want to give you and the team my compliments for taking care of so many students, trying to see each as an individual person, being in contact and giving the most you can…I can honestly say I LOVED THE YTT!”

Hannah Dittrich Sweden

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Our Team

Our training courses are unique within our industry as we have specialist teachers for each subject ensuring that trainees receive a robust education from those who are experts in the subject being taught across all subjects. See Our Teachers to find out more about our team and please enjoy the video below to get to know our teaching team

Trainee Assessment

Competency for graduation as a yoga teacher will be assessed on class participation, written assessments and on-going observations during classes by our senior teachers. Trainees will receive valuable feedback on their teaching practicums from senior teachers and assistant teachers and will be required to meet certain teaching standards regarding knowledge of anatomy, asana alignment, adjustments and communication.

Trainees are required to work in groups and with other individuals on teaching practicums and are expected to conduct themselves with a high level of maturity and respect for peers and teachers. Applicants should be prepared to receive constructive coaching and feedback on a regular basis throughout the training.

Trainees receive a Himalaya Yoga Valley manual and various study support materials and articles throughout the training to assist them with assignments, study groups and homework. This robust manual also acts as an excellent reference for trainees in a post graduate setting.

Typical Daily Schedule

Course Pre-requisites

Requirements to apply for the 200 Hour Teacher Training Course are an existing yoga practice, an open mind, commitment to learning, and motivation to become a worthy yoga teacher. Applicants with an emerging practice are welcome to apply for our training provided they can display a high level of self-discipline during the course as it is physically, mentally and spiritually demanding and also highly rewarding. Whilst students will obtain a certificate at the end of the training this should not be the goal of attending our course. Trainees should wish to deepen their personal practise and immerse themselves fully on the path of yoga whilst aiming to become a professional teacher. Our course is demanding in nature and trainees are supported by a very structured curriculum and an experienced and expert team of teachers and staff.

For both beginner and seasoned practitioners, this course will deepen and consolidate your practice and teaching style. We encourage aspiring teachers from all backgrounds to join the course. This fosters a dynamic and mixed environment reflective of that which will be in your future classroom setting. Trainees should have a consistent self practice to attend this course and should also have studied with yoga teachers in a classroom setting.

Although we expect a high level of self discipline and commitment to your physical practice before, during and after the training we do not expect trainees to be proficient in every posture of the Ashtanga Primary Series. Being an acrobat does not qualify you to be a yoga teacher. We believe that yoga students should work towards their best self through all aspects of their practice and this is relative to the individual not the person on the mat next to them.

Yogacharya Lalit is well known for his ability to take practitioners to the next level physically and this is something we hope you will be open to on our training.  We look for progress not perfection and we hope our graduates will pass this very important element of compassion and honouring the individual onto their own students.

“The Teacher Training Course was truly an incredible month of light, love, laughter, and growth. The experience was simultaneously challenging(in many ways- physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, etc.) and nurturing. We were blessed to have teachers with a wealth and diversity of experience and study within the vast tradition of yoga, encouraging a full and dynamic practice.”

Jean – Jaques Gabriel, U.S.

We encourage students to apply for the course when they are fully ready on a holistic level and committed to meeting the challenges of the course and accepting the joys with an open heart. These are important attributes that will add to your learning experience during the course and also to the learning experience of your fellow students.The course is taught in English and we require that you are proficient in English to attend. We have guided hundreds of students with English as a second language through our training. Our team is always on hand to offer extra coaching as required.

We have a high volume of applicants and limited training spaces each season and approval for training courses is at the discretion of the school Directors.

For those of you already teaching, about to embark on your teaching journey or for those of you who have recently discovered your enthusiasm for yoga; we welcome you to take this opportunity to experience a new depth of understanding and confidence through this authentic, traditional and comprehensive foundation Yoga Teacher Training Course.

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Post Graduate Success

Our school is a leader in the field of yoga education and our reputation is built on the success of our graduate teachers out in the world as seen here in our success stories.

Employer demand for graduates from our school is strong and Himalaya Yoga Valley teachers are internationally recognized as professional teachers with a strong lineage to support them in their careers. Post graduates of our programs stand out in a competitive industry and we certify trainees who have completed our programs as registered Himalaya Yoga Valley teachers (HYVT 200 & 500) as a further credential to support them in their  yoga careers.

Alongside this well rounded education students are provided with a high level of administrative assistance prior to and after the training has been completed.

Our team acts as lifelong mentors to our graduates and our reputation as a school who stays connected to and invested in our students is one we are immensely proud of. Our graduate trainees benefit from our philosophy that the student teacher relationship is sacred and life long. We act as mentors and support our students long after our trainings have come to an end and we take great pride in the strong community of Himalaya Yoga Valley teachers we have built.

Alongside online postgraduate support and connection with teachers and other graduates, trainees are eligible to apply for internships exclusive to those who have completed 200 & 500 hour programs at our school.

Lalit holds regular graduate workshops and teacher refresher courses and trainees may also have the opportunity to assist in our classes at our Cork centre to gain experience.

Himalaya Yoga Valley also welcome graduates of 200 & 500 hour trainings to up skill through our Continuing Education Courses tailored specifically to the needs of teachers.

Please see our Success Stories Page where we are very proud to share the stories of our graduates who have flourished since attending our trainings in the profession and life path of teaching yoga!

Accommodation

Himalaya Yoga Valley centre has an established retreat and training centre in Goa where trainees attend residential 200 & 500 hour courses. In Ireland we source affordable accommodation options that students can choose from for the duration of their training.  Please see our Goa page where you can find plenty of detailed information about our centre in Goa. You will also find plenty of detailed information on Visas and practical information related to travel to India on this page and our FAQ page.

Traveling to India for Teacher Training

Many students relish the opportunity to learn yoga at the source and rightly so! India is a truly incredible country and being able to practice with indigenous gatekeepers of yoga in it’s birthplace is truly magical. Whilst many first-time travelers to India and Asia can feel nervous at the thought of taking a trip alone to a foreign country it is important to remember that we are located in an extremely safe, small and local beach village. India on a whole is a very safe travel destination and Goa is particularly safe for tourists and solo female travelers. The local community have been hosting western tourists for many decades and they enjoy a respectful and peaceful relationship with their visitors. Solo female travelers to Goa enjoy relaxed and safe interactions in the state.  The economy depends on return visitors and the local community safeguard this return custom through care and respect for people coming to visit.

You may be interested in reading our article on Traveling to India for Yoga Teacher Training which gives you all the top tips on getting flights, visas, what to pack, staying healthy, and plenty of other useful information!

At Himalaya Yoga Valley we pride ourselves on having a perfect student safety record and we maintain this with 24 hour on site security, guest pre-registration for anyone wishing to enter our resort who is not a staff member or student and providing safety lockers in our office for any valuables students may have.  Our resort is peaceful, safe and a pleasure to relax fully in. We also facilitate safe and secure travel to our centre from the airport with taxi drivers who are personally known to us and only from our village. We appreciate that travel anywhere in the world with the current climate can make some people nervous and we are more than happy to work with you from the point of application approval until you reach home to make sure you feel safe and secure for your entire experience. Most travelers who come to India never want to leave. It is a beautiful country, rich with culture and friendly people and great experiences and we are happy to support students in making the once in a lifetime journey here.

All of our courses operate from a waitlist and we understand that trainees who may not be able to attend our training can find it overwhelming to choose a teacher training school given the high volume of operations that have cropped in recent years. We recently wrote this article to assist people who could not get a space on our TTC to help them locate an honourable school.

If you have any questions or queries about our training feel free to contact us and to see our FAQs page. Prospective trainees may also enjoy this article written by one of the Himalaya Yoga Valley team for Yoga Magazine UK about the experience of Teacher Training in India.