300 Hours Raja Yoga Teacher Training Course

300 Hours Raja Yoga Teacher Training Course is a fully residential course systematic designed which contains theory as well as practical classes. It is in its spirit a  complete Meditation Teacher Training Course. Raja Yoga classically termed also as “Ashtanga Yoga” is inclusive of all Yoga and its philosophy goes beyond the frontiers of general human perception. The Sanskrit word “Raj” means secret, hence Raja Yoga imbibes the “secret of  Yoga”. It reveals experienced facts of spiritual life towards liberation. This branch of Yoga has been discussed in various Yoga texts such as Hath Yoga Pradipika (4.3 – 4.7) but traditionally the most detailed text on this is Yoga Sutra by Patanjali. The training is based upon the commentary of Great Swami Vivekananda on Yoga Sutra and methods expressed in it.

In the modern time, the first expounder of Raja Yoga on international platform was the great Swami Vivekananda. The prominent quote of Swami Vivekananda is clear about the idea of the entire context which is as follows – “Each Soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within, by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or by philosophy, by one, or more, or all of these – and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details. The Yogi tries to reach this goal through psychic control”. Swami Vivekananda (Commentary on Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, Chapter 2, Sutra 25)

300 Hours Yoga Teacher Training and assessment – The entire teacher training is the assessment of the students at all levels including practical and written tests. At the successful completion of the course an aspirant will be conferred upon a certificate indicating that the aspirant is qualified to impart the techniques in which he or she has been trained.

Inclusions – 27 nights accommodation (Shared accommodation & Private rooms), Course material (books, notebook, pen, Jala Neti pot), Private Yoga consultation, Vegetarian food (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner), 1 sound healing session, Weekend excursions (Temple visit for the Rising sun, visit nearby temples, Ran Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh city) and Wi-fi etc.

Exclusions – Flight tickets, airport pick up and drop, longer tours and trips around, travel and cancellation insurance, medical assistance and things for personal requirements.

Things to do – Camping, Hiking, meditate at holy Ganga beach, Ganga Aarti, visit –  ancient temples, ashrams, holy people and Rishikesh city, waterfall, river rafting, Ayurveda massage, Shopping and others.

Prerequisites – For 300 Hours Raja Yoga teacher training course, a great degree of self-motivation is essential. Hereunder are a few things which the participants should be aware of. They are  –

• The students should have a good understanding of Yoga and must be practising on a regular basis.
• They should be able to practice discipline of Yoga such as purity, punctuality, early waking up, participation is the daily activities and so on.
• They should be able to motivate themselves to continue with the life-style, the school prescribes for them such as on time classes, food and other guidelines according to the need. 
• They want to experience relaxation, clarity and ability of mind as means for spiritual awakening.

How to arrive (Airports) – New Delhi International Airport (IGI) located around 240 km from Rishikesh, Jolly Grant Domestic Airport Dehradun located around 20 km from Rishikesh. From both airports cab/car services are available to reach Rishikesh at our school. If you wish we may organize your transfer to the centre at reasonable fair.

Accreditation – Sanatana Yog Sandesh is certified by Yoga Alliance USA and Yoga Alliance International which provide the chances to use the certificate for career and job opportunities. Upon successful completion of the course students are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance USA as Registered Yoga Teachers (E-RYT).

• Providing of the requisite training to the participants who endeavour to blossom into integrated personalities with balance of head, heart and hand.
• Providing of the ancient methods of meditation and moral practices to explore the deeper recesses of mind.
• Fetch the attention of people to other unnoticed aspects of Yoga which we all need for our further evolution.
• More importantly attracting the teachers of Yoga in the world who are stuck into the jugglery of physical exercises so that they may see things beyond and help themselves and other in the path of transformation.
• To offer to the world at large well trained Raja Yoga Teachers.

28 days (4 weeks) – The total duration for this course is 28 days however with the day of arrival this becomes 29 days.

The 300 Hours Yoga teacher training course is open only to those who have ample perfection in Hatha Yoga practices. To clarify this more, the participant need to estimate these followings –

• Complete medical fitness; physical as well as mental.
• To be able to hold a posture of meditation for at least 20 minutes without any discomfort.
• To have the capacity to hold the breath for 5 to 10 seconds in continuity of any practice without even slight difficulty.
• To be able to maintain disciplines of Yoga for the duration of the training.
• To have inner motivation towards the subtle practices of Yoga which requires patience.
• Already completed 200 hours YTTC or experienced Yoga practitioners or spiritual minded or practising teachers of Yoga.
• More importantly long time practitioners who want experiences of causal level to be a guide to themselves and others in this path.

300 Hours Raja Yoga teacher training course incorporates a series of subtle of topics for study and practice. All these topics come under these following heads –

1. Techniques, Training and Practice – It incorporates several practices of Hatha Yoga as well for greater efficiency into Raja Yoga practices which students will study in the Yoga teacher training course. They are –

Asana – (Specific postures from Hatha Yoga such as purificatory asana for lightness and purification of body. Also postures from different group of asana like standing, supine, prone – (backward, forward, spine twist), inversion and balance. From all the group of asana very selective ones would be focused for the training purpose.

Pranayama – techniques for correction of breath, breathing to heat and energise, breathing to balance, breathing to cool and harmonise. Special focus on Nadi Shodhana Pranayama as a means of purification of nadis and sense control.

Mudra – Some important gestures of fingers and body to affect energy in body.

Bandha – Important practices for locking the energy in body. 

Shatkarma – Some purificatory practices (Shat-karma practices) in Yoga such as nasal cleansing etc.

Meditation – Study and practice of sitting asana, stillness of body, Yogic breathing with awareness and visualisation, awareness of  layers of body, elements, energy channels, senses, various methods of concentration, various methods of reflection and introspection and practices of meditation from Yoga Sutra of Patanjali etc.

Moral Practices – Practices of Yama, Niyama and other moral practices relevant to spiritual growth. 

2. Teaching Methodology – This is a combination of complex topics such as designing Raja Yoga class, how to teach different practices of Yoga,  how to be good Yoga teacher, ethical guidelines, develop communication skills, time management,  principles of demonstration, assistance, awareness, correction, styles of teaching, specific needs of individuals in a Yoga class and business aspects of Yoga teaching etc.

3. Anatomy and Physiology – 

(a) Modern Human anatomy and Physiology (Nervous System in detail, Respiratory System, Digestive, Cardiovascular System), important Joints and their movements in different Asana, important muscles and their movements in different Asana.

(b) Yoga Human anatomy and Physiology (composition of Human body – 5 elements, 5 Koshas, 3 bodies, Nadis, Chakra and Kundalini).

(c) Holistic approach of Yoga (learning how system of Yoga needs to be incorporated for human well-being of body, mind, emotion and spirit).

4. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers – Reflection on the previously studied topics such Philosophy, Philosophical perspectives of Yoga, Yoga, its meaning, definitions, aims and objectives, Historical development of Yoga (Pre-classical, Classical, Post-classical and Modern Approach), Schools of Yoga, Brief discussion on Vedas, Samkhya Philosophy, Selected topics from Yoga Sutra (Antahakaran, Chitta, Antarayah, Ishwara, Aum, Samadhi, 5 Kleshas, 8 limbs, Samyama, Kaivalya) and Srimadabhagavada Gita, 3 bodies, 5 elements, 5 Koshas,  5 Pranas, Nadis, Chakras, Kundalini, 5 Senses, Mind and its aspects, states of mind. Yoga Sutra of Patanjali as the main text discussed in detail.

5. Practicum – Practice of teaching different practices in groups as the lead instructor, observe and assist while others teaching, focus on specific practices and compiling feedback etc.

Suggested Yoga Books for 300 Hours Yoga teacher training course –

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha – Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Raja Yoga – Swami Vivekananda or

Four Chapters of freedom – Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Yoga Darshan – Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Anatomy and Physiology – not specified

The daily schedule for 300 hours Yoga teacher training course starts by 5am. All students have to wake up at this time except in some contingencies. The daily programmes are tentative and subject to change according to need. All classes are held for 6 days in a week.

• 6.30am to 7am – Herbal tea/Drink
• 7am to 8.30am – Hatha Yoga Asana, Pranayama and other practices followed by Relaxation
• 8.30am to 9.30am – Breakfast
• 10am to 11am – Anatomy
• 11.15am to 12.15pm – Yoga Humanities and Philosophy
• 12.15pm to 1pm – personal cleaning and Karma Yoga
• 1pm to 2pm – Lunch
• 3.30pm to 4.30 – Meditation and Relaxation (lecture, practice and Vice-versa), Professional essentials  (teaching methodology, professional development, practicum) and Yoga business tools
• 5pm to 6.30pm – Asana alignment and adjustments (theory and practical training with teaching practices)
• 6.30pm to 7.30pm – Dinner
• 7.30 to 8.30pm – Kirtan, Chanting and video show etc. (optional session)
• 9pm – Bed time 

Registration – Please Register or write to us via our email (sanatanayogsandesh@gmail.com) to check the availability of a place. It the place is available we will request you to fill in the registration form online. Then you need to make non-refundable deposit to finally be selected for the course.

Deposit – A non-refundable deposit of 300 Euro only for overseas, NRI students and total course fee only for Indian students plus transaction bank charges/commissions is required to confirm the candidature in Yoga teacher training course. Please follow Payment.

Cancellation of the application for the course – For the time being we do not provide this facility. Therefore, properly decide before you deposit the amount for the course.

Remaining Payment – The remainder payments can be made after arrival. For more details please look into Orientation guide in Download.

Accommodation, Food & Drink, Airports etc. – Please follow Accommodation and Yoga School.