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200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified

Yoga Teacher Training Retreat in India

A 30-day, residential 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Retreat in Varkala, Kerala. Immerse yourself in traditional practice, ashram lifestyle, and the philosophy of yoga while earning an internationally recognized Yoga Alliance certification.

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Varkala, Kerala · India
30 Days · 200 Hours
Small, guided groups

At a Glance

Traditional Hatha Yoga Instructor Course

Designed for committed practitioners ready to deepen their practice, teach with confidence, and live yoga beyond the mat.

Level
Intermediate–Advanced
Style
Traditional Hatha · Yoga Nidra
Certification
Yoga Alliance 200 RYT
Group Size
Limited for personal attention
Since 2010 1500+ graduates from 40+ countries
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A traditional 200-hour Hatha Yoga journey in a modern world

Our 200 hours Yoga Instructor Course (YIC) is a residential Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course created for sincere practitioners who want to go beyond drop-in classes and immerse themselves in a disciplined, transformative retreat setting. You will live the ashram lifestyle, study the philosophy behind the practice, and learn how to guide others with clarity and confidence.

Each week balances asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodology. Rather than only perfecting external postures, we help you integrate yoga’s ethics and psychology into everyday life, so that your teaching (and living) is rooted in authenticity.

What makes this retreat different?

  • Emphasis on spinal health and joint safety in every asana.
  • Integration of Chakra theory, pranayama, and yoga nidra in daily practice.
  • Ashram discipline that supports inner quiet, reflection, and self-study.

Teaching-focused from day one

  • Progressive teaching practice in pairs and small groups.
  • Detailed feedback on alignment, voice, sequencing, and presence.
  • Guidance on professional ethics, insurance, and life as a yoga teacher.

Our approach to Hatha Yoga

In this teacher training course you will practice and learn to teach traditional Hatha Yoga that is grounded in the anatomy of the spine and joints. We avoid fast, fitness-based flows that over-stimulate the nervous system and disregard the subtler aspects of breath and prana.

Instead, we cultivate sthira (stability) and sukha (ease) in each posture, with attention to breath retention, bandhas, and the alignment of the eight major joints. Asana practice is adapted to each student’s psychosomatic profile, rather than forcing everyone through a pre-set sequence.

Alongside asana, you will explore meditation, yoga nidra, mantra chanting, and yoga philosophy so that practice touches body, breath, intellect, and heart.

A day in the Yoga Teacher Training Retreat

The rhythm of the day is designed to support deep practice, steady energy, and space for reflection. Classes run six days a week; the seventh day is reserved for optional excursions and quiet rest.

  • 06:00 – 06:40 Meditation and centering
  • 06:40 – 07:00 Neti & cleansing kriyas
  • 07:00 – 09:00 Morning asana practice & pranayama
  • 09:00 – 10:00 Brunch
  • 10:30 – 12:30 Yoga in Big Picture / Yoga anatomy
  • 12:30 – 14:00 Free time / Private coaching
  • 13:30 – 14:30 Fruits / Snacks
  • 14:30 – 16:00 Yoga Sutras / Ayurveda theory
  • 16:30 – 19:00 Workshops, teaching practice, and yoga anatomy labs
  • 19:00 – 20:00 Dinner
  • 20:00 – 21:00 Video sessions or chanting (three evenings per week)
  • 22:00 – 10:00 Silence, rest, and self-reflection

Timetable is approximate and may be adjusted according to weather and group needs.

How we evaluate and support you

Throughout the course, you will be gently and consistently assessed in five key areas to ensure you grow as both practitioner and teacher:

  • Self-practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation.
  • Teaching skills, sequencing, and class management.
  • Understanding of yoga anatomy and basic Ayurveda.
  • Grasp of yoga philosophy and psychology.
  • Integration of yoga’s spiritual principles in daily life.

In the final week we guide you through the practical steps of registering with Yoga Alliance, navigating insurance and professional ethics, and preparing to offer classes, workshops, or retreats in your home country.

Since 2010, we have welcomed over 1500 students from more than 40 countries into this Yoga Teacher Training Retreat in India, many of whom return to deepen their practice and teaching.

Vrindavan International School of Yoga

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