Yoga Teacher Training
200 Hours | Online | Jesus-Centered
A one-of-a-kind immersion into what it means to be an embodied follower of Jesus and teacher of yoga.
Sign up for the waitlist! Be the first to know when registration opens.
Download our training information packet
Learn all you need to know to decide if our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program is for you!
Inside you’ll find a breakdown of what you will learn in each module, instructor bios, graduation checklist, homework assignments, required reading list + more!
LEARN TO EMBODY YOUR FAITH
This is your moment
Something powerful happens when we step on our yoga mats with the intention of connecting with God.
But you know this already.
You’ve cried, sweat, and surrendered in the tangible presence of God’s peace and presence on your yoga mat.
You’ve known this for awhile and maybe you’ve even felt that gentle internal nudge that says, “there is so much more.”
LEARN TO HOLD SPACE
A training unlike any other
This is so much more than a training that teaches you how to lead a yoga class.
This is an excavation of Biblical truths about what it means to know and be known by God in our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.
This is a journey of God-discovery and self-discovery, a trek to the limits of what we believe to be true about each.
This is an uncovering of your voice, the unique, powerful voice God has given you to lead others into greater freedom and wholeness.
This is a scavenger hunt for where we might see the fingerprints of God in ancient yoga philosophies and teachings.
This is an equipping of skills that help you see beyond the surface and guide others to places (and poses) they never dared to go.
This is a stripping away and a building up.
This is an immersion into what it means to be an embodied follower of Jesus and teacher of yoga.
This is about taking your yoga practice and your relationship with God to the next level (or next 10 levels).
This is about stepping into your calling to make space so others can know the Peace and Presence of God.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Graduates Say
As a new yoga student with only a year of practicing under my belt, I felt completely unqualified…By the end of the first session, I knew I was called to be there.
This training has enriched my soul and taught me how to embody scripture in my yoga practice.
Here is a chance to study with a team that authentically lives out their faith and honors God in what they do. I loved every bit of this training.
What To Expect
Expect to work really hard, build incredibly deep friendships, stretch the lines of your comfort zone, be amazed at all you + God in you are able to accomplish, and learn more about yourself than ever before. We didn’t design a passive 200 hour training program. We will be in it with every step of the way, encouraging you when you need a pep talk, praying for you when you need strength, and clarifying things for you as many times as you need until it makes sense.
We are committed to seeing you not just complete this training but thrive in it.
This material and methodology, this way of praying and preaching God’s goodness, will not leave you the same as before. It will make you a better person, partner, friend, and leader. It will sharpen you and stretch you and shape you into a newer creation, one more able to walk in the abiding Peace and Presence of God.
Through a combination of large-group lecture and discussion, yoga and meditation classes, small group practice teaching, and personal reflection assignments you will be stretched, shaped, and nurtured into a yoga teacher.
In addition to the live training sessions, you will meet with a pre-assigned Small Group and a pre-assigned buddy eight times over the course of training to practice teaching. The Small Group sessions will be 90 minutes long and the buddy meetings will be 30 minutes long. Your Small Group meeting time will be set for some time between 10am-8pm ET Monday-Thursday (groups are formed based on your stated availability) and buddy meeting times will be set by you and your partner.
You will also have homework assignments due between each live teaching session that will be a mixture of reading assignments, watching pre-recorded material, and written responses.
Our program is registered through Yoga Alliance – the leading non-profit organization providing globally-recognized credentials that stand as markers of high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching and unifies members around a shared Ethical Commitment. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to register as an RYT-200 with Yoga Alliance.
What Our Graduates Have To Say
What You’ll Need
A yoga mat, two yoga blocks, one yoga strap, and a blanket or towel that can be folded to the width of a yoga mat and provide adequate support for sitting.
The following books:
- Prayer of Heart and Body by Fr. Tom Ryan
- Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar
- In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership by Henri Nouwen
A strong internet connection that allows you to stream live video and audio without any interruption is required. Because we don’t have the luxury of being together in-person, it’s essential that we’re able to see and hear you clearly over Zoom.
An open mind, willing heart, teachable spirit, and a generous demeanor.
Yoga teacher training is one of THE most rewarding and challenging experiences. You’ll be stretched physically, emotionally, and mentally as you dive deep into your own beliefs and experiences while being introduced to teachings and philosophies that may be totally new to you. There will be moments where you want to throw in the towel from pure exhaustion, moments of boredom and impatience as you listen to a fellow trainee stumble through their practice teaching, moments of heart-racing anxiety as you get up to practice teach, and moments of deep connection and joy as you step into a deeper knowing of God’s abiding love in and around you.
It’s a roller coaster journey but reaching the end of it is immensely gratifying and life-changing!
Training Schedule
What sets our training apart from other online teacher trainings (among many things) is our emphasis on live instruction. While most other teacher training programs are packed with pre-recorded videos, 95% of our training takes place LIVE.
The dates and times listed below are for our live classes, lectures, discussions, and live yoga + meditation sessions. Trainee participation during these sessions is highly encouraged. In order to get the most out of this experience, you will be allowed to miss up to 10 live sessions and cannot miss two live weekends in a row. Recordings will be made available for the sessions you need to miss. Exceptions will be granted to trainees outside of North America (just reach out!).
During the weeks between live training sessions, you will meet with a pre-assigned Small Group for 90 minutes and with your pre-assigned buddy for 30 minutes. You will be able to select a Small Group time that works best for your schedule. Full attendance and participation in your Small Group meetings is required.
August – December 2024
10 Live Weekend Modules {Friday-Sunday}
9 Live Yoga + Meditation Classes {Thursdays}
8 Mid-Week Small Group Meetings
8 One-on-One Buddy Meetings
Training Times
Thursdays: 7-9pm ET
Fridays: 1-4pm ET
Saturdays: 1-5pm ET
Sundays: 1-5pm ET
*convert to your time zone here*
Spring 2024 Live Training Dates
January 12-14: Module One
January 18: Yoga + Meditation Practice
January 26-28: Module Two
February 1: Yoga + Meditation Practice
February 9-11: Module Three
February 15: Yoga + Meditation Practice
February 23-25: Module Four
February 29: Yoga + Meditation Practice
March 8-10: Module Five
March 14: Yoga + Meditation Practice
March 22-24: Module Six
March 28: Yoga + Meditation Practice
April 5-7: Module Seven
April 11: Yoga + Meditation Practice
April 19-21: Module Eight
April 25: Yoga + Meditation Practice
May 3-5: Module Nine
May 9: Yoga + Meditation Practice
May 17-19: Module 10
For a detailed description of what’s covered in each Module, download the information packet.
I learned so much. I grew leaps and bounds as a space-holder… It helped me experience Jesus in my body and deepened my love for yoga as prayer. It brought to mind some of my favorite people, who have pursued a yogi lifestyle and allowed us to be a part of their story.
Cynthia
Register today and you’ll also receive:
Bonus #1: The Yoga Abbey Membership
Gain access to The Yoga Abbey membership from the day of enrollment through 3 months after your training ends – up to a $240 value!
We want you to have a space you can call your (virtual) yoga home. The Yoga Abbey provides a low-impact workout you can do from home that deeply nourishes your spirit as well as your body. We are a vibrant and diverse global community leaning into embodied spiritual practices to help us “be still and know” Immanuel, God With Us.
We release brand new content each month, all based around a single theme. This year we are devoting ourselves to study The Beatitudes with each month focusing on a different theme related to these verses in which Jesus speaks to his disciples saying “blessed are those…”
Plus, members have access to:
- Library of 100+ yoga videos
- Private Facebook group
- Live virtual retreats
- Soul Circles (soul care small groups)
- Pilgrimages (earn points for prizes)
- Foundation of Yoga series for beginners
Bonus #2: Leader’s Wing Membership
Gain access to The Yoga Abbey’s Leader’s Wing for 3 months after training ends – a $150+ value!
We want to set you up for success after graduation from yoga teacher training with mentorship and a community to support you on this journey.
The Leader’s Wing is for new or seasoned yoga instructors. Membership includes two live soul care sessions each month. Founder Caroline Williams hosts a group soul care session – there’s no set agenda, but it provides space for people to draw near to God together. The second session each month includes a solution circle where the group encourages each other as they work through challenges within their ministry or yoga business.
The Leader’s Wing also includes a library of resources with over 40 recorded workshops that focus on serving specific populations, master classes from yoga instructors with established businesses, anatomy and more.
4-Month Plan
$788/month
Save $148!
- An experience of learning and teaching online that will give you confidence to teach in any format
- Access to The Yoga Abbey membership from the day of enrollment through 3 months after training ends (up to a $240 value!)
- Access to The Yoga Abbey’s Leader’s Wing with sequence breakdowns, class themes, and advanced workshops for 3 months after training ends (a $150+ value!)
12-Month Plan
$275/month
- An experience of learning and teaching online that will give you confidence to teach in any format
- Access to The Yoga Abbey membership from the day of enrollment through 3 months after training ends (up to a $240 value!)
- Access to The Yoga Abbey’s Leader’s Wing with sequence breakdowns, class themes, and advanced workshops for 3 months after training ends (a $150+ value!)
Pay-in-Full
$3,050
Save $250!
- An experience of learning and teaching online that will give you confidence to teach in any format
- Access to The Yoga Abbey membership from the day of enrollment through 3 months after training ends (up to a $240 value!)
- Access to The Yoga Abbey’s Leader’s Wing with sequence breakdowns, class themes, and advanced workshops for 3 months after training ends (a $150+ value!)
Sign up for the waitlist! Be the first to know when registration opens.
Not sure if our program is right for you?
Schedule a call with our Director of Training here.
FAQs
What if I need to miss a session?
In order to ensure comprehension, build rich relationships and help you graduate on time, we highly encourage our trainees to participate in each training session live.
That being said, we understand that there are times where you will need to be absent from the live training sessions and recordings will be made available for you to watch.
You will be allowed to miss up to 10 live sessions and cannot miss two live weekends in a row. Recordings will be made available for the sessions you need to miss. Exceptions will be granted to trainees outside of North America (just reach out!).
We ask that you watch the recordings within one week, or no later than your next scheduled small Group Meeting as you will need to be caught up with the sessions in order to participate in your Small Group.
Your live attendance at Small Group meetings is required. You will be invited to select a Small Group meeting time that works best for your schedule. One Small Group make-up session will be scheduled for trainees that may need it.
Do you have any scholarships?
We have three partial scholarships available. These scholarships are reserved for people underrepresented in the Western yoga community and/or those serving people underrepresented in the Western yoga community. The scholarship deadline is December 1. We will be notifying applicants by Wednesday, December 6.
If you would like to apply, please submit your application here.
Are you registered with Yoga Alliance?
Yes! Upon graduation you will be eligible to register as an RYT-200 with Yoga Alliance.
What if I haven’t been practicing yoga for a long time?
Many of our students enroll in training after experiencing deep healing, freedom, and peace on their yoga mats for the first time. We don’t set a requirement for how long you need to have practiced before enrolling because we know that God delights in using each of us for His glory and our good.
That being said, if you are newer to yoga and don’t have a strong familiarity with the different asanas (poses), you will need to work harder than your peers who have spent more time on their mats learning the names and shapes we use a lot in yoga. By no means does this disqualify you! We’ve built in lots of layers of support and connection to make sure you’re taken care of. But our biggest encouragement is to practice as often as you can before training starts to help build greater confidence and familiarity with the practice.
Is the 200 Hour or 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training right for me?
The 200 Hour program is the first level of Yoga Teacher Training. Our 300 Hour program will launch in June 2024 and having graduated a 200 Hour program is a prerequisite.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
We would love to the opportunity to answer all your questions. Please emai our training team at training@theyogaabbey.com.
What’s Possible After Graduation?
Many students embark on the journey of yoga teacher training unsure of what awaits them on the other side. Perhaps they’re in search of deeper learning for their own personal growth; perhaps they feel the stirring of a dream to create a space where others can experience rich connection on their yoga mats; or perhaps they just know this is the next right thing without any indication of why, how, or what.
If that’s you, know you are very welcome and in very good company.
Our graduates have gone on to do all of these things and more! Over the years, we’ve discovered that training students to become highly qualified and embodied yoga teachers is just the tip of the iceberg.
At its heart, this training is about spiritual formation.
Here are some examples of things our graduates have gone on to create, pursue, and enjoy after graduating from our program:
- Host virtual and in-person classes and retreats
- Teach regular classes in a studio or gym in their community
- Teach classes in their church, either as a seasonal small group, one-time retreat, or ongoing offering
- Guest teach at a retreat, camp, or event organized by someone else
- Teach classes to co-workers and students in a professional setting (school, health care facility, counseling center, non-profit, etc.)
- Integrate the material into current professional work as a non-profit leader, mental health therapist, and clinician
- Start an online membership community
- Pursue advanced training in other yoga and healing modalities (Spiritual Direction, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Therapy, etc.)
- Lead yoga and meditation classes in The Yoga Abbey
- Assist with other trainings in The Yoga Abbey
- Lead Bible studies based around our core Five Intentions teaching
The biggest breakthroughs and deepest transformations are often hard to summarize in a tidy “accomplishment” post-graduation. The work God does in and through this training is the work of deep healing and restoration. When we encounter that kind of healing, we step into new levels of freedom, hope, and love within ourselves, our families, and our communities. The ripple effect is profound!
THE YOGA ABBEY
You Belong Here
It doesn’t matter if you can’t touch your toes or struggle through a vinyasa. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never gone to Bible school or cringe at the thought of sitting in silence for longer than 60 seconds. It doesn’t matter if you have no plans to ever actually teach a yoga class. You are never more qualified or ready than you are now.