Based on Authentic Yoga Alliance Reviews
(updated 10/12/2023)
Did you know that it is a requirement for all yoga teachers who wish to register with Yoga Alliance (YA) as an RYT 200 to review the training programs they have graduated from directly on the Yoga Alliance website?
This nugget of wisdom is gold for those looking to become a yoga teacher. We know that there are many choices out there and to help you choose the best yoga teacher training that is just right for you we scoured the YA website and dug into student reviews of each school listed in Costa Rica.
These are the REAL reviews posted directly from the graduates of these yoga teacher training programs to the Yoga Alliance site.
Keep reading to uncover Costa Rica’s best yoga teacher training programs based on REAL reviews from people who took the course.
Yoga Alliance Social Credentialing
The Yoga Alliance (YA) Social Credentialing system requires trainees that complete a yoga teacher training with a Registered Yoga School (RYS) to review the yoga training direct on their website. Direct means that the yoga school itself is not an intermediary in this process. Trainees must complete the RYS review before they are able to continue registering as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).
On the YA website, all training schools must show their overall school ratings. So anyone out there looking for a 200 hour yoga teacher training is well advised to visit the Yoga Alliance website and check out the school ratings of programs they are interested in. Importantly to know however is that the overall school rating is required for schools to post but schools have a choice to show or not show the NPS score (net promoter score).
Secondly, schools also have a choice to turn on the student comments or turn them off. Reading the student comments gives you great insights into how to choose a yoga teacher training that’s a good fit for you. Since there are too many comments to share here when you are ready to read through the students’ comments head over to Yoga Alliance here.
This list below will save you hours of time.
We chose the top 10 YTT Programs in Costa Rica with over 100 Yoga Alliance Reviews as we felt this shows experience and a good track record. Here is the list, ordered starting from the highest NPS score. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a standard business measure of loyalty and enthusiasm and reflects how likely trainees are to actively promote the school to their friends and colleagues.
Top 10 Yoga Teacher Training – Costa Rica
NPS Score: 9.5/10
Overall School Rating: 4.88/5.0
Based on 446 reviews
Gain indepth skills to explore Yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, self transformation and personal empowerment.
Soma Yoga Institute’s training in Costa Rica takes a therapeutic approach and offers students in-depth skills to explore Yoga as a vehicle for holistic health, self transformation, and personal empowerment. The curriculum includes a unique blend of alignment-based vinyasa flow, a solid foundation in Hatha Yoga, restorative yoga, and 200 hours of instruction offered within a therapeutic framework. We combine modern day biomechanics and research driven science with ancient teachings. Highlights include:
- Pose study with Adaptations for ALLBODIES (includes standing poses, hip openers, forward bends, twists, backbends, inversions, and supine)
- Bio-mechanically Sound & Anatomy Informed Alignment
- Art of Vinyasa & Flow Yoga
- Adapting for Injuries and Common Conditions
- Studying with C-IAYT Yoga Therapists with over 25 years experience.
The instruction will cover a wide range of techniques including Yoga postures, anatomy, relaxation, yoga nidra, breath awareness, pranayama, meditations to calm the mind, contemplations to transform limiting tendencies into life affirming thought patterns, and the application of clear, anatomy-informed principles of alignment to create safety, balance, and freedom in poses. Students explore yoga philosophy including concepts from Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Chakra System as frameworks for the application of Yoga as a journey towards radiant health and wellbeing. Graduates of this program feel empowered to teach a variety of class types, including all levels vinyasa Yoga, alignment-based classes, Yoga foundations, senior, gentle, and restorative.
This all inclusive training is held in a nature lover’s paradise. Expect daily fresh tropical fruits, vegetarian meals and the morning sunrise movement and meditation sessions on the beach.
Nexus Institute
NPS Score: 9.2/10
Overall School Rating: 4.88/5.0
Based on 172 reviews
Deepen Your Personal Practice with a Training in Costa Rica and Become a Skillful and Compassionate Yoga Teacher
he curriculum at Nexsus Institute in Costa Rica focuses on vinyasa yoga and uses a scaffolding approach to assist students in transitioning into the role of teacher. The first week of the yoga teacher training focuses on history, individual postures, modifications, assists, basic breathing technique and anatomy. During the second week they layer in ashtanga vinyasa sequencing and ‘energy anatomy’ including bandhas, breathing, and meditation, as well as a slightly longer ‘practice teach’ with 2-3 others. The third week focuses on defining and honing one’s unique teaching style. Deepen your personal yoga practice and become a skillful and compassionate teacher equipped to lead others on their own personal journey of yoga and transformation. We create a safe, sacred, and nurturing environment that enables everyone to grow and flourish as a yogi, a yoga teacher, and as a human being.
SoulWork Global
NPS: 8.9/10
Overall School Rating: 4.81/5.0
Based on 121 reviews
School profile: comments not listed
Teacher Training in Costa Rica Combines Ancient Ashram Wisdom with Challenging Physical Practices
Soul Work Global’s program combines traditional yogic wisdom, creative posture sequencing, business support and development training, spiritual practice, and self inquiry with self love and acceptance as your guide. The teacher training yoga styles include Hatha techniques. They incorporate meditation, sound, eastern subtle energetics, physical postures, yoga philosophy, and breathing techniques into all of our classes. Our intention is to create YOGA (or union) between the ancient knowledge as it is practiced in the ashrams in India with the more challenging physical practice that has been adopted in the west. The foundation of their program is personal growth and self empowerment. Their intention is to provide you with the skills that you need to begin to shape your life in alignment with your passion. The 200 Hour course provides an introductory education to a range of holistic topics, and you will leave our program feeling inspired, empowered, and well equipped to offer Yoga to your community.
Swastha Yoga International
NPS: 8.8/10
Overall School Rating: 4.81/5.0
Based on 121 reviews
A Teaching Methodology that Combines the Wisdom of Yoga, Science of Ayurveda and the Principles of Human Development
At Swastha Yoga International’s yoga teacher training course, they have integrated the wisdom of yoga, the science of Ayurveda, and the principles of Human Development. This holistic approach is the foundation of a teaching philosophy that helps to support, enhance, and sustain optimal health and well-being on all levels. Their vision is to build a community of effective leaders, teachers, and practitioners who know the power of authenticity and vulnerability. Swatha’s experienced teachers are ready to help you thrive. You will practice yoga at the beautiful Peace Retreat, a charming, boutique-style wellness retreat center in Playa Negra, Costa Rica. Their center embodies what Costa Rica offers, natural beauty, simplicity, a 15 minutes walk to the gorgeous beach of Playa Negra, and close enough for day trips to the national parks.
Lakshmi Rising School of Yoga
NPS: 8.8/10
Overall School Rating: 4.81/5.0
Based on 281 reviews
Develop Mindfulness, Cultivate Strength and Revitalize Your Practice in Costa Rica
The Lakshmi Rising Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program is a yoga style that focuses on an awareness-based practice that includes fluid, dynamic asana, kriya, pranayama, mantra, meditation, dance, wellness, self-care, and ritual for optimal health, yogic purification techniques, yogic philosophy, and personal growth. Their method of yoga practice is a revitalizing approach to develop mindful self-awakening and cultivate strength and flexibility on all levels through the practice of yoga. Basic and advanced concepts specific to the hatha vinyasa yoga style in the lineage of Sri Krishnamacharya are defined, as well as elements unique to Lakshmi Rising.
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat
NPS: Not listed
Overall School Rating: 4.74/5.0
Based on 141 reviews
Explore the Himalayan Tradition
The Blue Osa teacher training course in Costa Rica provides you the an opportunity to expand your knowledge and accelerate your learning and develop a strong foundational practice in yoga. Their teaching methodologies includes teaching you how to sequence transformative yoga classes and develop a daily meditation practice. You will learn how to teach multilevel classes safely, study yoga anatomy and immerse in the Himalayan Yoga tradition.
EastWest Yoga Teacher Training
NPS: Not listed
Overall School Rating 4.69
Based on 174 reviews
School profile: comments not listed
Movement is Sacred
East+West Costa Rica 200-hour training in Costa Rica brings teachers from India, and a former Buddhist Monk to co-lead the training along with western professionals. It’s truly modern training that will prepare you with all the realistic professional skills you’ll need to teach in an urban studio but is also deeply rooted in the spiritual yogic traditions of India. In this training you will learn yoga anatomy, teaching techniques, philosophy and spend three weeks immersed in a yogic lifestyle.
School Yoga Institute
NPS: Not listed
Overall School Rating: 4.64/5.0
Based on 724 reviews
School profile: comments not listed
Mystical Focus with Shamanic Influences
School Yoga Institute offers two different yoga teacher training courses. For a flow based spiritual practice look at the mystical focused YTT with earth medicine and shamanic influences. They also offer a Trauma Informed teacher training with an emphasis on somatics, psychology, and mental health.
Marianne Wells Yoga School
NPS: Not listed
Overall School Rating: 4.43/5.0
Based on 528 reviews
School profile: comments not listed
Teach with Safety, Confidence and Knowledge
The 200 hour yoga program offered through the Marianne Wells School gives you the proper foundation for teaching safely, confidently and knowledgeably. You’ll learn the basic principles of asana, and will gain an understanding of the essential elements needed to deepen your inner awareness in your practice in order to be an authentic guide to others.
Shades of Yoga
NPS: 6.4/10
Overall School Rating: 4.48/5.0
Based on 196 reviews
Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit
This program will take you on a personal journey, connecting the mind, body and spirit. Their Costa Rica yoga teacher team will focus not just on training teachers but take you on a deeply spiritual experience. They guide and provide you with the tools to attract a reality that is in line with your true being.
Join a Teacher Training in Costa Rica and Immerse in Pura Vida (the Pure Life)
Why wait?
Now is the opportune moment to embark upon the path of becoming a certified 200 hour yoga teacher in the enchanting tropical paradise of Costa Rica. Whether your intent lies in creating a consistent yoga practice, becoming an instructor, learning yin yoga, studying the hatha yoga pradipika, exploring different yoga styles, acquiring fresh insights and skills, or immersing in a transformational program within a loving, supportive community, these programs offer you the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Guanacaste Peninsula in Costa Rica and the Caribbean side of Costa Rica offer distinct experiences for those seeking retreat destinations for 200 hour or 300 hour programs. Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast, is known for its dry, sunny climate and stunning beaches, making it an excellent location for building mindfulness in serene natural surroundings. On the other hand, the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, with its lush rainforests and vibrant culture, provides a unique, more immersive experience. The region has diverse wildlife, indigenous communities, and opportunities to connect deeply with nature as well as a few more mosquitoes too.
Whether you choose a beachfront community in Guanacaste, Costa Rica or choose to train on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast expect to dive deep in the Costa Rican Pura Vida (pure life) lifestyle. Explore the many teacher trainings and then jump in to begin your transformative journey to the captivating realm of Pura Vida without hesitation and delight in the incredible benefits that await you in Costa Rica.
