UPĀYA SCHOOL OF YOGA
208-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Upāya (oop-ah-yuh): skillful means
Over the last decade, we’ve noticed that there just aren’t as many educational opportunities geared toward serious studentship anymore. Workshops, retreats, and yoga festivals have turned away from deep learning and student’s are being pushed to take a teacher training when they have no desire to teach.
This is where our program fills the gap.
Our 92-hour student immersion is the first part of our 208-hour yoga teacher training that is specifically geared toward deep learning and study for students. You’ll explore philosophy, history, Ayurveda, and dive skillfully into your yoga asana, pranayama, and meditation practices. This immersion aims to provide all who are interested in a lifetime of yogic studies a solid foundation.
Those who are interested in teaching yoga, will continue their education with our 116-hour teacher development program. The student immersion is a prerequisite! You’ll dive deeper into anatomy and philosophy, but spend the majority of your time learning how to teach and apply what you’re learning to develop well-rounded yoga classes for students of all levels. By the end of this program you’ll confidently be able to teach alignment-based vinyasa yoga.
Learn more below.
Student Immersion
Next cohort begins September 2025
Every other weekend for 5 weekends total
Saturday 8am-5pm | Sunday 11am-8pm
September 27-28
October 11-12, 25-26
November 8-9, 22-23
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Deepen your personal practice and understanding of your body through asana, pranayama, and meditation sessions. We’ll explore a variety of styles to help you cultivate strength, flexibility, and balance in both body and mind.
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Delve into the timeless wisdom of yoga philosophy. Understand the principles of yoga beyond the physical practice, gaining insights into mindfulness, meditation, and the yogic way of life through philosophical inquiry and analysis of myths. We’ll explore various philosophical schools and introduce their principle texts including Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, The Recognition Sutras, and The Bhagavad Gita.
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Trace the rich history of yoga from its ancient origins in India to modern-day postural yoga. Explore the cultural, philosophical, and spiritual influences that have shaped and informed the practice over time.
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Gain a understanding of your individual anatomy through practice and study. Our non-dogmatic approach to yoga postures prioritizes function over form and celebrates diversity. Learn alignment principles to practice yoga asana skillfully for life based on your body’s unique form.
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Explore the subtle energy systems of the body, including prana, kundalini, the chakras, nadis, the koshas, and more. Gain a deeper understanding of how these energetic pathways influence our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, enhancing your connection to yourself and the world around you.
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This is the time you’ll spend on reading, homework assignments, and taking yoga classes outside of the classroom.
Students are required to take 1 public class per week with a lead teacher for the duration of the immersion (8 classes total).
Teacher Development Program
Next cohort begins January 2026
Every other weekend for 5 weekends total + every Wednesday in person
Saturday 8am-5pm | Sunday 11am-8pm | Wednesday 5:30-8:30pm
WEEKENDS:
January 10-11, 24-25
February 7-8, 21-22
March 7-8
WEEKDAYS (WEDNESDAY):
January 14, 21, 28
February 4, 11, 18, 25
March 3
The Student Immersion is required to take prior to the Teacher Development Program.
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Building on the student immersion, we’ll spend time diving deeper into myths and philosophical concepts to inspire your own studies and teaching.
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Learn how to teach impactful classes that include philosophical themes beyond self-help soundbites by integrating myths and deeply meaningful philosophical concepts into practice.
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Gain a comprehensive understanding of the human body and its relationship to yoga asana. Learn skeletal and muscular anatomy and the science of movement to keep your future students practicing yoga skillfully for life.
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Learn how to confidently guide student’s through various breathing and meditation techniques.
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Learn a variety of techniques and methods to sequencing practices starting with a physical, philosophical, or energetic theme.
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Develop the skills and confidence needed to share the gift of yoga with others. Learn effective communication techniques and build observational skills to be able to see the students in front of you. We’ll spend a large portion of this training learning by doing aka teaching!
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Understand the practical aspects of building and sustaining a successful and fulfilling teaching career. Learn about marketing, networking, auditioning, logistics of running a business, and building a professional resume. By the end, you’ll be empowered to navigate the professional landscape of the yoga industry with confidence!
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The self-study is the work you do outside of our time together.
This is the time you’ll spend on reading, homework assignments, writing your final report, and taking yoga classes.
Students are required to take 1 public class per week with a lead teacher for the duration of the immersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A 200-hour yoga teacher training is a comprehensive program designed to deepen your understanding and practice of yoga, whether you aspire to become a certified yoga teacher or simply wish to deepen your personal practice.
It is the first step to becoming a yoga teacher. After receiving your 200-hour certificate you are considered an RYT200. You can then enroll in a 300-hour teacher training to become an RYT500.
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It is recommended that participants have a consistent yoga and/or meditation practice of at least one year. If you wish to be an impactful teacher, being a dedicated student is the first step! If you are only interested in taking the student immersion, we still recommend at least 6-months of asana practice prior to enrolling.
You do not have to be able to do certain poses or meditate for a specific duration!
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Our training curriculum focuses on teaching a combination hatha and vinyasa yoga known as, alignment-based vinyasa. You will confidently be able to teach all styles of vinyasa yoga and hatha yoga.
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Yes, upon successful completion of the program as determined by our standards of completion, you will receive a 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate, which qualifies you to register as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance.
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Yes. We are a Yoga Alliance registered school and you will be able to register with them upon successful completion of this program if that interests you.
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Yes, we offer flexible payment plans to accommodate different financial situations. Please contact us for more information on payment options.
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We have limited scholarships available for students who would benefit from financial assistance. Please reach out to to discuss your options and eligibility.
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Our training is open to individuals of all levels and abilities. We encourage participants to seek the advice of a medical professional if concerned. We encourage student’s to listen to their bodies and modify poses as needed to accommodate any injuries or limitations.
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I always recommend student’s to first find a teacher they resonate with and to continue with that teacher if they offer teacher training.
Whether we know each other or not, if you have a passion for yoga, a curious mind, a sense of humor and humility, and a desire to deepen your practice physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, you’ll fit right in here!
We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who are ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation through yoga.
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The student immersion is a stand-alone program designed for students to deepen their personal practice and begin their philosophical yogic studies. Anyone interested in taking this immersion can take it as a stand-alone program. Additionally, it counts as continuing education for current yoga teachers.
The teacher development program is only available to those who have taken the student immersion first.
Those who are interested in being yoga teachers must take both the student immersion and the teacher development program.
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To graduate from our 200-hour training program, you must complete the following:
Attend 90% of the classroom hours in the Student Immersion and Teacher Development Program. Absences must be pre-approved and hours will be made up with a lead teacher or teaching assistant.
Complete all reading assignments.
Complete all homework assignments.
Present your final class.
Pass all Knowledge Assessments.
Complete and turn in your final written assignment.
Meet Your Teachers
Rebekah Boatrite
LEAD FACILITATOR | E-RYT500
Rebekah was introduced to yoga and meditation as an anxious, introverted high schooler but wasn’t initially hooked. Rather, her love for the practice grew steadily with time and consistency, which eventually led her to pursue teacher training in 2016.
After completing her first 200-hour training in alignment-based yoga in North Carolina, she moved to Colorado to continue her education with an internationally recognized school based in the Anusara methodology. With her teacher, she completed an additional 200-hour training (2018), 500-hour training (2017-2019), and assisted internationally at workshops, festivals, and 200/300-hour teacher trainings.
Now, as a self-proclaimed “yoga mutt,” Rebekah’s commitment to learning and her insatiable curiosity continues to inform her own practice and serves as the foundation for her teaching.
Her philosophical lineage is based on the traditions of Trika (Kashmir Shaivism) and SriVidya (Auspicious Wisdom). As life affirming philosophies they see embodiment not as a problem to be solved, but a gift to be recognized.
Ashley Van Dyne
LEAD FACILITATOR | E-RYT500
Bio coming soon!
Mary Santangelo
Supporting Faculty | Teaching Assistant
Dr. Kyle Pratt, PT
Supporting Faculty