Top 10 Somatic Yoga Teacher Training Programs in India
If you’re looking for somatic yoga teacher training in India, you have more options than ever. Some programs focus on gentle movement. Others focus on trauma support or long-term teaching skills. This list breaks down 10 solid programs across India where you can learn somatic yoga in a grounded, practical way.
These programs are for people who want to teach yoga with more body awareness, nervous system care, and emotional safety. Some offer 200 hr trauma-informed yoga teacher training, while others let you specialize in things like yin yoga teacher training online.
Here are 10 trainings that get it right.
1. SVK Yoga – Rishikesh, India
Best for: Combining somatic yoga, trauma-informed teaching, and real-world applications
SVK Yoga is one of the few schools in India that integrates somatic yoga teacher training with both trauma-awareness and modern movement science. Their 200-hour program gives equal weight to the body, the nervous system, and personal process.
What makes SVK stand out:
- Trauma-informed curriculum with real-life case examples
- Focus on breath, fascia release, and grounding
- Options to continue with yin yoga teacher training online
- Experienced teachers trained in psychology and somatics
You won’t just memorize poses. You’ll learn how to support people through anxiety, stress, or chronic pain using accessible movement and language.
2. Kranti Yoga – Goa
Best for: A relaxed beachside setting with a slow, embodied focus
Kranti offers a calm, mindful approach to yoga training. Their somatic modules are embedded within their Hatha-Vinyasa base, but they also offer yin and restorative practice labs.
Highlights:
- Small groups and slow pacing
- Body-mind awareness sessions each morning
- Mix of Yin, Restorative, and intuitive movement
- One of the few places where “non-doing” is part of the curriculum
3. Yoga Vidya Mandiram – Rishikesh
Best for: A structured but gentle approach to somatic learning
This school is known for its consistent schedule and solid teaching. Their 200 Hr Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training option includes classes on emotional safety, student consent, and nervous system education.
Why it works:
- Combines classic yoga with current trauma-sensitive approaches
- Extra support for those with PTSD or burnout
- Guided meditations designed for grounding and self-regulation
- Located near the Ganga, offering daily silence and nature
4. The Yoga Institute – Mumbai
Best for: Long-standing credibility with a modern somatic twist
This is one of the oldest yoga schools in India. While their traditional programs are more classical, they now offer modules focused on body awareness and trauma-sensitive teaching.
What’s included:
- Functional anatomy with somatic emphasis
- Simple, direct teaching style
- Mentorship available post-training
- Optional yin yoga teacher training online for graduates
If you want a mix of tradition and new ideas, this is a good middle ground.
5. Abhaya Yoga Academy – Mysore
Best for: Personal growth-focused teachers who want to teach from experience
Abhaya emphasizes inner listening and emotional safety. You’ll spend more time moving slowly and sensing your body than doing “correct” poses.
Key features:
- One of the most body-inclusive schools on this list
- Daily somatic movement and journaling
- No pressure to perform or master postures
- Offers a strong foundation for therapeutic work
They don’t call it “trauma-informed,” but their methods are naturally aligned with it.
6. Soma Yoga Institute – Dharamshala
Best for: Western-style somatic integration in a Himalayan setting
This institute brings in teachers trained in somatic psychology, Feldenkrais, and trauma-sensitive yoga. They don’t just teach sequences—they teach you how to guide people into awareness.
Expect:
- Morning somatic practices instead of traditional asana
- Tools for understanding fight/flight/freeze in the body
- Emphasis on inquiry, curiosity, and felt sense
- Great support if you’re new to bodywork
This is a great place to learn how to teach yoga for healing, not performance.
7. Shakti Yoga Peeth – Rishikesh
Best for: A grounded, affordable start to somatic yoga teaching
Shakti’s 200-hour program isn’t marketed as trauma-informed, but the teachers are trained in sensitivity and student agency. They emphasize slow transitions, language choice, and holding space.
You’ll learn:
- Basics of somatic awareness within yoga flow
- Restorative teaching methods
- Verbal cueing that invites—not demands—movement
- Peer-led reflection circles for integration
It’s a solid option if you want to keep things simple and body-based.
8. Adiyogi Yoga Shala – Tamil Nadu
Best for: Merging yoga, meditation, and body-based therapy
Adiyogi’s training is deep. You’ll explore meditation not just as a mental practice but as something you feel through the body. Their curriculum weaves somatic movement with traditional kriya and breathwork.
What stands out:
- Direct link between nervous system and spiritual practice
- Daily movement meditation practices
- Somatic yoga labs to practice what you teach
- More self-paced than other 200-hour programs
They help you slow down before you speed up. That’s rare.
9. Tattvaa Yogashala – Rishikesh
Best for: Blending somatic principles into Ashtanga-based teaching
This might surprise you—Ashtanga isn’t usually associated with somatics. But Tattvaa brings in guest teachers who lead slow body-based sessions and offer trauma-informed communication tools.
What’s included:
- Workshops on body-based resilience
- Integrated pranayama with somatic awareness
- Mindful transitions and grounding practices
- Continuing education in yin yoga teacher training online
It’s a good option if you want to balance structure and softness.
10. Aranya Yoga – Dharamkot
Best for: Nature-based, intuitive yoga learning
Aranya runs programs in the forest hills above Dharamshala. Their method is organic and exploratory. You’ll spend more time outdoors, in silence, or in freeform movement.
Program features:
- Somatic sessions in nature—barefoot, with the earth
- Movement based on sensing, not copying
- Emphasis on community and shared space-holding
- Practical tools for emotional regulation
If you want your yoga practice to come from how you feel, not how you look, this training will support that.
How to Choose the Right Somatic Yoga Teacher Training in India
Here are a few things to consider:
- Look for trauma-informed language. Not all programs label themselves that way, but read the course details. Do they talk about safety, consent, nervous system, or embodiment? That’s a good sign.
- Don’t rush into advanced poses. Good somatic yoga teacher training helps you slow down. You won’t need to perform.
- Ask if they offer online components. Some schools (like SVK Yoga and Tattvaa) offer Yin Yoga Teacher Training Online to support your learning even after graduation.
- Check if they include nervous system education. This is key to teaching trauma-informed yoga well.
Final Thoughts
India offers a wide range of somatic yoga teacher training options now. Whether you’re looking for a 200 Hr trauma informed yoga teacher training, want to build an online practice with yin yoga teacher training online, or simply want to learn how to listen to your body—there’s a place for you.
