Because yoga starts the moment you decide to come.
India isn't just where yoga began but where it still breathes differently. It's not polished or predictable. But it will teach you more than any manual. The experience starts before you even land.
If you're heading to India for a yoga course, especially your first one, know this: how you prepare will shape how deeply you're able to receive.This guide doesn't just cover what to pack or which vaccine to take; it's about how to prepare your system, your senses, and your expectations for the ride ahead.
Before you pack your bags, take a moment to check in with your health, not just how you feel now, but how your body might respond to a new climate, cuisine, and rhythm.
We recommend consulting your local travel clinic or healthcare provider at least four to six weeks prior to departure. They'll guide you based on your personal history and your specific travel route.
Rabies is the only one we strongly recommend considering, especially if your training takes you to a rural area. In some regions, it may be difficult for travelers to access the first dose quickly after exposure.
Packing for a yoga training in India is a lesson in letting go of extras. You won't need a new outfit every day. You will need a way to feel grounded in a simple, often unpredictable environment.
One of the quiet joys of traveling to India for a yoga course is realizing just how little you need to carry and how much you can find locally, affordably, and consciously. From cotton yoga pants to copper water bottles, India offers beautiful, practical, and ethically made essentials, often at a fraction of the cost you'd pay elsewhere.
Markets in cities like Rishikesh, Dharamshala, and Goa cater to travelers and seekers, but you'll also find incredible local artisans and small businesses off the beaten path. Buying local doesn't just lighten your luggage. It supports the community that's hosting you. It's an invitation to step out of the Amazon mindset and into a slower, more mindful way of being.
Tip:
Leave space in your bag. You'll want to bring a few things home, and not just souvenirs.
You'll meditate at sunrise by the Ganges and feel instantly transformed.
You might meditate at sunrise by the Ganges. But first, you'll probably fight your jet lag, bargain for a SIM card, drink bad chai, and spend a day getting your stomach used to the local food.
The ashram will be simple but beautiful.
It may be simple. It may be beautiful. It may also have cold showers, geckos in the bathroom, and occasional Wi-Fi blackouts.
Yoga will heal everything.
Yoga will show you everything. The healing is up to you.
What we're saying is this: arrive without a script. Bring curiosity, flexibility, and the willingness to sit with moments that challenge you. India doesn't ask you to be perfect. It asks you to show up real.
Your gut is your best friend in India, treat it with respect. Most schools offer satvik meals: vegetarian, mildly spiced, and easy on the body. However, outside the school, you'll have options (and temptations) everywhere.
Tip:
You may want to avoid dairy for a few days post-arrival. Some people need time to adjust to local milk (which is often unpasteurized or buffalo-based).
You're not just coming to train. You're entering a country that holds yoga as both sacred and personal. That doesn't mean you need to walk on eggshells, but it does mean you should walk with awareness.
The biggest mistake most people make? Preparing only their bag and not their mindset. In India, things don't go as planned. Schedules change. Power cuts happen. You might feel overwhelmed. You might cry without knowing why. You might want to leave or never leave at all (a true story of our founder, who literally never left).
You're not coming to India to escape your life. You're coming to remember something deeper than your routine. And India (chaotic, wise, contradictory) will remind you — often in the places and ways you least expect. So yes, book the ticket. Get the shots. Pack the scarf. But more than anything, be prepared to let go.
If you're feeling overwhelmed or want to make sure you're not forgetting anything, you are not alone. Preparing for a yoga course in India raises questions most search engines can't quite answer.
Whether it's about packing, school expectations, choosing the right SIM card, or what to do when you land at 3 AM in Delhi, we've either lived it or know someone who has. Reach out. We'll give you a real response, not a generic auto-reply.
Email: namaste@vidyayoga.co
Instagram: @practiceyogainindia
