May we find the courage to let go of who we think we’re supposed to be so that we can fully embrace our authentic selves —the imperfect, the creative, the vulnerable, the powerful, the broken, and the beautiful.
May we show ourselves and others the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle.
May we create a just and equitable world where privilege isn’t a prerequisite for self-expression and authenticity, where everyone feels invited and safe to express their power and their vulnerability.
And last, may we experience the strength of connection, the love of belonging, and the grace of pure joy.
Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
Our Mission
We believe that yoga is both an art and a science. In our Advanced Teacher Training Program, we provide students with an opportunity to build upon the material introduced in a 200 hr Teacher Training, integrate what they’ve learned through practical application and support the development of students’ individual voice and style. Through classes, workshops, group meetings, apprenticeship and a special project, students refine their teaching skills, identify areas of expertise and become part of a supportive forum for advanced inquiry.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your own yoga practice or advance your teaching skills, the 300/500-Hour Shanti Yoga Teacher Training will help you distinguish yourself as a unique and inspired teacher by building your confidence in advanced elements of yoga, enhancing your skills and knowledge, and cultivating your authentic teaching style.
As yoga grows in popularity, students and studios expect teachers to have in-depth training and the ability to teach to wider varieties of students, beginners, advanced practitioners, those with unique limitations or special needs. This training is designed for yoga teachers already certified at the 200-hour level, you will graduate as a certified 300/500-hour Shanti Yoga teacher prepared to take your teaching to the next level and discover new realms of your personal practice.
Our Faculty
We are very proud of our advanced training faculty. All hold ERYT500 and YACEP registration with Yoga Alliance with whom Shanti Yoga Teacher Training has been registered with since 2008. Lead teacher, Debbi Murphy, holds a doctorate in Exercise Science and a masters in Counseling. She has over 40 years of teaching experience and continues her education with advanced trainings. Other 300 hour faculty hold advanced training in specific areas: Kimberly Azzarito, Dr Jaclyn Cooperrider, Dr. Angela Young, and Bill Dial.
Our Program
Similar to a graduate school model, students are encouraged to study a great reservoir of teachings, specialize in a particular area which will culminate in the development of a “thesis” or special project. Our job is to facilitate this process, much as a dissertation supervisor would, helping students create a project that is as enlightening and educational to prepare as it is for those to whom it is presented. By first imitating, then integrating and finally innovating, our objective is to help each student create their own “brushstroke” on the constantly evolving art and science of yoga. In this training, you will
• Deepen your knowledge of teaching postures in more advanced ways
• Experience various transformational teaching methodologies, class designs, and
approaches to sequencing
• Build on your understanding of experiential anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology to
maximize benefits and create safety for all students
• Explore applied yogic philosophy
• Yoga Therapy: Develop skills for working with special populations
• Gain extensive practice one-on-one with your students
• Learn advanced pranayama, meditation and asanas.
Format
- Online Platform with Written Material, Videos and Written Inquiries.
- Apprenticing – Advanced students can work with any of the Shanti Yoga School faculty as assistants if approved. Terms of how this will work vary with each teacher.
- Book Discussions – 300 hour participants will have the opportunity to discuss a question related to the books from the reading lists. These book discussion sessions are both live stream and via the Community Forum. To prepare, consider: General Who is the author? What is their background? (Nationality, political persuasion, training, intellectual interests, personal history, and historical context may provide crucial details about how a work takes shape. A brief summary of the content & overall theme (or purpose). Critical assessment of the content. This involves your reactions to the work under review: what strikes you as noteworthy, whether or not it was effective or persuasive, and how it enhanced your understanding of the issues at hand. You should answer: Does the author successfully state & support their thesis? How has this book helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend the book to others? Pick out quotes that support your assessment or that you find to be important. I suggest that you use a “Book Review” journal for these reactions.
- Special Project/Thesis – 300 hr students will select an area of interest to become their specialization and a topic for their project. This project can take the form of an audio, written or visual discussion of the topic.
- Practicum – Tools for Transformational Teaching
Refine your own teaching style with Practicums that include the opportunity to
receive feedback on word choice and tone of voice, integration of anatomical study as well as sutras, poetry, koans and key teachings from the yoga tradition in a way that is not pedantic or “preachy”. Learn various transformational teaching methodologies, class designs, and experiment with various sequencing techniques including how to present workshops and themed series. These hours will be a mix between (1) analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques, and (2) guided practice of the techniques themselves. Each of the lessons will offer opportunities in this category.
Curriculum Attributes
Open to 200-hour-certified teachers from any tradition, the 300-Hour Shanti Yoga Teacher Training consists of 300 hours of Yoga Alliance-approved content that, when combined with your 200-hour training, delivers a comprehensive and advanced 300-hour certification. The curriculum is offered in Courses, which can be taken in any order as well as Practicum work.
300 hr students who received their Yoga Alliance Certification from other schools will need to complete the quizzes from the Shanti Yoga School 200 hour program. All students will need to accrue a total of 300 training hours on top of their 200 hour program hours. Each of the following Courses provides training hours and is designed to advance your practice, teaching skills, and repertoire.
300 Hour Requirements
Shanti Yoga’s 300-Hour Advanced Training is a mentored, flexible, and deeply personalized journey designed to help you cultivate your unique voice and area of specialization. Following Yoga Alliance parameters, this curriculum accommodates both online and in-person learning, allowing you to study under the direct mentorship of Dr. Debbi Murphy and senior faculty from anywhere in the world.
I. Credit Hour Distribution (300 Total Hours)
Hours can be accrued through a blend of synchronous online sessions, independent study, and immersive in-person experiences (including optional intensive training modules with Debbi in Costa Rica). Hours are earned via:
Advanced Workshops: Participation in 200-hour and 300-hour Shanti Yoga School workshops (available via live stream, recording, or in-person).
Practicum Classes: In-person and online classes with approved Shanti instructors and senior faculty.
Mentored Study: Virtual or in-person meetings with the Program Director and mentors to develop, refine, and review your Special Project.
Apprenticeship & Assisting: Assisting and apprenticing with senior teachers in classes and workshops (can be completed locally or during designated intensives).
Enrichment: Book discussions, journaling, and approved external workshops that directly support your chosen specialization.
Prerequisite Note: Completion of Shanti 200-hour requirements (or an approved bridge program if your 200-hour certification isn’t from Shanti).
II. The Special Project & Thesis Presentation (Core Focus)
Much like a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, the Special Project is the cornerstone of your 300-hour certification. This is a deep dive into a specific topic of personal or professional interest that represents your “Specialization Area” (e.g., therapeutic yoga applications, sound biomechanics, or the intersection of psychological frameworks and movement).
Mentorship: You will be paired with Dr. Debbi Murphy or an approved faculty mentor who specializes in your area of interest to guide your research and development.
The Presentation: You will synthesize your research into a workshop format and present it to the community, school directors, and peers.
Format: Presentations can be delivered live in person, live-streamed, or submitted as a video/audio) alongside your written curriculum or script.
III. Book Reviews & Specialization Focus
Select six books to review and submit with your final portfolio.
The Blueprint: At least one of these selections must directly support your Special Project topic to build your academic foundation.
Flexibility: You are encouraged to propose new or unlisted titles as they emerge in the field, subject to director approval.
The Reflection: Each review must analyze what you learned, how it intersects with your teaching philosophy, and its application to your personal svadhyaya (self-study).
IV. Written Inquiries
The 300-hour online platform includes a contemplative inquiry for each section. You are expected to provide a short written reflection for each. These are designed to provoke critical, creative thinking and psychological depth rather than yield a “right or wrong” answer.
V. Apprenticeship & Community Mentoring
Assisting: Serve as an assistant to a senior teacher during classes or workshops to refine your hands-on adjusting, sequencing observation, and classroom management skills.
Peer Mentoring (Optional): You may choose to be assigned “mentees” from the 200-hour program. Guiding these students through their journey provides them with valuable support, while allowing you to log these mentorship hours as “teaching hours” toward Yoga Alliance’s 100-hour teaching requirement.
VI. The Final Graduation Portfolio
To graduate, students will compile and digitally submit a comprehensive portfolio containing:
A Complete Hour Log: Documentation of all contact and independent study hours (including observation logs for approved outside workshops).
Academic Submissions: All six book reviews and the written manual inquiries.
Special Project Archive: The complete written thesis/curriculum, outline, and a digital recording (video or audio) of the final workshop presentation.
Program Reflection: A closing essay summarizing your growth and evolution through the program.
