A 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training program will provide aspiring teachers and curious students with the foundational aspects of yoga.
Through the physical postures, history, and philosophy of yoga, a 200 hour program will provide the framework to enrich your knowledge of this ancient practice.
A 200 hour program aims to facilitate a space for practitioners to deepen their awareness of body, breath and balance.
If you want to learn the rich and multifaceted history of yoga and how to create holistic vinyasa sequences, a 200 hour program is for you. This training is not simply for those who aspire to teach yoga; it is for anyone who wants to expand their understanding of the poses and learn about the great wisdom of subtle body practices and their influence on our day-to-day lives.
We chose five Registered Yoga Schools to highlight with upcoming 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training programs online or in person.
We chose the five RYS 200 hour programs based on the approach to vinyasa-style sequencing, presentation of fundamental components of a well-rounded yoga class, and unique offerings based on the teacher’s area of expertise.
Keep reading to see our top five recommended 200 hour programs in 2022/2023!
Table of Contents:
- Why a 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training is for you.
- 6 questions to ask yourself before you register.
- What you need to prepare for a 200 hour program.
- Recommended books to supplement training.
- Things to look for in a yoga teacher training program.
- The five 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training we recommend
- Art of Vinyasa Yoga Sequencing 4-Day Workshop.
- 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Clara Roberts-Oss.
Why You Want to take a 200 Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
If you’ve been practicing yoga for several years and want to go deeper than the yoga asanas (postures), a yoga teacher training program is for you!
It’s wonderful to attend yoga classes and workshops regularly, though these experiences barely scratch the surface of what the yoga practice has to offer.
In a typical 200 hour program, participants will learn:
Yoga History
- The history of yoga, the founders, and the main lineages.
Yoga Philosophy
- The roots of yogic philosophy with the 8 Limbs of Yoga.
Yoga Anatomy
- The correct alignment and anatomy for every body.
Yoga Asanas
- The postures and how to sequence a holistic vinyasa yoga class.
Yoga of the Subtle Body
- The study of the Chakra system, Prana, mantra, meditation, and Ayurveda.
Every 200 hour program is unique; the teacher(s) who host the program will ultimately decide the nuance in what is studied, practiced, and embodied throughout the training.
For advanced practitioners, a 200 hour program provides the space to geek out on the alignment and anatomy of each of the yoga asanas, with the assistance of the teachers and fellow practitioners.
The physiology of the yoga practice is essential as it allows the practitioner the space to observe and examine the poses and how they are performed in different bodies.
If you are curious about the underlying philosophy that guides the yoga asanas, a 200 hour program may be for you!
This training provides participants with a broad outline of the Yoga Sutras, specifically the 8 Limbs of Yoga. A discussion of the Yamas and Niyamas provides an opportunity to see how the 8 Limbs of Yoga are relevant today.
For the seekers, those who are interested in philosophy and the subtle body, a 200 hour program will give you a taste of the subtle energy body through the chakras and practices to understand how Prana (vital energy) moves through the body. Meditation, mantras (chanting), kriyas (gestures), bandhas (locks), and pranayamas (breath work) are also explored in a 200 hour program.
The 200 hour program experience allows participants to develop the essential skills to teach a well-rounded vinyasa yoga class. It also offers a space for deeper listening and connection to self through philosophy and spiritual practices.
Participants in the 200 hour program will develop strength in the postures, learn how to move in and out of postures with ease, and realize the fundamental components of a vinyasa yoga class. This will help students and teachers alike create a safe environment for the practice, with the necessary modifications for those with injury or misalignment.
Try a vinyasa yoga class on Practice with Clara.
–New members get the first 7-days free on the apps!
Choose from 8 yoga classes with Vinyasa, Lila Flow, Hatha, Yoga Nidra and Core Yoga styles.
Six questions to ask yourself before you register for a 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training:
Why am I taking this training?
Before you sign up for teacher training, understand the intention behind your desire to join. Like an educational investment, you want to go in with a clear idea of what you want to get out of the experience. Ask yourself what you hope to achieve —do you plan on teaching? Is this training for personal development?
What do I want to study?
There are so many layers to the practice of yoga, from the physical postures and anatomy to the chakras and Ayurveda, to the business of yoga and how to hold space for others. You may enter the training with questions about the physical poses and end the training with a totally different perspective on what yoga means! Before starting your training, do a little research and see what aspects of the Yoga practice light you up.
What style of yoga am I interested in?
200 hour programs are foundational to any yoga teacher training. You must complete a 200 hour program before taking a 300 hour program and becoming a 500 hour registered teacher. There are many different styles of yoga and even more yoga schools and experienced teachers offering 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training. The styles include Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative.
Do I want to do this from home or a destination?
There are many more options to take a yoga teacher training from abroad, at a local studio, or from the comfort of your home. Yoga training online or blended format is now as popular as retreat destinations. Yoga Alliance has approved Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) to continue teaching online from 2022-2023. The benefit of this extension is that it provides practitioners with the option to take training without traveling or missing work. How you choose to organize your time and schedule for a yoga teacher training will depend on how and where you want to study.
Do I feel comfortable with the postures?
You don’t have to be an expert at yoga to take teacher training. It is recommended that you have a basic understanding of the yoga poses and some familiarity with the style of yoga you are going to study. The more you give, the more you will get out of the experience!
What you need to prepare for a 200 Hour Program
There are no prerequisites for a 200 hour program. Depending on the school of yoga and who you choose to study with, the teacher may request that you’ve been practicing yoga for a number of years. We recommend having a solid vinyasa (flow) practice for at least two years before registering for a vinyasa 200 hour program.
*Many 200 hour programs have outlined their own prerequisites prior to signing up for training. Check with the instructor before you apply.
Recommended Reading for a 200 Hour Program
Jivamukti Yoga by Sharon Gannon and David Life.
The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar.
Awakening the Spine by Vanda Scaravelli.
Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.
The Bhagavad Gita translation by Stephen Mitchell.
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by B.K.S. Iyengar
5 things to look for in a 200 hour vinyasa teacher training program
If the training is registered with Yoga Alliance.
If you aspire to teach yoga, you may want to ensure that the yoga school you are interested in is registered with Yoga Alliance. Founded in 1999, Yoga Alliance is the governing body for the yoga industry and sets the standards for teacher training programs worldwide. It was created out of a desire to ensure that the practice of yoga was held up to a certain standard. Many studios and, in some cases, insurers require that you are registered with Yoga Alliance before you teach or purchase the insurance.
The teacher’s background and areas of expertise.
Do a little research and take the classes with the teacher leading the training you’re interested in. Ask questions or look online to see who the teacher studied with, how long they’ve been teaching, and their other areas of interest. Go to many classes or workshops to see how they hold and create space for students. Examine their sequencing style, music, cues, and theme; dissect the flow of the class and ask yourself why you want to train with them.
The yoga texts that are recommended for the training.
Explore the course curriculum and check out the manual used and other recommended resources and reading. This will also give you a better understanding of the teacher’s knowledge and who they’ve studied with. It will also inform the style of yoga and sequencing you will learn to teach. You want a teacher who is applying the roots of the practice and making it accessible to all bodies- someone who can take the foundations and teach you how to add your voice to make it your own. Someone who honours the tradition and adds their own flavour to this ancient practice!
How hands-on adjustments are used and if there’s time for practice teaching.
A key component of a 200 hour program is the anatomy and alignment of the poses. The other element to be aware of is hands-on adjustments. Look for a training that illustrates how to perform adjustments with or without props, modify for all body types, and safely sequence to create balance and reduce stress! You want to make sure there is ample time for practice teaching, so you get direct feedback from your peers and teachers and spend time being comfortable teaching to a room of people.
The ethics and business behind yoga.
When you complete your training, you may or may not want to teach. A 200 hour that provides some resources and insight into the business of yoga will aid you if you want to teach or not. Time to explore values, intentions, and how we treat others is partial to the overall experience of yoga and what this practice offers. Boundary setting, honing in on a niche, and negotiating space and price are relevant to how you navigate your role in the world.
Our top Five 200 Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Opportunities in 2022-2023
Where: Tramuntana Flow, Mallorca Spain
When: July 23-August 20, 2022
Who: Suzanne Slocum Gori, Lucy McCarthy and Lauren Lee
Cost: $2597
Where: Pondok Pitaya, Jalan Pantai Balian,Bali, Indonesia
When: Monday, September 5th to Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Who: Nico Luci
Cost: $3,500
Summer Immersion
Where: Yoga Maya NYC
When: July 11-August 7th, 2022
Who: Bryn Chrisman, Danielle Harbord + Amanda McDonald
Cost: $3150
Long Weekends
Where: Yoga Maya NYC
When: September 2022-June 2023 (one weekend/month)
Who: Bryn, Danielle, Amanda + Guest Teachers
Cost: $3350 = EARLY BIRD RATE
Where: virtual course
When: Enrollment opens for the next cohort in September 2022
Who: Janet Stone + Teaching Staff
Cost: $1488*
*plus 80 hours of electives paid separately.
Where: ONLINE // ON CAMPUS
When: February 25 to 27 || ONLINE
March 1, 8, 11-13, 15, 22, 29 || ONLINE
April 6, 8-10 (NM), 12, 19, 26 || ONLINE + ON-CAMPUS
May 3, 10, 13-15 (NM), 17, 24, 31 || ONLINE + ON-CAMPUS
June 3-5 (NM), 7, 10-12 (NM), 14 || ONLINE + ON-CAMPUS
Who: Maria Garre + Teaching staff
Cost: $2350
If you want to learn more about holistic vinyasa yoga sequencing—
Check out the upcoming yoga teacher training with the Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga.
This program features the history and practice of vinyasa yoga, specifically Prana Vinyasa Flow, pioneered by Shiva Rea. This style of yoga embodies movement, chanting, music, and breath control to direct the life force/energy (Prana).
This training is open to yoga teachers and students interested in learning more about sequencing and is applicable for 20 Yoga Alliance Teacher Credits.
In this 20-hour online yoga teacher training, we’ll unpack peak yoga postures, do a deep dive into Lila Flow Yoga Wave Theory sequencing, discuss themes, explore subtle body practices, and examine how and why we aim to create balance in the muscle groups and nervous system in a yoga class.
July 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd
Cost is $350 USD
This training is over HALF FULL.
Join the 2-Day Sequencing Workshop!
July 22nd + 23rd
Cost is $150 USD
October 2022 – March 2023
This program is Yoga Alliance Certified—and designed for those looking to deepen their practice and teaching.
The 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training is broken up into 3 modules.
*You must have a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training certificate to participate in the first two modules.*
The third module is OPEN to anyone who would like to explore the more esoteric aspects of the practice. Register for each module separately or the whole program.
Cost:
Per module = $1500 USD
Whole thing = $4000 USD
Mandala translates from Sanskrit as ‘circle’ and is used in Hindu and Buddhist Tantric practices to symbolize sacred rites and a point for meditation.
From its Sanskrit roots, Mandala is ‘manda’ = essence + ‘la’ = container.
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