As exciting as it is to make the decision that you want to take your yoga practice a step further, or become a teacher, it can also be a case of – where do I even start?
Having recently been through this, I’m sharing some insights.
This is a very independent choice, depending on your situation, location and preferences.
The key factors I took into consideration were;
- Location
- Costs
- Timing
- Accreditation
- Reviews
- Gut Feel
The research is based on 200-hour yoga teacher training (YTT). This is the minimum requirement to become certified as a teacher and must be completed before a 300-hour course.
Let’s jump in.
Location
I live in Australia currently, so I factored in accessibility. The easiest would have been to do a course in my home state of Queensland or somewhere which didn’t require an international flight.
I started with Yoga Australia which has a search function for registered teacher training courses around Australia and internationally, online and in person.
I won’t list all that I researched, however some of the best options I investigated are listed below.
1. Zenko Yoga – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Sunshine Coast (Noosa)
- Style: Vinyasa-based with immersive philosophy and meditation modules
- Format: In-person, annual intake
- Certification: Yoga Alliance certified
- Website: Zenko Yoga Teacher Training
2. Stretch Yoga – Part-Time 200HR Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Brisbane
- Overview: Immersive, part-time program with a strong focus on anatomy, philosophy, and practical teaching skills.
- Format: In-person, annual intake
- Certification: Yoga Alliance certified
- Website: Stretch Yoga 200hr Training
3. Well Within Reach – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Brisbane or Live Online
- Overview: Led by Monica Braithwaite, integrates classical yoga with neuroscience, Ayurveda, and biomedicine.
- Format: 6-month program with optional Nepal retreat
- Certification: Yoga Australia certified
- Website: Well Within Reach Training
The common thread with these was that the courses are run part time. This makes sense if you want to complete the course over time while you are working. I was looking for a course that I could complete in one go.
Looking further afield than Queensland, to Northern New South Wales, Byron Bay – I found two options which would be accessible by driving and offered flexible online and immersive options, namely:
5. Byron Yoga Centre – Level 1 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Byron Bay
- Style: Hatha-based with strong emphasis on alignment, philosophy, and lifestyle
- Format: Choose from 20-day intensive, 12-day hybrid, or 7-day hybrid (includes meals and accommodation)
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: Byron Yoga Centre Training
6. Santosha Yoga Institute – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Byron Bay
- Style: Krishnamacharya lineage with emphasis on healing, transformation, and spiritual depth
- Format: Hybrid model with lifetime access to online modules + 14-day immersive retreat
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: Santosha Byron Bay Training
At this point, I found it useful to set up a spreadsheet and list the options of interest so that I could easily compare start dates, duration and the cost of the course vs the cost of accommodation and travel.
This brings me to the options in Bali, Indonesia. While international, there are many options and it is not that far from Australia.
7. The Yoga Barn – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Ubud, Bali
- Style: Multidisciplinary with international faculty
- Format: In-person immersive with Ayurvedic spa and wellness integration
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: The Yoga Barn
8. MYT Yoga School – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Bali or India
- Style: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Tantra, Mantra, and modern embodiment
- Format: 14-day hybrid or 21-day immersive
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: MYT Yoga
9. Yoga Union – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Bali
- Style: Vinyasa, Hatha, and alignment-based flow
- Format: Immersive retreat-style training
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: Yoga Union
10. Radiantly Alive – 200hr RA Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Ubud, Bali
- Style: Vinyasa with emphasis on personal growth and mentorship
- Format: 3-week immersive with small class sizes and global alumni network
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: Radiantly Alive
11. All Yoga – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Nusa Lembongan, Bali
- Style: Ashtanga foundations with Vinyasa, Yin, and mobility
- Format: 23-day beachside immersive
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: All Yoga
12. YMB Yoga School – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Ubud, Bali
- Style: Mindfulness-based yoga, Asana
- Format: 21 day immersive with lodging and meals
- Certification: Yoga Alliance certified
- Website: YMB Yoga
13. East+West Yoga – 200hr Yoga Teacher Training
- Location: Bali or Costa Rica (with Brisbane-based support)
- Style: Fusion of Eastern philosophy and Western teaching methods
- Format: 3-week immersive with global faculty and mentorship
- Certification: Yoga Alliance registered
- Website: East+West Yoga
Most of the Bali-based options include meals and lodging, which makes them cost-effective when comparing to Australian courses, even with the international flight taken into account.
What’s important to consider is who will be teaching. Take your time to review the instructors and get a feeling for what they offer. Some schools take a more western approach while others approach the course from a more philosophical and eastern mindset.
Consider the class sizes as well, and take time to review opinions on Reddit, Tripadvisor and by simply googling the training you are interested in. This will introduce you to other options available to you.
Finally, make contact with the school or person first, before clicking on ‘book my spot’. A conversation can make you feel like you’ve made the right decision or change your mind.
Good luck out there.
Wishing you Satori.
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