***🏄‍♀️ In light of the current situation, we will be following the guidelines provided by Yoga Alliance.
Our yoga teacher training school is online. 🏄‍♀️

200hr Yoga Teacher Training FAQs

Q: With the training being online, do you think that we would miss an important part of the curriculum as a student by not being in the studio with the teachers? Will there be real-time feedback?
We have found the training to be more conducive online than we had imagined! Our first online cohort was April - July, 2020.  We use the Zoom break out rooms to provide small group facilitated feedback for the students. We use this for training activities including those that develop teaching skills.  (A breakout room is launched from the main room in Zoom and then we return to the main room and bring the group back together. We have assistant teachers for the trainings (Lynn, Andrew, Chris, etc) , as we did in our in-person format, and they are able to provide the in-person feedback in real time along with Sarahjoy.)

Since many teachers will need to teach online (for the duration of Covid-19 requirements), we are also including skill building for how to teach online while creating relationships with your students. In other words, teachers are not just talking to a camera or a computer. How can teachers learn to develop their students’ yoga practice through this necessary online format right now?  This is a set of skills that must be considered for teaching, not merely leading, a yoga class. We have codified for the students/trainees what the considerations are for an online yoga class, including how to give an effective demonstration for your class, how to observe and provide feedback to your students in their practice, and how to manage some of the technology, etc. 

Q: Is there a difference in the 'certification' that is achieved after an online-only training vs a 'regular' training?
The certification is equivalent.

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. Andrew Welsh is our training ambassador and is present at the studio-based modules. He also supports homework, classwork, and the skill-building of teaching.

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

Q: Who are the guest teachers in addition to Sarahjoy? 
​For guest teachers and their information, see our guest teachers page.

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 hour training program are listed here. 
 
Q: What kind of homework should I expect?  
We provide you with two books as a part of your program: The Way to Love by Anthony DeMello and A More Ardent Fire by Eknath Easwaran. We will also read from The Sacred Tradition of Yoga by Dr. Shankaranarayana Jois and When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. 

These are included in your tuition. 

We also recommend Yoga 4 Your Type by by David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield Kozak.
 
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 specialty, 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 or you can use a room at the DAYA Foundation.  For these two classes, we ask you to draft a sequence with a mindfulness tool. Sarahjoy or Andrew will review these sequences and you’ll receive mentored feedback.
 
Q: I have to miss some of the 200 hour 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. Write a one to two paragraph summary of the material missed and submit to trainings@sarahjoyyoga.com.

Pre-planned absences: 
For absences that are planned in advance (such as a known scheduling conflict), we allow students to attend the module or day for which they have a pre-planned absence in the same module of next training. For example, if you know that you will be away during Module 2, you would be required to attend that Module during the next training. There is no extra charge for a pre-planned arrangement such as this.  Please speak with us before the training begins. 

To maintain your pace in the training, for both pre-planned and un-planned absences, please follow these guidelines: 
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. Write a one page summary of the material missed and submit to trainings@sarahjoyyoga.com. 

If more than one day is missed during a module, you will need to make up the missed days in a subsequent training. The fee for retaking up to four days in a subsequent training, due to un-planned absences, is $75/day. We recommend that you also ask for copies of notes that other students took during the time missed.

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 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. If you receive an acceptance letter, you will be prompted to make 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 withdrawals from 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 $350 non-refundable deposit.
​
If Module 1 has already commenced, refunds will be issued based on the schedule outlined in the Procedure for Withdrawal.
 
Procedure for Withdrawal: A student choosing to withdraw from the program after commencement of classes is required to provide written notice to the Teacher Training Coordinator.  The notice is to include: expected last date of attendance, signature of student, date the document was signed, the date of receipt of this written request is to be considered the withdrawal date. Refund amounts are determined as follows:
Before the completion of Module 1: 75% refund (less the $350 deposit) will be granted.
Before the beginning of Module 2: 50% refund (less the $350 deposit) will be granted.

After the beginning of Module 2 no refunds will be granted.
 
Q: What is the cost of the 200-hour program?
The investment for the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is $3,000 with application by early bird deadline and $3,500 thereafter. Payment plans are available.  You can pay for the program in full, or via a 2-part or 4-part payment plan. $350 of your initial payment will be held as a non-refundable deposit.

Our training school is committed to support scholarships for other students who are marginalized or are experiencing financial difficulties. Our programs also support Sarahjoy and DAYA Foundation’s continued work in underserved communities, and the mission to bring accessible yoga to the greater Portland area and beyond.

The price of the training also reflects Sarahjoy’s commitment to excellence in yoga education.
Yoga Alliance standards require that a lead trainer be present for 65 hours of training.
Sarahjoy is present for the entirety of the training, and will be guiding you on your journey the entire way.

Q: Are payment plans are available?  
You can pay for the program in full, or via a 2-part or 4-part payment plan. $350 of your initial payment will be held as a non-refundable deposit.

Q: Who qualifies for scholarships?
To determine if you qualify for a scholarship or work-trade, please submit an application. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis.

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. We provide work-trade and partial scholarships.

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. Sarahjoy cannot answer questions personally. Please inquire with her staff, who are trained to support you throughout your journey, and know all of the ins and outs of the logistics of the training experience and time leading up to it.