Frequent Questions
Yoga Therapist Training
- If my initial training as a yoga teacher was not Ananda Yoga, can I still take the Ananda Yoga Therapist Training program?
- Is there a recommended order for the Yoga Therapist Training modules to be taken?
- If I’ve previously taken some of the courses listed for the Ananda Yoga Therapist Training, will they satisfy the requirements of Ananda Yoga Therapist Training?
- If I’m already working on becoming a Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher, can I also pursue courses toward becoming an Ananda Yoga Therapist?
- What is the difference between a Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher and a Level 1 Ananda Yoga Therapist?
- Will there be a competency evaluation as part of the certification process?
- Will I be able to practice as a yoga therapist as soon as I complete all my required courses plus the at-home practicum?
- Will I be eligible to become a RYT-500 (Registered Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance?
- Yoga Therapist Training Flow Chart
If my initial training as a yoga teacher was not Ananda Yoga, can I still take the Ananda Yoga Therapist Training program?
Yes, after you have completed Bridge to Ananda Yoga, Part 1 or Yoga Teacher Renewal, and have enrolled in Bridge to Ananda Yoga, Part 2, you are eligible to take Principles of Yoga Therapy, which is a prerequisite for many of the Ananda Yoga Therapist Training courses. The Bridge course is also a prerequisite for the Assisting and Adjusting course.
However, there are a few courses that can be taken before you have taken the Bridge course:
- Meditation Teacher Training
- Advanced Pranayama (if you are an Ananda Kriya Yoga initiate)
- Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
Is there a recommended order for the Yoga Therapist Training modules to be taken?
Not necessarily. However, the most logical order would be to start with Principles of Yoga Therapy and Musculoskeletal Yoga Therapy (which will usually be offered consecutively).
From that point, you may take the other required courses as your schedule allows, keeping in mind the various course prerequisites.
If I’ve previously taken some of the courses listed for the Ananda Yoga Therapist Training, will they satisfy the requirements of Ananda Yoga Therapist Training?
If you’ve already taken Ananda’s Meditation Teacher Training, Restorative Yoga Teacher Training, or Advanced Pranayama, these are all recognized as fulfilling requirements for Ananda Yoga Therapist Training.
If you’ve previously taken BOTH of the 5- or 6-day therapeutic yoga courses that used to be taught by Nicole DeAvilla, those will be considered the equivalent to the new Musculoskeletal Yoga Therapy course. If you’ve previously only taken ONE of Nicole’s therapeutic yoga courses, you will need to take this new Musculoskeletal course in order to fulfill this requirement for Yoga Therapist Training.
If I’m already working on becoming a Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher, can I also pursue courses toward becoming an Ananda Yoga Therapist?
Yes, and you’ll notice that there are 3 courses that are required for both Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher and the Level 1 Ananda Yoga Therapist:
- Meditation Teacher Training
- Advanced Pranayama
- Ananda Yoga Teacher Training Assistantship
The Level 2 Yoga Therapist Training requires Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher certification.
What is the difference between a Level 2 Ananda Yoga Teacher and a Level 1 Ananda Yoga Therapist?
The Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training emphasizes all aspects of Ananda Yoga, including a strong emphasis on a deeper understanding of Yoga philosophy and the spiritual dimension of Yoga. This requires approximately 300 additional hours of training beyond the Level 1 Teacher Training of 200 hours. (Level 1 + Level 2 = 500 hours total)
The Level 1 Yoga Therapist emphasizes using the principles and techniques of Yoga therapeutically to assist individuals with specific health challenges. This requires approximately 400 additional hours of training beyond the Level 1 Teacher Training of 200 hours. (Level 1 YTT + Level 1 Yoga Therapist = 600 hours total)
These two trainings share a common core of approximately 160 hours of classes, including Meditation Teacher Training, Advanced Pranayama, and Ananda Yoga Teacher Training Assistantship.
Will there be a competency evaluation as part of the certification process?
Yes, and you’ll receive details about this as you get near the end of your program of required courses and at-home practice.
Will I be able to practice as a yoga therapist as soon as I complete all my required courses plus the at-home practicum?
Yes, within the scope of the therapeutic applications in which you will have received training.
Will I be eligible to become a RYT-500 (Registered Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance?
Yes. Graduates of this program can become Registered Yoga Teachers at the 500-hour level with Yoga Alliance.
Yoga Therapist Training Flow Chart
| Yoga Teacher Training | Yoga Therapist Training |
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Initial 200 Hours Level 1 Ananda YTT —or— RYT plus Bridge to Ananda Yoga |
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- If you did not graduate from Ananda YTT Level 1 (200 hours), then Part 1 of Bridge to Ananda Yoga is a prerequisite for most of the courses above, and you must be enrolled in Part 2. (See individual course prerequisites for details.)
- You can pursue Level 1 Yoga Therapist, or Level 2 Yoga Teacher, or both sequentially, or both simultaneously.
- You must be a certified as a Level 1 Yoga Therapist before taking Level 2 Yoga Therapist courses.
- Certification as a Level 2 Yoga Therapist requires prior certification as a Level 2 Yoga Teacher.
Ananda Yoga Therapist Training
Graduates of this program can become Registered Yoga Teachers at the 500-hour level with Yoga Alliance.
Nursing CEU Eligible: details coming soon
“This was the best month of my life – truly a life-transforming experience…”
– C. S., Fresno, California
How to Choose a
Yoga Teacher Training Program
“My 4 weeks of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training was one of the most fulfilling and spiritually transforming periods in my life. All of the instructors, along with the entire Ananda community, were very supportive and nurturing.”
– R. F., Lake Bluff, Illinois
