Posted by One of the most frequently asked questions is what is the best age to join yoga teacher training?? Am I too young to join or too old to become a yoga teacher? Do we have to be of a certain age to join yoga teacher training? Well, it is recommended to be at least 18 years old to join a yoga teacher training in the Rishikesh program but there is no specific age limit. Anyone can join a yoga teacher training course whether you are in your 20’s, 30’s or even 40. At Rishikesh Yog mandir we have students who are in ’40s and they are very passionate about yoga and never miss a class.
One should understand that yoga is an inside job
Yoga is not just a physical exercise although yoga asana is a big part of yoga teacher training. It is much more than that all yogasanas are created to prepare your body for Dhyana. It connects you to your inner self and initiates that mind, body and soul connection that brings harmony in your body and uplift your consciousness and spirits. Hence the physical practice is a little drop of a vast ocean this ancient science.
It is not just a physical practice
Internet is full of beautiful models posing in difficult yoga poses that intimidate most of us that we are not flexible enough we are not young enough to do these yoga poses. However, it is not true yoga teacher training covers a lot of thing such as the spiritual, emotional and mental aspect of life apart from the physical aspect. In yoga philosophy, you will read about its history, the core values of yoga and how you can imbibe those principles in your life.
It teaches you that your breath is your anchor
In Patanjali yoga sutra asanas are quoted as one of eight limbs of yoga which was earlier seen as a way to physically prepare your body for the seated meditation. However, when it comes to settling the mind your breath is a ruler. You will learn that your pranayama is the ultimate ruler of mind, body, emotions and soul. It is the first step of meditation hence for most people yoga teacher training is like a huge emotional rebirth. So, the people who are in old age has passed from different phases of life hence knows how to handle every situation with grace in a calm and mature way. For young people, it can be an emotional wreck. They have to learn how to embrace things and let them go as they exhale.
Final world
Earlier to be a yogi a student has to go through different phases of ashrams that are brahmacharyagrahasthashram, vanaprasthashram and last samnyasa. In brahmacharya the students have to go to an ashram to learn discipline, continence, wisdom from their teachers. In grahasthashram one has to perform the duties of the household, in vanaprastha one has to move to the jungle to live as a hermit. Sannyasa was quoted as a stage where the yogi has detached from all worldly possessions. Now the concept of the ashram has lost it has more become of a lifestyle. However, in yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, you will experience what a traditional yogi would have experience including discipline, continence, perseverance, spiritual upliftment, meditation apart from asanas. If you want to move forth in a journey that leads you towards spirituality, self-contentment and self-realization you can enroll for yoga teacher training.
So, whether you are young or old (unless you are having a certain ailment), you can join a yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh as yoga welcome everyone with open arms and heart.