Yoga Teacher Training Certificate
Classical yoga training from Kaivalyadhama. 200 hours.
Three ways to study.
This programme does not certify mastery in Yoga teaching.
It prepares aspirants through discipline, study, and sustained practice to responsibly enter the path of teaching Yoga, in alignment with the principles and values upheld by Kaivalyadhama.
What This Course Is
Yoga has a source. For a hundred years, Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala has been the place where yoga was first studied scientifically, where Swami Kuvalayananda demonstrated that yoga’s oldest claims could be tested, measured, and taught with rigour.
This course gives you that foundation. Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Hatha Yoga texts. Yogic anatomy. Teaching methodology. Asana, pranayama, kriyas, bandhas, mudras.
200 hours. Internationally recognised. RYS 200 registered.
For the Hybrid-Self-Paced structure, you have three years from enrollment to complete it.
Who This Course Is For
- Yoga practitioners ready to teach — with no prior teaching experience
- Anyone seeking classical yoga education grounded in original texts and scientific research
- Those who want to study where the science of yoga was born
- Professionals, teachers, and practitioners who cannot take extended time off but can commit to two or four focused weeks in India
Choose How You Study
Same course, same certification. Three formats based on your convenience.
Hybrid: Live Online Theory + Practicals in India
Study the theory with live online classes, scheduled sessions with Kaivalyadhama faculty. Then attend onsite sessions in Pune, Bhopal, Delhi or Ahmedabad for practicals and certification.
Duration
4 Months – 200 Hours
Online
Scheduled live online classes on Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga texts, yogic anatomy, teaching methodology
In India
Residential practical intensive including asana, pranayama, kriyas, bandhas, mudras, mantra, supervised teaching
Suitable for
Those who prefer structured class timings and direct faculty interaction during theory, but cannot relocate for a full month
Students can choose the centre for practice from the following locations
Kaivalyadhama Pune Centre, Manasi Vikas Kendra, 137/1 Someshwar Temple Road, Pashan, Pune – 411021
Email: kdham.pune@kdham.com
Contact Number: +91 9158482113 / +91 9096135255
Centre Link: Click Here
Kaivalyadhama Yoga Prashikshan Kendra, Near Govt. Gurukulam School’s Hostel, Bawadiya Kala, Bhopal – 462039
Email: kdham.bhopal@kdham.com
Contact Number: +91 7869164812
Centre Link: Click Here
C, 58, First Floor, Sector 63 Rd, C Block, Sector 63, Noida, Hazratpur Wajidpur, Uttar Pradesh – 201309
Email: kdham.delhi@kdham.com
Contact Number: +91 9719304075 / +91 9910012687
Centre Link: Click Here
Kaivalya Yoga Shala, 306, Ashirvad Paras, Corporate Road, Prahladnagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 380015
Contact Number: +91 93289 95728
Course Details
Lecture Timings:
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (weekdays)
- 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (weekends) (subject to change as per centre)
*Recording of the lectures will be shared with the students
*Special Sundays: (Shuddhi kriya) (Shuddhi Kriya practice requires students to arrive earlier at the center. Specific timing details will be communicated in advance.)
Attendance: 80% attendance is mandatory
Certification:
- Written exam, viva, lesson plan and practical exam will be conducted at the Centre at the end of the course
- It is mandatory to pass each of the above to qualify for Certificate
- Kaivalyadhama will present certificate of completion of Course to the successful candidates
Upcoming Course Dates
19th April – 14th August 2026
Course Incharge
Ms. Ruchi Agarwal: +91-9422095112 | Ms. Madhusmita: +91-9763172207
Course Fees
Rs. 25000
Questions
- 80% attendance in theory and practicals (including teaching assignments) is mandatory
- Students with <80% attendance will take exams in the next academic cycle
- Students with <60% attendance will be required to re-enroll
No accommodation is required for this course. Timings to report to the respective centres have been provided
Lecture Timings:
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm (weekdays)
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (weekends) (subject to change as per centre)
*Recording of the lectures will be shared with the students
*Special Sundays: (Shuddhi kriya) (Shuddhi Kriya practice requires students to arrive earlier at the center. Specific timing details will be communicated in advance.)
Kaivalyadhama Pune Centre: +91-9096135255 (whatsapp only)
Email id:kdham.pune@kdham.com
Hybrid: Self-Paced Online Theory + 2 Weeks in India
Study the theory in your own time, at your own pace, through pre-recorded video lectures. Then attend the same 2-week intensive for practicals and certification. Join and start right away!
Online (100 hrs)
32+ hours pre-recorded video lectures. Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga texts, yogic anatomy, teaching methodology. Texts by Swami Kuvalayananda. Assignments with faculty feedback via chat.
In India (100 hrs)
2-week residential practical intensive
Suitable for
Those with irregular schedules, multiple time zones, or who learn better without fixed class times
Access
Full curriculum unlocked within 24 hours of enrollment. Up to 3 years to complete.
All online assignments must be completed before attending the practical intensive. This is mandatory.
Check-in and check-out: Please follow the check-in and check-out dates and timings as given below
The classes will start from the next day after checking in and end on the penultimate day. The first and the last days are for check-in / out procedures and orientation.
Things to carry: Among the bare essentials, please carry your own bath towel. Yoga mats are provided, but you may bring your own if you wish to.
Theory Assignments: Please complete your theory assignments and submit over email before joining the practicals. This is mandatory as per rules.
Clothing: Clothing that is comfortable, light and less revealing is recommended.
Arriving from airport: The nearest international airport is Mumbai – about 2.5 hours drive from Lonavala. The other airport is Pune (domestic only), about 1.5 hours drive.
If you want taxi from Mumbai or Pune airports, please contact the person below one week before your departure:
Mr. Satinder Pal Singh Kuku
Email – kkuku28@hotmail.com
Contact no: +91 9370779000
Upcoming Practical Intensive Dates
In Lonavala
14th June – 27th June 2026
Check-in: 14th June, 1:00–4:00 pm IST
Check-out: 28th June, 10:00 am IST
13th December – 26th December 2026
Check-in: 13th December, 1:00–4:00 pm IST
Check-out: 27th December, 10:00 am IST
In Rishikesh
6th September – 19th September 2026
Check-in: 6th September, 1:00–4:00 pm IST
Check-out: 20th September, 10:00 am IST
Stay: Janki Devi Somany Bhawan, Ganga Vihar Colony, Kolghatti, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249201
Course Fees
Travel to the Campus
- Nearest airports: Mumbai (approx. 2.5 hours) or Pune (approx. 1.5 hours)
- Lonavala railway station: 3 km from campus
- Taxi contact: Mr Satinder Pal Singh Kuku — kkuku28@hotmail.com | +91 93707 79000 (contact at least one week before arrival)
- Address: Janki Devi Somany Bhawan, Ganga Vihar Colony, Kolghatti, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249201
- Nearest airport: Dehradun (approx. 1 hour)
- Yoga mats are provided — you may bring your own if preferred
- Modest, comfortable clothing suitable for practice (shoulders and knees covered)
- Any personal chronic medication
- Copy of your ID or passport + 2 passport-sized photographs
- Light sweater for evenings (Lonavala evenings can be cool)
- Umbrella or raincoat if attending the June batch
Questions
Three years from the date of enrollment to complete the online theory and attend the in-person practical intensive.
Our teachers have been teaching Yoga as a subject to the thousands of students who have passed out of the Yoga College at Kaivalyadhama, India.
The teachers in the online course are:
Dr. Ganesh Rao (Lecturer – Patanjali Yoga Sutras)
Dr. Ganesh Rao has conducted more than 13500 sessions of Yoga till date, covering both the theory and practice of all aspects of Yoga catering towards health and healing. Dr. Rao is a Guide for Ph.D. students in Philosophy and Yoga of Mumbai University and K.K. Sanskrit University, Nagpur.
Dr. G. S. Sahay (Lecturer, Gold Medalist – Sanskrit)
Prof. Sahay has around 34 years of Teaching experience to the post graduate students at G.S. college of Yoga and cultural synthesis Lonavala, and taught Indian philosophy, Patanjali Yoga sutras, and Traditional Yogic texts .He has also delivered lectures in different re-orientation programs organized for the teachers from the schools of Maharashtra and Central Govt. He has conducted various yoga camps and workshops on yoga in India as well as visited Seoul South Korea to conduct yoga courses.
Dr. Sharad Bhalekar (Ayurvedic Physician, Lecturer)
Dr. Bhalekar is one of the most popular teachers at KaivalyaDhama. He frequently travels to Singapore and other south-east asian countries to teach.
Dr. Praseeda Menon (Asst. Professor)
Dr. Praseeda Menon has been working with the Scientific Research Department, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, Lonavala, as a Research Officer in Psychology since 2013. She is Assistant Professor G. S. College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, Lonavala, is a member of its Board of Studies and its Board of Examinations.
Mrs. Shilpa Joshi
Mrs. Shilpa Joshi has been associated with the Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute Mumbai since 1989, after passing out with first rank in the diploma course at Kaivalyadham, she has been actively engaged in teaching in Traditional Yogic Texts for more than 20 years. She has translated from Marathi to English spiritual texts like “Dasbodh” by Swami Ramdas and Sant Tukaram, and translated Swami Kuvalayananda’s books on Asanas and Pranayama from English to Marathi. After attending several spiritual discourses and doing a personal study of combining the scientific and spiritual aspect of yoga, she has developed an inner vision which reflects in her lectures on the yogic texts, like Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Psychodynamics of Yoga and Patanjali Yoga Sutras.
Lee Majewski (Holistic Yoga Practitioner, Kundalini / Hatha Yoga Certified)
Lee has been in charge of the teaching methods at KaivalyaDhama. She also runs the cancer rejuvenation and chronic cure programs at Lonavala and around the world.
ONLINE GUIDES
Vartika Dubey is the daughter of Shri O P Tiwari and disciple of Swami Digambarji. She has been trained in pranayama by her father and has had the blessing of her guru and father both to teach Pranayama. She directs the New York chapter of KaivalyaDhama and has been teaching for many decades.
Hiroshi Aikata is an ex-student of KaivalyaDhama, who graduated in 1991. Currently Professor of Philosophy in Thailand. Excellent communicator and has a thorough knowledge of Indian yogic texts and yogic concepts, having practiced and studied them for many years. Hiroshi guides the japanese students.
Students must wear a T-shirt and track pants for all practical sessions
Days begin at 6:00 am with cleansing practices, followed by asana and pranayama, theory lectures, teaching practice sessions, mantra chanting, and an evening session. The full day includes 6–8 hours of structured learning, with time for meals and rest.
All online theory assignments must be submitted and cleared by faculty before you attend. This is mandatory. Arriving without completing the theory will affect your eligibility for the intensive.
No, accommodation will have to be booked separately.
Room charges (On campus): Click Here
For Lonavala: the nearest airports are Mumbai (approx. 2.5 hours by road) and Pune (approx. 1.5 hours).
For Rishikesh: Dehradun airport is approximately 1 hour away. Taxi bookings can be arranged through Mr. Satinder Pal Singh Kuku — kkuku28@hotmail.com or +91 93707 79000.
Contact at least one week before arrival.
What You Study
The syllabus is the same across all formats. The sequence of delivery differs.
- Patanjali Yoga Sutras
- Hatha Yoga texts
- Yogic anatomy and physiology
- Teaching methodology
- History and philosophy of yoga
- Principles of yogic diet
- Texts by Swami Kuvalayananda
- Assignments with teacher guidance
- Asana — with alignment and adaptation
- Pranayama
- Shat Kriyas
- Bandhas and Mudras
- Mantra chanting
- Supervised teaching sessions
- Teaching feedback and corrections
- Certification ceremony
Special Note
“ANUSHASAN” discipline is the first step where the yoga starts. All the students have to follow the rules and regulations of Kaivalyadhama.
Behaviour: Respect to the Guru as Yoga is a Tradition of “Guru-Shishya Parampara”. No unwanted discussion or gossip in the class when the faculty is teaching.
Dress Code: T-shirt and track pants is dress code for the practical as well as lectures.
Punctuality: Punctuality is important as you have to follow anushasan.
Mobile Phone: Usage of mobile phone is restricted in the class. Your phone should be switched off before entering the class.
For online classes: While attending the online lecture all students have to keep their Camera ON. Failing which the student will be barred from attending the lecture.
Follow any other existing code of conduct.
Schedule for Onsite Practicals in Lonavala
Each day at the practical intensive runs 6–8 hours of structured learning, with time for meals, rest, and independent study.
06:00 am | Cleansing practices (Shat Kriyas) |
07:00 am | Asana and pranayama session |
09:00 am | Breakfast |
10:00 am | Theory lecture |
12:30 pm | Lunch and rest |
02:00 pm | Teaching practice / self-study |
04:00 pm | Mantra chanting and group practice |
05:30 pm | Evening session / nature walk |
07:30 pm | Dinner |
How to Enroll
- Enroll online. Choose your format and pay. Access to the full theory curriculum is granted within 24 hours for Hybrid-Self Paced format.
- Study at your own pace (self-paced) or attend scheduled classes (live online). Complete all assignments before attending the practical intensive.
- For Format 3 – Register for your preferred 2-week intensive batch in India — Lonavala or Rishikesh.
- Attend the practical sessions onsite. Complete the supervised teaching sessions.
- Receive your certification on the final day.
Who Teaches This Course
Senior faculty from Gordhandas Seksaria College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis — Kaivalyadhama’s academic institution, founded 1951. Faculty members bring 20 to 34 years of teaching experience in classical yoga, yogic philosophy, Hatha Yoga texts, and yogic anatomy.
For Hybrid-Self Paced format students, faculty respond to written queries through the online chatbot.
What You Receive
- The certificate which KD gives from Gurukul, the currents design is on YIC page.
- Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from the Indian Yoga Association — valid internationally
- Kaivalyadhama is a founding member and accredited institution of the IYA
- The course is RYS 200 registered with Yoga Alliance
- Graduates are qualified to teach yoga professionally
What Students Say
General Questions
A Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from the Indian Yoga Association, valid internationally. Kaivalyadhama is a founding member and accredited institution of the IYA. The course is also RYS 200 registered with Yoga Alliance.
RYT-200 stands for Registered Yoga Teacher 200, indicating that the student has completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course from a Yoga Alliance–registered school.
This certification is a foundational requirement for teaching yoga professionally and is recognized internationally.
Yes. The 200-hour certification qualifies you to teach. We recommend spending time as an apprentice or assistant teacher after certification to build confidence before teaching independently.
All three lead to the same certification. The fully on-campus format is 4 weeks at Lonavala without an online component.
The hybrid live-online format gives you scheduled theory classes with faculty, followed by practicals in selected locations in India.
The hybrid self-paced format lets you work through pre-recorded theory at your own pace, then attend the same 2-week intensive in Lonavala or Rishikesh.
Choose based on your schedule and how you learn best.
No. You do need consistent personal practice and good general health. Advanced posture ability is not required.
A traditional program compresses theory and practicals into 3–4 weeks on-site. The hybrid format separates theory (which you study in depth over months at your own pace) from practicals (which you complete in 2 focused weeks in India). All result in 200-hour certification. The hybrid format works well for those who cannot take a full month off.
Fully On Campus: Yes. Accommodation and meals at the practical intensive are included in the course fee. Students stay on campus in shared accommodation (gender-separated).
Hybrid: Self-Paced: No, accommodation will have to be booked separately.
Room charges (On campus): Click Here