The Art of Teaching | 200-hr Teacher Training

The Art of Teaching | 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification

Join our 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Berkeley, CA to become a certified, registered Yoga Alliance teacher. You’ll receive comprehensive training in teaching alignment-based hatha and vinyasa yoga classes and cultivate the knowledge and confidence to teach a safe and engaging yoga class to a wide variety of students.

Curriculum

  • History, Philosophy & Ethics

    Discover the roots of yoga. Develop self-awareness through the study of the Yoga Sutras, Sanskrit, the Yamas & Niyamas, the Ancient myths and stories that communicate deep philosophical lessons & more.

  • Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics

    Learn musculoskeletal anatomy specific to the practicing and guiding asana, pranayama and meditation. Discover functional movement and the breakdown of muscle groups. Understand common injuries and how to work with physical limitations.

  • The Art of Asana

    Learn the Universal Principles of Alignment™. Explore each pose through energetic and physical alignment. Learn how to verbally cue poses and variations for different practitioner needs.

  • Pranayama & Subtle Body Anatomy

    Learn about the Chakras, Koshas and Prana Vayus. Learn how to practice and teach various forms of pranayama.

  • Meditation & Mantra Science

    Discover the power of mindfulness, meditation and mantra as tools for liberation.

  • Ayurveda & Holistic Self-Care

    Dive into yoga’s sister science - a 5,000 year old wisdom of self-healing and medicine - rooted in the laws of nature. Learn foundational Ayurvedic principles to live in greater harmony with the cycles of life.

  • Teaching Tools & Methodology

    Explore safe alignment and cuing to support a variety of bodies. Learn intelligent warm-ups, skillful sequencing and themes for practice. Cultivate your authentic and empowered voice as a teacher.

  • Diversity, Inclusion & Trauma Informed Appoaches

    Learn best practices for truama-informed care. Unpack social justice concepts of power, oppression and privilege. Reflect on personal positionality and dynamics that play into overlapping identities.

  • The Business of Yoga

    Learn sound business practices in the yoga industry. Discover best practices for teaching on platforms like Zoom, how to create a conscious marketing plan, and establish sustainable business practices to support your personal vision.

Our Program Faculty

Details

  • YogaKula Berkeley Studio: 1700 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709

    Our next trainings will be in person at the studio although hybrid online option is available if needed.

  • May 18-19, June 15-16, July 13-14. August 17-18, September 14-15, October 19-20

    November 9-10, December 7-8, January 18-19, March 15-16, April 12-13, May 17-18

  • Required Texts

    • Anusara Teacher Manual (available @Yogakula)       $35

    • Yoga Asana Guide (available @ Yogakula)                 $20

    Recommended Reading

    Asana

    • Light on Yoga, by BKS Iyengar, 1995 (revised ed.)

    • Yoga Resource Practice Manual by Darren Rhodes: available as ebook

    Anatomy

    • The Concise Book of Yoga Anatomy  by Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones

    • The Key Muscles of Yoga by Ray Long

    • Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff, second edition

    • Visible Body - Muscle Premium [ An anatomy App , shows joints & muscles in motion]

    Pranayama

    • Refining the Breath by Doug Keller (available via his website) 

    Meditation 

    • Meditation for the love of it, by Sally Kempton 

    Philosophy

    • The Path of Yoga by Georg Feuerstein, 2011 

    • Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation, by Stephen Mitchell, 2002

    • Yoga: Discipline of Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to Patanjali, intro by Barbara Stoler Miller, 1998

    Yoga as life-changing experience: 

    • Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, by Stephen Cope

    • Anything by Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield

    • 200HR Yoga Alliance certified training

    • Comprehensive Teacher Training Manual

    • Opportunity to teach our community classes

    • Access to recordings for all workshops covered in Teacher Training weekends.

    • Big discount on class packages and drop in classes.

  • Module : 100 hr

    $1400 Pay before May 1

    $1575 Pay after May 1

    Payment plans available – pay monthly

    $500 deposit required. $1575 100 hr Training

    Module 1 & 2: 200 hr

    $2500 Pay before May 1

    $2950 Pay after May 1

    Payment plans available – pay monthly

    $500 deposit required.

    $2950 200 hr Training

  • Trainings are non-refundable. YogaKula and its teachers reserve the right to cancel workshops. If YogaKula cancels a Training, a full credit or refund will be issued.

    You can read our complete terms & policies here.

  • There is monthly homework assignments to support deeper learning.

Testimonials

  • Cheyenne

    The value of the Yoga Kula Teacher Training Program is beyond measure! I am in total awe of the vast knowledge being contributed to me as a new Yoga Teacher. The stellar contributors and presenters provide a wealth of incredible knowledge! The contributors are some of the most influential yogis over the past 30+ years from the U.S and have so much to share due to their countless years of experience and passion for Yoga. I have so much gratitude for this program, it is a treasure to say the least! Thank you!

  • Constanza

    I’m so grateful life brought me to Berkeley and placed in my path the Yoga teacher training at YogaKula. This has been such a wonderful journey. I feel I'm finally understanding the true nature of practicing yoga, not just getting on the mat and putting on cool poses, but really diving into the true nature of the self. The instructors are knowledgeable, kind, and inspiring. This path has been one of love and gratitude, recommended for anyone who wants to connect with your true self.

  • Catherine

    This training is fabulous in it’s holistic approach, for it weaves together all the aspects of ancient yoga tradition and helps students to apply and integrate them into their own asana practice and their teaching. Integrating why we teach yoga into teaching and also integrated the sacred texts, sutras, mantras, chanting so it’s the whole study of yoga, rather than only focusing on asana practice. Saraswati was a very supportive teacher

  • Amy

    In 2019, I found myself at the doorstep of Yoga Kula in Berkeley, CA in the 200-hour Anusara Teacher Training program, guided by Saraswati Clere, an extraordinary film-maker, pod-caster, teacher, studio owner, and human. Through our extensive training I was lucky enough to learn from such yoga and meditation luminaries as Carlos Pomeda, teacher of yoga philosophy and history, using Tantric Shaivism and texts such as the Bhagavad Gita to apply to modern living. Other esteemed teachers in the program were Deane Johan on physical anatomy, Darren Rhodes on the art of teaching yoga postures, and Anodea Judith on the Chakra system. I have continued on in the Yoga Kula 300 hour training and it is as exceptional as the first training in terms of master teachers and courses offered. Yoga Kula creates a welcoming place for all bodies, spirits, levels, and students which has allowed me to flourish on my yogic journey. I highly recommend their classes and most certainly the Immersion and Teacher Training offerings.

  • Kenya

    I can’t stress enough how important the Teacher Trainings at Yogakula have been to my journey as a teacher, and also as a person committed to deepening my personal practice. The three things that led me to start practicing yoga in the first place-stress, anxiety, and back pain-are just a small part of what inspired me to sign up for the teacher training. My first 200 hr training was challenging, supportive, and healing. The most recent training occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, and somehow Saraswati made the experience both comforting and educational. As a Black woman, I was encouraged to share my experiences, good and bad, as a practitioner and a teacher. Saraswati is extremely skilled at holding space for the unique experiences of all who seek to learn and to be heard, while at the same time, acknowledging that as a community, we can embrace diversity, and honor yoga traditions simultaneously. That validation has led me to be a more confident teacher. Also, the caliber of instructors that we had was amazing! My favorite was Carlos Pomeda, but all of them were very knowledgeable and patient. The trainings on anatomy (particularly the psoas training) were comprehensive, and have completely informed the way that I work with my clients with chronic pain and injuries. The Anusara principles of alignment is the foundation that I lean on as a teacher, and I’m happy to have that knowledge as my teaching style continues to evolve. The best thing I can say about my training at Yogakula is that I’m always excited to learn more! This experience has definitely turned me into a lifelong student of not only yoga asana, but also of yoga philosophy, meditation, and breath work.

  • Paula

    Saraswati offers an in-depth teacher training for those who desire to deepen and strengthen their yoga practice. I have been a student at Yogakula for many years and taken several Teacher trainings over the years at Yogakula. In this past Teacher Training taught by Saraswati she created a wonderful supportive atmosphere with our training group which became such an immense support for all of us during our program. Our program continued seamlessly online during the pandemic and I felt so inspired and uplifted by Saraswati and her team of expert teachers. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this training. It was deeply transformational for me. During the program I was offered a class to teach at my local studio and its been great to grow as a teacher.

    The program focuses of deepening our understanding of the physical, mental and spiritual understanding of yoga through our study of the yoga traditions, asana practice, essentials of breath work and meditation practice

  • Rae

    am deeply grateful for the teachings I received in Yoga Kula's 200 hour teacher training. The lectures of Yoga scholar, Carlos Pomeda, and the workshop with Pranayama expert, Richard Rosen, were literally life-changing. This teacher training both deepened my knowledge and understanding of the philosophies of Yoga, and also gave me a streamlined and effective method of articulating safe and strong alignment of the body in any pose. Saraswati's community-minded approach fostered a beautiful camaraderie within our cohort, and I find myself emerging from this training with my heart nourished by both friendship and wisdom, and with a deep-rooted confidence to teach Yoga with both respect for its history and an openness to further discovery.

  • Shruti

    When I moved to Berkeley, I was looking for an 'authentic' yoga studio, and ever since my first visit to Yogakula, it felt true to yogic principles and tradition. On a whim, I signed up for the 100-hr yoga immersion program, to deepen my practice and knowledge of the philosophy. It's been a very enriching journey. Being in the space and this wonderful community month over month has helped me tide over circumstances with lesser stress and greater acceptance & adaptability, than what was possible for me before. I've felt an inner shift over the past many months, thanks to this program. I have thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and demonstrations on various aspects of yoga, health and Indian philosophy. Having grown up in India, I've especially appreciated the scholarly & practitioner's approach to the originating philosophy. Saraswati is a very effective and loving teacher, and in her, many of us have found a mentor and guide.

  • Jewel

    Saraswati has been an elegant and fearless leader with so much knowledge and wisdom and with to share with us. It helps to feel that we can all become the teachers in our own unique way and I’ve felt that in the space all along. I’ve learned so much about alignment and foundation, about my own yoga body and path, the wisdom and philosophy we studied helped me go deeper into my 18-20 year path of total Yoga. Very empowering for life regardless of becoming a teacher.