If you have been around for a while, you probably already have read at least ten articles that say “Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga.” But is that a good enough reason to pack your bags and just blindly start off for the city? Absolutely not. Wisdom lies in judging and making your own decision.
A lot of people will tell you to learn yoga in Rishikesh, India, only: they have done it, it’s awesome, etc. But people say a lot of things; doesn’t make it automatically true. It should take a lot more to convince you to actually go for your yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. This is a question of your future after all. That is exactly why we will give you solid reasons here for choosing Rishikesh for your yoga training. And no, it isn’t a lame birthplace argument.
1. Unfiltered, Unmutated Yoga
If you study mythology, you will often notice different sources giving different information. This is because the more a piece of information gets transmitted across time or distance, the more it gets mutated. I mean we probably all know by now Virgin Mary wasn’t a virgin but a product of translation error, right?
In the same manner, as the knowledge of yoga spread around the world, people used their own interpretations of the practice to suit their requirements. The only way to obtain authentic knowledge of yogic practices is to return to the source. That is exactly what makes Rishikesh the perfect place for serious yogis to get their YTTC.
2. Ashram vs Studio
Have you ever been to a monastery or other holy monument where keeping quiet is mandatory? You automatically enter a state of altered reality, a trance where you feel immense peace and calmness. That is what an ashram feels like too. And most yoga schools in Rishikesh are ashrams that have dedicated themselves to imparting education and knowledge to aspiring yogis.
Cut to a yoga studio or one of those urban schools where teaching yoga has become a business. It will feel more like a glorified market than a place for spiritual self-discovery.
3. Affordability Without Compromise of Quality
We urge you to check out the prices of yoga courses somewhere else within India or outside. After that, check the price for a yoga TTC in Rishikesh. There is a heaven-and-hell difference in the prices. Most of the courses in Rishikesh cost 50 or even 40 or 30 percent of what courses cost elsewhere. The difference is in the intention of teaching yoga.
When you come to get learn or get teacher training for yoga in Rishikesh, you pay only for the basic expenses and sustenance of the school for the course. The school-runners do not care to amass wealth and live by the yogic principles of frugality and basic necessities. But elsewhere, you are more likely to be ripped because they are less a sacred institution and more a business.
4. True Yogis for Teachers
Nowhere else will you get yoga teachers whose family has been teaching yoga for generations. Rishikesh yogis are mostly descendants of the original proponents of yoga.
These are people who truly understand what yoga stands for and what each practice stands for. They will take you back to the roots and show you the true essence of yoga. The dry, monotonous teaching style in other places requires you to do something only for the sake of doing. That just does not compare to the immersive way you learn yoga in Rishikesh.
5. Spiritual Environment
Rishikesh is the hotbed of everything holy, religious, and spiritual. Turn any corner and you will face a temple. Cross any bridge and you will come across a monastery. Walk five steps and you encounter a sadhu or pandit.
The holiest river of India, the Ganges, cuts through it. The town itself nestles in the lap of the Himalayas, that Indians consider being the closest you can get to heaven. So when you do yoga in Rishikesh, the naturally spiritual vibe helps you realize and accept your own spirituality better.
6. Yoga in its Entirety
An integral part of learning yoga is embracing all the rituals and traditions that come with it. Yoga does not constitute just some asanas, breathing techniques, study materials, and a certificate at the end.
Yoga is a whole lifestyle, that has its own principles to follow, practices, diet, discipline-enforcing acts, ideals, and mental state. You will never learn these in a yoga school outside Rishikesh.
7. No Distractions
Learn in a yoga studio near your house or in a bustling city and you remain distracted by your job, your phone notifications, your home, your this, and your that.
But isolate yourself in a yoga ashram on a serene hill station and the inclination to tune out all the buzz comes naturally. That is what you get when you learn yoga in Rishikesh.
8. Melting Pot of Cultures
Because of the popularity of Rishikesh as the world hub of yoga, reputed teachers from all over the world come to teach here.
Similarly, students and yogis from across nations also come here to learn and practice. When you meet people from so many cultures, your mind expands and you learn more about the world than a textbook can ever teach you.
9. Unpolluted Environment
If you have ever been to any hilly area, what is the first thing you notice?
It is the clean air, crystal clear water, noiselessness, the lack of pollution anywhere. This clean, uncontaminated environment is the perfect setting for a practice that improves your health, both physical and mental.
10. Scope of Tourism
While this is not directly relevant to your training, it goes without saying that a little mixing up can make the training more interesting.
Rishikesh has many popular tourist spots and many Rishikesh yoga teacher training centers themselves include tours in the program. So not only will you learn yoga but also spend a vacation in this beautiful destination.
In Conclusion
No other place will give you the same experience as yoga in Rishikesh. And by choosing Ilina Yoga, you get the guarantee of the best yoga teacher training in Rishikesh. You just can’t afford to miss out on that!