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Costa Yoga School: Self Paced Online 200 Hour YTT

A self-paced 200-hour yoga teacher training in gentle Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Yoga, with emphasis on accessibility and the full eight limbs of yoga. Covers philosophy, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, and teaching methodology. Includes one-on-one mentorship with Mandy Lawson and leads to Yoga Alliance RYT-200 registration.

Duration: 200h
Certification: accredited certification
Format: self-paced
Skill level: beginner, intermediate
Career pathway: training

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Course program

The Self Paced Online 200 Hour YTT by Costa Yoga School is a Yoga Alliance-approved teacher training led by E-RYT 500 Mandy Lawson. The program is grounded in the belief that yoga is for every body, blending science-based anatomy with the full eight limbs of yoga to prepare graduates to teach gentle, accessible classes.

The training is for students at every level, including those with no prior experience or credentials. It suits aspiring teachers seeking a flexible path into the profession and practitioners who want to deepen their personal practice without necessarily teaching. Many students take the program purely to deepen their understanding of yoga, not to teach.

The curriculum covers the full practice of yoga rather than focusing exclusively on postures. Students study the eight limbs, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the six branches of yoga, yoga lineage and history, and the major yogic texts. Meditation instruction includes mindfulness meditation and Metta meditation, and pranayama study covers breathing techniques used throughout the training.

On the movement side, the training focuses on gentle Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Yoga. Students work with approximately 50 accessible asanas that can be offered in classes of any level, using breath, internal focus, body awareness, and mindfulness to scale difficulty. Anatomy is a core component, alongside chakra studies and bandha work. Teaching methodology covers the role of the yoga teacher, scope of practice, class design for Vinyasa Flow and Restorative sequences, adjustments, use of music, ethics, and considerations for specialized populations. The program also includes an introduction to business fundamentals for new teachers.

The program is led by Mandy Lawson, E-RYT 500, RYCT, YACEP. Canadian-born and based in Costa Rica for nearly a decade, Mandy has more than 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry and has been teaching yoga for over nine years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is a certified Hypnotherapist. Her teaching centers on making yoga accessible to every body.

The format is fully self-paced and online, with no set completion timeline. Students receive pre-recorded lectures, recorded practices with Mandy, a printable PDF training manual, written assignments, and a required reading list of four yoga philosophy and anatomy books. Lifetime access to all materials is included, along with a Facebook support community. One-on-one access to Mandy via email and Zoom is part of the tuition, both during the training and as ongoing mentorship afterward.

Meet your teacher

Mandy Lawson

Mandy Lawson is the founder of Costa Yoga School. Canadian-born and based in Costa Rica for nearly a decade, she holds E-RYT 500, RYCT, and YACEP credentials and has taught yoga for over nine years. Her focus is making yoga accessible to all bodies.

Host reviews

Rebecca Vanech

Verified user

Mandy has a warm and welcoming personality and made herself accessible throughout the training, but the best part was how well she was able to break down the material so anyone could understand it. I loved the balance between yogic philosophy and asana styles while hitting home the importance of anatomy. Thanks to Mandy I feel confident I can design yoga classes around my students' needs. Whether you're just starting your yoga journey or looking to refresh your skills, I highly recommend training with Mandy.
Erin Stevenson

Verified user

In a moment of time and life that was the most challenging of all, I was fortunate enough to be able to take Costa Yoga's 300-hour online training. During the pandemic I dove into this deeper study of yoga philosophy and way of life that I never really knew existed. I had always thought of yoga just as movement and stretching, but have come to realize just how much more it is. This training is not only worth the time and the financial investment, but it truly helps bring awareness to how full circle a yoga practice is to the meaning and quality of life.