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Soma Yoga Institute: 200 Hour In-Person Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training

Course program

The 200-Hour In-Person Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training from Soma Yoga Institute is a Yoga Alliance-accredited program delivered as an immersive residential retreat in locations including California, Greece, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. The program blends alignment-based Hatha and Vinyasa yoga with a therapeutic, biomechanically informed approach, preparing graduates to teach yoga that stays safe and sustainable for a lifetime of practice.

This training is for students at any level (beginners to advanced practitioners aged 17 to 70+), aspiring yoga teachers, existing teachers seeking a therapeutic foundation, and personal practitioners wanting to deepen their understanding of yoga, anatomy, and self-inquiry in an immersive retreat format. No prior credentials are required.

The curriculum covers alignment-based Hatha and Vinyasa flow, restorative yoga, and postures from every major category, including standing poses, hip openers, forward and backward bends, twists, inversions, balancing, supine, seated, and prone work. Anatomy and biomechanically informed alignment principles run through the whole training, with specific modifications for seniors, prenatal students, and common injuries.

Beyond asana, the program covers pranayama and meditation techniques, yoga philosophy drawing on Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali, and the Chakra system, along with mantra and contemplative practices. Students also study class sequencing, teaching methodology, and the business of yoga and community building, with a focus on graduating confident and well-prepared to lead classes.

The program is led by a faculty of Certified Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT) and E-RYT 500 master teachers, many with more than 20 to 25 years of teaching experience. Lead faculty include Liz Heffernan (Founder and Director) and Peggy Profant (C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Certified Anusara Instructor), supported by additional senior teachers across locations. Class sizes are typically 15 to 22 students.

The training is a full in-person residential immersion running approximately 18 days at each location. Tuition is all-inclusive of food, housing, and the training itself, with accommodation options ranging from offsite commuting through shared group housing and camping to private rooms. Students also receive a 250-page manual, 6 months of online content access after the retreat, and ongoing mentoring.

The curriculum covers alignment-based Hatha and Vinyasa flow, restorative yoga, and postures from every major category, including standing poses, hip openers, forward and backward bends, twists, inversions, balancing, supine, seated, and prone work. Anatomy and biomechanically informed alignment principles run through the whole training, with specific modifications for seniors, prenatal students, and common injuries.

Beyond asana, the program covers pranayama and meditation techniques, yoga philosophy drawing on Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali, and the Chakra system, along with mantra and contemplative practices. Students also study class sequencing, teaching methodology, and the business of yoga and community building, with a focus on graduating confident and well-prepared to lead classes.

Meet your teacher

Liz Heffernan

Liz Heffernan is the founder and director of Soma Yoga Institute. An E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT Yoga Therapist with 25+ years of teaching experience, she specializes in therapeutic alignment, biomechanical safety, and adaptive yoga for all bodies.

Read more about Liz
Liz Heffernan

Host reviews

  • Ellyn Gaughan

    Ellyn Gaughan

    Verified user

    I absolutely love the vibe of working one on one and everything learned in this module made it easy for me to put together sequences for my private client volunteer (who's still coming back for more). The benefit of working one on one is you really get to see results. Every time we meet we check in first and I'm just thrilled with the positive feedback from someone who really needed some positivity in her life.

  • Miriam Marshwood

    Miriam Marshwood

    Verified user

    Peggy is a superb excellent teacher. Not only is she highly knowledgable and experienced in teaching and training others, she delivers material very well, easy to follow, and uses training tools such as slides and handouts which promotes the efficacy of her teaching. She is pleasant and gladly responds to questions with clarity and completeness. She is a great asset to the SOMA institute. I much love and enjoy her practices.

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