Are you ready to help and support others thorugh yoga?

The coursework is divided into 4 educational units. It begins with a 300-hour foundational studies program, and this is followed by three 102-hour yoga therapy concentrations taken in any order. A practicum provides real life experience and preparation for a career.

Step 1: Foundational studies are offered in a 22 day in person immersion format, a fully online format, or a hybrid program with online distance learning combined with an 8-day immersion at Heartwood. Students can also complete the work overtime in weekend modules as another in- person option.  Our 300-hour foundational program is a part of the IAYT competencies, but also is registered with Yoga Alliance, so students can choose to register with Yoga Alliance to become an RYT-500 after this portion of the training while still retaining the option to apply these hours to the 800- hour program. Our program is progressive and the information stacks and builds in a linear way, so we cannot offer transfer credits from any other 300 program.  All students must take our foundational program as prep for the YT concentrations to be IAYT 800-hour certified. 

Steps 2-4: YT Concentrations. After completing the 300 hours of foundational studies there are 3 Yoga therapy concentrations which can also be done online or in person or in a combination of distance learning and residencies. the live 8-day yoga therapy concentration modules are scheduled every 6 months (fall and spring) rotating A, B & C in order).  Students can take the residency trainings sequentially and complete this portion of the training in-person in 18 months, or if they wish to only take one concentration residency per year, the rotation is such that they can complete the work just by attending one unit each spring or each fall over three years. There is homework and study to process between sessions. We also offer each segment of the YT training online with interactive meetings and study through distance learning as well. 

Commitment: It typically takes two years to complete all the coursework and the practicum if you do the program requirements sequentially, but you always have the option of spreading studies out over a longer period of time. Please be aware that IAYT recommends that no one graduate a yoga therapy program in less than two years in order to process and fully digest the comprehensive material and for continuity we require the work be completed in 5 years or less. 

Step 5: A mentored 205-hour practicum after completing the coursework is required for C-IAYT certification which can be done at Heartwood or in your own local.  Students often do their practicum in professional settings or in private sessions where they live, with distance learning guidance with their assigned mentor. This can be started anytime during your training after you complete the foundational course and one concentration. 

At Heartwood we strive to make every learning experience, online or in person, dynamic and successful with the aim of preparing our students for viable careers in yoga. In-person studies at Heartwood offer an enriching experience where students get hands-on experience with plenty of space and opportunity for conversations with fellow students and staff to build connections and practice with guidance and feedback. Heartwood is a beautiful retreat property that always delivers an expansive, inspirational yoga experience that feeds the soul while also expanding your awareness.

That said, finding the time and resources to attend an in-person program for a full 800 hours is not always possible, and due to covid exemptions, we now offer online coursework that provides new opportunity for everyone to get the highest quality of education in a way that fits their lifestyle and needs.   

Students can do the full 800-hour program online, combine in person immersions with online segments or join us for the full program in person and all paths receive the same high quality IAYT certified yoga therapy education.