Every week we receive emails that begin the same way: “I am deciding between India, Bali, and Nepal for my teacher training.” It is a fair question. We teach in Nepal, so this is our case for it. Here is what we tell them.
A living tradition
Nepal sits in the middle of the Himalayan spiritual world. The Buddha was born in Lumbini, in Nepal's southern plains. The Kathmandu valley has been a meeting point of Hindu and Buddhist practice for over a thousand years, temples and stupas share the same streets, and meditation is part of ordinary life.
What this means for a trainee is atmosphere. When you study pranayama in the morning and then walk past monks circumambulating a stupa in the afternoon, the philosophy classes stop being abstract.
Smaller centers, smaller groups
The scale of yoga tourism in Nepal is a fraction of what you find in Rishikesh or Ubud. Most centers here, ours included, run small cohorts, so your teachers get to know you within the first few days.
The setting
Our center sits on the slopes of Nagarjun forest, at the north-western edge of the Kathmandu valley. Mornings are cool and quiet enough to hear birdsong through the practice hall windows. Many guests pair their training with trekking before or after the course, Annapurna and Langtang are both within reach.
It costs less
A 200-hour training in Nepal generally costs less than the equivalent in Bali or a Western country, our 200-hour yoga teacher training runs 21 days and includes course materials. The lower cost reflects Nepal's economy. The curriculum and teaching hours are those of a standard 200-hour training.
What Nepal is not
Nepal is not polished. Power cuts happen, roads are dusty, and Kathmandu traffic is slow. If you want beach clubs and cafés nearby, Bali may suit you better. If you want mountains and a training that feels like an ashram, Nepal is a good choice.
