Frequent Questions
Yoga Therapy Training

• If my initial training as a yoga teacher was not Ananda Yoga, can I still take the Ananda Yoga Therapy Training program?
• Is there a recommended order for the Yoga Therapy Training modules to be taken?
• If I’ve previously taken some of the courses listed for the Ananda Yoga Therapy Training, will they satisfy the requirements of Ananda Yoga Therapy 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 Therapy Training Flow Chart

If my initial training as a yoga teacher was not Ananda Yoga, can I still take the Ananda Yoga Therapy 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 Therapy 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 Therapy 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 Therapy Training, will they satisfy the requirements of Ananda Yoga Therapy 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 Therapy 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 Therapy 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 Therapy 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 Therapy Training Flow Chart

Ananda Yoga Teacher Training
Initial 200 Hours Level 1 Ananda YTT —or— RYT plus Bridge to Ananda Yoga		Ananda Yoga Therapy Training
Level 2 (300 more hours) Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Essence of the Yoga Sutras Meditation Teacher Training 1 Advanced Pranayama AYTT Assistantship Spiritual Counselor Training 100 hours of teaching at home Practicum at home		Level 1 (450 more hours) Principles of Yoga Therapy Musculoskeletal Yoga Therapy Meditation Teacher Training 1 Advanced Pranayama AYTT Assistantship Restorative YTT Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy Yoga Therapy for Seniors     & Osteoporosis Yoga Therapy Specialty Areas I 100 hours of teaching at home Practicum at home
		Level 2 (180 more hours) Radiant Health Teacher Training Meditation Therapist Training Yoga Therapy Specialty Areas II Practicum at home