About Integral Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Our Integral Yoga Teacher Training programs have been training teachers and changing lives since 1981. Our trainings provide a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development, as well as the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Yoga instructor.

We are a Yoga Alliance registered school and provide 200-hour and graduate level 300-hour yoga training certificates.

Integral Yoga uses an inward, spiritually-focused form of Haṭha Yoga to lead students to an experience of inner peace and greater awareness. Our Haṭha classes guide us from an active Hatha flow practice into the subtle practices of Prāṇāyāma and meditation. The best way to experience  the Integral Yoga style is to attend Integral Yoga Haṭha classes.

Integral Yoga is a classical, lineage-based school of Yoga that shares traditional Yoga teachings and practices that have been handed down from ancient yogis of the Saraswati lineage. Our founder, Sri Swami Satchidananda, was a disciple of the great Indian Yoga master Sri Swami Sivananda.

To find more information about our upcoming programs please visit our website or attend one of our Teacher Training Open Houses usually offered one month prior to the start of a given program. This is a great way to meet the trainers, ask questions and make sure it is the right fit for you. If you have any questions please contact us at training@integralyogasf.org.

200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification – Basic Level

Our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program is a journey into the classical teachings of Yoga. Whether you want to teach others or take your own practice to a deeper level, this training will provide you with an authentic experience of living Yoga. This  program supports you in firmly establishing a regular practice and deepening your understanding of the teachings. It can be a very transformational experience.

The training curriculum contains haṭha theory, teaching methodology, practice teaching as well as anatomy, Yoga philosophy, Prāṇāyāma, meditation, ethical guidelines and other in-depth teachings of traditional Yoga.  It includes a study of the six branches of Integral Yoga: Haṭha Yoga – physical practices; Rāja Yoga – Yoga philosophy and scripture study; Bhakti Yoga – devotional practices; Jñāna Yoga – wisdom/introspection; Karma Yoga – selfless service; and Japa Yoga – meditation and Mantras.

The program provides a great foundation for practicing, teaching and understanding Yoga and yogic lifestyle. It will give you the ability to teach beginner and advanced beginner level Haṭha classes in any Integral Yoga centers around the world.

We are committed to providing a safe and high quality program for all participants. Our graduates will develop skills to teach in person or online. The Yoga Alliance criteria for offering online teacher trainings is constantly evolving and adapting as we move forward since Covid-19 began. We have dedicated staff to oversee the online coaching to support you throughout the training.

300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification –  Graduate Level

Integral Yoga’s graduate-level 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training program is designed to offer advanced training for Yoga instructors who have completed their 200-hour training through Integral Yoga or another Yoga Alliance certified school.

Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco and our sister centers provide you with a wide selection of graduate level trainings. Additionally, you can choose a pace of learning by taking these training sessions when it works for you without a specific timetable.

To complete 300-hours of training, at least one of the following trainings is required:

• Integral Yoga® Intermediate Teacher Training 170 hours
• Integral Yoga® Raja Yoga Teacher Training 165 hours
• Integral Yoga® Meditation Teacher Training 105 hours
• Integral Yoga® Advanced Teacher Training 170 hours

The remaining hours can be completed by choosing from a large selection of advanced and specialized trainings providing the flexibility to tailor the learning experience to your personal interest and calling. Check our website for a list of upcoming teacher training programs.

Graduate level trainings include specialty programs such as:

• Stress Management
• Restorative/Therapeutic
• Adaptive Yoga
• Accessible Yoga
• Children’s Yoga TT
• Prenatal and Postnatal
• Foundations of Integral Yoga Therapy
• Basics of Ayurveda
• Yoga of the Heart
• Yoga for the Special Child®
• Yoga for Cancer and Chronic Illness: YCat
• Yoga of Recovery®
• Yoga for Arthritis
• Kidding Around Yoga
• The Human Body: Ease and Dis-ease
• Neuroscience, Yoga, and Mindfulness
• And more

Once you have completed 300 combined hours of graduate level training, you will be eligible to receive Integral Yoga 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training program certificate and can register yourself with Yoga Alliance for your 500-hour advanced Yoga Teacher Certification. If you received your 200-hour certification from Integral Yoga, Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco can issue a 500-hour certificate for you. You can also apply for this certification through our Integral Yoga Teachers Association.

Some of Integral Yoga graduate level programs are also core modules for the 800-hour Integral Yoga Therapy Certification Program (IYTh800). This is a different pathway of certification in yoga than the Yoga Alliance model. Participants of the IYTh800 program are eligible to receive the 300-hour certification from Integral Yoga as soon as they complete 300 hours of training, including the Raja Yoga module. If you are interested in becoming a yoga therapist please visit our Integral Yoga Therapy website or contact us at yogatherapy@integralyogasf.org.

Teacher Training FAQ

How often do you offer the 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training?

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training is offered twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

Is there a prerequisite for the 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training?

Yes, the two prerequisites for the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training are an active Yoga practice, and familiarity with Integral Yoga. An active practice means that you feel that you have been practicing long enough to have a basic understanding of Yoga, and have integrated a Yoga practice into your life.
Familiarity with Integral Yoga means that you have either taken a number of classes at the Integral Yoga Institute, or studied with an Integral Yoga teacher. Taking classes prior to signing up will help you decide if this style is a good fit for you. If you do not live near an Integral Yoga teacher you can find many resources online.

How do I know if I’m ready to take 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training?

The 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training can be a great way to deepen your Yoga practice and you can choose to teach or not after completion of the program.
We recommend taking workshops and classes first and speaking to our teachers or trainers about applying.
This is a time-intensive course that takes a commitment of both your time and energy. There are many hours of class time and additional time on reading, homework, practice, and memorization. Plus, you will need to spend time six days a week on your personal practice of Haṭha Yoga, Prāṇāyāma and meditation.
Most people take the course because they are interested in teaching Yoga. Others feel that this is the best way of deepening their understanding of Yoga, even though they don’t intend to teach. It can be a transformational experience. This program helps to establish a strong practice and yogic lifestyle.

How many students are in the course?

We only accept a maximum of 15 students in our in-person 200-hour Basic training. This small class size allows for personal attention, and an intimate bond between the students. The graduate level and the online trainings can be larger with a 30 person average.

Do graduate level trainings that I have taken through Integral Yoga online count towards 300-hour certification as well?

Yes. Yoga teacher trainings that were/are registered with the Yoga Alliance can apply towards graduate level certification. Intermediate Level Haṭha Yoga, Yoga for the Special Child, Raja Yoga (Yoga philosophy), Adaptive Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga Training, Meditation Teacher Training and more that were moved online during the pandemic in 2020. Many of these trainings can be used toward our 300-Hour Integral Teacher Training Certification. Find a complete list of qualifying trainings on the Integral Yoga Teachers Association website.

Do you offer work exchange for trainings?

Some work exchange opportunities are available for the teacher training programs we offer at the Integral Yoga Institute. We also give out partial scholarships for trainings whenever possible. We accept scholarship applications up to one month prior to the start of the training. We also have a BIPOC specific scholarship fund. BIPOC are encouraged to apply. For information on financial aid and payment plans, please contact us training@integralyogasf.org.

How do I apply?

The application for each training is available  online once the training is published and open  for enrollment. Contact us for more information at training@integralyogasf.org.