Frequently asked questions

Are books and materials included in the price of the training?

Will I need to bring all the books listed on the required list?

When will I find out if I have been accepted into the program?

How proficient in yoga do you have to be to do the program?

How many students are enrolled in each Teacher Training at one time? What is the typical age range of the participants?

Do I need to have any other qualifications to be accepted into the program?

What if I miss a class?

Conflict Policy: Intensive Teacher Training Format

How much time should I expect to spend on homework?

Do you help organize accommodations if I choose to stay elsewhere?

What is the Yoga Alliance?

Will I be qualified to teach yoga once I complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training Program?

What is Santosha Intensive Yoga Teacher Training Certification?

Will I have free time during the program?

Q: Are books and materials included in the price of the training?
A: No. You must purchase these books prior to the course. The only supplied and included material is the Intensive Yoga Teacher Training Student Manual. The student manual will be passed out the first day of the training. You will be able to find all other study materials on the Amazon website, and more than likely you can find some, if not all, secondhand.

Q: Will I need to bring all the books listed on the required list?
A: No. We will email you and let you know which ones to bring and which can be left at home for future reference and reading.

Q: When will I find out if I have been accepted into the program?
A: After you submit your completed teacher training application and you've transferred the deposit of $250, you will be contacted via email within one week with an official acceptance letter.

Q: How proficient in yoga do you have to be to do the program?
A: The Santosha Intensive Teacher Training programs includes some form of asana practise daily either a yoga class or throughout the day during classes. We strongly recommend that applicants have some form of  a consistent asana practise and are relatively comfortable practicing daily. If you are brand-new to yoga, this would not be an appropriate program to participate in. You will not benefit from learning yoga basics while simultaneously learning how to teach. That said, if you have a regular yoga practise you may be more ready than you think. We are looking for trainees with a  foundation in the basic and fundamental yoga postures. An advanced practitioner is not necessarily a person who can move deeply into advanced postures; an advanced practitioner is someone who comes to the mat with a level of maturity, a willingness to learn and an understanding of the limits of their own body. Keep in mind that this program is not only for aspiring teachers but for people who want to deepen their practise.

Q: How many students are enrolled in each Teacher Training at one time? What is the typical age range of the participants?
A: We do not take any more than (and typically have) 20 individuals in our trainings, with two Teachers. We believe quality far outweighs quantity. Students generally range from 18 to 65 years of age.

Q: Do I need to have any other qualifications to be accepted into the program?
A: To qualify for our Intensive Teacher Training Programs, you must complete an application.

Q: What if I miss a class?
A: To obtain a diploma and letter of completion, you must attend 100 percent of the classes to comply with Yoga Alliance requirements. However, we understand that you may not be able to foresee every conflict, so we have devised the following procedures if you must miss a class

Q: Conflict Policy: Intensive Teacher Training Format
A: To get the most out of your Teacher Training Program, it is critically important that you attend the first four days of the Intensive Program.
If you miss 1 - 2 days: You may still complete the program with your class, provided that you schedule a private session (or group session) with an Assistant Trainer at some point during the four weeks of the program. A two-hour private session equals one day in the intensive. The cost of a private session is $100 per hour. Please contact Sunny Richards-Glasser to schedule the make-up session. The maximum number of private make-up sessions is two.
If you miss 3 - 4 days: You will not be able to complete the program with your class, and you will need to make up the classes in a subsequent training. You may choose to make up the first two days you miss with a private session during your training, but the additional days you will need to take in a subsequent training.
The fee for retaking up to 4 days in a subsequent Intensive training is $100/day.
If you miss 5+ days: You will need to retake the program, at a discounted price, subject to space availability.
Life is full of change; therefore, when absences are caused by unforeseen circumstances, we devise a track for the student based upon his/her needs.

Q: How much time should I expect to spend on homework?
A: Expect to spend between 8 to 10.5 hours per week on written assignments and class observations. The homework is designed to support the material covered in class and help you integrate what is presented into your own practise and teaching. If you are not planning on teaching after this course, you may choose not to complete all of the homework assignments and take the course for no credit. However, if you wish to receive your Diploma and Letter of Completion for the course, you must attend all the sessions and complete all the homework assignments

Q: Do you help organize accommodations if I choose to stay elsewhere?
A: No, But we can point you in the right direction.

Q: What is the Yoga Alliance?
A: Yoga Alliance is an organization that was started in 1999 as a way to create nationally recognized standards for yoga teachers and yoga teacher trainings. More and more yoga studios across the world are requiring their teachers to register with Yoga Alliance, either at the 200- or 500-hour level. Yoga Alliance registration, however, is not a legal requirement for teaching yoga. Currently there are no legal certification requirements to be a yoga teacher.

Q: Will I be qualified to teach yoga once I complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training Program?
A: Yes! With the successful completion of all the requirements of the program, including contact hours, homework, and exam, you will receive a Letter of Completion and Diploma evidencing your training at the 200-Hour Level. You may also register with the Yoga Alliance (www.yogaalliance.org) at the RYT-200 level (Registered Yoga Teacher 200). Graduates of the 200-hour program usually begin teaching in small studios or gyms, with private clientele (friends and family), etc.

Q: What is Santosha Intensive Yoga Teacher Training Certification?
A: Upon successful completion of the Santosha Intensive 200-Hour Teacher Training, trainees will receive a Santosha diploma as an acknowledgment. Receipt of a Santosha diploma is the first step toward teaching. With this diploma, new teachers can begin the process of refining their skills as yoga teachers at many local gyms and small yoga studios, as well as with private clients.
Trainees will also receive their Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certification (RYT200) as soon as they apply for it and pay a registration fee. Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certification offers the added benefit of a listing on their website and the recognition of a national certifying body. Yoga Alliance certification is also a requirement for employment at many gyms and yoga studios.

Q: What kind of support can I receive after my training?
A: All our graduates are welcome to continue to contact us regarding questions and support. We offer an alumni newsletter, a web chat Q&A forum, a blog for alumni, and discounts on future trainings and retreats

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