Yoga Teacher Training FAQ

The closest and most convenient airport is New Delhi. If you are visiting India for the first time, you can also fly into Dehradun (the nearest city), which is a 30-minute drive from the ashram — saving you a longer onward journey.

Delhi airport to Rishikesh by car is about a 6-hour journey. We offer a transportation package for USD 150 covering airport pickup, Delhi–Rishikesh transfer and the return drive after your course. One-way airport-to-Rishikesh transfer is also available for USD 75. If your flight arrives late and you want to stay overnight in Delhi, airport pickup is USD 25 and a reasonable hotel is USD 40–50.

You can also travel by train (airport to New Delhi station by car, then by train to Haridwar and onward to Rishikesh by car). Cheap hotels in Delhi’s Main Bazar / Paharganj area cost USD 10–20.

Yes — many guests travel solo. Local buses and trains can be a bit challenging if it is your first time in India, since the experience is very different from other parts of the world, but the route is well-trodden by international travellers.

Yes — with advance notice we will arrange transportation from the airport, bus or train station directly to Rishikesh. Once you arrive, we will guide you for the short walk to our school.

Food at our centre is 100% vegetarian (not vegan by default). Let us know in advance and our chef will prepare vegan meals especially for you.

Yes — just share your dietary needs at booking and our kitchen will prepare meals around them.

Yes — pure filtered water is available 24/7 for all students, free of charge.

Yes — outside of class hours, you are free to use your phone.

Our Wi-Fi is free and easily accessible across the campus — bring your phone or laptop.

Yes — AC is available in select rooms for an additional charge.

Yes — Indian pharmacies stock the same kinds of medications as Western countries. Brand names may differ, but the equivalents are widely available.

If you are sick, injured or need medical care, we will provide on-site care or take you to a Western-style hospital. We will also find alternatives so you can finish the course when you are well.

No specific vaccinations are required. Bringing mosquito repellent and personal first-aid items is recommended.

Rishikesh is a very low-risk area for malaria. No vaccination is needed for this region.

Our kitchen prepares every meal fresh on-site with dedicated staff and fresh ingredients. Eating in established Rishikesh restaurants is generally safe. If you have a sensitive stomach, we suggest being cautious with street food.

We accept a maximum of 15 to 20 students per course to keep groups small and personal.

White-coloured clothes are recommended; try to avoid black. Modest dressing is appreciated.

No — we provide a new yoga mat to every student.

No — the regular course is too intensive for pregnant students. Please reach out about our prenatal yoga options instead.

There are short breaks built into the daily schedule. Sundays are free days with no classes, so you can rest, journal or explore Rishikesh.

In case of emergency, yes — but please inform the teacher of that class in advance.

Yes — couples are welcome.

The course is suitable for everyone — we teach from the very root of yoga through every aspect of the practice, so prior experience is not required.

All our teachers are qualified yogis — some hold Master’s degrees in Yogic Sciences, others have MA degrees in related fields, alongside years of personal practice.

No — our students come from many countries and English is a second language for most of them. The courses are easy to follow and teachers are happy to help with anything that is unclear.

A few books are part of the course material. You can start reading them before your arrival or once you are at the school — whichever you prefer.

Please arrive at least one day before the course starts so you can attend the orientation. The course begins on the first day with a yoga ritual at 10:30 AM. The graduation ceremony on the last day finishes by 11:30 AM, so plan your departure for the day after the course ends.

You must successfully complete a yoga teacher training course and demonstrate your competence in teaching a yoga class. Yoga Alliance lists the minimum standards and registered schools at www.yogaalliance.org.

Yes — Samadhi Yoga Ashram is a Yoga Alliance USA Registered Yoga School (RYS 200, 300, 500). Our certifications are internationally recognised and our graduates can register on the Yoga Alliance website.

Yes — there is a written and a verbal test. Your final certification is based on your performance, attendance and conduct throughout the course.

Yes — our courses are Yoga Alliance qualified. After registering on the Yoga Alliance website, you can teach in any country that recognises this certification.

Yes — in case of personal issues we can shift your course dates. The booking advance is non-refundable, but it is transferable so you can join a future batch.

We accept credit cards for booking amounts. Remaining fees can be paid in cash or by traveller’s cheque. Paying the remainder by credit card adds a 1.75% transaction fee. ATM debit cards (Master / Visa / Electron) can also be used to withdraw cash in Rishikesh.

Nothing extra — food and accommodation are included in the course fee. You are provided a shared room with an attached bathroom, 24-hour water supply, hot shower and wardrobe.

Yes — private rooms are available for a small additional charge for the full duration of your stay.

Apply for a tourist visa — it is easy and quickly granted by the Indian embassy. State “yoga retreat” or “ayurveda retreat” as your purpose of visit, and you can list our school address and contact number as your Indian reference. Apply at least 2–3 weeks before travel; visa expiry is generally counted from the date of issue.

Most everyday items are easily found in the shops near our school. We suggest you bring any speciality items that you depend on — specific personal care products, a favourite snack from home, or anything you cannot easily replace.

Yes — the post office is a 5-metre walk from the school and the police station is right next to us. The area is well secured with 24/7 CCTV.

• December–February: coldest months, 15–26°C. We do not provide room heaters, so pack warm clothes for December to early March.
• April–August: hot and rainy, temperatures can reach 40°C. Light cotton clothes recommended; September is the end of monsoon, so an umbrella or raincoat is useful.
• October–March: pleasant to cool. Bring woollen clothes and jackets; average around 32–33°C in shoulder months.

Samadhi Yoga Ashram is registered and certified with Yoga Alliance USA, Yoga Alliance International and the Seva Samadhi Trust. Certified graduates can teach as RYT teachers anywhere in the world that recognises Yoga Alliance certification.

Our 100, 200, 300 and 500-hour programmes are multi-style yoga teacher trainings (Yoga Therapy, Kundalini and more) that follow Yoga Alliance USA standards. Graduates can teach classical Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Meditation, Pranayama, Yoga Therapy and Anatomy as certified teachers.