ISHTA 300 Hour Teacher Training

Next entry point:

March 31 + April 4-6 (Physical Body 1)

Become a modern yogi rooted in the Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda. If you wish to become an ISHTA 500-hour trained teacher, or simply want to continue your education after completing your 200 Hour, our modular 300 Hour Training program is perfect for you. This advanced teacher training program is designed to greatly enhance your understanding of ISHTA Yoga and refine your skills as a teacher. If you haven’t taken the ISHTA 200 hour training, you may complete the 30 hour ISHTA Immersion The Pillars of ISHTA Yoga as a bridge in order to start this 300h training.

The 300 Hour Training is divided into six extended weekend training sessions plus an apprenticeship program. These extended weekend sessions (modules) can be taken individually to deepen your learning, or as part of the ISHTA 300 Hour Training for  Yoga Alliance certification. Learn more below!

  • We recommend taking the training weekends sequentially. Individual weekends can also be taken as a stand alone course. “The Physical Body” and “Philosophy & the Subtle Body” are required modules to complete the 300 Hour Training. “The Art of Touch” module is strongly recommended but can be substituted with two of the following courses – Yoga Nidra, Meditation, Restorative, Yoga Sutras to complete the 300 Hour certification.

    Missed weekend sessions can be made up the following year. All three modules ( six in-training weekends) are offered each calendar year. We also provide recordings for missed content. A minimum of 60% of the training needs to be taken live (in studio or on zoom).

    300 Hour Trainees are provided with an electronic manual and access to the ISHTA Teaching Tool which houses the guidelines, schedules, recordings, manual texts and more to support trainees through the training.

    Bonus: While taking the full training, get 6 free weeks of yoga, and during the rest of your training receive special pricing on memberships.

    Questions? Reach out to IshtaU@ishtayoga.com.

    For individual weekend course pricing, see below.

  • Cost: $650 per part (does not include apprenticeship program).

    Pranayama and Ayurveda (Part 1)

    Tantra and Meditation (Part 2)

    This training is offered in a hybrid format - mornings are generally online and afternoons are in studio. This training can also be taken exclusively online

    ISHTA is an acronym for the Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda. Our Philosophy & the Subtle Body Module brings a uniquely ISHTA perspective to yoga philosophy and the science of yoga and spirituality.

    We will delve more deeply into tantra, the chakras and kriya yoga and study the sutras from a tantric perspective. This course will help expand your tool box with more advanced pranayama and meditation techniques including yoga nidra. You will learn how to integrate the subtle body and Ayurveda into your asana practice to find balance.

    Curriculum includes:

    • Advanced ISHTA Meditation and Pranayama techniques,

    • Teaching to Chakra Imbalances

    • Ayurveda and Asana,

    • Yoga Nidra

    • Tantra of the Sutras

    • The Bhagavad Gita

    • Ayurveda for self-care

    • And more!

    Trainers: Alan Finger, Mona Anand, Peter Ferko, Sarah Finger and Wendy Newton.

    Up to 40% of the training content can be viewed via on demand recordings.

    To sign up or with questions, please email ishtau@ishtayoga.com.

  • Cost: $650 per part (does not include apprenticeship program).

    This training runs exclusively in studio. Part 1 must be taken before Part 2

    Our Art of Touch Module consists of two weekends (Course 1 and Course 2) with a focus on "hands on adjustments." From an energetic perspective, our hands are the transmitters of shakti, the mother-nature force that governs us. Our hands also relate to the heart and throat chakras, so how we touch relates to both how we feel and how we communicate. In this module you will learn how to facilitate the experience of yoga through "hands on adjustments." You will learn how to individualize spots and enhance the free flow of breath and life force energy.

    This module can be taken as part of the ISHTA 300-hour trained teacher. If you are a 200 Hour Teacher who simply wants to learn the "Art of Touch" but are unable to commit to the full 300 Hour training, this program is also open to you.

    To sign up or with questions, please email ishtau@ishtayoga.com.

  • Cost: $650 for each part (does not include apprenticeship program).

    Course 1 - Sequencing, Standing postures, Surya Namaskar, & Inversions

    Course 2 - Arm balances, backbends, lateral flexion, resting poses & more

    This training is offered in a hybrid format - mornings are online and afternoons are in studio. This training can also be taken exclusively online.

    Our Physical Body courses teach you how to master yoga postures as a form of mastering your consciousness. Our approach to the physical body is a reflection of the Tantric perspective that all matter is different densities of energy, and that our bodies are the vehicles that carry us through this life. In addition to learning more advanced and complex asana, we also offer Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Therapeutics, Injury Management, a subtle body approach to asana, sequencing, prenatal yoga, and so much more.

    Each part of this module is approximately 30 hours - including pre-recorded content, live zoom sessions, and in studio sessions. Senior Trainers have over 20 years of teaching experience and include: Mona Anand, Peter Ferko, Kelly Eudailey and Douglass Stewart.

    Part 1 - The asana component focuses primarily on sequencing, standing poses, sun salutes, & inversions

    Part 2 - The asana component focuses primarily on arm balances, backbends, seated poses and resting poses

    Part 1 and 2 can be taken in any order

    Trainees who cannot make it to the studio can join the in studio sessions on zoom.

    40% of the training content can be viewed via on demand recording (whether trainees have attended or not attended sessions).

    To sign up or with questions, please email ishtau@ishtayoga.com.

  • This is included when you sign up for and commit to our full 300h Training cost, but it is available as a separate cost of $600 if you are taking the training per course without commitment. For more information please contact ishtau@ishtayoga.com.

    Our apprenticeship program is a truly unique part of our curriculum. If you are enrolled in our 300 Hour, you are assigned a mentor to guide you through the training. Yoga was traditionally taught one on one, teacher to student. Our apprenticeship program helps you integrate the teachings into your life and into your teaching under the guidance of your mentor. Mentor meetings, a swadhyaya or self study project, In Class Privates, One on Ones, Class Assisting, Class Observations and much more are a part of this program that helps you integrate the teachings into your life.

  • There are three core components included in this program: expert instruction, personal study, and apprenticeship, where 180 hours are offered via the training modules, 90 hours via the apprenticeship module and a minimum of 30 hours via the personal study module.

    Please note: in addition to the advertised meeting times, a significant time commitment is required for certification; all of which can be completed virtually and spread out over two years if needed.

  • 30 Hour ISHTA Prerecorded Foundation Course with two live Q&A's

    Regular Price: $500

    Taken as a prerequisite or bridge when signing up for the 300 Hour - $350

    ISHTA stands for the Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda. In this 30 hour ISHTA Immersion you will be introduced to the science of yoga through an ISHTA lense. Topics covered will include: The History of Tantra and ISHTA Tantra, Kriya Yoga, The Chakras, Ayurveda and Asana, Meditation and Pranayama Techniques, ISHTA Sequencing and more.

    This course is prerecorded with two live Q&A sessions.

    For more information email helen@ishtayoga.com

  • "I initially started ISHTA Yoga’s 300 hr TT program to deepen my own understanding of yoga, with no intention of teaching. However, over the course of the last 2.5 years in the training, it became clear that sharing the wisdom of yoga through the lens of the ISHTA approach was one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. I now teach 2-3 times a week and whenever a student asks me where I did my training, (which I find to be a great compliment and honor), I am proud to say ISHTA.
    The hybrid learning format was invaluable, allowing me to complete the training from California and accommodating my busy schedule as a working mom. I really appreciated the flexibility that allowed me to take my time and finish the training at my own pace.
    ISHTA Yoga's comprehensive approach, including studies in Ayurveda, Tantric philosophy and Hatha yoga not only met but far exceeded my expectations of what this training could do for my own personal growth, transforming my initial curiosity into a deep, well-rounded expertise in yoga. Being a part of the Ishta community is a gift, and I’ll be forever grateful for it." - Jessica Latour, 300 Hour Graduate

    “The depth and skill of senior trainers at ISHTA is exceptional. I found the mentor structure for assistant teaching, observed one-on-ones, and completing a svadyaya project to be very enriching.” 1Mei Lan Low, 300-Hour Graduate

    “ISHTA is an incredible yoga studio, and a fantastic place to learn. ISHTA explores all aspects of yoga, and explores each aspect in depth. The wealth of knowledge and experience from the senior teaching staff is boundless, and I couldn’t be more grateful that ISHTA is where I chose to train.” - Dana Delaski, 300-Hour Graduate

    “I waited almost 15 years to take my 300 hour training and jumped at the chance when ISHTA introduced the modular training. The flexible format allowed me to study the lineage under the tutelage of my beloved teachers while still running my studio on the other side of the country in Oregon. Being in community and developing an ISHTA family from all over the world has filled my heart, deepened my practice and supported my professional goals. It was worth the wait and I’m so grateful for the dedication of Alan, Sarah and Mona for making it possible to dive into this deep practice with authenticity and grace.” -Christen Allsop, 300 Hour Modular Training Graduate

    “When I began to seek out a program to complete my 300 hour certification, Ishta was at the top of my list. First and foremost for the rich lineage behind it, secondly, the convenience of the modular schedule. It allowed me to dive deeply into the curricula and practice, allowing the space and time around the modules to complete the necessary classroom hours. Throughout the nine months I always felt connected to the studio. The support and guidance I received throughout was unparalleled! I highly recommend this unique training program!” - Dana C Halsted Moss, 300-Hour Graduate

    “Completing Ishta’s modular 300 hour TT was the best investment I have ever made. The master teachers of the Tantric practices have created an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance. The leadership truly honors the uniqueness of an individual’s path. I’ve yet to find a place more affirming. That alone was transformational. Add to that, an expanded awareness of my energetic body- and my whole life, my entire experience of my self and the world- grew to a greater fullness, to an experience of wholeness. Now when I teach yoga, I no longer feel like an imposter. Completing an ISHTA training, you don’t just become a teacher, you become part of a lineage.” -Kaitlin Dougherty, 300 Hour Modular Training Graduate

    “Embarking on the 300-Hour ISHTA Yoga Teacher Training in 2017 was one of the most life-enriching decisions I ever made. ISHTA has a sacred atmosphere and a refined caliber of learning that remains unparalleled in New York City. Training at ISHTA feels like earning a special express PhD in spiritual life and practice. Students intimately evolve alongside peers of every path, shepherded by true masters of authentic yoga in what is essentially a modern urban ashram. The community at ISHTA is rich, warm, welcoming, supportive, intelligent, and diverse. The practices, passed down with great integrity from a great lineage, are nourishing to mind, body and spirit. What you learn and develop in teacher training stays with you for life, and goes oceans deeper than anything you might glimpse from a regular class practice. I met some of the most significant people in my life through my 300-hour training. My personal health underwent a miraculous recovery, and then my creative career began to take off after what felt like a decade of stagnancy. Whether you intend to teach downward facing dog to others, or just enjoy pondering your own incredible presence in this world, the exceptional ISHTA training programs provide an undeniably transformative experience-of-a-lifetime.” -Lindsay Sanwald, 300-Hour Graduate

  • FULL TRAINING PRICE (including apprenticeship):

    Regular Price $4000

    Early Bird (by August 26):

    • EB paid in full $3300 

    • EB payment plan $3600

    To sign up for individual modules rather than the full 300 Hour training, please reach out to helen@ishtayoga.com.

ISHTA 300 Hour Teacher Training

Our 300 hour training is broken into six extended, in-training weekend courses covering three areas of study – The Physical Body, The Art of Touch, and Philosophy & the Subtle Body - plus an apprenticeship program. These weekend courses can be taken individually to deepen your learning, or as part of the ISHTA 300 Hour Training for  Yoga Alliance certification. The Physical Body (two extended weekend sessions) and The Philosophy and Subtle Body ( two extended weekend sessions) are part of the core curriculum and are required to complete the ISHTA 300 Hour. The Art of Touch (two extended weekend sessions) - while recommended - can be replaced with two specialty courses to fulfill the in-training hours needed for 300 Hour certification. Courses that can be used toward the 300 Hour include: Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Restorative and the Yoga Sutras. 

You may enter the training during any of the training weekends (the exception being Art of Touch 2, as the Art of Touch module must be taken sequentially). We encourage you to take all six extended weekend sessions in a row, but if you have conflicts or prefer to take the training at a slower pace, you can attend training weekends in subsequent cycles over a two year period. 

2024/2025 training dates are as follows:

Winter

  • Dec 10 + 13-15 (Physical Body II: Arm balances, backbends, lateral flexion, resting poses & more)

  • Jan 17-19 (Svadhyaya presentation and final practicum for 2024 300 Hour graduates with option to attend for other 300 Hour trainees)

  • Winter break (One-on-ones / Specialty courses / Assisting hours)

Spring training dates

  • March 31 + April 4-6 (Physical Body 1)

  • May 9-12 (Art of Touch 1)

  • May 15-18 (Art of Touch2)

  • June 9 + 13-15 (Philosophy & Subtle Body 1)

  • Summer break (One-on-ones / ICPs / Assisting hours)

  • Sept TBD (Svadhyaya presentation and final practicum for 2024-2025 300 Hour graduates)

  • October 11-14  (Art of Touch I)

  • October 17-20  (Art of Touch II - pre-requisite Art of Touch I)

  • November 10 + 14-16  (Philosophy & the Subtle Body II

  • December 8 + 12-14  (Physical Body II)

Primary trainers for 2024-2025: Mona Anand, Kelly Eudailey, Peter Ferko, and Douglass Stewart.

Signature lectures with Alan Finger.

Additional Trainers: Phil Schuster and Susan Ingraham.

See our Meet Our Trainers page for more information.

 FAQs

  • Yes! We invite you to explore the path of ISHTA. Trainees who have not completed the ISHTA 200-Hour program must enroll in the 30 Hour ISHTA Immersion: the pillars of ISHTA Yoga (aka the Bridge). The Bridge is based on lectures from the ISHTA 200 Hour Training, covering fundamental ISHTA material. The tuition is $500. If enrolling in combination with our 300-Hour Teacher Training, tuition is $350.

  • You can take this 30 Hour Immersion: the pillars of ISHTA Yoga as a stand-alone course, or if you have completed a 200-Hour training outside of the ISHTA lineage and wish to participate in our 300-Hour training, you may start by taking this 30 Hour recorded immersion, which also includes two live Q&A sessions. You will gain access to, among other things, an introduction to hatha, tantra and ayurveda and how these sciences are used in ISHTA, alignments according to the seven segments, the chakras and pranayama techniques, and it can be taken at your own pace.

  • Our 300-Hour Teacher Training Program is for those students who have successfully completed a 200-Hour program, wish to deepen their own knowledge, and/or like to advance in their career in teaching yoga.

    The 300-Hour program consists of both contact hours (180 in-Training Hours and 90 hours of Apprenticeship) and non-contact hours (30 hours of Personal Teaching, Study and Self Study).

    The In-Training Hours include but are not limited to asana and pranayama practice, and spotting labs; and application of advanced techniques in asana, pranayama, and meditation. In addition, the In-Training curriculum includes advanced study in chakras and the glandular system, Ayurveda and asana, yoga and neurophysiology, Yoga Nidra, and more.

    The Apprenticeship consists of: weekly class assisting (an incredible opportunity to learn from and assist our senior teachers), mentor meetings (small monthly groups to refine your skills in teaching advanced techniques and get personalized feedback and attention from mentors and peers), One-on-Ones (where your skills in teaching individual students are developed), and In-Class Privates (to fine-tune your abilities in hands-on assisting and personal adjustments).

    The Personal Teaching, Study, and Self-study hours consist of your out-of-training study and preparation, including reading, homework, additional techniques and teaching practice, and completion of a self study project where you dive deep into a yogic practice of your choice and reflect on its impact during your training. While a minimum of 30 hours is required in this module, most committed students exceed this significantly!

  • ISHTA teacher training is the gateway to become a modern yogi in an ancient lineage. Our 300-Hour program provides a contemporary, individualized, and integrated approach to the ancient science of yoga. Designed under the guidance of Yogiraj Alan Finger, the program offers many advanced techniques not taught elsewhere, especially in the areas of kriya, pranayama, and meditation. Advanced ISHTA training truly roots you in the ISHTA perspective, guiding you to a seamless practice of technique, understanding, and joy.

  • We believe the art and science of yoga is a lifetime study. We never stop learning, and there is always room to refine your own practice, and if you teach yoga, your teaching. In our experience, most 200-Hour certified trainees are not yet fully prepared as they have not yet learned or refined all their skills. Even experienced yogis and teachers are always looking for new insights, tools, and techniques. The ISHTA program in particular offers a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of yoga that we truly feel is unique!

  • The program is a significant commitment of time and energy. Any serious student who has successfully completed a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance-registered program and is committed to yoga as a career and/or way of life is encouraged to apply.

  • Absolutely. Yoga is an individual practice and the path takes many physical forms. We expect and welcome different levels of physical ability. Your commitment to deepening your yoga is the true requirement.

  • Yes, 100% attendance is required to successfully complete your training, and we require that at least 60% of the training needs to be taken live. If you know in advance you will have to miss a session and you would like to receive certification, makeup options are available such as with recordings and privates, though some do incur added cost.Exceptional emergency circumstances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Detailed makeup procedures are provided upon enrollment; ask us if you have questions.

  • Once you have successfully completed all requirements of the training (100% In-Training attendance or completed make-ups, 100% completion of Apprenticeship module, 100% completion and passing grade on Personal Study module requirements, successful evaluation on final practical exam), you will receive a graduation certificate and the necessary paperwork to register with Yoga Alliance.

  • While all trainees progress at their own rate given their experience and understanding, community classes may be offered to 300-hour trainees at the appropriate point after their Training, as determined by their mentors and Senior ISHTA Teachers. We do require all our teachers to be 500-Hour certified in ISHTA Yoga.

  • One work-study position is available for each training program for a 50% tuition discount. This trainee serves as the InTraining Assistant (ITA) for his/her training program, performing vital organizational and administrative tasks such as tracking attendance, zoom support, and various other duties as assigned. This student must be responsible, organized, and have strong computer skills. Those interested in the ITA (InTraining Assistant) position must have the schedule flexibility to include 2-5 hours per week in addition to the regular teacher training curriculum. To apply for the ITA work-study position, please email Helen Janson separately (helen@ishtayoga.com), and include a resume with all relevant office/administrative experience, as well as general hours of availability. Additionally, from time to time, other work-study options become available for partial tuition trades.

  • A $500 non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance. Remaining tuition is due no later than two weeks prior to the training start date. In extenuating circumstances, a payment plan may be arranged. Cancellations more than four weeks before the training start date receive a full tuition refund, less the $500 deposit. Cancellations between two and four weeks before training start receive a 50% tuition refund, less the $500 deposit. In the two weeks prior to the start of training or after training begins, no refunds are available.

  • Yes! We have a discounted trainee membership in addition to the six free weeks of yoga you are given as part of your training.

  • It’s only the Art of Touch Module that needs to be taken in order. The Physical Body and the Philosophy and Subtle Body Modules can be taken in any order.

  • It is advisable to complete all the modules and requirements within a calendar year from the first module, but if more applicable to your life circumstances it can be taken over two years.

  • Yes, you can sign up for just one or two modules. This way you get to learn the Advanced ISHTA Techniques but will not be certified unless you complete all the requirements.

  • The requirements for the modular 300 hour training are the same as for the weekend format. You will assist your mentors 50 hours, assist a workshop, do In Class Privates and One on one’s, do a Svadhyaya (self-study) research program and attend 6 mentor meetings.

  • You are not required to physically participate in all asana practices. However, it is important that you continue to attend and observe in order to fulfill your requirements. Observing practice is an incredible way to see the whole room, watch spotting and learn from senior teachers.

  • There is a very specific path towards teaching at ISHTA Yoga. This will be addressed in detail at the What’s Next Teaser lecture, which is part of the training. We do require all our teachers to be 500-hour certified in ISHTA Yoga.

  • When you teach at ISHTA Yoga, you are covered under an umbrella liability policy. Should you decide to teach on your own, we strongly recommend that you get a separate individual policy. Consult Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal for suggestions.

  • Yoga Alliance is a registry of schools and teachers who meet their minimum standard requirements. We are a registered school of Yoga Alliance. Once you complete our program you can submit your certificate to Yoga Alliance (along with the fee) and be individually registered. The most complete and current information is available at www.yogaalliance.org.