Registration for this event has closed
Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you
Program Calendar500-hour Yoga Teacher Certification Spring Segment, Advanced Teaching Methods:
Registration for this event has closed
Check out our various upcoming programs—we're sure there's something to inspire you
Program CalendarWhen you enroll in the Himalayan Institute’s 500-hour teacher training course, you don’t just train to become a teacher—you get the opportunity to participate in one of the best teacher training programs in the nation, and learn from some of the most experienced yoga teachers alive today. Through their guidance, you will acquire the wisdom and knowledge to confidently interpret and convey the deeper meaning of yoga.
Our 500-hour yoga teacher training program offers yoga teachers from all traditions and backgrounds the opportunity to advance their studies in a truly impactful way. Our teachings draw from the source of yoga, based in guidance passed down by Swami Rama—a true yogic master who founded the Himalayan Institute—and rooted in yogic scriptures.
The Himalayan Institute 500-hour teacher training course includes in-depth application of:
- Advanced studies in teaching methods
- Sequencing strategies
- Verbal and hands-on assists
- Practical application of subtle body anatomy in asana teaching
You will also explore advanced applications of yoga for mental and physical well-being, acquire an authentic understanding of the eight limbs of yoga through an in depth study of essential yogic texts, and attain a first-hand experience of ancient techniques in pranayama (breathing techniques), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), and meditation.
Whether you wish to develop your skills for teaching yoga classes, or broaden your personal application of yoga through an advanced teacher training course, our 500-hour program is an excellent way to become proficient in concepts initially touched upon in 200-hour yoga teacher training courses.
Program Structure:
Our 500-hour yoga teacher training program consists of 3 modules that are each 10 days long. You have the freedom to take the modules in any order you choose, and you can take up to three years to complete them. This immersive format gives you the opportunity to step away from the responsibilities and demands of daily life, allowing you to focus completely on deepening your personal practice and developing your skills as a yoga teacher in a spiritually supportive environment. You will connect with other teachers from all over the world, making life-long friends and new networking opportunities in the process.
This 500-hour yoga teacher training course is certified through Yoga Alliance.
“I knew I wanted to deepen my practice, my teaching and my understanding of the science and philosophy of yoga. My own research supported the unerring depth and breadth of HI’s offerings, its commitment to the Himalayan Tradition under the Spiritual leadership of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD, and their global outreach programs completed the cairn of my decision to apply.”
“The faculty have a great deal of experience and knowledge in Tantra and yoga philosophy. The teachers clearly practice what they teach and live by the philosophies they themselves study. Each teacher brings their own unique experience of yoga to their teaching. They are kind, patient, and very humble.”
“Frankly, I did not even begin to appreciate the expertise within the walls of the Himalayan Institute until I was actually in the throws of my 500 hr studies. Retrospectively, I am in awe and in deep gratitude for the depth of knowledge, the level of commitment of the staff, the understanding and infinite wisdom their teachings held and continue to unfold for me.”
“The biggest thing that I have taken away from my studies at the institute is that I have been introduced to a web of life that I had not experienced so strongly before. The studies acted as a catalyst for more searching and more questions. I use the practices that I have been taught to help me with my obstacles in life. They support me in making the very necessary changes and transformations in my life so that I can find my way to that “luminous joy” that we all have inside ourselves.”
“This program enriched my personal practice immeasurably! My practice evolved from a 4-5x/week mat practice with pranayama to a daily practice encompassing my sadhana, asana, pranayama, and meditation time and a more in depth perspective of what mindful living of the path of yoga means for me. I have rebuilt my practice to better support my life’s journey—expanding my focus on the essence of yoga.”
“After I returned home from each of the training segments I noticed that I began to apply what I had learnt at the institute to my daily life and the various situations in my life. The information that I received and the practices that I have been taught have supported me through some very trying times.”
“From this experience, Swami Rama’s quote in the main hall: “You are the architect of your own destiny” found home in my practice. As a result, I have found an even deeper joy, flow, and grace in the balance of my practice.”
“Through the Himalayan Institute, I gained so many skills, methods, and tools to refine both my practice and my teaching. Learning to break down poses into activations outside of the specific asana itself has been vital to my practice and a gift to my teaching. As I invite students to feel the activation within their body without the complexity of the pose itself, I witness more students finding the balance of sthira and sukha more readily within their poses.”
“Were I to boil it down to one thing, through this training I learned to step into myself as a witness—this shift has enriched my life experiences beyond words. I am extremely privileged to have studied where authenticity is deeply woven in the tapestry of their teachings.”
“Because of my time at the institute my teaching has changed. My focus is more on the subtle aspects of yoga and I have more confidence teaching in this way than I did before. “
Spring Segment
Advanced Teaching Methods: Exploring the Heart of Yoga Technique and Philosophy
As we advance in our teaching and personal practice, it is common to find ourselves becoming stagnant in our teaching, or feel a strong desire to explore more than what we’ve become accustomed to. Our Spring Segment is a chance for you to deeply examine your own personal practice and teaching style, and then refine and develop this further. You will begin to cultivate a relationship with the more subtle practices of yoga, using the Yoga Sutra as a foundation, and learn more about breathing, sense withdrawal, and meditation from both a personal and professional standpoint.
This segment of our teacher training course will focus on:
- Refining your ability to deliver effective, efficient, and elegant verbal instruction
- Developing your skills of observation and intuitive sensitivity to students’ needs
- Understanding the deeper dimensions of yogic breathing for nervous system balance and as a support for deeper spiritual practices
- Learning to offer students guided, systematic relaxations that increase prana and prepare students for meditation
- Practicing traditional yogic meditation techniques
- Participating in an in-depth study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra that will make this ancient text come alive as a support for your practice and teaching
- Developing the subtle aspects of yoga, including breathing, sense withdrawal, and meditation
- Enhancing your credibility as a yoga teacher by skillfully incorporating Sanskrit into your teaching, and learn a set of traditional Sanskrit prayers and chants
Sample Daily Schedule:
- 6:30-8:00 a.m. Hatha Yoga Class
- 8:00-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
- 9:00 or 9:30-12:30 p.m. Morning Session
- 12:30-1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 2:30-5:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner
- 7:00-9:00 p.m. Evening Session
- One free evening is scheduled during the training. Schedule is subject to change.
Accommodations are not included in the $1099 tuition price. Please contact our reservations department at (800) 822-4547, option 2, for pricing information on accommodations. Note that accommodations will need to begin on April 5, as the program begins on April 6 at 6:30 a.m
Questions about the program? Please email us at [email protected]
Rolf Sovik, PsyD
Shari Friedrichsen
Judy Moulton
Sandra Anderson
Himalayan Institute Retreat Center
Retreat Center Highlights
