Yoga Teacher Training in the U.S. vs India: Differences between my western 200-hour YTT (at a corporate studio) and my eastern 300-hour YTT (at an Indian ashram)

My 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) and my 300-hour YTT were worlds apart — literally.

My 200-hour YTT program took place at a CorePower Yoga location in Chicago. Three times a week — for two months — I commuted through the snow via elevated train from my day job to my part-time YTT program’s classes. For a dozen hours each week, I hunkered down in a corporate logo-emblazoned yoga studio to study my manual and practice teaching with a small handful of fellow YTT enrollees.

My 300-hour YTT program took place six years later on the other side of the world: a 16-hour flight away. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains of northern India, I abandoned my shoes, gave up almost all outside influences, and studied yoga full-time at a live-in ashram for a solid month. From pre-sunrise to post-sunset, I dedicated myself to learning and living yoga as a religion; a way of life.

The differences between both of my programs were so drastic, I wanted to take a second to share with you what each program was like, and highlight the common thread that tied both of them together.

Before I get into it, full disclaimer: Your mileage may vary. I recognize that a corporate yoga studio likely approaches YTT very differently than an independently-owned yoga studio. I recognize that an ashram in southern India might take a very different approach to an ashram in northern India. I completely acknowledge that no two trainings are exactly alike!

I’m simply here to share my experiences.

How are an Indian Yoga Teacher Training and an American YTT similar?

Both were fairly similar in a few ways. Both programs were credentialed by Yoga Alliance, which means they both met the standards set forth by yoga’s highest governing body, and both programs were held in-person at a dedicated yoga facility.

I practiced a lot of asana (aka: physical yoga) during both programs, and attended classes about the same topics: anatomy/physiology, philosophy/history, pose names/variations and adjustment/alignment.

Both trainings culminated in final exams — a timed test (combination of short answer/ multiple choice/ essay) at CorePower, and a practical exam (two written essays, two presentations and a group teaching exercise) at Yogpeeth.

Both trainings gave me time to connect with myself — either through journaling or meditation — and both trainings were based in a deep respect and admiration of yoga as an important part of Indian culture.

What are the differences between an American Yoga Teacher Training and an Indian YTT?

There were so many differences between my trainings, I don’t even know where to start!

While my 200-hour and 300-hour trainings did cover a lot of the same topics as mentioned above, topics were approached very differently.

For example: During my 200-hour anatomy lessons, we focused heavily on the human musculoskeletal system, and touched a bit on the nervous system and respiratory systems as well. We learned about how those three systems worked together to fuel the human body during an asana practice, and learned how to adapt a yoga practice for a pregnant or injured student, how to effectively target different muscles while working out, etc.

During my 300-hour anatomy lessons, we learned about every system, but focused heavily on (surprisingly) the digestive system. We learned about (and practiced) the kriyas, which are ancient yoga cleansing techniques.

TMI: Not only was there a daily neti pot cleansing, but there were also weekly shatkarma practices, including induced vomiting and induced diarrhea!

My 200-hour training, by comparison, didn’t even mention shatkarma or kriya practices!

My eastern anatomy lessons were very eastern-focused, and ended up circling back to philosophy. We spent a lot of time learning about koshas and kleshas, and about Ayurveda.

My western philosophy lessons were very cursory.

My manual had one quick page dedicated to the entire history of yoga, and we spent a portion of one three-hour lecture going over it.

In comparison, my 300-hour teacher training at Rishikesh Yogpeeth gave us an overview of the Bhagavad Gita, and let us through Patanjali’s sutras chapter-by-chapter. We had dedicated philosophy classes every single day, and we learned about Hinduism and Jainism in addition to yoga history.

While both trainings did have time dedicated to introspection, the time was approached differently as well.

In India, I spent hours a day breathing, meditating and seeking stillness.

In the U.S., I was tasked with keeping a journal (I did this digitally) detailing my thoughts, feelings and emotions after each class and practice.

what was the biggest difference between an India Yoga Teacher Training and a United States YTT?

I think when it comes down to it, the main difference between my western 200-hour YTT and my eastern 300-hour YTT was the overall mission of the training.

My CorePower program focused heavily on the actual teaching process of guiding students through a physical hour-long yoga practice. My 200-hour YTT program at CorePower Yoga aimed to prepare me to teach an yoga class tailored to a Western client base, so it focused very heavily yoga’s third limb: “asana.”

We spent a lot of our time covering things like sequencing, cueing (verbally guiding students through their practice), giving adjustments and assists, theming a class around an intention, creating playlists, and — of course — practice teaching.

My 300-hour YTT at Rishikesh Yogpeeth, however, sought to give me an experience. It didn’t focus on preparing me to physically guide a classroom full of yogis through an hour-long fitness class so much as it focused on fully immersing me in the history and culture of yoga every second of every day. It almost felt like less of a training program and more of a yoga retreat in that aspect.

Which program is better: A Yoga Teacher Training in India or a YTT in the U.S.?

I really don’t think one was better than the other.

First of all, I realize that I am incredibly privileged that I was able to participate in even one of these trainings — let alone both!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the high cost, both in terms of time and money, that pursuing a Yoga Teacher Training program requires.

Second, I wouldn’t say one training was better than the other: They were both just very, very different.

With that said, I am glad I did both. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to teach a Western-style yoga class (aka: a strictly asana class) without my U.S.-taught 200-hour YTT program.

I also don’t think I would have ever found such a sense of connection with some of yoga’s tenets if I hadn’t had the experience I had at my 300-hour YTT program in India.