50 Hour Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India

This 50 hour Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh is a six-day certification course at Aatm Yogashala, in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. It teaches you to practise and to teach aerial yoga: Hatha poses performed in a silk hammock hung from the ceiling, with the hammock taking some or all of your weight. It suits students at beginner to intermediate level who want a short, focused aerial yoga TTC alongside a yogic routine of pranayama, meditation and kirtan.

What to Expect

The hammock supports the body and gives the movements a different quality, a sense of being suspended and feeling air move as you flow. The school describes aerial work as easier than traditional Hatha practice, and most Hatha poses are woven into the aerial flow. Poses fall into three kinds: full suspension, partial support, and grounding poses.

The course builds in steps over six days:

- Day 1: knot-tying, shoulder strength and mobility, child pose variations, and foundations such as chair pose and dandasana.
- Day 2: core strength and basic aerial asanas, including goddess, tree, floating boat and eagle poses, with sun salutations.
- Day 3: leg flexibility and hip opening, from butterfly variations and pigeon pose to side splits, standing splits and hanumanasana.
- Day 4: backbends, including bridge, wheel, bow, raja kapotasana, natarajasana and the butterfly backbend.
- Day 5: inversions and advanced aerial skills, including handstand, ankle hang, batman and vampire poses, shoulder stand and aerial drops.
- Day 6: advanced aerial asanas, flow sequencing, teaching methodology, class structuring, safety guidelines, a practical teaching session, and final revision and assessment.

The daily rhythm is disciplined. Mornings begin with pranayama and mantra chanting (6:30 to 8:00 AM), followed by asana practice (8:30 to 10:00 AM). Brunch and study time come next, then yoga nidra from 12:15 to 1:00 PM, and teaching practice and revision from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. Aerial yoga practice runs from 4:30 to 6:15 PM, dinner follows, then meditation or kirtan from 8:00 to 8:45 PM, and silence (mauna) begins at 9:00 PM. Lectures on the anatomy, philosophy and physiology of yoga are part of the programme, and the school also mentions sound healing sessions and outdoor activities.

Assessment includes a written test, a practical test covering sequencing and holding poses, and your conduct during training. Attendance of at least 90 percent is expected. On completion you receive a 50-hour Aerial Yoga certificate; the school states it is recognized by Yoga Alliance USA.

Excursions around Rishikesh are part of the wider programme at the school, including an opening hawan fire ceremony, the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan, yoga by the Ganges, a meditation cave tour, a sunset view from Bhootnath Temple, a classical music concert with Gurukul students, and a dance class.

The Setting

Aatm Yogashala is in Rishikesh, on the Ganges in the foothills of the Himalayas. Rooms are private or twin-share with a Western-style en-suite bathroom, hot and cold water, a ceiling fan and a balcony. The grounds include a garden, a terrace and a dining area. Air conditioning is available for an additional charge.

Meals are sattvic and vegetarian, with raw, vegan and gluten-free options. Outside food is not permitted, spicy and oily food is avoided, and addictive substances are not allowed. Herbal, Indian or Ayurvedic tea is served twice a day.

Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is about 25 km away, and free airport pickup is provided one day before the course begins. Yog Nagri Rishikesh is the nearest railway station, and regular buses and private taxis connect Delhi, Dehradun and Haridwar to Rishikesh.

Before You Go

The course is open to beginner and intermediate students. Fees cover accommodation, meals, tea, Wi-Fi, teaching materials and modules, and the certificate. Not included are Ayurvedic panchakarma and treatments, air conditioning, visa fees and airfare, and taxi transfers from Delhi and Haridwar. Suggested reading includes Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.