Yoga Vidya Mandiram Reviews 13

Yoga Vidya Mandiram... the place where I found peace.

I have so many things to say about this wonderful place, I should cover several pages, but I will try to be brief.

I decided to go to Rishikesh for 50 hours of yoga training with my best friend to support her. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. Rishikesh is a beautiful place where tranquility surrounds you. Nature is your friend. Once you step into that oasis of peace, it's as if you can wrap your arms around it and be one with it.

From the first moment when I stepped on the steps leading to the school office until I left the place, I experienced all kinds of different feelings. From loud laughter to complete silence. From drowsiness to a burst of energy that I didn't know where it was coming from. All this in such a short time. The program is made in such a way that our body goes through these states and experiences them to the maximum.

The pile of information was overwhelming at times, but everything clicked in my mind. The veil that covered my face before, slowly, slowly lifted and I began to see more and more clearly. After every precious piece of information I received, my mind asked for more, it couldn't get enough. I learned so many things about myself and my body. As one of the teachers said, "I'm not the mind, I'm not the body", but I can say that I got to know them better after this wonderful experience.

For the first time in my life, I understood what it means to be aware of what is happening in my body and in my mind. I can't say that I know them fully, but I have definitely come to see major improvements, to be in control when I want to. I never thought it was possible to sit in one position for 30 minutes without feeling some kind of pain, cramps, and without moving. This is because I am usually an active person and hardly stay in one place for several minutes. But at school, I saw that everything is possible. During the meditation classes, I felt connected as if with everyone else around me. I was physically present there, but somehow I felt far away from the physical form.

All the school staff know exactly their role there and were of great help to us. The teachers are well-trained in their fields and very happy to answer our questions. Their positive energy is contagious. You don't get tired of listening to them. It motivates you to exceed your limits, to realize that they are only in our head. With a lot of practice and control, everything is possible. Correct breathing plays an important role in the process of functioning at the maximum capacity of our body.

We wanted to stay longer, but our workplace didn't allow it. We will definitely come back for a longer period of time. This short period has changed something inside us and back to our lives before yoga school, we miss being in classes and being part of that beautiful family, where everyone greeted us with a smile on their face every morning.
At school, we met people from all over the world, all positive, looking for the path to awakening. I believe that everyone who was there was one step closer to awakening, to find out our purpose on this earth. Anyone who is now on this page and reading this comment is about to make the best investment of his life. A lifelong investment in yourself. To become aware of what is happening in our body and mind. You can't help others if you can't help yourself.

Thank you all for everything! Namaste.

I don’t often give reviews, but couldn’t pass the chance up to review Yoga Vidya Mandiram (YVM). I just finished up the 50-day, 500-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India. There’s so much to say about the staff, teachers, excursions, accommodations and teaching and this review will be long because each aspect of the training deserves mentioning. I’ll begin with the staff; they are by far the most supportive, compassionate, caring and accommodating set of folks you’ll find away from home. They truly care for their students and they illustrated this when they helped me through a knee injury I had. They ensured I was comfortable and provided ice immediately upon request - day or night. Imagine having to go to a foreign hospital to get an MRI and not having family there to be with you. It can be pretty scary. It wasn’t for me because they were with me the entire way through. They took me to the hospital, spoke with the doctors, got me in and out, as acted on my behalf just like a family member would. I felt safe and I knew I was in good hands. I got the appropriate care I needed and it was because they were with me the entire time. The teachers are amazing, knowledgeable, tough, but caring. In the short two months, I’ve grown physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Spirituality is an important aspect of yoga and YVM’s teachers will provide a space for you to learn more than you could have imagined and will take back with you to teach others in places where westernization has focused more on the physical aspect of yoga. Next are the excursions. They are included in the fee and are arranged on Sundays. Depending the season, there’ll be an array of festivals celebrated on the grounds and/or at the main market, river-rafting, meditations in the Himalayan caves, and other beautiful trips that will have you wanting to stay for forever. The accommodations were 5-star!! My room was HUGE and so very comfortable. I preferred a private room because I didn’t know what to expect with this being my first time in India and with the 12-hour difference in time since my family and friends are in the US. They provided room service and made sure everything was in working order. The bed was firm and the quilt was soft to the touch and provided the comfort found at home. WiFi is included and if it went out due to windy conditions, they fixed it immediately. Never once did I feel inconvenienced for any reason. Now my favorite part - the food! The chefs there cook THE MOST delicious vegan and vegetarian meals. I lost a lot of weight maintaining the yogic diet they teach us and was still able to enjoy every meal provided. Mealtime became a time to look forward to for many students because they’d surprise us with what became some of our favorite dishes. They even let me help and I learned to cook chapatis the old fashioned way - fire pot! Last, but certainly not least, the teaching - from mantras, pranayama, philosophy, anatomy/physiology, relaxation/meditation and Hatha and Ashtanga postures and flows - you’ll walk away with a vast set of skill sets, knowledge and tools for your teaching practice. I learned so much from these incredible teachers. They start with the basics and build up pretty quickly. Some new students may feel it’s too basic in the beginning, but one should remember that beginners are welcomed and they ensure they catch everyone up and pretty rapidly too. By end, āsanas and physical training are challenging and we get through them all and then some. The teachers ensure we are caring for our bodies appropriately to mitigate injuries. The other classes are phenomenal with some really deep conversations in philosophy and even anatomy. I learned so much for my meditation practice at home and am so grateful. Each teacher is well-versed in all aspects of yoga - even outside of their teaching focus and so I always felt comfortable speaking with any of them on topics off subject to gain their insight and perspective. On the grounds itself, you’ll enjoy living among nature in its purest form and that means watching baby monkeys play in the garden, cows roaming the property and dogs running around (you’ll fall in love with Chapati, the favorite dog there). If you’re looking for a yoga school to go to, YVM is it. Take a 3 or 7-day retreat or any of their many teacher training sessions. You won’t regret it. I left knowing and becoming best of friends with people from many other countries and truly feel I have a home away from home with YVM. Thank you, Lalit and your staff, for making it so. I’ll be back.

If you are looking for more than a teacher training in India, Yoga Vidya Mandiram is your school. Since the first day, Lalit and the staff make you feel at home. They are dedicated, helpful and welcoming since the beginning to make your stay perfect. The school is perfectly located, near Rishikesh but in a green and quiet area, just perfect to practice, relax and study. All the teacher are amazing! Super dedicated and professional, they give their best and are always open to share ideas and different points of view. The food is also amazing! I went to YVM for a 200h TT and once there I decided to stay longer for 300h more so I would recommend the school 100% to everyone!!

Excellent YTT school, immersed in peacefull greenery in Rishikesh. Best teachers, top quality food and lovely atmosphere!

Excellent Service..
All staff people fully supportable with everyone 24*7. I feel more happy after learn useful things like yoga philosophy, ashtanga yoga and meditation/relaxation under highly experienced teachers of yoga vidya mandiram school in my 500 hours teacher training course. I appreciate to yoga vidya mandiram management for their hard work/efforts and give good opportunity to evry students for make his/her good future to serve people in spiritual field area.
I highly thankful to yoga vidya mandiram for always support me in my learning area during course.

I have been there in Jun 2018. This is great place. Peaceful environment. Feel natural.

Wonderful Facilities! Excellent Training!

It was a great experience to learn yoga and for building my confidence for my teaching experience. The staff And teacher are very Nice to me. Learned more and more...
ThaNkyou so muCh yogavidyamnadiram

I hv completed my 500Hour TTC from Yoga Vidya Mandiram.
Great####experience ###nice managment###superfast teachers####all staff r very peaceful.
Owsm place.
Thanx for all of u.

Attending 500 YTT from yoga vidhya Mandiram ,it’s a great experience a head , and all people behaive like a family, I attend again as soon as possible
Namste 🙏

I have visited different places in India for learning yoga and finally found Yoga Vidya Mandiram in Rishikesh in lap of the Himalayas. I recommend this to the seekers of yoga.

I joined 200 Hour Yoga TTC Program in March 2018. The course was wonderful and i am quite satisfied with the learning. Faculty members are helpful and i confidently recommend this school to everyone.