Rishikesh Yoga Association

Rishikesh Yoga Association sits in Tapovan, the part of Rishikesh at the foothills of the Himalayas, on Balaknath Road. The school describes itself as established to spread what it calls the pure knowledge of yoga. It is registered with Yoga Alliance USA and runs 100, 200, 300 and 500-hour teacher trainings. Its pages name no founder and give no founding date, but they are specific about the setting: lush trees, mountain air, and the Ganges within walking distance.

The training is kept small. Each teacher training course accepts 18 students. The faculty teaches Multistyle, Hatha, Kundalini and Ashtanga yoga, and the stated aim is to pair traditional yoga with modern teaching method, moving students through asana, pranayama and dhyana. Meditation sessions are held every evening. Mats are provided, and white, modest clothing is recommended for class.

The kitchen gets as much attention as the yoga hall. The school serves a satvik diet of vegetables and fruit, prepared fresh by dedicated staff, and avoids food that makes the body either lethargic or overactive. Meals are vegetarian rather than vegan, but the chef cooks to order for vegans, for allergies, and for needs such as diabetes or celiac disease if guests say so in advance. Rooms have attached bathrooms and free Wi-Fi.

Beyond the trainings, the school offers a short Transformational Yoga Retreat built around daily yoga, meditation, satsang, lectures, a Himalayan trip and the in-house library. It also runs a Himalayan Yoga Retreat, a detoxifying program with six nights in rooms and camp stay, daily asana and meditation, and cleansing practices using a neti pot. Yin Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Sound Healing courses round out the short-course list.