Tattvaa Yogashala Rishikesh

In the Mysore-style room at Tattvaa Yogashala, nobody counts the breath for anyone else. Each student moves through the Ashtanga sequence at their own pace while teachers circulate with individual support. The school describes it as self-practice in a group setting, the traditional way of the system.

The school stands at Ram Jhula in Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges, with the Himalayan foothills, waterfalls and greenery around it. It describes 26 years of teaching and Yoga Alliance certification since 2007. It counts more than 10,000 certified graduates from over 80 countries.

Teacher training is the core of the work, offered at 100, 200, 300 and 500 hours in Multi-Style and Ashtanga tracks. The Ashtanga teaching is led by Sr. Teacher Yogi Kamal Singh. The led Primary Series, called Yoga Chikitsa, is taught as a vigorous practice that synchronises breath and movement and builds heat. Weekly classes also cover pranayama, Hatha, Yoga Nidra, restorative yoga, meditation, and kriyas and satkarma.

Students stay in shared or single rooms; the single rooms have attached washrooms. Sattvic meals, prepared with a yogic and Ayurvedic touch, are served as brunch, tea and dinner, with a garden dining area. Shorter residential retreats of seven and ten days focus on yoga and healing, Ashtanga, pranayama and Yoga Nidra. Teacher-training graduates can also apply to stay on as volunteers for a minimum of three months, the first of them a trial.