The Ultimate Residential Yoga Teacher Training: Surviving India with a Friend
Yoga is all about connecting to our breath, our bodies, and our minds. So what better way to take that connection a step further than signing up for a residential yoga teacher training with a friend? Genius, right? Well, that’s exactly what Jo and I did. Spoiler alert: It was equal parts spiritual awakening, intense learning, and a hilarious rollercoaster of emotions and adventures—and I wouldn’t have done it any other way!
The Sunshine, the Yoga, and the Heat (So Much Heat)
India is exactly what you picture when you think of the perfect yoga destination: palm trees, ocean breeze, and, of course, the immediate realization that you’re going to sweat more than you ever thought possible. After about five minutes on the mat in 100% humidity, you quickly learn that “sweat” isn’t just something you do when you work out; it’s your constant companion.
But despite the sweat-soaked yoga mats and the endless battle with the sun, there was something magical about practicing yoga on a beach with the waves crashing in the background. The morning meditation before sunrise? Serene. The morning meditation before sunrise after a week of morning meditation before sunrise? Not so serene. But having someone there with you to laugh at how tired you both are and how much of a struggle it is, makes it all A-OK. Because, let’s be real, it’s one thing to push through a pose, but quite another to “labor” using the stairs because of how sore your muscles are after five hours of practice!
An Emotional Rollercoaster with a Cherry on Top
As you’ve probably figured out by now, residential yoga teacher training isn’t all sunshine and Instagram-worthy moments. There’s the internal work—which, if I’m being honest, in some moments, felt like the universe had handed us a one-way ticket to Emotional Therapy City. And guess what? Everybody at that teacher training, at one point or another, was on that train.
There were days when the pressure of constant learning and personal growth felt like we’d been hit by a yoga-inspired freight train. Between tears over backbends, laughter through our first attempts at teaching, frogs jumping out of toilets, and sleepless diarrhea nights, we formed a bond that went deeper than just being friends—we were each other’s lifelines.
The Fun (Yes, We Had Some)
A residential yoga teacher training is about community. We were all in this together, laughing at the absurdity of it all and leaning on each other when the going got tough. We’d share meals, stories, and laughs—always knowing that no matter how “off” the poses were, we had each other’s back.
Despite the emotional drama and sweaty yoga mats, we actually had some pretty amazing moments. Our days weren’t all just downward dogs, anatomical terms and philosophical musings; we also had loads of fun. Whether it was rushing to sip coconut water at the beach during our break, meeting new people from all around the world, or studying together for our exam (while constantly complaining about the heat), we always managed to enjoy our time. It never felt as tough as it could have, because we were in it together.
The Takeaway
When it was all over, Jo and I walked away with more than just a yoga certification. We walked away with a bond that was deeper than any savasana could have prepared us for. We survived the intense heat, the emotional rollercoaster, and the questionable Wi-Fi connection together—and came out the other side as certified yoga teachers, better humans, and lifelong friends and work partners.
So, if you’re thinking about doing your yoga teacher training with a friend, my advice? Do it. You’ll sweat, you’ll cry and you’ll laugh at how seriously you take every new piece of yoga philosophy. But most importantly, you’ll form a connection that goes beyond the mat—and that’s worth all the awkward poses and emotional meltdowns in the world.
If you're ready to embark on your own transformative journey, click here to learn more about our upcoming 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Sri Lanka—where connection, growth, and unforgettable experiences await!
We had made it in the end!
