Yoga Teacher Training
The Namaste Yoga 200 hour program is a Yoga Alliance registered teacher training and in-depth studies course. Our hybrid (online and in-studio) training program continues to evolve with each year to be more responsive to the needs of our students in training as well as our students in the studio. We offer rotating admission, flexible tuition payment plans, and scholarships to meet you where you’re at.
Synchronus & Asynchronous Instruction.
You have the option to finish in 10 or 12 months, but you have two years to complete the full program, including teaching requirements.
Some modules are recorded and online for you to view when it best fits your schedule.
You have many options for 200 hour yoga teacher training and you need to choose a program that meets your needs. We have been a Registered Yoga School for over 20 years and our program continues to evolve. Our curriculum has been curated and developed over decades and ensures you receive an in-depth training that centers the tradition of yoga.
Upon completion of our program you will join our long studio lineage that traces back to Desikachar and K. Pattabhi Jois.
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Namaste Yoga Center has been offering Yoga Alliance-approved teacher training since 2000 and ownership of the studio has continued with the Namaste lineage for just as long. Hundreds of teachers across Metro Detroit, Windsor CA, and beyond ave experienced the opportunity to deepen their practices at Namaste Yoga.
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Our curriculum is comprehensive and we cover all areas of yoga teacher training on a rotating basis, so no matter when you start, you will still get all of the required information with opportunities to practice teaching, discuss philosophy, and develop other skills throughout your time with us.
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At Namaste, we teach you Hatha yoga’s traditional teachings and philosophy, with emphasis on how to navigate the modern-day classroom. This course was designed to create well-rounded, ethical yoga instructors who are students first. Namaste Yoga’s mission is to offer yoga as a tool for self-inquiry and holistic wellness while creating a welcoming environment for all students. Based on classical teachings and philosophy, yet applicable to the modern day, this course is dedicated to creating sound, ethical yoga instructors who are practitioners first.
You will build upon your personal yoga practice and your own unique voice, to learn to trust yourself through self-reflection (svadhyaya). Teaching skills are woven throughout the curriculum to ensure that you are ready to teach by the end of the program. We also have students who take this course to enrich their own personal practices and lives. Each student, no matter their goal, is valued and nurtured throughout the program.
Namaste Yoga’s mission is to offer yoga as a method of self-inquiry and wellness, building upon one’s personal practice and voice. Our curriculum is particularly well-suited for those who want to be inclusive teachers. Our comprehensive program includes anatomy and physiology as a part of asana training and a consistent focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
We recognize we sit in a Western space of yoga instruction and strive to center and honor traditional teaching and the overarching purpose of yoga in all that we do.
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Namaste Yoga Center is an IIYT Level I Magnet School. An IIYT Level I Magnet School is a Yoga Alliance registered 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program aligned with the standards of integrity and academic excellence of the International Institute of Yoga Therapy. An IIYT Level I Magnet school demonstrates a curriculum that prepares the motivated student for advanced study, experience, research, and certification in yoga therapy.
Learning and financial benefits for students attending a 200 Hour program that has been designated as an IIYT Level I Magnet School:
• Students successfully completing an IIYT Level I Magnet School 200 Hour yoga teacher training program are eligible for priority consideration for entrance to the IIYT programs of advanced study and certification in yoga therapy.
• Priority Discounted Tuition: Students entering IIYT Level II receive a 20% tuition discount when applying from an IIYT Level I Magnet School.
• Priority Discounted Registration for students attending the annual IIYT Consortium in Yoga Therapy. (CE credit)
• In addition to their 200-hour curricula, students receive free, regular presentations on yoga therapy presented by IIYT Faculty. Talks are designed to provide the student with an introduction to clinical applications, research, and professional development in yoga therapy.
• Participation in an IIYT Level I Magnet School provides students free access to Level III One-on-One Yoga Therapy Clinics.
• Students in an IIYT Level I Magnet program receive free attendance to selected IIYT Level II lectures (CE credit)
• Participation allows for collegiate academic activities with IIYT Level I Magnet Schools nation-wide.
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What if I want to finish sooner than 10 months?
You can finish sooner than 10 months if you attend every session while you are enrolled and watch asynchronous materials. There is a requirement of 20 hours synchronous instruction which we prefer be towards the end of your training for mentorship and teaching practice.
What kind of scholarships are available?
We do provide scholarships to complete YTT after you have demonstrated a commitment to the program and to yoga. Scholarships are decided on a case by case basis and can range from a few hundred dollars to a full forgiveness of tuition.
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Building Foundations
At Namaste, we teach you to build foundational Hatha classes from the ground up. You will learn how to build intelligent classes with mindful transitions that emphasize safety and accessibility. You will also learn yoga’s rich history, from the perspective of Hatha, as taught by T.K.V. Desikachar. This seminal text will guide us in laying a foundation for the physical, mental and spiritual practice. As an instructor, you will be able to safely guide others in their physical, mental, and spiritual practice.
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Meditation
Meditation, self-study and pranayama (breathing practices) are crucial parts of the yoga practice. We will cover the rich territory of meditation, keeping journals and talking about our experiences. In Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, you will learn to best support your own unique constitution. We will learn the importance and skillful use of our breath to support our practice and create mental and emotional balance. Different pranayama can help us relax, energize or balance.
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Anatomy and Physiology
We will explain and demonstrate anatomy and physiology as it pertains to our practice and teaching of asana.
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Reading Materials
The Bhagavad Gita translated by Eknath Easwaran
The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikacar
The Key Poses of Yoga by Ray Long, MD, FRCSC
The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele
Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Shiffmann
Yoga Toolbox for teachers and students by Joseph Le Page & Lilian Le Page
Namaste Yoga Teacher Training Team
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Ken Aubuchon
C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, E-RYT-200
Lead Instructor -
Kyla Remus
E-RYT-500
Lead Instructor
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Rachele Rose
RYT-200
Energy Systems, Marketing & Promotion -
Dr. Cassandra Barragan
Ph.D., MSW, RYT 200
Program Director
Your journey from student to teacher starts here.
Namaste Yoga is in compliance with the Yoga Alliance for the 200 hour level training. At the completion of the 200 hour program students will be eligible for national registration with the Yoga Alliance.
Tuition includes 200 hours of instruction, select workshops, 1:1 mentoring, teaching support and opportunities, and an all access student pass to take unlimited classes at the studio ($970 value alone).
Program Organization
Rolling Admission
We have a rolling admission program, so can begin when it best fits your schedule. Our curriculum is scheduled in quarters and each quarter gives you an opportunity to have some agency in your schedule as some topics will repeat throughout the year. This means if you have to miss a session, you can either watch the recording or you can attend in the next time it is offered. We do encourage you to attend live rather than recordings when possible, but also understand that is not always possible. We have thoughtfully constructed our schedule to allow for the most flexibility.
Hybrid Format
We meet one weekend a month and one evening a month. These in person/synchronous sessions are designed to give you the most benefit that encourage small group work, discussion, and reflections. Much of the material is available to your as recordings or readings. Can attend virtually via Zoom.
Attendance and Participation Guidelines
Weekend sessions are held in our Royal Oak studio and in person/synchronous attendance is highly recommended. Virtual instruction is mostly synchronous, but recordings are available for most virtual content. However, we do encourage you to attend live when possible as this gives the opportunity to ask questions and interact with your classmates. However, all sessions will be recorded and available for viewing at your convenience.
Live participation in the majority of sessions is expected with some flexibility offered for students in different time zones. Students are responsible for downloading Zoom to their personal computers and ensuring that they are comfortable with operating the program. Link and instructions for joining the program will be sent prior to the start date.
We use a learning management system that you will receive an invitation for. All class session recordings, homework questions and submissions, and supplemental materials can be found here.
If you miss a session, you are required to watch the session and submit your notes and still complete the monthly knowledge assessments as assigned.
Synchronous Session Training Schedule 2025
The below dates are all in-person sessions. All other material will be recorded material that you will be able to review on your own time to fit your schedule before each session. The in-person sessions are carefully structured to prepare you for confident teaching by the time you graduate. All weekend sessions will be held in our Royal Oak studio and can be attended via Zoom with prior notification to the program director.
Saturdays - Noon to 6
Saturday sessions will focus on specific asanas, covering anatomy, physiology, safe movement, variations, cueing, and hands-on teaching practice.
Sundays - Noon to 2/2:30 & 2:30/3-5
Sunday sessions will be split into two distinct time spaces with two different topics being covered. This will enable you to have a more flexible schedule and if you can’t make one time, you may be able to make the other.
Fridays - 6 to 9
Fridays are dedicated to teaching opportunities, personalized mentoring, and 1:1 feedback, ensuring you receive the support and guidance needed to refine your skills and teaching style.
Weekend Sessions:
January 25 & 26
February 15 & 16
March 15 & 16
April 12 & 19 *consecutive Saturdays
May 17 & 18
June 21 & 22
July 19 & 20
September 20 & 21
October 18 & 19
November 15 & 16
December 13 & 14
Friday Sessions:
January 31
February 21
March 21
April 25
May 23
June 27
July 25
September 26
October 24
November 21
December 19
Schedule is subject to change
Program Completion
If you attend all sessions as scheduled, review all asynchronous online content, complete the assessment, and meet your teaching and mentoring requirements you can complete the full program in a little as seven months, but most students take 10 months to a year to fully complete the program. These requirements include:
Satisfactory participation in group teaching assignments
Satisfactory completion of a written knowledge assessments prior to graduation from the program
Satisfactory completion of self-reflection and evaluation throughout the program
Completion of a self-evaluation summary report of 12 hours of teaching
Yoga Alliance requires a minimum of 30 hours synchronous or in person to complete the 200 hour teacher training program. To ensure this requirement is able to be met by anyone who attends our training program, we have over 100 in-person and/or synchronous hours available in the current schedule.
Once all recorded material is reviewed and all asana topics are covered, you are ready to move to the practicum. You will select one of the instructors you observed as a mentor and work with directly with them for a minimum of 5 hours, including class observations.
You can choose how you spend your teaching hours between teaching asana, meditation, and philosophy/energy systems or a combination of all three. You will work with the lead instructor and/or your mentor to determine how you will demonstrate teaching competency in these three areas. You can weight any area more than the others, but all three must be covered in some way. Some ideas include: teaching asana class that is philosophy themed with a meditation at the end; leading a discussion on living yoga philosophy; or record a guided meditation.
All course material and synchronous session requirements must be completed within two years. If you have not completed all components of the 200 hour training program within two years, you will still be able to continue, but as a student in our YTT Completion Program at $650 for an additional year.
Today could be the day
We know making a decision about yoga teacher training can depend on a variety of factors. We want to be transparent and available for any questions you might have. After you complete the form here, you will be redirected to a page with information about our training program. We look forward to talking with you more!
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