Ananda Yoga® Teacher Training Level 2
Registered with Yoga Alliance at 500 hours
Advanced Teacher Training
Level 2 certification explores the deeper aspects of Ananda Yoga®, with a focus on meditation, yoga philosophy, pranayama, asana, refinement of teaching skills, and personal spiritual growth. It involves 300 hours of coursework beyond the 200 hours of Yoga Teacher Training Level 1.
Level 2 is modular in format, and the course modules are spread out over a span of time. It has three components:
- Coursework
- Teaching experience at home
- Final Teaching Practicum
See below for more info. There is no time limit for completing Level 2.
Transfers
Any Yoga Alliance RYT may transfer into Ananda’s Level 2 certification via the Bridge to Ananda Yoga course.
Level 2 Courses
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Advanced Pranayama
7 days
Advanced techniques (practice and teaching), how to teach Energization, and more depth on the astral body.
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Ananda Meditation® Teacher Training 1
10 days
Training in a variety of meditation techniques, teaching and counseling methodology, and student teaching.
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Ananda Yoga® Teacher Training Assistantship
13 days
Personal coaching in adapting poses for individual needs, plus hands-on experience as an AYTT program assistant.
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The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita
The Essence of the Yoga SutrasEach course is 6 days
Explore yoga’s most profound wisdom in these two intensives.
You'll also learn to practice and teach advanced asanas. -
Spiritual Counseling Training
5 days
Learn to use spiritual counseling with students, clients, friends, or family.
Elective Courses
Credit hours shown are approximate
Note: For those who graduated from Level 1 Ananda Yoga Teacher Training in 2011 or later—and for those entering Level 2 Ananda YTT via the Bridge to Ananda Yoga—the above courses are required for Level 2 certification; none of the elective courses below are needed. Those who graduated before 2011 have the option to substitute any of the following elective courses for Spiritual Counseling Training, provided the total course hours add up to at least 25 hours.
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Meditation Solutions
7 days; 40 hrs
Deepen your practice and develop more teaching skills.
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Kriya Yoga Preparation
3 days; 12+ hrs
Builds a foundation for initiation into Kriya Yoga, the highest of all meditation techniques.
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Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
3 days; 15+ hrs
Learn Ananda’s unique approach to this helpful practice.
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Ayurvedic Healing and Yoga Retreat in Kerala, India
7 days: 12+ hours — or — 12 days: 20+ hours
During the retreat, you'll have special sadhanas with emphasis on yoga for the specific doshas, and classes on Ayurveda and healing.
Teaching Experience at Home
You need at least 100 hours of experience as a lead teacher (not an assistant) after having completed Level 1 Ananda YTT or Bridge to Ananda Yoga.
Final Teaching Practicum
Once you complete the Level 2 coursework, your last step is to satisfactorily complete a final 3-hour teaching exercise:
- Yogananda’s Energization Exercises (one hour)
- Ananda-style asana and pranayama practice (one hour)
- Ananda-style meditation (one hour)
The practicum is done by videoing your own teaching at home. As you approach the end of your Level 2 coursework, please contact the director of Ananda Yoga for a detailed description of the practicum. By the time you video your practicum, you should already have teaching experience in all three of the above areas.
Registration with Yoga Alliance
Ananda’s Level 1 and Level 2 Yoga Teacher Trainings are registered with Yoga Alliance at 200 and 500 hours, respectively. Graduates are eligible to become Registered Yoga Teachers with Yoga Alliance.
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Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training

Nursing CEU Eligible: 86 hours
“This was the best month of my life – truly a life-transforming experience…”
– C. S., Fresno, California
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“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