200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Namaste Yoga + Wellness offers a comprehensive, Yoga Alliance-registered 200-hour teacher training program designed for students who want to deepen their personal practice and develop the skills to teach yoga with confidence and authenticity. Whether your goal is to lead classes professionally or simply to gain a richer understanding of the yogic tradition, our program provides a transformative experience rooted in both classical teachings and contemporary practice. Held at our Oakland studios, the training draws students from across the Bay Area and beyond.

Curriculum Overview

Our 200-hour curriculum is structured around the four pillars established by Yoga Alliance: techniques, training, and practice; teaching methodology; anatomy and physiology; and yoga philosophy, lifestyle, and ethics. Students spend significant time refining their understanding of asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), and meditation techniques through both practice and study. The teaching methodology component covers class sequencing, cueing, hands-on adjustments, voice projection, and the art of holding space for diverse groups of students. You will learn to design classes for a range of levels and styles, from gentle restorative sessions to dynamic vinyasa flows.

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed for dedicated yoga practitioners who have maintained a consistent practice for at least one year, though we welcome applicants at all stages of their yoga journey. You do not need to be able to perform advanced postures or have prior teaching experience. What we look for is a genuine passion for yoga, a willingness to learn and grow, and a commitment to showing up fully throughout the training. Past graduates have included career changers, fitness professionals, healthcare workers, parents returning to the workforce, and lifelong students who simply wanted to go deeper. Our program celebrates diversity of background, body type, age, and experience level.

What You Will Learn

Over the course of the program, you will develop a thorough understanding of over 75 foundational yoga postures, including alignment principles, modifications, and contraindications. You will study functional anatomy as it relates to movement and yoga practice, learning how the musculoskeletal, respiratory, and nervous systems respond to different postures and breathing techniques. The philosophy curriculum covers the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita, the eight limbs of yoga, chakra theory, and the ethical principles of ahimsa (non-harming) and satya (truthfulness) as they apply to teaching and daily life. Practicum hours give you the opportunity to teach real classes under the supervision and mentorship of our senior faculty, receiving detailed feedback to refine your teaching voice and presence.

Certification and Beyond

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). This internationally recognized credential qualifies you to teach at studios, gyms, retreat centers, corporate settings, and community organizations worldwide. Namaste graduates also receive priority consideration for teaching positions at our Rockridge and Lake Merritt studios, as well as ongoing mentorship and continuing education opportunities. Many of our graduates go on to pursue advanced 300-hour training, specialty certifications in prenatal yoga, trauma- informed yoga, or yoga therapy, and leadership roles within the broader wellness community. We are proud to have trained hundreds of teachers who are now sharing the practice across the East Bay, the greater Bay Area, and beyond.