Absolutely not.  We offer an adaptive approach that will empower you to listen to your body, explore the various pose options and make an informed choice about what is healthy for you.  There is absolutely no requirement for physical proficiency.

Absolutely yes!  The only requirement for enrollment is a deep love of yoga and a a desire to learn more.  Many students attend this program to deepen their own practice and access the profound benefits that yoga offers personally.  Others join because they know that they want to teach.  We also have yoga teachers join who have already completed a yoga teacher training program as they know they want more information and training to help their students in the best possible way.  

YOUR WELL BEING IS OUR TOP PRIORITY

We are planning for a safe, healthy, and transformational program for you in Costa Rica.

Zen Spirit is a lovely location with lots of fresh air and open-air spaces. Expect healthy food, lots of vitamin D from the sun, and a positive, supportive community. Zen Spirit is a true sanctuary for you to recharge and renew.

The beautiful large Yoga Studio at Zen Spirit is surrounded by windows and has ventilation built into the ceiling as well as fans to keep the air moving. Masks are not required while practicing on your mat.

The dining area at Zen Spirit is also open air in design. At this time masks are not required while dining at Zen Spirit.

You will love our morning walking meditations and daily beach yoga practices.

Lets work together to minimize risks

The risk of contracting COVID-19 while traveling to or participating in a Soma Yoga Institute program can be reduced but not eliminated. In addition, due to the nature of the yoga teacher training program, students will be in close physical proximity to one another and/or instructors. With this in mind, please review the following safety measures in detail.

VACCINATION AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS

At this time, for ALL of our in-person programs, we require all participants and program faculty to be fully vaccinated prior to the course start and in addition to show a Negative PCR test for COVID-19 taken no more than 5 days before the course start date.

We ask that all students and faculty agree to the following

Regardless of vaccination status, all students must adhere to the following health practices for 14 days prior to course start:

• Practice physical distancing when outside your household Wash or sanitize your hands frequently
• Avoid crowded places, especially indoors
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Follow current recommended guidance and requirements from the CDC regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
• Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms

Do not travel

Do not travel to course if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, if you have been or presumed to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19. In these cases, please contact us immediately to work through your options.

While traveling to your course

• Wash your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Keep six feet of distance from others
• Wear a mask when in public
• Carry and use sanitizing wipes to clean surfaces you come in contact with Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid dine-in restaurants

Best On-Site Practices

• Physical distancing (six feet or two meters) at all times when possible
• Masks for when physical distancing is not possible (please bring masks with you to Costa Rica)
• Frequent hand washing

Unexpected Symptoms or Illness

If a student develops symptoms of COVID-19, they will be isolated from the group. We will have an extra room set aside for this situation. Staff will seek medical advice and follow COVID-19 illness guidelines.

Mask Requirements

• Masks are not required: on your yoga mat, in open air spaces including shared areas of the pool, the dining area, and the beach, and in your room.
• Masks ARE required in shared restrooms.
• While waiting in the buffet line in the open-air dining area please maintain a 6-foot distance or wear a mask.

Props

• To minimize prop sharing. Please bring your own yoga mat and a set of yoga therapy balls (tennis balls work fine.)
• Please bring an empty duffle bag. Upon arrival we will assign each student: two blocks, one strap, one or two blankets, and a bolster. We ask that you keep your props in your duffle bag and use them throughout the program. At the end of the program, we will re-collect the props.

Traveling Home

All travelers returning to the US need to show a Negative Covid test within 3 days of arrival in the US. We will facilitate onsite COVID testing 2-3 days prior to your departure flight. There is also testing at the airport through Lab Echandi.

We are closely monitoring the guidelines by the Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health. We will keep you posted when and if these guidelines change.

There are two primary organizations to become familiar with.  Yoga Alliance https://www.yogaalliance.org/ and the International Association of Yoga Therapists https://www.iayt.org/.  

Yoga Alliance is a registry that registers Yoga Teachers with the following designations RYT 200, E-RYT 200, RYT 500 and E-RYT 500.  The RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher.  The 200 indicates that you have completed a 200 hour yoga training that meets their curriculum requirements.  The E indicates that at the 200 level the teacher has instructed over 1000 hours of classes.  The E-RYT 500 indicates that the yoga teacher has completed 200 + 300 hours of study in a program that meets their curriculum requirements and has instructed over 2000 hours.  This is the highest designation that Yoga Alliance recognizes.  Please note that Yoga Alliance is not a certifying body but just a registration. All of Soma Yoga Institute's teachers are E-RYT 500 registered.

C-IAYT is a designation authorized by the International Association of Yoga Therapists.  This organization is a certifying body.  The path to becoming a Yoga Therapist is much more in-depth and requires 1000 hours of study as well as a mentored practicum.  Many of the faculty at Soma Yoga Institute are C-IAYT certified. 

You will receive a 200 hour yoga teaching certificate through Soma Yoga Institute and be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200 Please note: Soma Yoga Institute is registered with Yoga Alliance, ID #143150.  We have graduated over 500 students and we invite you to read their direct reviews on this site: https://www.yogaalliance.org/SchoolProfileReviews?sid=3952 . In addition, all of our faculty are registered with Yoga Alliance at their highest level, E-RYT 500.  

Our business yoga teaching section will give you all the tools you need to get started and build a career as a yoga teacher.

Yes, definitely. Many studios and gyms ask for the RYT 200 Yoga Alliance designation.  You will also be given a certificate that indicates you completed a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and will be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200.  You are also able to rent space in your community centers and lead your own classes independent of another organization. In most locations worldwide and states in the USA there is no licensure program in place currently that requires you to get a certain certification.   Our business yoga teaching section will give you all the tools you need to get started and build a career as a yoga teacher.

Tuition Fee

Our 200 Hour Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training tuition is $2497 USD.  This includes a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Manual and a six month subscription to our online teacher training content to use when you get home. 

Retreat Expenses 

Retreat expenses include food, housing and access to the property and its facilities. Prices vary based on room preference:

Quad Occupancy (Extra Long Single Bed) $1709 
Triple Occupancy (Extra Long Single Bed) $1901 
Triple Occupancy (Queen Bed) $2007 
Double Occupancy (Extra Long Single Bed) $2401 
Single Occupancy $3361

We make travel safe and easy for you.

Please book your flight to arrive at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) or Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Transfer from and to the airport on the group shuttle is provided for a reduced fee (specified times only).

From Liberia International Airport:
Arrange to fly into the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the airport at 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on arrival day and returns to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) for flights departing after 12:30 p.m. on departure day. Shuttle from Liberia to Zen Spirit takes approximately 3 hours. The group shuttle charge is 65 USD per person each way. Some students choose to fly in one day early and stay near the airport in Liberia. The Hilton Garden Inn is recommended as it is very nice, convenient and good rates can often be found on booking sites such as Expedia.

From San Jose International Airport:
Arrange to fly into the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica. The group shuttle departs from the Adventure Inn (15 minutes from the airport) in San Jose at 8:30 a.m. on arrival day and returns departing Zen Spirit at 7:00 a.m. on departure day. for flights leaving after 3:30pm. Shuttle from San Jose to Zen Spirit takes approximately 5 hours. Group shuttle charge is $65 per person each way. The Adventure Inn is a great place for the first night with free airport shuttles if you are a guest and a large breakfast included in the price. You may book a room directly with them here: https://www.adventure-inn.com/. The shuttle will depart directly from this hotel and on the return take you directly to the SJO airport. 

Spaces are limited. To register just place your $500 deposit. This will ensure a space in the program. https://www.somayogainstitute.online/offers/LH4WL9xa

Once we receive your deposit we will send you a Welcome Letter with all of the information you need to prepare.

A $500 USD deposit will reserve your space and will be applied to the full tuition price listed above. Retreat costs (housing and food) are due three months prior to the start date of the program or within two weeks of registering and your final tuition payment is due no later than one month prior to the program start date. If you would like to discuss alternate arrangements, please feel free to contact us directly and we would be happy to work something out.

If cancellation is necessary due to covid related travel restrictions, student’s deposit and tuition will be fully refundable. If the COVID-19 virus is an immediate threat in the country of residence of each individual or group and there is a government instruction of not traveling or if the destination (Costa Rica) has such a policy, Zen Spirit Retreat Center will refund any payment made for room and food. These late cancellations, must not be made earlier than 3 weeks prior to the event. Determination of these risks will be referenced through official government websites.

In all other circumstances, due to the logistics involved in planning residential programs in retreat settings, we regret that we are unable to issue deposit/tuition/housing refunds 60 days or less prior to program start date. In the case of an emergency, with written documentation, we will gladly apply all payments, minus the deposit, toward a future retreat/training with Soma Yoga Institute.

We would love to connect to you.  Please feel free to email us at [email protected], text us at 808-333-9591 to set up a phone appointment, make an appointment by clicking here https://calendly.com/somayogainstitute/yoga-teacher-training-let-s-chat or join one of our live Q & A calls via zoom.  Just email us for the schedule of the next live zoom chats.