Teacher Training FAQ’s

We hope this list answers the questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at the below emails for any additional questions you might think of:

Or join us online for a live informational Q&A meeting & we’ll waive your application fee!
Get all your questions answered by joining us for a free informational Q&A meeting. You can learn about course curriculum, the application and enrollment process, and have your questions answered!

Why your program? What makes you different?

Yoga North International SomaYoga Institute (ISYI) has been an accredited yoga school through Yoga Alliance since 2004, and was one of the first yoga therapy schools to be accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). Yoga North ISYI is also registered as a private career school in the state of Minnesota with the Office of Higher Education.

At Yoga North ISYI, the therapeutic aspects of yoga are the foundation of what we teach. Yoga is taught with a therapeutic focus from the very beginning in our 200 hour teacher training program. This facilitates leveling your professional development, should you want to continue on to be certified at the advanced (500 hours) level or as certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT).

SomaYoga is unique therapeutic methodology developed at Yoga North ISYI. It is a blending of the neuromuscular re-education Somatics with traditional Therapeutic Yoga, and Classic Asana.
Yoga North ISYI is steeped in the Himalayan Tradition, and much of the yoga philosophy taught in our professional training programs come from yogic maps and models in that tradition. The traditional practices and philosophy from the Himalayan Tradition are taught, with an emphasis on practical application and putting the concepts to use in day-to-day life.

Is the current training in person or online?

It’s a blend. We have blended our in-studio training weekends with some online training curriculum using Zoom software. We find that being together in studio for our 3 day weekends once a month is beneficial to building community within the cohort and some yoga curriculum, and blending some online curriculum on a weeknight meeting 5:30-7:30pm is an excellent opportunity bring in more content, and have an opportunity to learn to teach online in the yoga world today. We may also schedule a weekend (or a few weekends, depending on which level program) to be online to deliver content well-suited for being online.

How do we handle considerations due to COVID-19?

We will honor any regulations regarding COVID -19 or other issues that are necessary. Yoga North is prepared to go fully online, if the situation arises again. 

What is covered in the trainings?

Yoga North teaches a unique blend of Classic Asana, Therapeutic Yoga, Somatics (neuromuscular re-education), Ayurveda, the Yamas and Niyamas, modern personal development combined with the Ancient Yogic texts and maps. Yoga North complies with both the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Yoga Alliance guidelines. 

Please visit the Professional Certifications Tab for more information.

What will my certifications be when I complete the training?

After completion of the TT200, you would be certified through Yoga Alliance, as an RYT200.  After completion of the TT500, you would be certified through Yoga Alliance as an RYT500, AND you would have completed the Level I Yoga Therapy training, through IAYT.  To become a Certified Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT, you would need to complete the Level 2 Yoga Therapy training which is offered through Yoga North as well.

What is the difference between the 200 hour, +350 hour and 500 hour teacher training programs?

The 200 hour training is where you begin with your professional training.  Once you complete a 200 hour training at Yoga North ISYI or an approved school, you can then go on to take the +350 training.  The 200 hour and +350 hour trainings together fulfill the requirements for certification at the 500 hour level. The 200 hour level teaches essential skills.  The 500 hour (also known as +350 hour) goes more in-depth with the essential teachings for you to become an advanced professional yoga teacher, work with students one-on-one, deepen your understanding and practices of yogic philosophy, further your personal and professional development, and working with the body and mind.

I want to become a professional Yoga Therapist. Can I apply and enroll in the Yoga Therapy program?

The Yoga Therapy Certification program is available for people who have completed a 200 and 300 hour teacher training program to be certified at the 500 hour level. Yoga North ISYI’s +350 hour training is also the first part of the Yoga Therapy Certification, thus it is also called “Level 1 Yoga Therapy”.  Once you’ve completed the +350 hour training or are currently enrolled and thriving in the program, you can apply and enroll in the 1000+ hour Yoga Therapy Certification program (Level 2 Yoga Therapy Certification). For people who have completed the +300 hour yoga teacher training through another approved yoga school, completion of a bridge program is required to gain foundational methodology and techniques in Therapeutic SomaYoga.

What can I expect during my days attending the Teacher Training (will we be doing asanas the entire time)?

The curriculum is organized in a way that will serve the student in acquiring and retaining knowledge while maintaining balance through the process. In depth asana practice, philosophy study, lectures and guest speakers, dyad work, and meals are all spaced so as not to keep you sitting still or in constant motion for an uncomfortable amount of time.

What if I want to work with specific/niche populations?

At Yoga North ISYI, we are dedicated to the tenet of “Love All, Exclude None” with the hopes that people will take what they’ve learned in our programs and share the teachings widely.

Our accredited professional yoga training programs will provide you with:

  • a thorough knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology
  • a comfort level in teaching and assisting all bodies in yoga techniques and postures
  • an ability to adapt yoga postures to all levels of students
  • a blending of the sister sciences of Ayurveda and yoga to meet the comprehensive needs of wellbeing and balance
  • knowledge of yogic philosophy and the ability to relate this understanding for leading a skillful life
  • a holistic approach to teaching yoga, and practices to support all aspects of being – body, breath, mind, wisdom and bliss—and to apply these in a variety of classroom settings.

Graduates of our program have successfully integrated their teacher training skills into a variety of other settings: psychotherapy and counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction counseling, Physical and Occupational Therapy practice, corporate and work-place settings, public schools, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities, mental health settings, developmental disabilities, elderly, chronic pain, eating disorders, correctional facilities (staff and inmates). We offer a lot of specialized training for people working with everything from chronic pain to improving athletic performance, pelvic floor dysfunction, as well as stress, anxiety and depression.

How much yoga experience should I have before I apply?

We ask that individuals have approximately one year of personal practice before applying for the 200 hour program; in some cases, this preference is waived. One must have completed the 200 hour level training to apply for the +350/500 hour program. Beyond that, listen to your intuition as to whether you are ready to deepen your practice and/or start teaching.

How often are the trainings held?

In the 200 and 500 hour programs, there is one weekend training per month,  held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Times vary, but approximately 8am-5pm with generous breaks, generally earlier stop time on Sunday.  There are additional weekly evening zoom meetings, mentor calls, and attending Yoga North yoga classes (also a GREAT benefit!) between the monthly modules. 

Please visit the Professional Certifications Tab or contact us for more specific information on current schedules.

What is the time schedule for the teacher training weekends?

The time schedule depends on the program and the location of the program. Programming in Duluth, St Paul, and Des Moines is usually scheduled in a shorter weekend meeting Friday through Sunday. Plan on being engaged from 8am – 6pm on the dates of training. Some days start later and end earlier. The schedule is distributed a month in advance of each weekend, and stays consistent from one month to the next with some minor changes and adjustments.

Longer breaks are scheduled around meal times (breakfast, lunch and dinner), giving students ample time to nourish themselves in between classroom sessions. There is space to stay on-site and take meals in the studios, and lunch and dinner breaks are generally long enough to leave the studio and get food.

Level 2 Yoga Therapy trainings is spread out over four to five 9 day modules.  A special schedule is created for this unique learning environment and specific inquiries should be directed to the office at Yoga North.

When do the next trainings start?

We start TT200 each March and October, alternating locations, and TT500 every October alternating locations, and TT1000 every two years beginning in November. See our current schedule pages for exact dates, or contact our office. 

How soon do I need to sign up?

In order to receive the Early Registration discount, you need to sign up by two months before the start date of the TT200, or three months prior in the higher program levels. There are Early Bird and Early Registration dates listed on the program webpages. You can sign up as late as the second weekend of training, if there are still spots available.  In person space is limited.

How much is the tuition, do I need to pay it all at once?

TT200:  Early Enrollment (two months prior) is $3100, Regular Enrollment tuition is $3400, plus $50 application fee. 

TT500:  Early Enrollment (three months prior) is $4,600, and within three months of the start, Regular Enrollment tuition is $4900, plus $50 application fee.  We also offer a payment plan for both programs. Before you begin the training, there is a deposit ($950 or $1000), and then the balance is split evenly through the duration of the program with automated payments.

Are books and props included in the cost of the program?

Books and props are not included in the cost of the program, and need to be purchased separately.  Students enrolled in Teacher Training are offered a discount for books and other resources purchased at the studio. You have the option to purchase your books secondhand or online or from your local bookstore, should this be a better solution for you. Some props can be purchased or created from items you already own. 

Are there any discounts or scholarships available?

If you have read through these questions, attended a Q&A session OR spoken with a Yoga North faculty member regarding the program, the $50 application fee can be waived.  Scholarships are available on a case by case basis.  Inquire with Susan, at info@yoganorthduluth.com

Is there a payment plan option available for the program?

There are a variety of financing options to manage the costs of tuition and other teacher training expenses.

Contact the studio after you have been accepted to the program to enroll and set up the payment plan. The initial deposit of $800-$1000 is required before training begins, and the remainder of the balance of tuition is automatically deducted from your account in monthly installments for the duration of the program (7 months for 200-hour, 10 months for +350 hour, and 21 months for Yoga Therapy Certification). An administrative fee is added for setting up the payment plan and processing the monthly payments.

What if I’ve never taught before?

Our 200 hour teacher training program starts with building foundational teaching skills. For those who are already teachers, the teaching methodology and best practices will bolster your current professional skills. For those who have never taught before, in the course of the 6 months we cover teaching methodology, lesson planning and sequencing, ethical practices, seeing and offering adjustments and modifications, cueing and teaching yoga poses, as well as best practices for setting up a safe space and interacting with students and community members as a professional in the field.

Do I have to do homework?

If you are completing the certification, there is homework, to meet the guidelines of the certification programs.  For the TT500 program, you will also have a mentor who you will meet with monthly, to help with homework and to support you. 

Yoga North is also offering a Live Your Life Awake program, where you do not have to do the homework, and you also will not receive a certification.  This is great for anyone who wants the training but does not want to teach yoga or continue on with Yoga Therapy training.

What if I need to drop out of the training for some reason?

We understand that there are life events that happen that cause a shift in your plans.  Yoga North will consider these on a case by case basis.  If you do need to stop the training at some point, you would be able to continue the training in the next cohort, if that works for you, or request a refunded amount, prorated to the amount of curriculum has already been delivered when you withdraw, according to the enrollment document you will agree to with your tuition payment. 

Where do I stay if I live out of town (In-Person Cohorts)?

Many of our students find weekend accommodations together with others in their cohort, or sometimes with family or friends in the area. Yoga North ISYI has made arrangements with some area hotels for group discount rates. Please inquire with us if you would like to learn more. We recommend booking your room in advance. On some occasions there are homestay options (also called “billeting”) are available at a low cost; inquire with our staff if you are interested in homestay/billeting.

Do I have to make it to every weekend, and to every part of every weekend?

We highly recommend that you attend each weekend as we feel the best learning is done together as a cohort.  However, we also understand that there are life events that cause this to be difficult.  Some of the sessions can be recorded so you can watch them later if you need to miss.  If there are circumstances where you need to miss a significant amount, Yoga North faculty will work with you to come up with a plan that works for you, as well as Yoga North. 

Is there make-up available if I have to miss part of or an entire weekend?

Yes. When applying and enrolling we suggest that applicants make significant effort to attend all scheduled training hours. Making up missed hours can detract from the experience of the training, as well as an individual’s understanding and comprehension of the materials. Each module builds off information in the previous modules, and the programs are structured to be completed in a linear manner.  Faculty can work with outstanding circumstances when training is missed however. There are a number of ways to make up missed class time. The most straightforward way is to attend the same weekend the next time the training is offered (six months to one year afterward). Another way is to substitute programming that is similar to that which was missed, either at Yoga North, watching recorded content, or through an approved studio. Missed time and make up must be pre-approved by Teacher Training faculty to qualify as make-up.  There are extra fees associated with attending make-up sessions.

What do I bring to the weekend? What do I wear?

We will be practicing asanas, so please wear clothing suitable for practice (comfortable and flexible). Note that temperature can change throughout the day.  We highly suggest wearing layers.
You will be purchasing some required materials, including a Student Handbook, reading materials (excluding books, see next question), and in some cases specific yoga props. You will want to bring a notebook and a pen or pencil to take notes. Please bring food for your breakfast, lunch and dinner, a water bottle and insulated thermos or mug to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. There is a refrigerator available for storing food during the weekend. Cold and hot water, as well as tea, is available in studios.

What is your program’s Student Benefits Package?

While enrolled enjoy the following benefits:

  • receive student discount rate to all open & registration classes at Yoga North
  • receive 10% off Yoga North Store (including required reading)
  • receive 10% off all in-studio workshops and events during training *some guest teacher workshops excluded
  • receive discounted private sessions and mentoring
  • access to Yoga North ISYI core faculty
  • use of all Yoga North Handouts for independent teaching purposes

After completion of the Teacher Training, enjoy the following benefits:

  • periodic discounts on events/workshops at Yoga North
  • invitations to follow up anatomy, asana, and philosophy training for required CEUs not open to general public
  • Yoga North alumni discounts and professional connections

Who do I contact if I want to speak to someone at the site I’m considering?

Duluth, Minnesota studio: Susan at info@yoganorthduluth.com

Des Moines, Iowa studio: Pam at Pam@athasomayoga.com 

St. Paul, Minnesota studio: Ann at Ann@tulayogawellness.com