The Top Yoga Teacher Trainings in 2022

“Where did you do your yoga training – and where should I do mine?”

I get asked this question pretty much every week.

If this is you…

It’s a question I’ll never tire of hearing – because it means 3 EPIC THINGS are happening:

1. You not only dabble in yoga – you love it so much you want to dive in headfirst.
2. Your life is never going to be the same. The inner work that goes into a yoga teacher training is a big deal – and it has ripple effects out into pretty much every area of your life. Breakups, makeups, start-ups, and relocations may feature heavily – and if they do, don’t be surprised.
3. The world is never going to be the same. Again – the ripple effect. There’s 300 million people getting their asana on right now. And every single person who goes beyond asana becomes yet another drop for the ripples. Yet another catalyst for the world to become a little less crazy, a lot more kind.

Before we dive in:

Anyone who knows me know I love a good disclaimer. It’s classic “He’s Not that Into You”… there’s always an exception to the rule.

So although I’m stamping approval on my ultimate yoga trainings in 2022 – at the same time I want to highlight the fact that there are probably epic trainings that slipped under my radar. And also – while I have the highest regards for all the main teachers of these courses – a yoga teacher training will ALWAYS be a personal experience.  Things change, people change, roles change, courses change.

So take what you love, leave what you don’t, and above all – listen to your own intuition to help you make the right decision.

One more thing:

The Yoga Alliance is often considered the established mark of approval for teacher trainings. It’s one of the most recognized yoga institutions in the world, and historically it’s been helpful to certify yoga schools based on their curriculum.

Problem is, with the explosion of teacher trainings all over the world, it’s no longer as clear whether the Yoga Alliance still has much power to regulate the quality of courses. I kind of think of it a little like the blue Instagram tick – it’s cool to be verified, but a RYT verification alone isn’t enough to decide whether a training is on point.

Saying that: there are still some yoga studios and insurance policies that only accept certified RYT trainers. It’s not a blanket rule – I’ve never had a studio ask if my trainings were RYT (they all were, though)  – but it’s definitely one of those things to consider before do your teacher training.

Okay. You ready for this? Let’s dive in – my top picks for yoga teacher trainings in 2022.

In no particular order:

The Lowdown:

Briohny Smyth has been building teacher trainings and online content for over 10 years (she’s got lots of free videos on Youtube if you want to get a taste of the way that she educates. Think clear, personable, and practical trainings.) She’s also got nearly 200 yoga videos on Alo Moves which you get access to when you sign up for her training. At the moment, her 200-RYT is completely online – but her team has confirmed that there is a blended option in the works if you want an in-person experience.

A good fit if:

You’re good at making your own deadlines, you want to train completely online, and you want a completely self-paced course, this is for you.

The Lowdown:

Created by Christian Coelho and Mona Godfrey – both who have decades of experience teaching yoga and leading teacher trainings. I’ve personally taken classes with both of these inspiring humans and I can only imagine the kind of attention and respect to the ritual of teaching that they would help their students learn. They’ve also built in a BIPOC scholarship as part of their commitment to inclusivity.

A good fit if:

You live in London or can access it on weekends, you have +2 years of regular practice in yoga asana, and you want a course that feels immersive but doesn’t require you to abandon work for a month.  

The Lowdown:

I’ve had close friends take their first trainings with Sampoorna and come out with glowing reviews. Sampoorna has been hosting YTTs for years now and they probably have the most dates available to fit schedules – they operate courses every month from September – May each year. They also have accommodation on site, and they host trainings on both sides of the globe (India and Costa Rica).

They do have options to do a blended and online version of their courses which could be worth checking out too (although the reviews I’ve had for Sampoorna have always been for their live trainings, so if you can, I’d definitely recommend in-person.)

A good fit if:

You can take 3 weeks away, you want to do your training in India, and you are drawn to a training that has roots in Indian yogic tradition.

The Lowdown:

Like most of the trainings on this page, I’ve had personal clients and friends who have gone through this course and adored it. I’ve met or moved with a good portion of the faculty on this course – both Katarina and Helen are beautiful movers and teachers – and they have a dedicated teacher for anatomy (which all too often is often one of the areas that YTTs fall down on. It makes me smile to think of the well-rounded support system they’re able to provide for their students.

A good fit if:

You can access London once a month for 6 months, you want to start your training rooted in an anatomy base, and you’re interested in successful examples of feminine led training.

The Lowdown:

First of all, it’s in Bali, which is basically paradise. I’ve been personally recommended it by friends who have come back singing its praises. Eoin Finn has been teaching yoga trainings for over 20 years, so it’s safe to say he’s had his fair share of teaching experience . Finn’s surfer roots ensure that there’s a strong link to sustainability and especially care for the oceans.

A good fit if:

You’re able to access Bali, your diary has space for a 3 week immersive and you like your yoga with a side of surf.

The Lowdown:

When I was just getting started teaching, Marcus was one of the first yoga teachers I started practicing with religiously. In the literal sense – we used to do 4 1/2 hours every Sunday afternoon, just because. He also was a guest teacher on my Rocket training – I think he taught me my first chinstand – but over the last few years he’s transitioned from teacher to developing his own yoga school, together with Hannah Whittingham. If you prefer your teaching candid and you love a solid serving of bad dad jokes mixed in with your compression drills – this could be the one. The teaching also has nods to Iyengar Yoga and Embodied Yoga (body therapy skills).

A good fit if:

You have access to London, you want a training that finds the line between tradition and modern application, and you like the idea of spreading out your course over 4 months along with a 1 week immersion.

The Lowdown:

Founded by artist and movement teacher Talia Sutra, this immersion takes place in Jerusalem and goes beyond the standard pre-requisites of a YTT – i.e. addressing both Western and Eastern anatomy viewpoints, touching on Ayurveda, and bringing in Talia’s Method of Backbending and Inversions. Don’t be intimidated by Talia’s personal practice though – although she has a myriad of movement disciplines up her sleeve, she teaches from a place of ahimsa – never forcing, always learning.

A good fit if:

Jerusalem is on your bucket list, you’re interested in exploring a vegan lifestyle, and you can carve out time for an intensive rather than a spread-out program.

Last thoughts:

I can’t help but say it again: at the end of the day, your intuition is the most important thing you have to guide you in your decisions. It will always overrule someone else’s recommendation: so do your own research, chat to the teachers you’re considering training with, and at the end of the day listen to your heart. It’s more intelligent than you realise x