India, also referred as the Spiritual Capital of India by the philosophical thinkers Aurobindo Ghosh, also happens to be the birthplace of the ancient yogic wisdom of India – Yoga. Today, yoga has not only stood the testament of time, but also maintained its rituals, asana practices, and therapeutic benefits over the centuries to stay relevant in modern times. Yoga as a fitness practice and a wellness methodology attracts fitness seekers and wellness enthusiasts from various corners of the world.
Especially, for yoga teacher training courses, wherein yoga students enrol in committed programs to receive certification upon the completion of their course. And, then being able to share their knowledge of yoga worldwide across platforms. So, if you were someone who wants to enhance your personal practice of yoga or want to take up a professional pathway in yoga to become yoga instructors, you could benefit from learning some essential travel tips for India, especially if you’re coming for a yoga course.
Travel Tips for India Yoga TTC
Selecting the Right Visa for Yoga TTC in India
- a) The Yoga Visa – The Yoga Visa was launched in 2023. It issues Visas for 3 to 12 months, it can be extended also if you wish to extend your training. You can apply for it through the official website of the Indian Visa Application, or even contact your nearest Indian embassy for the same.
- b) Student Visa for long term yoga training – If you are interested in enrolling in the long term yoga teacher training courses such as a 200 hour yoga teacher training goa, kind of commitments, or even if you wish to enrol in a Yoga University for degree certificate courses, a student visa could be the best option. All you will need is an admission letter from your yoga school and you will be allowed to stay for the duration of your course as well as for additional internship periods of any.
- c) Tourist Visa – Tourist Visa is best for short term courses. If your yoga TTC gets wrapped under a month, you can apply for a tourist e-visa. This is usually valid for 30 to 90 days, completely depending on your country. The procedure includes a simple application which is generally approved within 72 hours. The only thing you need to watch out for is, your tourist visa cannot be extended or converted while you are in India.
Tip- It’s recommended to confirm your type of visa from your yoga school. Most of the times, the yoga ashrams offer visa support letters and also help you through the application.
Important Document Checklist to be Carried
- Your passport with at least 6 months of validity.
- Â Passport size photos for visa support.
- Confirmation email or even admission letter from your yoga school.
- Proof of accommodation (your yoga school provided accommodation or any hotel bookings if you have arranged for yourself).
- Return tickets (sometimes it’s asked while your visa application).
- Travel insurance (it will be handy in covering emergencies).
Best Time to Visit India For a Yoga TTC
There are amazing places in India to visit for Yoga, starting with –
Goa – Best Time to visit is Oct to March. Although Goa offers beach side paradise all year long, Oct to Nov sees nice weather and good yoga community influx.
Rishikesh – Feb to May and even September to Nov. This is a favorable time, as Dec and Jan can get pretty cold, because of being located in the Garhwal Himalayas and surrounded by Shivaliks.
Mysore – Home of Ashtanga yoga. Has a comfortable weather all year round, but the best time to visit is Dec to Feb.
When traveling to India, you can avoid June to Sept as the country witness monsoon showers. So, unless you want to enjoy the monsoons, which is again a different experience and a personal preference, this phase of the year can be avoided for yoga TTC.
 Health & Safety Tips
Before visiting India for your yoga teacher training course it can be best if you arrange your travel insurance which can cover medical emergency, flight cancellations, lost baggage, and it is also recommended to carry a basic first aid kit which can include rehydration tonics, anti allergy or pain relief tablets, and any other medications which you are taking.
Packing Essentials for Your Yoga Teacher Training Course
Yoga wear
When coming for a yoga class it is important to carry yoga wear that is comfortable breathable and also allows you to enjoy your yoga practice so leggings, shorts, quick dry T shirts, grip socks, and accessories such as headbands and hair ties can come in handy.
Personal items
Personal essentials such as sunscreens because Goa is a coastal area and receives good amount of sunlight, mosquito repellent creams, a white shawl or scarf for visiting temples or ashrams, power adapters for international traveling, and a small lock for your luggage are preferable items which you can keep in addition to your yoga wear.
Optional items
Certain optional items such as a traveling pillow or a neck pillow, a lightweight towel etc can be kept. But it is recommended to pack light and practical because most of the items can also be bought locally. So, it is a good idea to pack only essentials and avoid heavy gadgets and excessively additionalclothes.
Connectivity & Money Management
SIM cards – Communication is important anywhere and everywhere. So, to easily keep your communication on in India, you can buy a prepaid SIM card at the airport itself with your passport and visa copy.
Digital payments –Â India is one of the leading nations when it comes to accepting and promoting digital payments. So, UPI based apps such as Phone Pe, Google Pay, etc are convenient for purchases and nowadays even small local vendors are accepting digital payments, So things are pretty convenient financially.
ATMs – Atms are easily available at most of the places, so carrying some cash can be handy for making purchases with the local vendors.
Cultural Etiquettes
Respecting the culture ethos of a place, shows your sincerity and respect towards the people.
Namaste- a sign of respect in Indian culture, a humble salute, done by joining the palms together close to your chest.
Removing footwear before entering temples or visiting anybody’s homes.
Carrying a full covered body dress such as long skirts and sleeve t shirts usually white in colour for temple or ashram visits can be kept in mind.
 Enjoy Your Yoga TTC
Engage fully. Immerse in the additional activities such as Pranayama, meditations, Kirtan, Mantra chanting, satvik food to enjoy a spiritual and meaningful journey.
Conclusion
Joining a Yoga Teacher Training Goa India is More than just receiving your certification course it’s a journey wherein you learn the right methodology of practicing yoga along with breath work practices such as Pranayama, meditations, mantra chanting, kirtan and finding a community that you can relate with. When coming to India, these visa and travel tips can not only help you to plan better, but also ease out your journey.
