Yoga is world renown for its benefits to the body and mind. Millions of people around the world are interested in taking yoga classes and so there is a strong demand for yoga teachers. In order to become a teacher, first, one should take classes and practice for at least 10 years before considering to teach others. After having a ground in the concepts and your own practice a Teacher Training program for Yoga will give you the knowledge and credentials to start teaching yoga to others.
When choosing a yoga teacher training program, one should consider the heritage of the program. Where did the teachers learn their practice? Did they learn from a very reputable source that has passed the ancient secrets to them and they will pass the yoga tradition to you? Also consider the location, the style of yoga and the details of the program to ensure it suits your lifestyle and interests. All of the programs listed in our article are Yoga Alliance Certified to ensure quality of the program.
Here is a list of some of the best Yoga Teacher Training programs you can find in the Los Angeles, California metro area:
- Just Yoga, Corona
- Shiva Yoga, West Hollywood
- Yogathletica, Los Angeles
- Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
- Kule Yoga, Pasadena
- Long Beach School of Yoga, Long Beach
- Yogalution, Long Beach
- The Tree Yoga Cooperative, Los Angeles
- Awakened Warrior, Simi Valley
So lets learn a little about each of these programs and what they offer:
Just Yoga, Corona
Just Yoga, based in Corona CA, was founded by Lisa Salners. Lisa studied with many prominent yoga teachers including Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller, Manju Jois, Alan Finger, Shiva Rea, David Life and Sharon Gannon, Dharma Mittra, Ganga White, and Tim Miller. This studio has many teachers, its a large operation, and offers many different classes per week including Yin Yoga, Flow, and Gentle yoga. The teacher training programs include 200 hour and 500 hour programs. The 200 hour program includes topics such as Anatomy, biomechanics, posture sequencing, physical and verbal cueing, hands-on assisting, teaching students with injuries, breathe, philosophy and more. Access the Just Yoga Teacher training here.
Shiva Yoga, West Hollywood
Shiva Yoga is led by Garth Hewitt. Garth Hewitt has been practicing yoga since the early 2000 time frame, and trained with many legendary teachers including: Sri Dharma Mittra, Annie Carpenter, the Patthabi Jois family, and more. The type of practice in Shiva Yoga school is inspired by a combination of Dharma Yoga, Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Yoga Therapy Rx and other forms. Shiva Yoga offers 50, 200 and 300 hour teacher training programs. The 50 hour training can be thought of as a refresher, or continuing education for experienced teachers. It has an intense schedule of practices, and philosophy in a condensed time frame. The 200 hour course is a foundational teacher training course with a balance of Yoga Theory, Asana Breakdown, Practice Teaching, and Practices and Exercises embeded in the course. The 300 hour course is an advanced course for experienced teachers and includes a rigourous schedule of practice and meditation that includes the learnings on the these topics: Yoga Lineage, The History of Yoga, Yoga As a System of Philosophy, Yoga Anatomy, Asana Breakdown, Practice Guidelines, Sequencing Guidelines, Props and Blocks, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, The 8 Limbs of Yoga Bandha, Mudra and the Chakras, Pranayama and more. Learn about Shiva Yoga Teacher Training here.
Yogathletica, Los Angeles
Yogathletica is lead by Shana Meyerson. Shana studied with Sri Dharma Mittra and Mark Blanchard. Her background before yoga was in sports and athletics and she brings that influence to her teachings. Shana’s approach includes deep explanations into the asana poses, how they work and what they do. The 200 hour teacher training program includes: in depth teaching of yoga asanas, extensive training on ensuring physical safety of the poses for yourself and your students, proper alignment in the poses, hands on adjustment techniques, the moral code of yoga, yoga anatomy, meditation and more. To learn more about the program visit the Yogathletica teacher training program.
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Based in Sherman Oaks, Rising Lotus Yoga, is lead by Claire Hartley and Daniel Stewart. Both teachers are beyond 20 years of experience. Claire looks to improve students live through their practice both physically and mentally and is the creator of a unique program Fear Not grounded in physical yoga asana and dharma practices. Daniel’s focus is more on the philosophy side, leaning on his background as a practicing psychotherapist, ads meditation and kirtan techniques as well as the philosophy of yoga. The Rising Lotus Teacher Training Program, has been running continuously since 2008. The program has extensive reading “home work” and then includes in person lessons on: Asana Practice, Yogic Philosophy, Asana Sequencing, Mantras, Pranayama, Meditation, Hands-on Adjustments and more. The program also includes Practice Teaching sessions.
Kule Yoga, Pasadena
Based in Pasadena, Kule Yoga is lead by Keely Totten. Keely studied the Sri Vidya Tradition of the Himalayan Masters and also Clinical Ayurvedic Medicine at the California College of Ayurveda. Deep study in Ayurveda and focus on healing and therapy is one of the unique aspects to Kule Yoga. Kule yoga offers a 200 Hour Teacher Training and a 300 Hour Teacher Training. The 200 hour program covers: Yoga Philosophy and practice, Understanding Yoga Asanas in depth and how to use them, Yoga Anatomy, Asana Sequencing, Pranayama, Meditation, Subtle Body Energetics including Prana, the Chakras, Bandhas and Koshas and more. The 300 hour program is more advanced and covers: Advanced Pranayama, Agni, Doshas, and Dhatus, customization of yoga practice to the indvidual, self inquiry, study of yoga texts, therapeutic yoga, application of Ayurveda and more.
Long Beach School of Yoga, Long Beach
Long Beach School of Yoga, is founded by Ram Bhakt. Ram Bhakt trained in the Sadhana Immersion Program with Swami Gurusharanananda of the Swami Satchidananda heritage. Ram has many educational experiences in yoga including trainings at/with: Kriya Yoga by Swami Janakananda at the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School in Sweden; Dr. Sundaram Raman at the Ayurveda & Yoga Retreat Hospital in Coonoor, India; Ayurveda with Dr. Lal Krishnan; Indian martial arts at Hindustani Kalari Sangam, in Kerela; Yogaville Ashram in Virginia with David Frawley; Yoga of Awareness for Cancer Teacher Training at Duke Integrative Medicine Center; Yoga Works training in Los Angeles got him started; and for Western Education Ram studied molecular neurobiology and music at U.C. Berkeley. The Long Beach School of Yoga 200 hour teacher training program includes the following subjects: Yoga Asana with emphasis on Sun Salutations; Integral Yoga Sequence; Pranayama; Yoga Anatomy; Patanjali Yoga Sutras; Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, other modern styles; Chakras & Subtle Body Anatomy; Principles of Ayurveda; Bhakti Yoga and more.
The Tree Yoga Cooperative, Los Angeles
The Tree Yoga Cooperative, based in South Central LA, is a non-profit organization lead by a group of friends and colleague Yoga Teachers.
The Yoga Tree Collective offers 200 hour Teacher Training, 300 hour Teaching Training and Continuing Education and a 500 hour program. The 200 hour program includes the following subjects:
Yoga Philosophy, Asana, Anatomy, Safety in Asana, Mindfulness, Alignment, Kemetic Yoga, Toltek Philosophy, Trauma Informed Yoga, Ayurvedic Science, Restorative Yoga and more. The 300/500 hour advanced programs includes the following subjects: Sequencing, Cueing, and Holding Space; Alignment. This program also includes a Mentorship program with an experienced teacher.
Yogalution, Long Beach
Yogalution based in Long Beach, has a teacher training program led by Dharma Shakti & Marlene Martin. Dharma Shakti trained at the Sivananda Ashram in 2005 and became a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner in 2007. Marlene’s trainings are with the following teachers: Monica Roman, Paul Cabbanis, Peter Barnett, Mela Gaskins-Butcher, Lucy Bivens, Julian Walker, Bryan Kest, Johnny MacAdam, and Dharma Shakti. The Yogalution teacher training program is a multi-month program with in person classes and independent ‘home work’.
Awakened Warrior, Simi Valley
Awakened Warrior, Based in Simi Valley, the senior teacher is Michael Baez, who trained with the honorable Sri Dharma Mittra at the 800 level. Before learning Yoga Michael was also a black belt and teacher of Karate, and then he transitioned to Yoga in 2009. He is joined by 500 HR certified Breanna Blair who is also a Sound Healer. Awaked Yoga offers a 200 hr and a 300 hr teacher training program. Dharma Mittra’s teachings and the heritage in Asian martial arts influence the curriculum which includes: Basic and Advanced Yoga Poses. Proper Alignment, Assisting & Adjusting. Yogic philosophy and diet, Chinese 5 element theory, and balancing Yin and Yang and more. Find information about the Awakened Warrior program.
Conclusion
Above are some good options to consider for Yoga Teacher training programs in the Los Angeles, California area. If you know of more high quality programs in LA, drop us a email at [email protected] with more details about the program you represent.
