India 2025
Teacher Training & Trekking Details
Nov 26 ~ Dec 20
Arriving at this page assumes you have already seen
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Once you decide the Vishwa Yoga Journey / Training is right for you
the next step you will need to quickly take is:
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and
and email them both to:
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Early Bird Specials
Depend Upon How Early You Join
Prices below do not cover flight to India; but do cover transportation within India.
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If paid anytime between:​​​
Jan 1st ~ July 31st, 2025
$3000
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Aug 1st ~ Nov 10th, 2025
$3150​
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Investment Covers:
Training and an E-copy of the Vishwa Ayurveda Training Manual​
Lodging & Transportation within India​
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Investment Does Not Cover:
Meals
(But you can expect to eat quite well for less than $5 per meal)​
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*Refunds are understood to be totally at our discretion.
This is because funds are often quickly invested into reservations and other administrative work.
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Check, Cash, Venmo, Zelle / $50 Additional Charge if paying by Credit Card.
Checks are made out to Cincinnati Yoga School.
Venmo: @William-Brashear
Zelle: 513-886-0010 / vishwayoga@gmail.com
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Deposit and Refund Policy
Deposit is non-refundable after Sept 12th, 2024, but can be used toward a future CYS Yoga Teacher Training, Thai Yoga Massage training or Yoga Retreat if you are unable to come to the initial training intended. Also, the return of the deposit (if requested before Sept 12th) may take up to 6 weeks for its return. Also, any amounts already paid towards the balance of the tuition of the training are (technically) non-refundable if the request for the refund is made within 90 days of the training commencement. However, if this were to happen, the amount can still be used towards future training or retreats. Also, one can still request a refund after the 90 day deadline and we will do our best to grant it, or some portion of it. However, we will be under no obligation to do so; and, if we choose to do so, it could take up to 9 months for the full dispersal of the refund, and it may come in incremental installments. This is not because of a lack of sympathy for anyone who requests a refund, but as a necessity to protect the funds of the operation until it has been completed.
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Flight
Arrive: Chennai, India / Depart: Goa, India
There are two ways to do this. (1) When searching flights, look for the "multi-city option". This option will ask you what city you are flying into and what city you are flying out of. (2) ​A lesser used option is to book 2 separate flights: a one way flight to Chennai - and a one way flight from Goa to your home (or next destination).
But, either way you do it...
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You should fly into Chennai - Ideally arriving anytime (AM or PM) on Nov 26th - at Meenambakkam Airport, Airport Code: MAA
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Once our trip is complete, you should depart from Goa, which now has 2 international airports:
Dabolim / Airport Code: GOI
Manohar / Airport Code: GOX
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Please Note!
Though usually possible, it is not ideal to leave your departure date open-ended. Often immigration will ask to see proof of your departure (or "continued journey onward") upon arrival in India. If you do not have a flight ticket showing that you will be leaving India before your visa expires, you could be denied entry or have to pay a fine.
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See more flight information below.
Passport & Visa Information
You need a passport to go to anywhere outside of your own country. So if you do not have one do not delay in getting started on the process. It usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks, but you wouldn't want to run into any problem that would have you restart the process that soon before your trip.
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As for a Visa, it is required to have one to enter India but India has a Visa On Arrival program that most people are eligible for. However, the process begins online and well in advance of your actual physical arrival.
Vaccinations
Currently there are no vaccinations required to enter India. However, this could change. So if you would like to research more about health recommendations for travelers simply search "passport health services."
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Q) What do you recommend we pack for the trip and how much?
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A) If you are particular about your bug spray, then bring it. Also sunblock might save your life. Both can be found in India, but because only foreigners use them it is one of the few things that can actually cost more in India. Clothing should be light and dry easily, but perhaps one light jacket for some occasional cool evenings. I like those headlamp flashlight thingies, but you can probably manage Ok without a flashlight. Charcoal tablets are good for the 45% chance that you will get diarhea. The chances are 35% if you start taking a probiotic like Culturrelle (generic is ok too) or a similar good gut flora supplement about a week before traveling and continue to take it daily throughout the trip. Also, during the trip always eat the curd (yogurt) as an extra precaution. If you are a staunch vegan, but might be willing to have dairy just this one time; let this be that time. However, If you are not willing, you will still be ok; but just raise your percentage points for getting diarhea up to 51%.
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Try to get everything into one backpack.
Most anything you need can be bought very cheap (with exception to some of the things mentioned above). I even bought an awesome backpack in India for about $15 (It would've probably cost around $100 in the States). You can even get a decent sandal for less than $3. ~I may add more to this list later.
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Q) What type of power outlets are in India; and should I take a battery power pack?
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A) As for power/plug adapters, we usually make a run into a nearby town in Goa on the first or second day to buy plug adapters; which are like $2. so you might want to wait til then because they cost a lot more in the States or other countries. But of course, if you already have one then bring it; but Just make sure it works with Indian outlets. Usually the countries that an adapter works with is listed on the packaging; you can also google it.
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As for battery chargers (aka "power packs"), some airlines do not allow them if they are big; like 100 watts or more; which is pretty big, so i doubt anyone will have to worry about that. However, it did happen once where one of our guest brought this ratehr large power pack, about the size of a tablet, but in the end they let him through with it.
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At this link: http://blog.ravpower.com/2017/04/flying-planes-power-banks/ ...you can get way too much information about power bank rules on airplanes. However, i have already extracted the 2 key rules from that article here:
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"First, power banks, which use lithium-ion batteries, need to be stored in carry-on baggage only. Second, power banks over a certain size cannot be brought onto flights at all. " (100+ watts)
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Q) Should I take malaria pills?
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A) I cannot answer that for you, but services such as Passport Health do recommend malaria pills for India. On the other hand, everyone i have known (including myself) that has gotten the pills has stopped taking them after about the 3rd or 4th day. The queezy feeling the pills give just isn't worth it to most people. Nevertheless, if you do opt to not take them you should keep a good mosquito repellent around; esp for the early morning and evenings. -You're going to want to do this anyway!
Arrival Information​
If you are coming from the USA then you will probably need to pick your day of departure to be 2 days prior to the program start date. However, this is not because it takes 2 days to get to India, but because you are flying into the future, so to speak, as India is 10.5 hours ahead of the US in time (EST)..
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If flying back to the US, it is likely you will arrive home in the evening of the same day that you depart India; as you will be flying back in time, so to speak.
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Upon Arrival In Chennai
Money Exchange​:
Don't exchange all of the money you are projecting to spend all at one place. I suggest exchanging just $75 to $150 before you leave the Chennai airport. Once you get to Auroville we can take you to a place that gives a far better exchange rate than any airport. But even then, it would be better to wait till half the trip is over before exchanging more. By then you will have a better idea of how much you would like to have on hand to finish the trip.
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Taxi:
We will have a taxi waiting for you when you exit the airport. The driver will be holding up a sign with you name and already know exactly where to take you. Nevertheless, it is still good to have the following address/info:
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Atithi Griha Guest House in Auroville:
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Address: Campus Visitors Centre, Bharat Nivas, (opposite to Dreamer’s Cafe) Auroville, Tamil Nadu 605101, India.
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Phone: +91-(0)413-3509222 | 2623449
Airport Pick-up: If you let us know your arrival day and time we can have a driver waiting for you. Just know that if someone else in our training is arriving at the same time as you, you will be sharing this ride with them. (If you do not want to share the ride, this may not be the training for you, as we will share many rides along this trip.)
Late Flights are a very definite possibility, and sometimes the word doesn't get to us. Nevertheless, whenever you do arrive (or, if possible, even before you arrive) WhatsApp us ASAP! 1 513 886 0010 / Then, if you just sit tight for a while (maybe 15 to 90 minutes) we will get a driver to you. However, you do have the option of getting your own taxi from the airport. (The cost of which will be between $20 to $35, and we will reimburse you up to $25.) The good news is, that if such a thing were to happen, Goa is probably the quietest, friendliest, calmest airport in all of India. ~Nevertheless, always take a pic of the drivers license plate, and the driver as well - before getting in - and then WhatsApp the pic to us: 1 513 886 0010. This is a good protocol these days everywhere, so the driver won't mind; and if they do, just look for another driver.
Q) Do we need to be prepared to do laundry in a sink or wash bag?
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A) This is needed now and then. I usually just wash in the sink of wherever we happen to be staying; but now and then i will also pay someone (usually about 20 rupees / .35 cents per item.)
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Usually at the end of the trip i am giving away some of the clothes i brought from the US while taking home some cool new Indian threads; that probably only cost me about $2 to $5.
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Q) Do we need to get currency before leaving the US? If so, how much should we plan on bringing?
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It is not necessary to exchange your currency for Rupees before you leave your home country. Nevertheless, it is possible and your bank branch has Rupees on hand, then you may as well. / I usually get about $75 to $100 changed at whatever airport I happen to have a lengthier layover in on the way to India, or at the airport I arrive at within India.
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Don't exchange all of the money you are projecting to spend all at one place. Again, i suggest just $75 to $100 to start. Usually we are able to find a place in near to where we are ldoging that gives a far better exchange rate than any of the airports. But even then, it would be better to wait till half the trip is over before exchanging more. By then you will have a better idea of how much you would like to have on hand to finish the trip.
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Also, you will probably want to buy some keepsakes, such as Shiva nic-nacs, clothing, statues, etc., at some point. But let that major shopping point be at the end of the trip. Until then, buy only what you need. You wont want to be hauling any unnecessaries all over India; no matter how great the deal seems to be on that big plastic music playing Ganesh doll you found. Also, by the end of the trip you will have a better idea about the true cost of said plastic Ganesh treasure.
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Q) What have you used in the past to communicate with people in the US? It looks like it will be expensive through my local carrier. Some people mention using local SIM cards online but I don’t want to over complicate the process when I get there. Thoughts?
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A) I usually just find an internet connection and go through Whatsapp or Google Hangouts; but you can make regular calls that are free thru an internet connection as well; and we will have internet connection on a daily basis and at all hotels; not withstanding that power outages are a common thing is some areas and can last a few hours.
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Q) I wanted to confirm that bringing a suitcase is not recommended and it is, in fact, just a backpack that we should bring to fill with the items we need?
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A) A backpack is the most recommended piece of luggage to bring, as we often will have to go from taxi to train to tuk-tuk to the lodge and then do all that in reverse when we leave for the next place. With a suitcase this can get heavy on your arm, and then your other arm... Also there are not many smoothly paved surfaces in India, and so, unless you have some big wagon-type wheels on your suitcase, there will often be times when you cannot roll it without it tipping over. But another small bag is fine too. Fanny packs are not completely out of style among travelers in India either.
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Q) If it is just a backpack, do you mean a regular backpack (like a school bag) or a larger hiking/camping backpack?
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A) A school backpack will probably be too small, but if you can get it all in there then that would be just awesome! But you probably won't, but then again a big camping style backpack is probably too big as you won't need any room for camping gear. The bag will mainly just hold your clothes, water bottle, snacks, maybe a laptop; and souvenirs. (FYI camera drones ar enot permitted in India). Popular souvenirs are little Shiva or Ganesh statues and "Tapestries" (technically it's just a very nice bed sheets with a cool designs). I use a 50 liter back pack; but the main thing i want you to notice about the backpack are its hip straps. These are important as they put the weight of the bag on your hips instead of your shoulders. Usually there aren't any hip straps on small school type backpacks or the straps are just nylon with no padding; so be sure to get straps for both shoulders and hips that have some padding.
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Q) I don't need much but thinking of clothing for a month of yoga, sleeping and getting around in general, I'm trying to figure out how you all normally make that work. Lol. It could be as simple as only packing 2-3 outfits and wearing them over and over(?)
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A) For 3.5 weeks. I'd say 9 tops (mostly t-shrits) and 6 bottoms (mostly shorts), and lots of underwear (LOL), funny but true! I usually alternate between the same 3 shorts throughout a week, but i usually go thru 2 to 3 T-shirts in a single day, so i bring to bring about 9 to 12. Bottom line (pun fully intended) you don't want sweaty clothes to stay on your skin too long or you run the risk of a rash. (But if you do get one, there is an ointment for that that you can buy there for about $1 and it clears it right up). Most of the places we go have two options: 1) wash your clothes in your bathroom or (2) pay to have someone wash them. This is usually about 20 rupees (.28 cents) per item. (Don't want to give them your underwear? That's fine, coz they usually don't want it either, and may tell you to keep it.)
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Q) Second, temperature/type of clothing. How is the temperature in India/Bali when we will be there and what do students normally wear? Are long pants/long sleeved tops recommended for every day? Anything in particular that we should bring for yoga practice? Would you consider long clothing to be too hot or is a good idea in general with mosquitos/bugs/whatever around? Any particular type of clothing to avoid (anything that might offend the culture)?
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A) India should be mostly dry, but there is a chance of some rainy days in Goa. If you burn easy, wear very light (and preferably white) long sleeves, but usually US clothing isn't light enough. So you might not bother to pack long sleeve shirts and just buy some super light materials in India. As for me, i am continually in a t-shirt and shorts, with a little sunscreen on the back of my neck and shoulders and forehead. FYI: Both Sunscreen and Mosquito repellent are cost about the same, or maybe even higher, in India than in the States. So this is something you might want to bring from home. If you can find a sunscreen that also doubles as a mosquito repellent please buy me some as well.
Buy a shawl once you get there. Yes you can bring one from home as well, but buying there makes for a good practical souvenir and also helps the local markets. A woman showing a little cleavage in the west means little, but for some Indian men this can give them the impression that western women don't mind their advances. But besides the shawl, wear modest clothing in general. You will find that many other westerners that cross our paths do not do this, but just because they do not respect the modest culture we do not need to join them and thus re-enforce those stereotypes.
For yoga classes, our space will be private so you can probably wear whatever you would wear to most typical yoga classes. However, skin has an interesting frequency. A lot of it can change the vibe of a class. So i ask that no more skin is showing than necessary for a comfy practice. (So, yes, even the guys need to keep their shirts on).