The 10 Best Yoga Teacher Trainings in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is not only a tropical paradise full of dense jungles, spellbinding waterfalls and golden sands, it’s also the home of great yoga teacher training in Costa Rica! A nature-lovers playground, flanked by rainforests, volcanos, wildlife and rugged coastline, Costa Rica has a rustic charm that’ll make you never want to leave. Lean into their motto of “Pura Vida”, and celebrate the meaning of living a ‘pure life’. Known for its surfing beaches and endless adventures, this South American gem has something for everyone. If you’ve been considering a 200 Hours yoga teacher training, doing a training in enchanting Costa Rica may be the perfect place for you. Many established yoga schools and institutes run trainings here, and there are a plethora of training courses to choose from. Most venues are either on beaches or are surrounded by the magic of the rainforests. Connect with the natural world and yourself as you begin your transformational journey on a Yoga Teacher Training course. Sound good? Scroll down to check out our list of the 10 Best Yoga Teacher Trainings in Costa Rica.

Still not sure about doing the yoga training in Costa Rica?

• Bali is also a great destination for a yoga course!

• • Amazing Beaches
  • Most Comprehensive yoga program
  • English Speaking
  • Great foods
  • FREE accommodations 22 nights

CHECK THE 200 HOURS ALL YOGA TRAINING IN BALI ⮕

1. The Sanctuary at Two Rivers – Lakshmi Rising 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

The Sanctuary at Two Rivers is in the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula and is the home to the Lakshmi Rising 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher trainings. Nestled among 40 acres of dense rainforest and stunning waterfalls, spend up to 20 nights in luxury accommodation listening to the tropical sounds of the jungle and the call of the resident howler monkeys. The 100% off-the-grid solar-powered property was created solely for offering yoga teacher trainings in Costa rica and retreats, by seasoned yogis for yogis. It is a place to meditate, practice yoga, and spiritual healing all whilst connecting with the stunning scenery and local wildlife. Vegans and vegetarians are catered for with organic delights by plant-based chef Gaia Gourmet, to nourish you during your stay. The training is focused as an awareness-based practice, infused with Vinyasa yoga, mantra, dance, kriya, pranayama and self-care.

Learn how to sequence classes, break down particular postures, yoga anatomy, how to practice hands-on adjustments and Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga. Other topics such as plant-based nutrition, conscious dance and stepping to the role of a teacher as also included in the program. Choose from a 21-day or 14-day immersive intensive, followed by additional online coursework that you can work on for 12 months. The fee for the training includes certification once you’ve completed the course, a 500+ page yoga teacher training manual, 3 delicious organic meals each day, weekly housekeeping, laundry service, unlimited tea and coffee, as well as having the chance to join in organised group trips. A space on the course also gives you full access to the facilities, gardens, and swimming pools.

2. Kindred Spirits – 21 night, 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training  

Kindred Spirits welcomes you to discover and to connect your true authentic self, in an intimate class setting of 6 to 10 students per training. Set on the Caribbean Coast in the popular wellness destination of Puerto Viejo, this venue is on an organic permaculture farm. Nestled amongst a harmonious backdrop of dense jungle, it’s a perfect place to raise your vibrations and delve into a transformative learning experience. Connecting to Mother Earth is a key element of this training course. Kindred Spirits welcome beginner and intermediate trainees to their courses and teach Hatha, Sivananda, Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga. Students will also learn how to teach these styles of yoga, daily pranayama, mantra chanting, yoga philosophy, anatomy and physiology and methods of teaching. Ethics is a topic covered and daily journaling is encouraged to help you document your development and learning.

Walking meditations, silent time and learning the Sanskrit names of poses are also intertwined within the schedule. Yoga classes are set on the beach at sunrise and sunset, afterwards explore your creative side by creating mandalas on the beach as part of the group. Vegan and vegetation diets are catered for, as well as gluten-free. An example of lunch includes a buddha bowl, gazpacho with salad, burrito bowls, vegan tacos and much, much more! All the food is organic, locally sourced and seasonal. Courses are available to book onto from January through to September 2022. Prices start from $2757, including accommodation in a three-person room. There is also a discount for you to bring a non-participating friend along and share a treehouse for $500, lunch is included. Lodges can sleep up to three people. High-speed Wi-Fi, air conditioning and hot showers are available in the accommodations. Yoga classes, yoga mats and props, 21 nights’ accommodation, 18 lunches and a 200-hour certification is included in the price.

3. School Yoga Institute – Vinyasa and Surfing 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training  

The School Yoga Institute invites you to enhance your yoga practice at the surfer destination of Mal Pais, on the Nicoya Penninsula. Known for its year-round surf and sandy beaches, the town of Mal Pais gives travellers the chance to reconnect with nature and to find peace and amongst the waves. Beginner surfers, or those who do not surf but love nature, will still benefit from the infused flow practices taught during this program. This training is inspired by the Peruvian Shamanism Medicine Wheel, offering students a course focused on helping them evolve spirituality, as well as becoming fully-fledged yoga teachers. The styles of yoga taught during the course are Hatha, Vinyasa, Dynamic and Power. Learn how to develop your own Sadhana, explore the art of teaching yoga, and take part in some traditional ceremonies including New Moon and Full Moon ceremonies. During the course, meditation and pranayama practices are taught, as well as anatomy, physiology, chakras, bandhas, kriyas, asanas and sequencing.

Other holistic modalities, such a massage and energy healing are also included in the curriculum. A highlight of the course is the chance to try Stand Up Paddle-boarding (SUP) sessions! Activities to do on days-off include, zip-lining, surfing, horseback riding, snorkelling or day trips to Cabuya. Organic and locally sourced vegan and vegetarian meals are provided three times a day, served by the poolside or in the peaceful gardens. Breakfast options include tropical fruits, natural juices, eggs, granola, or the local breakfast dish of Gallo pinto. The accommodation is in The Indigo Yoga Resort, which gives the choice of shared apartments or rooms in a contemporary, Costa Rican setting. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a safe box, hot water and a ceiling fan. Prices start from $4154. This includes accommodation, yoga props, meals, course material, free Wi-Fi, and pool access.

4. Bienstar Uvita Yoga Shala Integrative 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training  

At Bienstar Uvita Yoga Shala, join yoga teacher Lura for a 27-day transformative training course. This program looks to help you connect mind, body and spirit, whilst learning how to teach yoga safely. Each training accepts a small number of students, so that individual guidance and support can be given to each student. A focus of the course is to encourage the sacredness of teaching and an acceptance of the courage needed to teach. Recommended for beginners and intermediate trainees alike, the course material includes meditative practices, the breath, the physical practice, energetic systems, yoga philosophy and history, and the Eight Limbs of Yoga. General anatomy and physiology are covered as well as teaching methodology. Opportunities to teach other students are also given during the program.

Other details of the course include set homework and reading assignments designed to deepen your knowledge of yoga. The styles of yoga taught are Vinyasa, Nidra and Hatha. Set in Playa Uvita, home to some of the country’s most picturesque beaches, the area is in the stunning Marino Ballena National Park. The Park is known for its Humpback Whale sightings, as the area is where they migrate. Playa Uvita is also known for its famous music events that take place each year. On your days off relax on the quiet and beautiful beaches, snorkel or swim. Another highlight of the area is the breathtaking waterfalls. Trainings at the Bienstar Uvita Yoga Shala can be booked in January, March and July 2022. Early Bird prices start from $3269. The price includes airport transfers, accommodation at the Shala, meals, yoga props and mats, free Wi-Fi, and a training manual. Both private rooms and shared rooms are available to book.

5. Sampoorna Yoga – Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Flow 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training  

Sampoorna Yoga offers an extensive 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa training course. The school has a facility established in 2008 in Goa, India and have expanded their trainings to the breathtaking village of Cahuita in Costa Rica. The course is taught with a combination of in-person teaching and online modules that you can study from the comfort of your own home. The online module of the course is something you’ll be able to refer to again and again as a place on the course gives you lifetime access to their online materials. Study at your own pace! The in-person teaching covers an intensive and immersive 12 days to help you improve your practice and expand on your teaching skills.

The in-person training is held at The Goddess Garden Yoga Retreat Centre, located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. You’ll get the chance to explore the beaches and marvel at the exotic rainforest around you as you study. On your days off adventure into the Cahuita National Park, explore beautiful coral reefs, spot some turtles and monkeys, and visit the black-sand beach of Playa Negra. Nearby is the Sloth Sanctuary which looks after orphaned and injured sloths. Sampoorna Yoga is a place for you to train, develop and deepen your yoga practice with vitality and personal recreation.

Their program is designed to give you the knowledge and the skills to teach yoga classes based on the Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Flow methods, whilst encouraging your self-practice. The program consists of learning about the Eight Limbs of Yoga, deeper meanings of yogic philosophy, pranayama, mediation techniques as well as the physical postures. Prices start from $3720 for a female dorm and a place on the course. This includes 3 vegetarian meals a day, 12 nights’ accommodation, a welcome dinner, wireless internet and use of the venue’s swimming pool. The school is registered with Yoga Alliance USA.

6. Gypsea EcoYoga Teacher Training – 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training

  This teacher training offers a unique ecological experience whilst training, in the heart of the marvellous village of Uvita, close by to the Marino Ballena National Park. This course promises to help you discover your highest self through the ancient wisdom of yoga whilst connecting you to your inner light. Not only will you be able to connect to the stunning scenery around you, and you’ll also get the chance to learn about medicinal plants, local ecology, conversion and permaculture. The styles of yoga that are introduced to trainees include Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kids Yoga, Acro Yoga, Chair Yoga and more! At its foundation, the physical aspect of the course is based on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Anatomy, teaching methodology, and teaching practice all feature on the daily schedule.

As well as discussions and study of the Yoga Sutras. Other highlights of the program include daily asana and meditation sessions, eco-hikes, waterfall excursions, and river swimming. If you want even more adventure, go zip-lining, whale watching or surfing. Prices start from $3082 for 17 nights. The cost includes 3 home-cooked plant-based meals created by a private chef, local excursions including waterfall trips, free wifi, and medicinal plant classes and ceremonial planting. A comprehensive yoga workbook is included as well as a certificate upon completion. A year of consistent yoga practice is recommended for this course.

7. Vida Asana – Awakenings 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training

  Known for its food and its family atmosphere, Vida Asana invites you to share the magic of yoga during their Awakenings Yoga Teacher Training Course. Located within the rainforest, and a few minutes from pristine beaches the eco-retreat centre is the perfect place to start your yoga training journey. The centre is in the peaceful surfing community of Playa Hermosa, which has one of the most stunning and consistent surfing beaches in the world. Vida Asana want you to experience moving from living in a place of fear to greeting life with pure love! The three-week residential course is an all-inclusive training course and the team welcomes any students of any level, age or gender.

Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Anusara and general yoga styles are covered in the Yoga Alliance Accredited program. Eastern practices such as yoga Nidra, mantra, pranayama and kriyas are a key focus of the curriculum. Each day students will be practice a challenging yoga class and a restorative class, to balance and soothe the body and the mind. Sessions for meditation, anatomy, methodology, alignment and yoga philosophy are interwoven throughout. Learn how to teach a 90-minute Vinyasa Flow class as well as deepen your connection to yoga by studying the sacred texts of the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Practice and study in a beautiful open Shala with a tropical jungle all around you. Prices start from $2793. Three delicious organic meals are included daily as well as a comfortable lodging package. Vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, sugar conscious, and nut allergy-friendly diets are catered for. Airport pick-up and drop-off, Wi-Fi, group excursions, nature hikes with a trusted guide, movies nights, kirtan and other evening activities are all included too. Get a free school t-shirt, tote bag, course manual, registration with Yoga Alliance, and pre and post-training support are bonuses of this training. 

8. Yoga Project – 200-hour Hybrid Anatomical Embodiment Yoga Teacher Training

  The Yoga Project is offering a hybrid Anatomical Embodiment course, which includes both an online course and a 7-day in-person training on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Founded in 2005, Yoga Project creators Dave and Stacy have led trainings across the globe and have set up multiple successful yoga studios in Texas. Their course is focused on human movement science and mindful awareness methodology. Start training straight away, as once students are registered, they can access the online modules.

Learn about yoga through material delivered over 3 months and solidify that knowledge through a mixture of quizzes, assessments and writing assignments. Weekly meetings online are set up with the teachers to break down different topics and the weekly class content. Guidance and support are available from Dave and Stacy throughout. Students have 12 months to complete the course once the course content has been delivered. At the training, basic Power Vinyasa yoga is taught which incorporates wisdom from many different styles of yoga. During the in-person training, students will be taught how to modify postures to suit different people and their needs, as well as being encouraged to teach what they love!

Located at the world-famous resort of Blue Spirit Costa Rica, which is dedicated to providing a spectacular setting between the jungle and the ocean. The centre was created as a place for profound spiritual transformation, personal growth and environmental sustainability. Blue Spirit Costa Rica boasts some of the most incredible views in Nosara, as it’s nestled on a hilltop and has a 3-mile white sand beach which is a protected turtle refuge. Shared accommodation, with one other person on the course, is included, although single rooms are available for an additional $700. The course runs from April 16th – 23rd 2022 (7 nights) and is Yoga Alliance Accredited. Shared accommodation is available, and single rooms start from $700. Prices from $3125. The price includes 7 nights’ accommodation, 3 locally sourced and organic meals a day, and an Embodied Posture manual. Payment plans can also be arranged. 

9. Sacred Paths Yoga – 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training

If you are an adventurous, spiritual seeker looking to awaken, heal and advance your yoga practice then the Sacred Paths Yoga Teacher Training is the course for you! This program promises to help you restore balance and harmony to your daily life, whilst being in the breathtaking surroundings of Mal Pais. With beautiful, secluded beaches a few minutes away you’ll have plenty of time to explore and to connect with the natural world all around you. On your days off delve into another flow-based spiritual practice of surfing at the beaches.

Each day you’ll start with a sunrise meditation to connect with nature and yourself, before going deeper with the physical practice and pranayama. Sacred Paths recommend the training to anyone, from beginners to advanced practitioners, as modifications and variations are offered throughout. Trainees are taught how to teach accessible classes for all. Peer teaching, coursework and evaluation are modalities used to help students get the most from the course before their certification. Integrated into the course are the Yoga Sutras and other ancient texts, in-depth anatomy, the 4 Elements philosophy and Earth Medicine, the Art of Teaching and Alignment, daily intention setting, kirtan, music and dance. Students will be taught the Sacred Vinyasa Flow sequence, traditional Hatha, Restorative, Yin and Prenatal Yoga.

There is also guidance on how to create unique classes once qualified. Education is also given on Ayurveda, chakras, bandhas, and yogic cleansing techniques. Another highlight of the course is experiencing multiple sacred ceremonies, from Full Moon, New Moon, Earth Gratitude and Water Blessing ceremonies. Prices start from $2300 and payment plans are accepted. Courses run with a team of experienced teachers from January 2022 right through until November 2022. The course is run from the Indigo Yoga Resort which houses a pool and café amongst the rainforest. The open-air Shala is tucked away from the rest of the resort to give a quiet atmosphere to learn, study and grow.

Accommodation is not included in the price, but the resort offers triple, double and single cosy rooms. Three organic vegetarian meals made from locally grown produce are included in the room price. 

10. Soma Yoga Institute – Therapeutic 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training

  Soma Yoga Institute welcome you to join their 18-day teacher training which uses the practice of yoga as a framework for overall holistic health. Let Soma Yoga Institute guide you in how to use yoga as a vehicle of transformation and vibrant health, all within a therapeutic manner. This will truly help you as step towards self-empowerment. All levels of Vinyasa, Restorative, Hatha, Nidra, Senior, and gentle styles of yoga are taught. Students will also be taught how to teach alignment-based classes as well as the foundational postures of yoga.

How to modify postures to suit all bodies, poses for pregnancy and how to adapt postures for those with injuries are detailed within the curriculum. Study the art of sequencing, how to meet the needs of your students, breath-work, mantra, meditation practices, and anatomy to keep your future students safe. Important topics such as the business of yoga and how to build a yoga community are also included within the program. Benefits of the course include a comprehensive 200-page training manual, post-training mentorships as requested and 6 months of access to all the training content online. The course is held at the eco-resort of Zen Spirit in Playa Costa de Oro on the Nicoya Peninsula.

The resort is a magical place, that is so serene you’ll get the chance to reconnect to nature and everything around you. It seamlessly blends rustic charm with modern amenities to help you embrace the natural surroundings and slip into full relaxation. Zen Spirit is the only resort at the Costa de Oro beach, so you’ll have miles of golden sands to yourself! In your spare time try riding the waves, kayak, explore the mangroves or waterfalls and hike in the area. Nearby is the Cabo Blanco National Park, Caletas Ario Wildlife Refuge, and the Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve. Accommodation is included in the price and there are quadruple, triple, double and single beds available. Facilities at the resort include an outdoor swimming pool, café, garden, restaurant, yoga Shala, meditation garden, laundry and internet access.

The course package includes 6-month access to the course content online, 17 nights accommodation at Zen Spirit eco-resort, 2 delicious and healthy meals a day, use of the resort’s facilities, post-training mentorship as required, and a comprehensive yoga training manual. Prices start from $4297, with courses starting in December 2022.

Reference: https://www.allyogatraining.com/best-ytt-costa-rica.html