Foreign nationals, as well as Indian citizens, interested in becoming yoga teachers in India or abroad can now undertake a teacher training course that the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is starting.
There is provision either for a one-month residential course or a six-month open programme entailing 240 hours of training to become a certified yoga instructor, who can teach in universities, in the corporate sector, and in training centres.
The fees will be ₹10,000 for Indian citizens and $500 for foreign nationals. Anyone who has passed Class 12 and is above 18 can enrol.
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“This will promote yoga, offer opportunities to trained teachers and offer certified instructors to those in the corporate sector and educational institutions having yoga courses,” said an official.
The course will have both theory and practical components. There will be three theory and two practical papers. The theory papers will include the philosophical aspects of yoga and knowledge about the human body and its nutritional requirements.
The course material in Hindi is already ready. It will soon be translated into English and Sanskrit.
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“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address before the second International Yoga Day suggested that various institutions should come forward and create social awareness about the benefits of yoga and its efficacy in combating diseases like diabetes,” said a note, originally in Hindi. “It is in this context that NIOS thought of offering training in yoga and making people aware of its benefits.”