The Problem With Big Yoga Classes
Across the yoga world, most teacher training courses are crowded. Some schools pack 30, 40, even 50 students into a single cohort. According to Yoga Alliance’s 2022 survey, more than 60% of TTC graduates reported that their training felt “too rushed” or “not personal enough.”
Large groups make it difficult for teachers to give attention to individual needs. Students often leave certified but not confident to teach. If you’ve ever wondered why so many new teachers still feel unprepared, this is the reason.
The Gurukul Way: Learning in Small Circles
At Akshara Yoga School in rural North India, we follow a different path. Inspired by the ancient gurukul tradition—where students lived and learned directly with their teacher—we intentionally keep our TTC groups tiny.
- Maximum size: 8 students
- Typical size: 1–3 students
- Often: a true one-to-one training
This is not by accident. Small-group learning means you don’t get lost in the crowd. Instead, your teacher knows your strengths, your struggles, and adapts the practice for you.
Why Small Groups Work Better (Science & Practice)
Modern education research confirms what yogis have known for centuries: personalized learning works best. Studies by the National Education Association (US) show that students in small classes score 15–25% higher in both comprehension and retention compared to large groups.
Applied to yoga:
- You receive direct feedback on your alignment and teaching style.
- You can ask questions freely without fear of interrupting.
- You build confidence step by step, instead of hiding in the back row.
At Akshara Yoga with only one or two other peers—sometimes none—you progress at your own rhythm, guided with care.
What is Included in Our Hatha Yoga TTC
Our 26-day, Yoga Alliance-certified 200-hour program is fully immersive. Every detail is designed to support your journey:
- Accommodation in our modern ashram in rural India, surrounded by rice fields and mango orchards
- Farm-to-table vegetarian meals prepared fresh from our land
- Student kit: printed manual, mala, mandala notebook, Akshara t-shirt, and neti pot
- Pick-up assistance from the nearest train station or domestic airport
- A curriculum blending asana, pranayama, shatkarma, philosophy, anatomy, art of adjustments and teaching practice—all at a depth only possible in small groups
Why Location Matters
We are not in Rishikesh or Goa. Akshara Yoga School is set in rural North India, on a sustainable farm, in Tarai region close the jungle. Far from commercial yoga hubs, this environment allows students to experience yoga as a way of life, not a tourist attraction.
Results That Last
Since opening, we have trained around 50 TTC graduates and hosted more than 100 retreat participants. The numbers may be small—but that’s exactly the point. Many came as stressed seekers, and left not just certified, but grounded, peaceful, and confident to teach.
Our students often say it felt like being welcomed into a family, not just a school.
Why This Might Be the Best Thing for You
- If you’ve ever felt lost in big classes, this is your chance to be seen.
- If you want a program that adapts to you—not the other way around—this is it.
- If you want India without chaos, scams, or tourist packaging, here is where you’ll find it.
Come not for a holiday, but for a turning point that reconnects you with yourself.
Ready to explore your path as a yoga teacher?
- Book a Call to discuss your journey with us.
- Apply Now for our next 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course.
- Or Download our Free E-Book to learn more about yoga in rural India.
Discover why one-to-one or small-group TTCs at Akshara Yoga School may be the most transformative decision you ever make.
