300 Hour Advanced Professional Certification in Therapeutic Yoga ONLINE
Create Therapeutic Transformation for Yourself and Others
REGISTER with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-500 upon successful completion.
September 2026- January 2027
Take your teaching to the next level and THRIVE as a yoga professional.
Designed for experienced yoga teachers ready to deepen their expertise, this advanced certification blends therapeutic yoga, modern movement science, nervous system education, philosophy, and advanced teaching methodology into a comprehensive professional development experience. Whether your goal is to work more effectively with private clients, support specialized populations, develop signature offerings, or build a sustainable teaching career, you'll gain the practical skills, confidence, and professional mentorship needed to elevate your impact and expand your opportunities.
Therapeutic Expertise
Learn to confidently support a wider range of students, including older adults, beginners, individuals experiencing pain, and those seeking a more adaptive approach to practice.
Develop a deeper understanding of anatomy, fascia, movement science, and therapeutic yoga principles while learning how to create safe, effective, and individualized experiences for diverse populations.
Specialized Skills & Professional Growth
Move beyond general yoga instruction and develop specialized expertise in therapeutic applications, private client work, philosophy, pranayama, somatics, and nervous system regulation.
Design intelligent, purpose-driven offerings that reflect your unique interests while expanding your ability to serve students in meaningful and impactful ways.
Build a Sustainable Career
Transform your knowledge into professional opportunities.
Learn how to work with private clients, create workshops and specialty programs, develop signature offerings, and build a sustainable teaching practice grounded in integrity, confidence, and real-world application.
Graduate with a business plan and therapeutic workshop framework you can begin implementing immediately.
"My expectations were blown away"
Kristina Hoover, 300 Hour YTT Graduate
Program Structure = Two Weekends Per Month Plus 6 Modules
Two weekends per month via Zoom includes 5 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday.
Plus
Six modules. You may complete these modules in your own time or join with the group for the live Zoom sessions.
Students have until December 31, 2027 to complete all program requirements.
Weekend Program Dates
Weekends 2026: September 12/13, September 26/27, October 3/4, October 17/18, October 31/Nov 1, Nov 14/15, Dec 5/6, Jan 9/10, Jan 24/25
Times: 8:00am-1:00pm Pacific | 11:00am-4:00pm New York | 4:00pm - 9:00pm London
Sample Schedule
8:00-9:30am Anatomy and Alignment (Saturdays) Philosophy Theory or Philosophy Dharma Talk (Sundays)
9:30-11:00am Yoga Movement Practice, Meditation and Pranayama
11:00am Break
11:30am-1:00pm Group Discussions, Practice Teach and Application of Concepts
Build your Professional Course of Study
Customize Your Professional Pathway
While students may choose any six modules that align with their interests and goals, many find it helpful to follow one of our recommended professional pathways. These pathways are designed to help you develop deeper expertise in a specific area while maintaining the flexibility to personalize your learning experience.
Mental Health & Somatic Practice
For teachers interested in nervous system regulation, trauma-informed yoga, emotional wellbeing, embodiment, and working with students experiencing stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or life transitions.
This pathway explores the intersection of yoga, somatics, psychology, and therapeutic practice, providing practical tools to support resilience, self-awareness, and meaningful transformation.
Recommended Modules:
Somatic Movement Training for Yoga Teachers
Understanding Trauma & Resilience
Yoga Nidra for Healing & Transformation
Yoga Sutras as a Therapeutic Framework
Yoga for Healthcare Workers
Business of Teaching Yoga
Ideal For:
Yoga teachers, yoga therapists, mental health professionals, healthcare providers, wellness practitioners, and those interested in the therapeutic applications of yoga for emotional and nervous system health.
Therapeutic Yoga & Healthy Aging
For teachers interested in adaptive yoga, private client work, pain care, mobility, healthy aging, and supporting specialized populations.
This pathway combines therapeutic yoga principles, movement science, and individualized teaching strategies to help teachers confidently work with older adults, beginners, students recovering from injury, and those seeking a more personalized approach to yoga.
Recommended Modules:
Memory Maintenance Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga for the Private Client
Creative Sequencing & Adaptive Asana
Yoga for Healthcare Workers
Anatomy & Therapeutic Applications
Business of Teaching Yoga
Ideal For:
Yoga teachers, healthcare professionals, wellness practitioners, and those interested in private sessions, therapeutic yoga, adaptive yoga, and healthy aging populations.
Create Your Own Path
Prefer a different combination of studies? You're welcome to select any six modules and build a personalized course of study aligned with your unique interests, teaching style, and professional goals.
Build Your Professional Course of Study
Select six specialty modules to deepen your expertise and create a learning pathway aligned with your professional interests and goals.
All modules are self-paced and may be completed anytime through December 2027. Optional live sessions are available for select modules.
Choose Your Specialty Modules:
Creative Sequencing & Adaptive Asana with Jessica Trudeau, E-RYT 500 (Self-Paced Start Anytime)
Refine and elevate your sequencing skills through an intelligent, multi-layered approach to asana that is accessible, creative, and effective for all bodies. Designed for teachers with an existing foundation, this module expands your ability to skillfully sequence across a range of class intentions—from therapeutically focused practices to safely supporting level 2 poses—while maintaining clarity, safety, and coherence.
Learn to deconstruct and rebuild postures with greater precision, layer progressions for multi-level classes, and use props as tools for both support and exploration. Develop more sophisticated peak-pose pathways, balance strength and mobility with intention, and create classes that are inclusive, engaging, and anatomically sound.
Somatic Movement Training for Yoga Teachers with Liz Heffernan, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module or Join the Live Zooms Dates Sept 15-Oct 6, 2026: Tuesdays 9:30am PDT or 4:00pm PDT)
Learn to teach somatics. Help your students relieve pain patterns in their bodies, calm deregulated nervous systems, build neuroplasticity, and increase their interoceptive awareness. Includes pre-recorded content as well as live zooms.
Understanding Trauma, Resilience, Building Skills for Yoga Teachers with Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500 with Alison Scola, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module)
Gain an understanding of what trauma is and its effects on human physiology. Explore the autonomic nervous system and the common physical contraction patterns associated with the stress response. Understand the role of the vagus nerce and yoga tools to reclaim healthy vagal tone. Learn the role of a trauma informed teacher. Create a safe container for healing: language, sequencing, room set up. Build your tool kit for teaching trauma senative populations.
Prana & Pranayama; Chakra & Vayu with and Peggy Profant, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module)
Take an experiential deep dive into the energy body (pranamayakosha) through the lens of pranayama, chakras, vayus and mudras. Explore through lecture, discussion, experiential exercises, and self-study a wide variety of techniques to enhance the flow of prana, expand breath capacity, increase energy and decrease stress. This includes learning and practicing the classical forms of pranayama as well as techniques of pranavidya, while also learning to teach these to others. Explore kumbhaka (breath retention), psychic pranayama, the effect of mudra (gestures) on the breath and ways to increase awareness in the prana vayus. Learn adaptive techniques to meet the needs of the individual.
Yoga for the Private Client with Peggy Profant, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module or Join the Live Zooms. Dates: TBA. Thursdays 9:30am PDT)
With a deeper understanding of Ayurveda, the Pancha Maya Koshas, the Subtle Body and the Prana Vayus we can address the unique needs of private clients and adapt our group classes to include therapeutic intentions.
Yoga Nidra for Healing and Transformation with Liz Heffernan,C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module or Join the Live Zooms: October 15-November 12, 2026. Thursdays 9:30am PDT or 4:00pm PDT)
Learn to guide Yoga Nidra practices for deep relaxation and mental well-being. This module covers the ancient roots, theory, and a ten-step framework for writing and personalizing Yoga Nidra scripts. Focus on therapeutic adaptations to support trauma recovery and enhance cognitive and emotional balance.
Memory Maintenance Yoga Teacher Training with Liz Heffernan, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 and David Webster, RYT 500
(Self-Paced Start Anytime Module)
Learn to guide Memory Maintenance Yoga practices designed to support cognitive function and overall well-being. This module explores current research on brain health alongside traditional yogic tools, offering a practical framework for sequencing classes that include movement, breathwork, and relaxation. Emphasis is placed on accessible, therapeutic adaptations for aging populations to promote mental clarity, emotional balance, and lifelong vitality.
The Yoga Sutras as a Therapeutic Framework with Cathryn Kruger Wilson, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500, APCC
(Join the Live Zooms: January 14-February 4 2027 3:30pm PDT)
A modern, experiential approach to the Yoga Sutras that helps you understand the patterns shaping your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through a blend of philosophy, psychology, and embodied practice, you’ll learn practical tools to create awareness, shift patterns, and support lasting change.
"I have gained more knowledge in this 300 hour program than I thought I ever could. Our teachers are all very knowledgeable. I love how Liz weaves together prana and alignment in practice so we feel totally blissed out while increasing our heartbeat in a therapeutic, multidimensional sequence. I love how much I now understand the human body and how it functions anatomically and energetically. Additionally, my own yoga practice has grown extensively. I now teach and live my life with so much more confidence! I know now that I am the teacher I was wanting to become from through this program."
Cindy Shapiro, 300 Hour program graducate
What You Will Learn
Applied Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Structural Yoga Therapeutics
- Utilize experiential anatomy techniques to deepen your knowledge of the human form
- Explore bio-mechanically safe and healthy ways of moving
- Understand how to address common musculoskeletal issues in the body, work with an injured student, and offer guidance to prevent yoga injuries
- Learn to modify and apply yoga asana and movements to create health and safety in the group class setting as well as in a therapeutic context.
The Therapeutic Application of Yoga
- Understand the yoga practices and philosophy as it applies to health and wellness for the whole person
- Study the principles of Ayurveda including doshas, gunas, vayus, lifestyle modification, diet, elements, diet considerations and how to apply appropriate yoga practices to bring balance to the individual.
- Learn to facilitate individual private yoga sessions, including session structure and client intake.
- Working with Trauma, Anxiety and Depression
Deep Rest and Rejuvenation- Guiding Yoga Nidra and the Restorative Practices
- Learn to write your own and guide others in deep relaxation and yoga nidra techniques to unlock stuck mental patterns, release stress at its root, and create an environment for healing to occur.
- Explore the use of props, language, breath awareness, body scans, sankalpas (intentions), delivery, voice quality, rotation of consciousness, pairs of opposites and timing for guiding restorative yoga and Yoga Nidra.
Fundamentals of Asana - Beyond the Basics
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Explore asana through progressive step-by-step sequencing offered through the lens of anatomy and biomechanics.
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Poses in all categories will be explored: standing twists and binds, balancing on hands or feet, hip openers and forward bends, backbends, core, supine, prone and variations of inversions.
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Understand how to make level 2 poses accessible in an all levels / multi-level class, become proficient in teaching with integrity, alignment, and safety as the priority, and refine your ability to see and verbally assist common misalignments.
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Learn to assess the outer form, the foundation, the movement of energy, and the facial expressions as a window into the manomayakosha (layer of the mind and the emotions) and select an appropriate assist that will help their students find a greater sense of ease and joy in their pose.
The Alchemy of Yoga - Instructing for Positive Transformation and Change
Increase crease your efficacy in offering a yoga experience that invites your students into a space of positive personal evolution. Part of this process will begin by infusing your home practice with tapas and intention, guidance will be provided. Students will have a chance to practice teach as well as give and receive feedback to others. Additionally, expect to explore:
- A multi-dimensional approach to sequencing
- Crafting and delivering effective themes
- Power of language
- Developing your authentic voice in the seat of the teacher
- Principles of demonstration
- Adapting yoga for ALL bodies
Meditation, Philosophy and Self Study
- Learn to access the ancient wisdom of yoga and apply its liberating techniques to your daily life.
- Be empowered to fulfill your potential, cultivate clarity of vision, transcend self-imposed limitations, and access your true nature.
- Read, digest, discuss and reflect on key concepts in the Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Texts, and Non-Dual Tantric Philosophies.
- Learn to offer life-changing concepts of yoga philosophy in a way that is meaningful and readily received by the students in your classes.
- Deepen your experience of meditation and explore techniques that help you open into your natural state of freedom, fullness and love.
Pranayama Level 2
Along with level one pranayamas, trainees will explore both the practice and teaching strategies for kumbhaka (breath retention), psychic pranayama, the effect of mudra (gestures) on the breath and ways to increase awareness in the prana vayus. Trainees will explore a variety of breath assessments to use with individual clients. Trainees will study the heating and cooling qualities of various counting and retention breath patterns and learn to change and adjust techniques to meet the needs of the individual.
Current Research
We unite the findings from NEW evidence-based research with the ancient wisdom of yoga. Get educated on the true benefits of yoga. Make a real impact in your community and offer classes that help improve health for a lifetime of wellbeing. Stand out as an informed instructor and help your clients motivate to improve their wellbeing.
Business of Yoga
From your big vision to the tiny details, we will impart the inspiration and essential skills to bring your yoga vision from dream to reality. In this course you will gain invaluable tools, insights, and strategies to specialize in your yoga career, helping you to establish yourself as a compassionate leader and knowledgable expert.
Mind-Body Health & Healing
Soma Yoga Institute training is a comprehensive and holistic journey into yoga for mind-body health and healing. Our world-class faculty is comprised of master level Yoga teachers, Certified C-IAYT Yoga Therapists and those who have been teaching for over 20 years. We have trained hundreds of yoga teachers who are well respected professionals in their communities and are recognized for their safe, adaptive, informed approach to teaching yoga.
5.0 Star Ratings and Reviews on Facebook
Study with World's Leading C-IAYT Yoga Therapists and Senior Teachers
Soma Yoga Institute has a word class faculty team steeped in the traditions of Yoga. Their excellence has been cultivated through decades of enduring dedication to their own practice and in-depth study, often in a variety of lineages. Many of our faculty members are C-IAYT certified Yoga Therapists and recognized as “senior teachers”, having over twenty years of solid teaching experience combined with their long-term adhikara (studentship). Each faculty holds a role in their home community as an innovator and influencer, inspiring radical change through Yoga and playing a profound role in the holistic wellness movement. As a collective vision, we offer you an unparalleled opportunity to deepen your own practice, connect into your innermost divine nature, develop your professional credentials and teach from a place of authenticity.
Faculty Members for the 300 Hour YTT online include:
- Liz Heffernan, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
- Peggy Profant, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
- Cathryn Wilson, Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
- Tess O'Hern, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500, Licensed Physical Therapist
With guest teachers including
- Sundari Lucey, E-RYT 500
- Alison Scola, Yoga Therapist, E-RYT 500
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the only requirement for attendance is a deep desire to study and practice as well as completion of a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program. To register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 500 you will need to eventually get 100 hours of teaching completed. This can happen after the 300 hour course is complete.
We have a new cohort of students beginning on September 2026. Please join us. Email yoga@somayogainstitute.com if you have more questions.
This program is designed to be completed in 1 year. However, you can complete it in about 6 months if you move through the self-paced modules at a rate of one per month.
We encourage attendance in all of the live calls. All calls are recorded and if you cannot make the call time, you will be able to watch on replay. Please do your best to make it to the calls.
Saturday and Sunday Times (Nine Weekends for a total of 90 Hours Contact Time): 8:00am-1:00pm Pacific | 11:00am-4:00pm New York | 4:00pm - 9:00pm London
Weekends 2026: September 12/13, September 26/27, October 3/4, October 17/18, October 31/Nov 1, Nov 14/15, Dec 5/6, Jan 9/10, Jan 24/25
MODULES:
In addition to the weekends there are six modules. Each module has pre-recorded content that you can move through at your own pace.
Yes, definitely. Skeptical? We were too. However, the Soma Yoga Institute teaching team has been leading teacher trainings for over a decade. Our curriculum is well-developed, time tested, and established. We have taken our live program online as the content is of incredible high value and will bring great benefit to those who wish to deepen their own practice, and/or teach others as well as those who already teach who wish to refine and enhance their offerings to better serve their students. Our anatomy informed adaptive approach is not easily found in other programs. Our teaching skill section is designed that if you practice, and practice, and practice some more we are certain you will be ready, confident and equally skilled as those who take the in person trainings.
A recent graduate of the online course wrote to us and said:
My life is forever changed. Prior to this training, I believed I was disciplined and had my life on lock down. It took about 5 mins to realize I hadn’t come to this training to teach, I had come to learn how to stop hurting myself. I lived my entire life up until this training, bringing so much needless suffering to myself and others. I learned what sacred devotion to myself, my life and my growth actually looks like. I also learned what it really meant to keep my ball of awareness on my partner and my friends. I learned to slow down and get curious about EVERYTHING in my own personal practice. When I started this program, I was the 60 mins, sweaty vinyasa-kill yourself or you’re not accomplishing anything person. Now my practice is whatever my mind and body need that day. Just that is so powerful; to ask myself what I need right now, and have the tools and awareness to follow the answer.
As far as my confidence as a teacher; I feel 100% confident that I can keep students aligned, safe and breathing to the best of their ability.
The level of instruction and mentoring I received is unparalleled. I told the group today in the Tapas class, that if any of them had checked in with me mid-july after my meniscus tear (from a sports accident), they would’ve probably all bet on me not completing this training. It’s a testament to you as instructors and your curriculum, that I was able to utilize the information in the course to heal my body in an extremely short amount of time. No pills, no surgery. In addition to my own personal experience, I have spoken with so many yoga instructors who went through other certifications and came out on the other end feeling as if they had no foundation in anatomy or alignment, or various other pieces of knowledge. I feel walking away from this course that I have a solid foundation to keep people safe, help them feel successful and help them breathe. What more could I ask for? :)
I would love to add that as a student, I was so moved with appreciation that all of the teachers were so actively "in it" with us. They came up with additional things to support us on the fly after receiving feedback. And those ideas obviously added hours on to their day as the facilitators. I never felt like I was on my own to figure it out, and I never felt like any teachers were put out by us needing additional help.
Thank you for supporting me throughout this journey. I am forever grateful to you and eternally changed by the past few months. I feel like I just woke up, or someone turned my switch on. It’s a whole new view, a completely new way of living and being. Thank you for the work you do. I can’t imagine my life without the knowledge and tools I am walking away from this experience with.
-Rondi Spurling
We do have empowerment reviews (quizzes), written reflections, relevant assignments, and practice teach elements woven into the curriculum. These are established for you to process the information, improve your practical teaching skills, and for us to help clarify any material that seems confusing. We understand that everyone has a different learning style and our curriculum is offered in a compassionate way. To receive authorization with Yoga Alliance as RYT-500, quizzes are a required part of your curriculum. You will find quizzes sprinkled throughout each section to empower your learning. Retakes on quizzes are allowed. Please do not let the Yoga Alliance policy of "testing" stand in your way. We will prep you well (our promise to you), and you will all do just fine (trust in yourself). Your final assignment is a specialization into one area of Yoga that is of particular interest to you. You will research and teach a short workshop on the topic of your choice. We are here to support your success.
You will receive an Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from Soma Yoga Institute that shows that you have completed 300 hours of training. If you are currently registered with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200 after successful completion of this 300 hour program you will be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-500. Please note in addition to completing the 300 hour program, to register as an RYT 500, Yoga Alliance requires that you have instructed 100 hours. These hours can be completed before, during, or after you complete the 300-hour program.
Our 300 Hour Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training tuition is $3300 USD. We also have payment plans and a scholarship program. To learn more about the different scholarship options and payment plans please email yoga@somayogainstitute.
Yes please visit https://somayogainstitute.com/scholarships for more information.
We are so certain that you will love this training that we are offering you a two-week risk-free guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the material after the first two weeks of the course, we will refund 100% of your money - just email us by 14 days after the start of the program and complete an exit interview so we can learn how to improve our educational programs for the future. After this 14-day window no refunds are granted.
Spaces are limited. To reserve your place, please submit a $300 deposit HERE. We will invoice you for the remaining tuition payment which is due on or before the first day of the program.
If you would like to pay in full, full tuition Click HERE.
We also offer a 10 month payment plan. You can register for this plan HERE.
Once we receive your registration, we will send you a welcome letter with everything you need to prepare. We can’t wait to meet you!
We would love to connect to you.
Please feel free to email us at yoga@somayogainstitute.com
Text , WhatsApp or Call 1-808-333-9591 Or make an appointment for phone, facetime, zoom, WhatsApp by clicking here for our calendar. You may also like to join one of our live Q & A calls via zoom. Just email us for the schedule of the next live zoom chats.
