skill in action

300-hour training

cultivating skill in action: 
advanced yoga training for enrichment, continuing education and authentic living

open format program 

All dedicated students of yoga and certified yoga teachers from any style are welcome to join us for our advanced training and deeper study modules. You may participate in our programs as elective hours toward your certification, collect hours for CE, or attend as a student for your own pleasure and knowledge. Some modules have extensive teaching components, while others include no teaching at all. If you have questions about course content, contact Kathleen for more information. We hope you will join us and dive deeper into the philosophy and practices of yoga.

teaching assessments

We strongly believe that it is always necessary to refine your teaching skills and methodology, as well as deepen your personal practice and define and redefine your intentions as a teacher. Committing to the craft requires dedication and a willingness to improve. Senior teaching staff at blue lotus offer teaching assessments (scheduled at your convenience) in which you’ll teach a full class and receive personalized, constructive feedback on your current teaching skills. This assessment counts for three CE hours, costs $240 and includes both a detailed written assessment and 1:1 personal review session.

mentorship

There is perhaps no better way to advance your teaching and deepen your practice than to establish a one-on-one relationship with a senior teacher. The mentorship experience is designed to help you along your path as both teacher and practitioner of yoga. Your mentor will work with you on specific topics, which may include: personal practice, teaching methodology, class sequencing, posture alignment, studentship, applied philosophy and paths of study. Multiple options for course of study are available. Contact us for details.

areas of study

blue lotus advanced training offerings are all open-format, meaning you can attend modules in any order, without pre-requisites. These are the areas of study we feel are essential for every teacher of yoga.

Tradition and Sources of Yoga

  • Sanskrit: Deepen your understanding of the sacred language – and history – from which our modern yoga practice emerged.
  • Bhagavad Gita: Explore the context of the Gita and some of yoga’s mainstay concepts, such as dharma, karma, non-attachment, and Self.
  • Ayurveda: Dive into the ancient practices of self care and healing that make up yoga’s sister science.
  • Bhakti: Learn more about the devotional path of yoga through kirtan, ritual, and the deities of the yogic traditions.
  • Satsang: Connect with the concept of Sangha—the power and importance of having a community of like-minded individuals to support you on your path.

Teaching Methodology

  • Teachers’ Camp: Refine your teaching methodology skills, and realign your intentions and actions as a practitioner and teacher of yoga.
  • Anatomy Essentials: Deepen and expand your understanding of anatomy and biomechanics.
  • Restorative Yoga Training: Learn the art of healing through restorative and gentle yoga, intentional touch, and guided imagery.
  • Finding Your Voice: Connect with your voice, your truth, and your personal power as a teacher and citizen of the world.

Practice and Technique

  • Weekend of Silent Reflection: Refill your cup and delve into the internal world through silence, meditation, and restorative yoga.
  • Prana: Explore the koshas and vayus, and learn techniques to enhance your connection to Prana.
  • Chakras & the Emotional Body: Learn how to apply chakra theory to teaching, personal practice, and self-expression.

additional content

In addition to our core curriculum, new offerings are regularly introduced to keep even our most seasoned teachers inspired and challenged.

Additional deeper study topics

Rotating content includes, but is not limited to:

  • Private study with approved E-RYT 500 instructor
  • Compassionate Communication & Listening with Integrity
  • Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael Sitzer
  • The Art of Creating a Yoga Class
  • The Business of Yoga
  • Teaching Soul
  • Restorative Yoga Training, Level II
  • What’s Next?
  • Afternoon workshops such as:
    • How to See & What to Say
    • Teaching Beginner Students

tracking your hours and partial attendance

If you are taking workshops or trainings for CE, it’s a good idea for you to track hours as you complete them for submission to the Yoga Alliance.

To receive CE credit, you must attend the program in its entirety, including completing required reading and assignments.

withdrawing from a workshop/refund policy

You will not receive a refund if you withdraw from any workshop or class at blue lotus. Studio credit can sometimes be offered if you cancel your registration well in advance (each workshop will list restrictions on studio credit for cancelation). If you must withdraw from a workshop, you can cancel your registration through our online system — if you cancel early enough to be eligible for studio credit, you must contact Kathleen in order to claim that credit.

If a workshop is canceled by the studio, you will have the option to hold your registration as studio credit or to receive a refund via check.

more information

If you’d like to be placed on our mailing list for advanced training announcements, please provide your email on this simple form. For more information, please visit our FAQ or email us.

cultivating skill in action: 
300-hour curriculum for RYT 500 certification
advanced yoga training for enrichment, continuing education and authentic living

open format program 

All serious students of yoga and yoga teachers from any style of 200-hour training are welcome to join us for our advanced training modules. You may follow the course for certification, collect hours for CE, or attend as a student for your own pleasure and knowledge. Some modules have extensive teaching components, while others include no teaching at all. If you have questions about course content, contact Kathleen for more information. We hope you will join us and dive deeper into the philosophy and practices of yoga.

areas of study and certification hours

Completing this training, you will satisfy all Yoga Alliance requirements for certification at the 500-hour level (RYT500). Your contact hours come through a variety of required and elective workshops; these hours are summarized in the chart below, with more details in the sections that follow.

Please note that hours for individual workshops may vary from year to year, so the hours in this list are approximate:

Initial teaching assessment and final teaching assessment: 4 hours
Required modules (14): 210 hours
Required mentorship: 18 hours
Required posture & assisting clinics: 16 hours
Elective modules: 52+ hours
Total contact hours: 300+

If you choose not to finish the 300-hour training for RYT 500 certification, all of the hours you complete will count as continuing education credit for Yoga Alliance.

initial teaching assessment

Our 300-hour bridge program emphasizes a refinement of your teaching skills and methodology, as well as your personal practice and intentions as a teacher. The registration fee ($240) includes the initial and final teaching assessments, in which you’ll teach a free class at blue lotus and receive personalized, constructive feedback on your current teaching skills. These assessments count as two credit hours each. You’ll have one other required assessment during your mentorship, and you may select to have additional assessments, which count toward elective hours.

required modules

The blue lotus advanced training 300-hour bridge program is open-format, meaning you can attend modules in any order, and may take as long as four (4) years to complete the requirements. As of now, there are fourteen (14) required modules. Each of these modules is offered every one to two years, with hours (currently) as detailed below:

Tradition and Sources of Yoga – 60 hours

  • Sanskrit (10 hours): Deepen your understanding of the sacred language – and history – from which our modern yoga practice emerged.
  • Bhagavad Gita (11 hours): Explore the context of the Gita and some of yoga’s mainstay concepts, such as dharma, karma, non-attachment, and Self.
  • Ayurveda (13 hours): Dive into the ancient practices of self care and healing that make up yoga’s sister science.
  • Bhakti (10 hours): Learn more about the devotional path of yoga through kirtan, ritual, and the deities of the yogic traditions.
  • Satsang (16 hours): Connect with the concept of Sangha—the power and importance of having a community of like-minded individuals to support you on your path.

Teaching Methodology – 100 hours

  • Refine & Align (20 hours): Refine your sequencing and teaching methodology, and realign your intentions and actions as a practitioner and teacher of yoga.
  • The Art & Science of Teaching (13 hours): Improve your skills in body reading, modifying asanas for the individual, and teaching language.
  • Anatomy Essentials (15 hours): Deepen and expand your understanding of anatomy and biomechanics.
  • Restorative Yoga Training (40 hours): Learn the art of healing through restorative and gentle yoga, intentional touch, and guided imagery.
  • Finding Your Voice (12 hours): Connect with your voice, your truth, and your personal power as a teacher and citizen of the world.

Practice and Technique – 52 hours

  • Weekend of Reflection (14 hours): Refill your cup and delve into the internal world through silence, meditation, and restorative yoga.
  • Prana (11 hours): Explore the koshas and vayus, and learn techniques to enhance your connection to Prana.
  • Subtle Practices (12 hours): Learn the practice and theory of mudras, mantra, and yoga nidra, and how they affect the energetic body.
  • Chakras & the Emotional Body (15 hours): Learn how to apply chakra theory to teaching, personal practice, and self-expression.

required mentorship

Eighteen (18) of your contact hours will be drawn from a 12-week, one-on-one mentorship with a blue lotus teacher. This experience is designed to help you along your path as both teacher and practitioner of yoga. Your mentor will work with you on topics most relevant to your individual situation, which may include: personal practice, teaching methodology, hands-on adjustments, class sequencing, posture alignment, studentship and paths of study. You are required to assist your mentor in at least ten of her public classes, receiving feedback and personal guidance on a weekly basis. The mentorship includes two private sessions to monitor your progress and culminates in a full, written teaching assessment.

required posture clinics and hands-on assisting clinics

Four asana workshops and four hands-on assisting workshops (for a total of eight) are offered each year and are required for all students enrolled in the 300-hour program. Each workshop provides two hours of credit.

optional modules and elective hours

The additional 50 hours you need for Yoga Alliance certification at the RYT500 hour level may be collected through workshops and optional weekend modules at blue lotus. You can choose the modules that most suit your areas of interest, or where your previous training may have been incomplete.

Elective weekend modules

Elective weekend modules include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Holding Space
  • Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael Sitzer
  • Yoga and 12-Step Recovery
  • Yoga Outreach Training with Connection Coalition
  • The Art of Creating a Yoga Class
  • The Business of Yoga
  • Teaching Soul
  • Restorative Yoga Training, Level II
  • What’s Next?
  • Afternoon workshops covering:
    • Teaching Prenatal and Postnatal Students
    • Yoga for Osteoporosis
    • Teaching Beginner Students

Other opportunities to earn contact hours

Other ways to earn contact hours include:

  • Private study with approved E-RYT 500 instructor (up to 18 hours)
  • Trainer Position in the blue lotus YTT200 program (25 hours credit)
  • Pre-approved elective modules outside blue lotus (maximum of 12 hours)

For more information, please refer to our Advanced Training FAQ or view this year’s advanced training schedule.

tracking your hours and partial attendance

You do not need to track your hours for workshops completed at blue lotus — we will do that for you. If you take an elective module outside blue lotus, you must track those hours and provide them to us.

To receive YTT300 credit, you must attend the weekend in its entirety, including completing required reading and assignments. Partial attendance is eligible for continuing education credit, but not 300-hour credit. If you cannot complete the whole weekend and are on track for YTT300, we recommend you wait until the next time that module is offered.

withdrawing from a workshop/refund policy

You will not receive a refund if you withdraw from any workshop or class at blue lotus. Studio credit can sometimes be offered if you cancel your registration well in advance (each workshop will list restrictions on studio credit for cancelation). If you must withdraw from a workshop, you can cancel your registration through our online system — if you cancel early enough to be eligible for studio credit, you must contact Kathleen in order to claim that credit.

If a workshop is canceled by the studio, you will have the option to hold your registration as studio credit or to receive a refund via check.

additional requirements for RYT500 certification

For RYT500 Certification, you must complete these additional requirements:

  • 40-day practice journal – dedicated practice, completed over 40 consecutive days, of a specific mantra or meditation technique
  • Written logs (over a minimum of 18 months) for:
    • Asana practice – minimum of 30 minutes, 3 times per week
    • Meditation practice – minimum of 15 minutes, 5 times per week
    • Teaching public classes – 100 hours

completing your training and registering with Yoga Alliance

After you’ve completed your 300 contact hours, you will submit your written logs and complete your final teaching assessment.

With all course requirements complete, you will be provided with a digital (PDF) file of your 300-hour certificate. Yoga Alliance requires you to upload this file, along with an upgrade fee to change your registration to RYT 500. Additionally, they require you to log at least 100 teaching hours on their database. More information on upgrading your registration can be found on the Yoga Alliance website.

more information

If you’d like to be placed on our mailing list for advanced training announcements, please provide your email on this simple form. For more information, please visit our FAQ or email us.

FAQ
300-hour program (RYS 300)

What is the Advanced Training program, and who is it for?

There are three segments of our student population for whom we are offering this program:

  • Dedicated Students – Longtime practitioners of yoga who are not interested in teaching yoga, but who want to dive deeper into the richness of yoga in a way we cannot explore in regular classes.
  • Yoga Teachers, continuing education – Teachers at any level, of every style, who understand the importance of always being a student and enriching their own practice and enhancing their teaching skills. Appropriate for those who need RYT 200 CEU to keep their Yoga Alliance status current.
  • Yoga Teachers, 500-hour candidates – RYT 200 certified teachers who would like to complete the additional 300 hours for RYT 500 certification, who are looking for an in-depth training to take their practice and teaching to the next level.

What is the difference between required and elective hours?

We refer to modules as required only if you are completing the training for YTT300. In this case, there are 14 required modules, which fall into three categories. LINK TO REQUIREMENT CHART

  • Tradition and Sources of Yoga: 5 modules, 60 hours
  • Teaching Methodology: 5 modules, 100 hours
  • Practice and Technique: 4 modules, 52 hours

The 14 modules included in these three categories represent what we believe to be the core foundation for a solid yoga instructor of any style: alignment and body reading, applied anatomy, concentrated teaching skills, meditation and pranayama, service, therapeutics, traditional study and community.

Elective hours refer to opportunities you have to collect additional hours in workshops, series classes, and even retreats offered throughout the year at blue lotus. If a workshop provides YTT300 credit hours for participation, you’ll see YTT300 – x hours at the bottom of the course description on the blue lotus Workshop Schedule, where you register for the class.

And what if I am not interested in certification?

If certification is not your goal, you have the freedom to take only the segments you are interested in — there is no application process or registration other than simply signing up for a module! Some segments, such as Therapeutic Yoga and Refine & Align have significant teaching-related components. Other modules have no teaching component whatsoever. If you have questions about a specific workshop, please contact us.

How do we track hours?

You do not need to track your hours for workshops completed at blue lotus — we will do that for you. If you take an elective module outside blue lotus, you must provide a certificate of training to us.

What is the application process for YTT300?

There is no application for YTT300 if you are registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT 200. However, you must register for the program to begin accruing hours. To do this, send us an e-mail and include your contact information: name, address, phone, email, emergency contact and relevant current health status (and a copy of your YTT200 certificate if you did not train at blue lotus). The registration fee is $240, which includes both your initial and your final teaching assessments, which together count as four of your training contact hours. Again, please note that hour counting begins with registration. No hours are given for trainings completed before registration.

How long does it take to complete the program?

On the short side, you can finish the program in 24 months, depending on when you start and what modules you take. On the long side, you may take up to four years to finish. Either way, you must complete a minimum of 30 hours of training at blue lotus each year to keep your registration active.

When does it start?

There is no set start date for the program. You may take one module in isolation for your own enrichment, take every module, or pick and choose workshops and trainings that interest you. There is no enrollment or registration process unless you are interested in YTT300 certification.

What if I can’t attend the entire weekend?

To receive YTT300 credit, you must complete the weekend in its entirety, including required reading and assignments. Partial attendance is eligible for continuing education credit, but not for 300-hour credit. If you cannot complete the whole weekend and are on track for YTT300, we recommend you wait until the next time that module is offered.

Is there a refund if I have to cancel my participation in a training?

You will not receive a refund if you withdraw from any workshop or class at blue lotus. Studio credit can sometimes be offered if you cancel your registration well in advance of the workshop (each workshop will list restrictions on studio credit for cancellation). If you must withdraw from a workshop, you can cancel your registration through our online system—if you cancel early enough to be eligible for studio credit, you must contact blue lotus in order to claim that credit.

If a workshop is canceled by the studio, you will have the option to hold your registration as studio credit or to receive a refund via check.

Must I have RYT 200 certification to participate?

Many modules are open to all dedicated students, regardless of training. It will be clearly indicated in the workshop description it RYT 200 certification is a pre-requisite.

How often are the required modules offered?

Most modules are offered every other year.

Can I get credit for training I have done in the past?

No. We feel that continuing education is a lifetime of work. All the training you have done is beneficial and has helped to get you to where you are now. Hour counting for YTT300 begins with your registration.

I understand there are fourteen (14) required modules and then additional elective hours. Can I get these elective hours somewhere other than blue lotus?

You may receive credit for a maximum of 12 elective hours outside of blue lotus, as long as they are from a pre-approved source. Those who live outside of the Triad-to-the-coast region may collect a maximum of 50 elective hours outside of blue lotus. Outside elective hours must qualify as advanced trainings at another studio or training center and be pre-approved. In general, workshops that are asana-only that have no additional educational content – such as Master Classes – are not eligible for 300-hour credit.

I really just want to do this for personal development. What are the requirements?

There are no requirements if you are participating in modules for your own personal development. If you are not looking for formal certification, the amount of outside work, daily practice, reading, and writing assignments you complete is entirely up to you. However, if you change your mind in the future, you will have to re-take incomplete modules in their entirety in order to receive credit.

Do you offer financial aid for YTT300?

Although we have work-trade and partial scholarships for our YTT200 program, at this time we do not offer financial aid for YTT300, as it is a pay-as-you-go system. We do, however, offer an Early Bird discount for most modules, which can provide you savings if you can plan your participation in a module at least 30 days prior to its start.

What is the schedule?

The program is an open system — you can take any module, in any order. Required modules will be offered at regular intervals and are noted as such. For module details and to register for a training or workshop, please visit our Online Schedule. Early bird discounts apply for up to one month prior to the start date. For the current list of offerings, visit the training schedule.

Have more questions? Please email us!