Expand your practice. Deepen your knowledge. Inspire your life

Discover a life-changing opportunity to immerse yourself in a beautiful environment rich for personal and spiritual growth while expanding your knowledge and practice alongside an inspired group of teachers and peers!

VIEW OUR YTT BROCHURE

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Only a deposit is required to secure your spot. Payment plans available.

WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM UNIQUE?

Find your voice

Find your voice, practice teaching right from the get-go, and leave confident and ready to teach lead classes with a foundational understanding of fundamental yoga styles.

Graduate Teaching Opportunities

Eager graduates who want teaching
opportunities have exclusive, first-come, first-served access to teach karma classes at Santosha as part of our karma program

Flexible, Integrative Format

Integrate your learning into daily life. Our six-month course format allows time to process and reflect without requiring extended time away from work, family or other responsibilities

PROGRAM PILLARS

Expand your yoga practice.

Developing a solid practice is the heart of becoming a great teacher
Learn about alignment and the ins and outs of yoga postures and build a strong personal practice regardless of whether you intend to teach or not.

Deepen your knowledge.

Focused on the fundamentals and designed in accordance with Yoga Alliance standards, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of four key educational categories: techniques and practice, teaching methodology, anatomy and physiology, and yoga philosophy and lifestyle.

Inspire your life.

More than just an opportunity to grow your practice or learn to teach, teacher training is a chance to integrate yoga’s teachings into your lifestyle. Get ready to embrace challenge, connect with community and feel inspired

MEET YOUR TEACHERS

5 experienced teachers, 50+ years of teaching experience.


LEAD TEACHER

CANDACE COOKE


LEAD TEACHER

LISA TIERNEY


ANATOMY & ALIGNMENT

CURRAN WATTS


LEAD TEACHER

LISA WHITFORD


LEAD TEACHER

ALE VEFFER

Soak up the wisdom from our incredible faculty, who have 50+ years of combined teacher training experience, including collectively overseeing 15+ teacher trainings and certifying over 200 YTT graduates.

IS OUR PROGRAM A FIT FOR YOU?

Selecting a teacher training can feel overwhelming. You have a lot of questions, and there are many options to choose from. Book a complimentary meet and greet with our Program Director to see if our training is the right fit for you.

 

YTT GRADUATES WILL...

Develop a rich understanding of yoga philosophy, spirituality and alignment

Learn how to create cohesive, well-rounded sequences

Have the confidence to teach all-level classes

Receive a 200-hr certificate recognized by the Yoga Alliance

Build lasting relationships with inspired people

COURSE CURRICULUM

Our registered yoga teacher training courses follow the Yoga Alliance’s requirements for a 200-hour program. Topics covered in the course give our students a comprehensive understanding of yoga education, including the five educational categories as defined by the Yoga Alliance.
1. TECHNIQUES, TRAINING AND PRACTICE: 100 HOURS

Topics in this category could include asanas, pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation and other traditional yoga techniques. These hours must be a mix between: 1) analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques, and 2) guided practice of the techniques themselves. Both areas must receive substantial emphasis.

2. TEACHING METHODOLOGY: 25 HOURS

Topics in this category include:

  • Communication skills such as group dynamics, time management, and the establishment of priorities and boundaries
  • How to address the specific needs of individuals and special populations, to the degree possible in a group setting
  • Principles of demonstration, observation, assisting and correcting
  • Teaching styles
  • Qualities of a teacher
  • The student learning process
  • Business aspects of teaching yoga (including marketing and legal)
3. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: 20 HOURS

Topics in this category include:

  • Human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.)
  • Energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.)
  • The study of anatomy and physiology, along with their applications to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc.)
4. YOGA PHILOSOPHY, LIFESTYLE AND ETHICS FOR TEACHERS: 30 HOURS

Topics in this category include:

  • The study of yoga philosophies and traditional texts (such as the Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika or Bhagavad Gita)
  • Yoga lifestyle, such as the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), and the concepts of dharma and karma
  • Ethics for yoga teachers, such as those involving teacher–student relationships and community
  • Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service and being of service to others (seva)
5. PRACTICUM: 10 HOURS

Topics in this category include:

  • Practice teaching as the lead instructor (does not include assisting, observing or giving feedback)
  • Receiving and giving feedback
  • Observing others teaching
  • Assisting students while someone else is teaching
6. REMAINING CONTACT HOURS AND ELECTIVE HOURS

The standards detailed above ensure that all trainees of an RYS 200 receive training and instruction in five educational categories for at least 185 contact hours. The remaining required curriculum contact and non-contact Hours (totalling 200 hours in all) are distributed among the five educational categories, with a strong focus on helping trainees find their authentic teaching voices.

200HR TEACHER TRAINING – THE DETAILS

COURSE SCHEDULE

Daily sessions are from 8 am – 5 pm, and include detailed instruction and practice in various styles of yoga with some of your favourite teachers.

2025

January 10-12
February 7-9
March 7-9
April 11-13
May 2-4
June 6-8
July 5-11

INVESTMENT

Price: $3299 (+gst)
Early bird: $2999 (+gst) – up to October 31st 2024

REQUIRED READING

Please note that a complete list with up-to-date information of all books will be sent to accepted applicants before the start of the teacher training. The required reading lists below may change without notice. All accepted applicants will be made aware of any changes as they occur.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda   /   ISBN-10: 1938477073

How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach   /   ISBN-10: 0976546906

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer   /   ISBN-10: 1572245379

The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume I by Ray Long   /   ISBN-10: 1607432382

Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes by Mark Stephens   /   ISBN-10: 1583944974

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele /  ISBN: 0974470643

RECOMMENDED READING

Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing by B.K.S. Iyengar   /   ISBN-10: 0824506863

Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Stephen Mitchell   /   ISBN-10: 0609810340

Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self by Anodea Judith   /   ISBN-10: 1587612259

Yoga Adjustments: Philosophy, Principles, and Techniques by Mark Stephens   /   ISBN-10: 1583947701

TEACHER TRAINING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: DO I NEED TO PURCHASE THE RECOMMENDED BOOKS?

A: No. We understand you may be on a budget, so while we do recommend reading them if you can, only the required readings would need to be purchased.

Q: DOES THE TRAINING INCLUDE DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIPS AT SANTOSHA?

A: Yes, you can purchase a Studio Membership at a 50% discount for the duration of the training. Memberships can be used at both locations.

Q: HOW DOES THE PAYMENT PLAN WORK?

A: After you have made your $500 non-refundable deposit, the remaining balance is split up into however many months are left before the last week of the training. For example, if you were to pay your $500 deposit six months before the start of the training, your remaining balance would be $2648.95 (early bird pricing). You would then have six equal payments of $529.79. In order to be eligible for the payment plan, you must have either a Visa or MasterCard, which we automatically issue payments from.

Q: CAN I WITHDRAW MY APPLICATION AFTER CONFIRMING ATTENDANCE AND DEPOSIT?

A: Yes. If you withdraw your application after confirming your attendance, the $500 deposit cannot be refunded; however, it can be used towards a future training. Please be confident of your application and ability to attend the training before confirming your attendance and making your deposit, as there will be no exceptions concerning the refund of your deposit.

Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE UP A SESSION IF I CANNOT ATTEND ONE OF THE WEEKENDS?

A: Yes. This is arranged on a case by case basis. This is at the cost of $150 per day missed ($75 per half day). Alternatively, you can choose to wait until the next training session and drop into the module that you missed, but you won’t receive your certificate until you have completed it.
Alternatively 10 class cards are available at a 50% discount up to the end of the first weekend of training.

LOCATION

Yoga Santosha Mission
320, 1800 4 St. SW Calgary, AB T2S 2S5
Phone: 403-244-9642