My Yoga Teacher Training in India – Student Review January 2019
Hey guys, my name is Claire and I’m from Lyon, France. Today I want to share with you my experience of studying yoga in India. I completed my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India in January 2019 at Yoga India Foundation in Rishikesh. I still cannot believe what happened and feel really confident about sharing my story with the world.
To begin with, I have always dreamt of doing yoga teacher training in India but never felt like it was the right time in my life before one obvious thing happened.
Life before my Yoga Teacher Training in India
I used to be quite “chubby”. My health has always been ok I guess in my childhood, however, when I entered my higher education, I got into the bad habit of eating a lot of fried and ready-made food.
If you are already healthy and stick to your diet, that’s great! But for me, it hasn’t always been that easy.
Anyways, due to high blood pressure and cervical pain, I went to see a doctor who recommended I take blood pressure reducing pills and physiotherapy for the pain.
Somehow I started to feel upset, moody, and out of energy. There was a lot of negativity in my mind and I didn’t like myself as a person anymore.
When I got my first job, I still had the same problems. On top of that (yay!) came high cholesterol, iron deficiency, and depression.
I knew that I had to make a change in my life. The unhappy, 24-year-old me seemed to be not making the right choices at all.
My cousins’ boyfriend’s sister
Wait, who? So basically my cousin and I are like best friends. We pretty much grew up together and shared most of our lives with each other. When she told me about her boyfriend’s sister who just came back from India, I began to feel something inside. A mix between hope, passion, excitement, and curiosity.
Zoya (my cousins’ boyfriend’s sister) completed her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India at one of the most traditional and Ayurveda-focused yoga schools in India, called the Yoga India Foundation.
I met up with her to listen to her experience, ask questions, and dream about my journey.
A few days later, I decided to listen to my heart and sign up for a yoga teacher training in India myself.
Here are my 10 reasons that I literally wrote down:
- Become healthier (losing weight included)
- Reduce my blood pressure
- Reduce my cholesterol
- Feel more comfortable in my skin
- No more back pain
- Do something extraordinary, just for myself
- Get out of my depression
- Find joy and new energy
- Connect to me
- Develop self-love and acceptance
I messaged with the yoga school a few times and immediately had a good feeling. With a 15-kg backpack, I started my journey to the unknown, exciting and magical country of India.
Studying Yoga in India for 12 Hours/Day
Honestly, the first days were extremely difficult for me. I wasn’t in a good shape, a beginner in yoga, tired, overwhelmed, and exhausted.
Waking up at 5 AM and having 5 hours of physical practice plus another 6-7 hours of theory and other classes per day really drained me at first.
I knew I had to work on myself, but wasn’t ready to open up and surrender.
I felt I couldn’t do it, but quickly came to new insights. My teacher Naveen sat down with me for a talk as he felt my negativity.
We talked for like an hour and a half and he taught me something beautiful.
What we have inside, is a reflection of how we feel, think, interact and perceive the world. It’s our choice which way to go, which life to live.
He asked me what I wished for, which life I wanted to live. That even made me cry.
He said: “We are all on this planet to learn, grow and enjoy. It’s like a holiday. If you fail, no problem, but next time, fail better”.
Somehow, this conversation was the turning point of my yoga teacher training in India and also of my life.
From Day 4 of my Yoga Teacher Training in India, I gave everything. I completely opened up my mind and heart and was ready to learn, thrive and release.
My personal transformation
Unbelievably, but true: I lost 7 kg, which reduced my cholesterol and blood pressure within one month. Back pain adé!
My doctor was really amazed when he saw the results and I felt even more amazing.
I’m so thankful to all my teachers at Yoga India Foundation who pushed me, motivated me, challenged me, supported me, and taught me about the life-changing properties of yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda.
I learned how to listen to my body, give it the right nutrients, calm my mind through pranayama and gain strength and unity through yoga asana.
That’s not even it. We learned about food combinations that suit our individual bodies. I received an ayurvedic consultation and tips about my diet, which herbs to use, which foods to take in, all personalized to my body type.
The daily asana classes let my doubts, kilos, and negativity melt like ice. I feel much lighter now, mentally clear and stable, positive-minded, motivated, and excited about my life.
I’m ready to be myself, follow my dreams, prioritize my health and leave old patterns behind me.
The 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India at Yoga India Foundation
Personally, I would recommend this yoga ashram to anyone. The 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India changed me for the better and can change you, too. No matter who you are, what your reasons are (and we all have reasons), or where you come from, doing yoga teacher training in India at this school will be an amazing, unique and eye-opening experience for you.
I felt really taken care of, yet in control of my own path. The staff, teachers, environment is so wonderful. Everyone is treated like a family member and there is a feeling of community, acceptance, and positivity in each corner of the ashram.
I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to grow and gain physical and mental balance.
To anyone who is looking for a yoga teacher training in India: The 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India at Yoga India Foundation was the best decision ever!