Q: Who is this training for?  
This online yoga teacher training program is for those who are looking to teach yoga as a professional yoga instructor as well as yoga students looking to deepen their practice and understanding of the holistic, integrative methodology of amrita yoga.

Q: Do I have to be at a certain level of yoga?
This is the foundational level of a yoga teacher training program known as a 200-hour Yoga Alliance accredited training program. A key requirement for participation is a deep desire to learn more about yoga. Our trainings include students who have been practicing for a few years, many years, and those who are already teaching yoga and want to dive more deeply into the therapeutic approach.  We also include enthusiastic beginners based on their studies and other relevant life experiences. All of our students, from beginners to advanced, learn a tremendous amount. If you love yoga and want to learn more we welcome you to join us. APPLY HERE.

Q: Is this training in-person or online? 
This training is offered in a hybrid model with in-person and online options. In-person sessions will be held in Portland, OR. Online participants will be present simultaneously via zoom. Both groups will be able to see and interact with each other using our hybrid technology.

Q: How many hours a week should I schedule out for my online studies?
The asynchronous learning hours in your training include the development of your personal sadhana, your home yoga practice, guided by yoga and pranayama practices created for you by Sarahjoy. We recommend practicing these sessions daily, which will be a 6 - 9 hour commitment weekly. In addition to your yoga practice hours, you will also have 1-3 hours a week for yoga philosophy, neuroscience, and yoga teacher training skills.

Q: What will my support be like during the training?  
Sarahjoy guides you and fellow students through the training along with guest teachers selected for their expertise and depth of practice. Our school also schedules assistant teachers for every module to support the teacher-student ratio that most enhances learning. Assistants are selected by Sarahjoy for their dedication to practice and skillfulness as graduates of prior yogajoy trainings. Sadie Barr is our training ambassador and is present at the live modules. She also supports homework, classwork, and skill building.

Our training program coordinator can help you with logistics, registration, and completion of the program including registration with Yoga Alliance. 

Q: What will I get out of a training if I don’t want to teach? 
The practice of yoga helps us to live in this world with more resilience and persistence. In these times, where there seems to be so much dissonance and violence, practice is necessary so we can continue to show up as who we want to be in tumultuous times. Taking a training is not only to study and refine the way we move on the mat, but to also study and refine the way we move through the world. Learning to bring the principles and philosophies of the yoga practice into life is more than just physically empowering; it can help you to become a leader in your community, family, and in your own life.

Learning to teach connects you more fully to your own practice, and you’ll know what you know so much more deeply than you thought you could as you learn to communicate it to others.

Training is not just for those who want to become teachers, or just for those who can do lotus pose, hold a long plank, or balance upside down. A strong physical practice goes beyond the outcome of the pose and is reflective of the attention and awareness with which a person moves. Spending 200+ hours devoted to all of the aspects of yoga practice will deepen your connection to the parts of yoga that have the potential to change the world: deeper listening, strong and sustained attention, courage, and heart.

Q: What will I learn?
Components of our 200-hr training program are listed here. 

Q. How will I learn?
In addition to any applicable in-person modules, we utilize the online learning platform Kajabi for additional learning content. 
 
Q: I have to miss a portion of the training. What’s your attendance policy?
A: Trainees are required to notify the Teacher Training Coordinator of foreseen absences and are responsible to log and makeup any missed training hours.

• If less than half of one day is missed during a module, you may still complete the training program with your class, provided that you:
  • Ask for copies of notes that other students took during the time missed.
  • Watch the recordings of the hours missed.
  • Write a one to two paragraph summary of the material missed, in a Google Doc, and share it with the training team.
• If a full day is missed during a module,  you may still complete the training program with your class, provided that you:
  • Ask for copies of notes that other students took during the time missed.
  • Watch the recordings of the hours missed.
  • Write a one to two paragraph summary of the material missed, in a Google Doc, and share it with the training team.
• If more than one day is missed during a module, you will need to:
  • Ask for copies of notes that other students took during the time missed.
  • Watch the recordings of days missed, so as to stay current with your cohort.
  • Write a two page summary of the material missed, in a Google Doc, and share it with  the training team.
  • Attend the same days as those missed days in a subsequent training.
    • The fee for retaking up to four days in a subsequent training is $75/day. 
• If more than four days of the training are missed, you will need to retake the program, at a discounted price, subject to space availability.

 
Q: How long do I have to complete my requirements and homework for certification as a 200 hour teacher? 
Trainees must complete all curriculum requirements within 6 months of the last day of the final module of their training in order to be eligible for teacher certification.  As a teacher training student, we encourage you to complete as many of the curriculum requirements as possible during your training year while you are being carried by the momentum of your training.  Past experience has proven that once you complete your training year, finishing remaining curriculum requirements becomes increasingly difficult.
 
Q: I didn’t/can’t complete my requirements within 6 months. May I have an extension? 
Trainees may be granted an additional six months to complete their requirements following submission of a written request clearly stating the reason for the extension.  This extension will postpone the completion deadline to exactly one year from the last day of the final module of the training.  There is a one-time $100 administrative fee for extending the deadline, and the trainee will need to complete any additional curriculum requirements that may have been added.

Q: What books do I need?  
You will be provided with a Yoga Teacher Training Manual.  There are also two dharmic books are required for this training: The Way to Love by Anthony DeMello and A More Ardent Fire by Eknath Easwaran. 

We also recommend The Sacred Tradition of Yoga by Dr. Shankaranarayana Jois and When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron.

In addition, please have a copy of the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. There are various translations. For the Yoga Sutras consider The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar or Light On The Yoga Sutras by Iyengar.  For the Gita, consider the translation and commentary by Eknath Easwaran (or your preferred translation with commentary).
 
Q: What kind of homework should I expect? 
You will have reading and listening homework in the form of assigned readings for our dharma time, and dharma talks pre-selected for you to listen to based on your training choice.

For the dharma talks that you listen to, we request that you write a one page reflection journal.

You will also have 9 anatomy and asana videos to watch throughout the training, and to keep after the training. Sarahjoy chose specific yoga poses to focus on for these videos. Each video comes with a short quiz where you can check your learning.

For your amrita yoga practicum, you will be asked to teach two public classes at the end of your training. This can be to friends or to guest students, in a location of your choice. For these two classes, we ask you to draft a sequence with a mindfulness tool. Your Training Ambassador will review these sequences and you’ll receive mentored feedback.

Q: What does the application process entail? 
To apply, please fill out the application for the program you’re interested in enrolling in. You will hear back shortly about the status of your application. Please allow 4 days for a response. Upon acceptance, you will be given a link to make a payment to secure your spot and given an outline for the next steps.
 
Q: Where can I find the application for the 200 hour training? 
Click here for the 200 hour training program.
 
Q: What are your policies for refunds and deferments for the 200 hour training program?
Refund policy: An applicant who provides written notice of cancellation within three business days of making an initial payment before commencement of the program is entitled to a refund of all monies paid, less a $500 non-refundable deposit.
 
Procedure for Deferment: A student choosing to defer their training to the next cohort can do so up to 30 days prior to the first synchronous learning module begins. If a student chooses to defer within 30 days of Module 1, or at any time during the training, they can defer to the next cohort for a $300 fee. 
 
Q: What is the cost of the 200-hour program?
We have tiered levels of investment. The investment for the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is $3,500.  However, if you registered prior to 90 days of the start of Module 1, your investment level will be $2000. Prior to 60 days of the start of Module 1, your investment level will be $2500. Prior to 30 days of the start of Module 1,  your investment level will be $3000. Within 30 days of the start of Module 1, your investment level is $3500. 

​The price of the training reflects Sarahjoy’s commitment to excellence in yoga education. Yoga Alliance standards only require that a lead trainer be present for 65 hours of a 200hr training. Sarahjoy is present for every live module of the training and will be guiding you on your journey the entire way.

Q: Are payment plans are available?
Payment plans are available.  You can pay for the program in full, or via a 2-part or 4-part payment plan. $500 of your initial payment will be held as a non-refundable deposit.

Q: Do you have a Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Social Justice Policy?
Our training school is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Social Justice. We provide scholarships for qualified students who have been marginalized or are experiencing financial difficulties. Read our DEI Statement. Our programs also support Sarahjoy and DAYA Foundation’s over 24 years of outreach in underserved communities, such as Oregon's prisons, and the mission to bring accessible yoga to the greater Portland area and beyond.

Q: Who qualifies for scholarships?
To determine if you qualify for a scholarship, please submit an application. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. See the Scholarship section here.

Q: How do I apply for a scholarship?
The scholarship application is here. Each training there is a scholarship deadline after which we will notify you if you qualify for a scholarship. 

Q: I have a question that’s not listed here. Who should I get in touch with?
You can reach the teacher training program coordinator at trainings@sarahjoyyoga.com with questions regarding any of the training programs. You can also ask to schedule a phone call or zoom meeting to discuss past, present, or future training that you have been, are, or would like to be involved in. Our team is here to support you on your journey. We know all of the ins and outs of the logistics of the training experience and want to help you to make this as smooth as possible. ​