yoga teacher training 2024

Fall 2024

YA 200-hour YTT

Half Moon Bay, CA

One weekend/month

+ Wednesday nights

Start Date: coming soon!

Featuring:

Amber Ricchetti

Maria Polonchek

Amy Thomas

Natalie Hanson

Mission Statement 

Our mission is to provide a robust and comprehensive 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher Training that meets Yoga Alliance Elevated Standards and honors both the history and tradition of yoga as well as its modern progression and adaptability. 

Upon completion of Swell Yoga’s 200-hr YTT, students will have a personal practice transformed by both the depth and breadth of their knowledge as well as the ability to confidently and safely guide others.

NEW enhanced Yoga Alliance standards include: 

TECHNIQUE + TRAINING

  • Postures, sequencing, alignment
  • Breath, subtle body, energy 
  • Meditation, mantras, mudras

HUMANITIES

  • History 
  • Philosophy 
  • Ethics

ANATOMY + PHYSIOLOGY

  • Major bones, joints, muscles
  • Nervous + respiratory systems
  • Stabilization + balance

PROFESSIONAL ESSENTIALS

  • Methodology
  • Continuing education
  • Practicum

There are as many unique reasons for joining a Yoga Teacher Training program as there are people who sign up, but generally speaking, they fall into two categories: people who want to teach yoga to others and people who want to deepen their own yoga practice. 

We believe whatever reason you have for joining us and your “omies” in this 200-hr YTT program, you will benefit from an approach that embraces both of those general reasons people give for joining YTT: when you understand how to teach others, you become you own best teacher. 

Another way to put it: the best way to learn is to teach.   

Many students are surprised when they show up on their first day of yoga teacher training and realize how much more to it there is than refining their downdog; that, in fact, the best way to refine their downdog has nothing to do with the downdog itself. 

In addition to practicing and practicing-teaching yoga poses, you’ll be assigned reading in yoga humanities–history, philosophy, and ethics–and be asked to reflect and explore through journaling and discussion.

You’ll be presented with concepts in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics in both tangible and subtle ways. The tangible include exploration of muscles, bones, organs, and systems. The subtle include exploration of energy, breath, cells, and the mind. All can be equally enriching.

Tuition includes:

  • 135 classroom hours in general Hatha Yoga education (postures, anatomy, and humanities)
  • 65 specialized hours in your area of interest (professional development and practicum)
  • Required texts
  • Physical and digital handouts, worksheets, and documents
  • Two studio classes per month at Swell Yoga Studio (one vinyasa + one yin)
  • One 3-day asana + philosophy workshop with visiting instructor Bhavani Maki
  • Light foods and beverages during full training days

Tuition does not include: additional yoga classes; additional workshops; additional supplies needed for classroom hours; substantial meals on training days. 

Suggested materials on training days: yoga mats, props, clothing layers, nutrient dense snacks and drinks, large water bottle, notebook, pen or pencil. 

Application Process:

To be considered for the program, interested applicants must submit a completed application form with a $500 deposit towards teacher training costs. Enrollment will be confirmed after a brief individual interview. If you’re accepted, the $500 deposit goes towards the payment option of your choice. If you’re not accepted, the $500 will be returned. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory. Yoga teacher training is a substantial commitment and personal investment and 100% attendance is required for graduation. Please review your personal/work calendar and make sure you can attend all training days before applying. Be prepared to arrive on time, participate fully in class, and take breaks when designated. Our time together will require physical, mental, and emotional stamina. 

Absences: We expect that you are committed to making training days and weekends a priority. That being said, yoga teaches us that circumstances are out of our control. Please let us know immediately if you have an emergency and cannot make it to training. We will provide mandatory make-up work that covers content you missed. 

Students may miss up to 20 scheduled hours with the class, (that’s the equivalent of one full weekend plus one Wednesday evening) as long as they meet with the lead trainer to develop a make-up plan. The meeting and any necessary in-person instruction is $75/hour. 

Tardiness: Trainees are expected to arrive on time and be ready to begin at the start of each training session. Repeated tardiness of 15+ mins will result in make-up work that covers missed content. 

More about your teachers here

Questions? Email us at ytt@swellyogastudio.com