The time has come. You have practiced yoga for a while, you are moving from asana to asana with more understanding, you are breathing with intention, you are feeling more connected with your practice than ever. You are ready to advance your skills and embark upon a whole new journey with your yoga practice.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to start looking into teacher training programs. Finding the right teacher training for you can feel like a daunting task, but in reality, there are so many quality programs out there that you are bound to find something that aligns with your goals and yogic style. If you have a lust for adventure and connecting with other cultures, finding a teacher training destination might be the best option for you.
There are many reasons why people choose to develop their yoga practice abroad. For some, it presents the opportunity to travel to new and exotic locations and experience other cultures. Others might find that an intensive program far away from their regular day-to-day life helps them focus and stay in the moment with the program. Others may wish to seek out a fully immersive experience in a location that pays homage to the practice of yoga. Whatever your teacher training dreams are made of, a destination training will surpass your greatest wishes!
We have gathered the top ten yoga teacher training programs in one of our favorite yoga destinations: Phuket, Thailand. Read on to learn about this tropical island’s yoga offerings and how you can advance your practice and career in one of the world’s most beautiful locales.
Become a Yoga Teacher in Phuket
Phuket is a unique travel destination. This spot combines the vibrant Thai lifestyle with white sand serenity to provide the full Thailand experience. You’ll find the locals and training staff to be some of the friendliest and most welcoming souls around.
Phuket itself offers a world of opportunity outside of your teacher training. The island is rich in nutritious, healthy, colorful cuisine to nourish your body and mind. The natural beauty of Phuket and the surround areas (Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi Islands) is hard to surpass. You’ll have the ability to soak up the sun, swim in crystal turquoise seas, walk through the rainforest, and experience local life in a rich cultural hub. Embrace the Thai lifestyle and connect to nature and community like never before.
Types of Yoga Teacher Trainings
When choosing your yoga teacher training, you want to be sure that your program is accredited and good value for the cost. All of our top ten teacher trainings highlighted here are certified by the Yoga Alliance and applicable for teaching in the United States upon your return.
Depending on your yoga style and preferences, you may want to seek out a certain style of training. Most schools provide Hatha yoga training, but vinyasa, yin, or hot yoga teacher trainings are also available.
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Yoga Nisarga
Yoga Nisarga welcomes yoga students who dream of being the best yoga teacher they possibly can be. This dedicated program strives to teach its students not just the basics of anatomy, asanas, yoga principles, and teaching methods, but to have a full and complete understanding of the ins and outs of yoga practice.
Program: During the program at Yoga Nisarga, you will dive deep into topics like history and philosophy of yoga, study and practice of asanas, Sanskrit names of yoga postures, meditation, pranayama, kriyas, bandhas, mudras, yoga nidra and yoga shatkarmas, the business of teaching yoga, anatomy and physiology, and the yogic diet. Training starts at 6:30 every morning with a vinyasa flow, followed by meals and lectures.
What We Like: Yoga Nisgara is totally dedicated to making their students the best they can be. The teachers at Yoga Nisgara live and breathe the yogic lifestyle and will help you adapt the yoga way as well.
Cost: For 21-nights accommodation, the entire training program, daily vegetarian meals, airport transfer, and certification, the cost for this teacher training is $2,885. If you prefer to choose your own accommodation and food throughout the program, the training fee itself is $1,775.
84 Patak Rd, Tambon Karon, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand
The Yoga Shala Phuket
The Yoga Shala Phuket offers the perfect program for Vinyasa lovers. Earn your 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa training with their immersive month-long program.
Program: The Yoga Shala Phuket offers a 28-day yoga teacher training immersion in Phuket. You’ll start the day at 6:00am, then head to pranayama and asana practice. You have meals, workshops, lectures, self-study, meditation, and further yoga practice throughout the day. The program covers everything you need to know to start teaching including Ashtanga Vinyasa practice, breathing exercises, pranayama, yoga nidra, lectures on basic principles of sattvic food, art of adjustment, meditations, introduction to kriyas, ancient yoga text studies, Indian philosophy, anatomy, yoga therapy, and teaching ethics.
What We Like: The Yoga Shala is unique in that the classes have a focus on yoga therapy. In addition to learning to teach yoga for general wellness and fitness of mind and body, you’ll learn techniques that can help you to actually heal your clients and foster change in your student’s health.
Cost: The base cost of the teacher training at The Yoga Shala Phuket is $3,574. Actual prices may vary due to exchange rates at the time of booking.
Clubhouse at Land & House Park, 26/8 Moo 8 Muang, Chalong, Phuket 83130 Thailand
TheSpirit of Yoga
For a true getaway in a tropical paradise, consider the training at The Spirit of Yoga on Koh Phangan. This lesser known area is a sanctuary for you to delve into your training experience on a private beach. You’ll return home a teacher, and truly self-transformed.
Program: Training programs occur a few times per year and last about a month, depending on the course dates. During your program, you will partake in daily yoga, meditation, pranayama practice, anatomy and physiology, the art of teaching, philosophy and the yogic lifestyle, teaching practicums, self-development, and Reiki Level 1 to enhance your teaching.
What We Like: Although this retreat center is off the beaten path from Phuket, it offers so much in serenity and a private experience. The location is unbeatable and the Mediterranean-style accommodations will make you feel like you are living a dream. The Spirit of Yoga provides excellent training in both yoga, teaching, and self-development.
Cost: Prices range from $2,450 to $3,235 depending on room occupancy. With advanced booking, make sure to take advantage of their early bird discount.
Serenity Residence, 57/2 Moo.8, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand
Akasha Yoga Academy
“Akasha” means space and radiance, and Akasha Yoga Acadmey is the perfect space for an immersive yoga journey. The founders and teaches at Akasha hope to help illuminate the spiritual light in each of their students during their experience in becoming yoga teachers.
Program: You’ll travel from Phuket to the beautiful Koh Phangan, off the Gulf of Thailand, to the gorgeous Coco-Nut & Noom Resort. Here you will embark on your yoga teacher training, learning the basics of Hatha yoga, yin yoga, pranayama, and meditation. You’ll learn to teach 38 asanas, the classic sun salutation, postural adjustments and you will train your own voice, body language, holding space, and student assistance techniques. The classical yogic path and spiritual discipline is of great importance, as are the other subtleties to yoga such as the Seven Chakras, Five Bodies, Kundalini, Yama and Niyama, scriptures, and the classical paths.
What We Like: Akasha offers a thorough and classical approach to teacher training and focuses on providing students with the best teaching skills post-certification. The location of this retreat is unbeatable and serene and provides the perfect backdrop for physical and mental transformation.
Cost: The regular tuition price is $2,550, but Akasha provides an early bird special of $2,200. Accommodation costs start at $288 for a budget shared room and raise to $962 for a private beach house.
94/20 Moo 1, Beach House, Thongsala, Ko Phangan, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand.
InDepth Yoga
Nathalie Emelianova of InDepth Yoga has created a unique yoga teacher training program. As one of the first retreat and training leaders in Thailand, Nathalie knows her way around the island and has rich experience with training students from around the world.
Program: At the InDepth Yoga Fundamental Course for Hatha Vinyasa, you will earn your teacher training through four specific levels of training. These include teaching methodology, anatomy and alignment, yoga philosophy and lifestyle ethics, and training and practice. There is equal attention given to theoretical knowledge and practical work during the training to develop well-rounded teachers.
What We Like: This program has a strong focus on developing a true passion and deep understanding of the yogic lifestyle. Students are encouraged to lead from their hearts and bring their own unique enthusiasm to the classes.
Cost: The price for this teacher training ranges from $2,250 to $2,500. In most cases, accommodation is not provided by the training, but assistance in booking a stay nearby is handled through InDepth.
Contact InDepth for full training address.
Lullaby Yoga Phuket
The Lullaby Yoga Teacher Training was established ten years ago in Bangkok. Today, Lullaby Yoga is still gathering high-quality teachers to lead fun, dynamic, and safe classes to educate future teachers of all kinds.
Program: At Lullaby’s teacher training program, you will learn yoga philosophy, yoga in your daily life, yoga anatomy, yoga asanas, how to find your yoga voice, how to create your own sequences, and how to develop your own style as a teacher. The month-long retreat occurs on Mai Khao Beach, an undeveloped and pristine stretch of land on Phuket’s northwest coast.
What We Like: The program at Lullaby Yoga was created to not only develop great yoga teachers, but to help each aspiring teacher to improve their own practice, strength, and compassion through yoga. Become the teacher you’ve always dreamed of being with this self-transformation and developmental approach.
Cost: The cost for Lullaby Yoga’s teacher training is $7,830 or $6,170 if you book their early bird special.
128/2 3 Tambon Mai Khao, Amphoe Thalang, Chang Wat Phuket 83110, Thailand
Live Yoga
Take your island getaway a little further and head off Phuket to the brilliant Koh Tao island to Live Yoga. Here, you’ll embrace the island life while growing your practice and developing into a professional yoga teacher.
Program: Live Yoga offers a 200-hour teacher training course. The program is structured such that once you graduate, you’ll be prepared to teach hatha, ashtanga, vinyasa, Iyengar, and Kundalini yoga. The program includes teachings on asanas, meditation, pranayama, chanting, mantras, yoga nidra, dream journaling, sacred geometry and more.
What We Like: Live Yoga preapares their students to fully understand the journey of the yoga student. With a focus on transformation and leadership, this program helps you to become not only a great yoga teacher and class leader, but a mentor to your future students. The program dives into the health issues that yoga can enhance such as mental health, sports performance, or fertility.
Cost: The program costs $3,300 for a shared bedroom or $4,000 for private accommodation.
Kata Hot Yoga
Get ready for summer 2020 with Kata Hot Yoga. This exclusive hot yoga teacher training is an intensive 360-hour teacher training in beautiful Phuket. After a ten-year anniversary teacher training start-up success, Kata Hot Yoga is back by popular demand with another training for new students.
Program: The 2020 training at Kata Hot yoga will include twice daily hot yoga classes, posture clinics, lectures, workshops, and special guest teachers to inspire your asana theory, yoga history, philosophy, and anatomy learning. You’ll finish with a certification in both Original 26 and 2 Hot Yoga Teacher certifications.
What We Like: If you love hot yoga, this is a great way to earn your specialization in this unique form of yoga practice. The crew at Kata Hot Yoga are experts in this field and have poured their hearts and souls into this training. Although it may not be as convenient as a year-round offering, this dedicated timing ensures the most dedicated hot yoga training available.
Cost: The intensive 360-hour training costs $5,600 and includes accommodation and meals. A private room is available for an extra fee, but not recommended by the staff.
217 Khoktanod Road, Kata Beach, Mueang Phuket 83100 Thailand
Evolation Yoga
Evolation Yoga is another amazing Phuket hot yoga training program. Evolation Yoga wants to help their students tap into their unlimited potential and reach higher heights in their practice and personal development.
Program: Evolation Yoga provides teacher training opportunities all over the world. Their next Thailand training event is February 3 – 29th, 2020. This program will certify you for the Original 26 + 2 Hot Yoga Teacher trainings. Your training consists of daily yoga, meditation, group study, practice and feedback, yoga lectures, posture mechanics, modifications, the business of yoga, and injury understanding and prevention.
What We Like: Evolation has locations around the world and teaches the students how to become safe, effective, and compassionate hot yoga teachers. These widespread locations ensure you’ll meet with a group of students from all over the world with rich experiential backgrounds.
Cost: The cost of the 250-hr program is $4,400, or $3,900 with their early-bird special. Evolation also offers a payment plan or financing to help ease the cost of the training.
Kata Beach, Phuket Thailand. Book for full details.
5-Elements Hot Yoga Phuket
5-Elements Hot Yoga Phuket is a spiritual journey to attaining your yoga teaching certification. You will learn traditional practices with Indian teaches in an intimate and nurturing environment.
Program: The 200-hr, 28-day yoga teacher training program includes advanced yoga asana instruction (hatha, ashtanga, vinyasa, yin, and prenatal), alignment and adjustment techniques, teaching methodology, yogic philosophy, and human anatomy to enhance your understanding of the practice. Also included are three organic meals per day, an island excursion, airport transfer, morning tea and daily coconuts, yoga mat, neti pot, should bag, T-shirt, and oil massage.
What We Like: 5-Elements Hot Yoga Phuket put a strong focus on the mind and body connection through yoga, as well as traditional practice and an understanding of what it means to be a holistic and well-rounded yoga teacher.
Cost: The cost for this program is $2,000.
45/75 Moo 1 Soi Tai-iad, Chalong, Phuket 83130
Start Your New Journey in Phuket
You are ready to embark on a new journey towards becoming a yoga teacher! This is an exciting step with a lot of future potential. When choosing your program, make sure to consider the length, style, and price level of the trainings. There is a wide variety of teacher trainings available and there is really something for everyone.
Phuket has proven to be a great destination for aspiring yoga teachers. You’ll deepen your practice and learn to lead in paradise. This magical place will help you transform from student to teacher and enhance your connection between mind and body, become closer to nature, and make new friendships with your future colleagues.
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