12 Reasons Why You Should Learn to Teach Yoga in India

Yoga began in India about 10,000 years ago. For, ancient monks and sages, yoga asanas were key to keeping their bodies fit and disease-free, with the goal of achieving higher stages of meditation, and eventually, Samadhi (enlightenment).

Yoga, when practiced the correctly, keeps the body healthy and young. Even today it is a dream of most serious yoga practitioners to learn to teach yoga in India. But is it the right choice for you? And what can a yoga teacher training in India offer that one closer to home can't? Keep reading to learn why this experience is so transformative and what you can hope to gain from studying yoga in India. 

Why Learn to Teach Yoga in India?

Every year, thousands of people arrive in India to study its deep yoga traditions. According to data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the number of foreign students coming to learn yoga in India increased from 34,774 in 2012-2013 to 49,348 in 2019-2020. These numbers are growing steadily, and rightfully so. India is the birthplace of yoga, but that’s not the only reason why you should consider India for your yoga teacher certification. 

Let’s look at 12 reasons why people from all over the world choose to study yoga in India:

1. Teaches Authentic Yoga Philosophy

Yoga originated in India. This means that when you learn to be a yoga teacher in India, you’re studying yoga from the source. The foundations of yoga are thought to date back at least 5,000 years. Teachings on yoga first appeared in the Vedas, ancient philosophical texts from India, as well as in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Later, more extensive descriptions were recorded in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. In contrast, it was only about 200 years ago that yoga was introduced in the West.

Yoga philosophy is deeply rooted in the culture of India. Therefore, teachers who have grown up or lived in this culture themselves have a profound understanding of yoga as a lifestyle and not merely a physical practice. They will help you weave yoga teachings into every aspect of your life, not just on your mat. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of yoga and its various practices like Pranayama (life-force expansion exercises), Dharana (concentration) and Dhyana (meditation).

Read more: The Essential Guide to Continuing Education for Yoga Teachers

2. Offers a True Ashram Experience

When learning to be a yoga teacher in India, you will most likely live in an ashram for at least a month. Living in an ashram is a unique experience, allowing you to dive deeper into your training and environment. An ashram is a residential school, a place that is solely focused on learning. It is therefore, simple and minimalist, without unnecessary luxuries. Living in an ashram also means you will stick to a structured and disciplined program based on the yogic lifestyle. This experience:

• Helps you take a step back from your daily routine and develop new, healthy habits
• Allows you to experience more balance in your body and mind
• Challenges you to grow, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually all the more

3. Expands Your Comfort Zone

There's something truly transformative about studying yoga thousands of miles from home. India not only takes you out of your comfort zone, but introduces you to an entirely new reality that challenges you in unexpected ways.

The initial days in India can be overwhelming: unfamiliar sounds, different customs, new foods, and communication barriers all demand change. But this deliberate displacement becomes one of the most valuable parts of your yoga journey. When familiar routines and cultural reference points disappear, you develop resilience and new perspectives almost by necessity. What begins as anxiety gradually transforms into confidence that extends far beyond your yoga practice.

Also See: Yoga Teacher Training Survival Guide for Students

4. Builds Discipline & Dedication

India is well-known for its strict and result-driven educational system. Discipline and structure are key factors for success in life, and throughout your training, you naturally deepen these qualities to help you do the same in your practice.

In an intensive ashram program, there are hardly any distractions as you are away from home and with limited internet connection. After a week or so, the structure of this program teaches you to study and practice yoga with extreme dedication and discipline, which you can then take with you in life. 

5. Chance to Connect with Others

Training in India attracts dedicated practitioners from around the world, creating a remarkably diverse learning environment. You'll practice alongside people from various backgrounds and professions, all united by their passion for yoga.

This international community becomes an unexpected treasure of your journey. Deep bonds form quickly in the intensive ashram setting as you support each other through challenging practices, share insights, and navigate a foreign culture together. These connections often evolve into lasting relationships that span continents. Many students leave with a global network that creates opportunities for future collaborations or simply homes to visit worldwide.

6. Immerses You in the Cultural Heart of Yoga

Studying in India connects you directly with yoga's birthplace while doubling as an opportunity to explore this magnificent country. Beyond certification, you'll discover the rich diversity of landscapes, traditions, and spiritual practices that have shaped yoga for millennia.

Daily life becomes an extension of your formal education. Observing riverside ceremonies, navigating ancient temples, and connecting with locals offers insights that textbooks simply cannot provide. These moments reveal how yogic philosophy naturally extends beyond the mat.
Many students find their practice transformed after exploring these iconic destinations:

• Rishikesh: Known as the "Yoga Capital of the World," this city is famous for its ashrams and yoga retreats.
• Goa: Offers a mix of relaxation, beaches, and yoga, attracting many practitioners.
• Dharamsala: A serene place surrounded by mountains, known for Tibetan yoga and meditation practices.
• Kerala: Celebrated for its Ayurvedic treatments and scenic backwaters, providing a unique yoga experience.

Explore: Yoga Teacher Training in India – The Essential Student Travel Guide [2024]

7. Awakens Deep Self-Understanding

Training in India takes you on a journey inward that goes well beyond learning poses. Many students find this experience marks a turning point in their lives—whether starting a new career, fulfilling a dream, or finally following their heart.

In the ashram environment, self-reflection happens naturally. Away from your usual distractions and daily roles, you see yourself with unusual clarity. Morning meditation sessions, evening philosophical discussions, and the rhythm of ashram life create space to examine who you really are and what matters most to you.

Traditional Indian yoga teaching emphasizes this inner exploration. While Western classes might focus primarily on physical benefits, teachers in India naturally weave in questions about consciousness and the nature of self. Students often say their biggest takeaway isn't the certification itself, but a newfound self-awareness that continues to deepen long after returning home.

8. Offers Better Value Without Compromising Quality

While enrolling in a yoga teacher's training is always a significant investment, travel and accommodation costs can add up. For this reason, many students come to India to complete their training or continue their studies, as prices are much lower than in Europe or the US.

What might cover just tuition elsewhere often includes comfortable accommodation, nourishing meals, and comprehensive training in India. For example, at yoga ashrams like Arhanta Yoga, everything from daily meals to practical yoga classes and accommodation is bundled into one straightforward price. This approach creates a stress-free environment where you can focus entirely on your practice rather than worrying about expenses.

9. Reconnects You with Nature

India has a vast and varied landscape, and although it has a large population, you can find remote places in more rural areas as well. Arhanta Yoga Ashram India is a great example of this.

Located about 20 km away from the town of Khajuraho, it is surrounded by lush nature and a peaceful environment. The hills, green fields and the river create a calm and serene atmosphere—the perfect place to practice yoga. The ashram itself reflects the same peace and quiet, helping you turn your attention inward and reconnect with the natural world.

10. Embraces the Complete Yogic Lifestyle

At an Indian ashram, you're learning and living yoga—fully. The entire experience is designed around yoga's holistic principles, creating a container for transformation that's impossible to replicate in weekend or evening courses back home.

From sunrise meditation to evening philosophy discussions, every element of ashram life reinforces yogic principles. You're surrounded by others with similar intentions, creating a uniquely supportive atmosphere where depth of practice becomes the natural focus.

The daily schedule integrates the essential components of traditional yoga, such as:

• Proper exercise (asanas)
• Proper breathing (pranayama)
• Proper relaxation (savasana)
• Proper diet (vegetarian)

Meals are often taken in mindful silence, allowing for deeper appreciation of simple, sattvic food. Morning practices begin before dawn, aligning with natural body rhythms and building discipline. Every aspect of this immersive schedule helps establish healthy patterns that many students maintain long after returning home.

Read more: What to Expect at a Yoga Ashram?

11. Provides a Deeper Understanding of Yoga Philosophy

Educational systems are different all around the world. In India, the traditional way of learning at an ashram is called the Gurukula system. Children would be sent to an ashram to live, study and work with the main teacher (guru) for several years. They were expected to be part of the community, not only doing their schoolwork but also participating in maintenance duties. Yoga in ancient  India and today is often based on this teaching system. During a yoga teacher training, you will have the opportunity to be part of the community in the ashram, working, living and learning together.

All ancient yoga texts and books were written in ancient languages like Sanskrit and Prakrit. In India, yoga teacher trainers study these texts in their original language therefore, their understanding of these texts is more accurate. And consequently, their understanding of the principles and practices of yoga is also more accurate. When you study with a yoga teacher in India, you understand yogic principles correctly.

12. A Once in a Lifetime Experience

Traveling to India and following a yoga teacher training are both experiences that can radically change your life. Gaining new insights, overcoming challenges, and meeting like-minded people are all things that will make memories that you take with you forever. In India, many teachings are based on something inside of you.

Most of the people who choose to go to India to study yoga want to experience authentic yoga. Apart from learning ancient yoga in India, there are many popular yoga styles to explore these days:

• Hatha Yoga 
• Ashtanga Yoga
• Kundalini Yoga
• Vinyasa Yoga
• Integral Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga

Most of these styles have been developed in India by Indian yoga masters. People come to India to experience these yoga styles and get first-hand teachings directly from the masters or their students. You can, therefore, discover yoga, which has not changed its original form since the rise of yoga in the West.

Final Thought

Studying yoga in India transforms you far beyond the physical postures. It connects you to yoga's ancient roots and immerses you in the philosophical teachings that make this practice so relevant today.

Living in an ashram challenges everything you thought you knew. It pushes boundaries, disrupts comfortable routines, and demands genuine commitment. Year after year, we witness this transformation in our students - arriving as curious practitioners and departing as people who understand yoga's deeper dimensions.

If you're called to experience yoga not just as a practice but as a complete way of living, consider joining our certified 200-hour yoga teacher training in India.