Freedom at Vida Asana 300-Hour Teacher Training

Summary

What Your Tuition Includes

• An incredible 25 days of yoga teacher training, fully certified by Yoga Alliance, with free time to explore the gorgeous rainforest and local beaches.
• Lodging and all meals daily at Vida Asana in Costa Rica, with lodging package.
• Group airport shuttle from and to the airport.

We are teachers who are eager to share the transformation and wonders yoga has done for our lives. Come and experience the shift of living from fear to pure LOVE. This will be a beautiful journey and we are super excited to meet you! Vida Asana is known for our family atmosphere and in particular our food. Everyone here is family and we can wait to have you join us. We encourage you to check out our reviews on Tripadvisor and Yoga Alliance to read directly from former students and guests about the experience here.

Schedule

Your day will include two yoga practices, one challenging class and one gentler class along with meditation to increase awareness. Deepening in yoga philosophy, ayurveda, methodology, anatomy, and alignment.

The schedule can always undergo a small change, but in general:

• 5:30am – Coffe, tea, juice, and fruit available.  Wake up to the sounds of nature and start your day with a refreshing morning yoga practice in our outdoor yoga shala.

• 6:00am – Morning meditation, and yoga practice.
• 8:30am – Enjoy a delicious breakfast made from locally sourced and organic ingredients, followed by some free time to relax, journal, or explore the surrounding area.
• 9:30am – Gather for a morning lecture or workshop with one of our experienced teachers. Topics might include yoga philosophy, anatomy, teaching methodology, or business management.
• 11:30am – Practice teaching session, where you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in a supportive and encouraging environment. Receive feedback from your teachers and fellow students to help you refine your teaching skills.
• 1:00pm – Enjoy a healthy and nourishing lunch, followed by some free time to rest, connect with others, or explore the area.
• 2:00pm – Afternoon lecture or workshop, focusing on a different aspect of yoga or teaching. These sessions may be more interactive and may include group discussions, partner work, or other activities
• 5:00pm – Evening yoga practice, focused on different aspects of yoga such as meditation, pranayama, or restorative yoga.
• 6:30pm – Enjoy a delicious vegetarian or vegan dinner with your fellow students and teachers, followed by some free time to socialize, study, or relax.
• 7:30pm – Optional evening activity, such as a group meditation, yoga nidra, or movie night.

THE MODULES

Module 1: Techniques, Training and Practice

At Freedom YTT, we strongly believe that true efficiency in teaching can only be achieved when we personally integrate the subject matter. That is why our morning yoga sessions are entirely dedicated to the alignment of intermediate/advanced poses. During these classes, you can anticipate a workshop-style experience, where our skilled instructors utilize various techniques to guide you in safely mastering the poses. We aim to equip you with the knowledge and expertise needed to teach them effectively.

Module 2: Teaching Methodology 

In our 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program, we focus on empowering you with in-depth skills necessary to thrive as a successful yoga teacher. Throughout the course, you will gain knowledge and expertise in creating different type of sequencing like:

Peak-pose class: You will learn how to effectively structure a yoga class in a safe and intelligent manner. Through various exercises and drills, you will have ample opportunities to practice the sequencing skills taught during the lecture sessions.

Anatomy-based class: Our verbal skills workshops will help you discover and cultivate your unique teaching style. You will identify common mistakes and receive guidance on delivering impactful verbal instructions during a yoga class.

Theme-based class: You will be trained on different modalities for demonstrating yoga postures. You will learn how to effectively execute demonstrations, explore the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and receive valuable feedback from your peers.

Alignment-based class: you will acquire techniques for adjusting basic poses and gain a thorough understanding of the important considerations related to adjustments.

All-inclusive: Learn to craft a class designed to guide your students in a session that encompasses a wide range of pose categories. Picture it as a thoughtfully curated blend that skillfully progresses in complexity, allowing you to learn the art of seamlessly incorporating diverse yoga poses into your practice.

Ayurvedic Dosha Workshop: Explore the art of designing classes tailored to specific Ayurvedic doshas, whether it’s Kapha, Pitta, or Vata. Join us to deepen your understanding and skill in crafting yoga sessions aligned with individual doshic energies.

Presentation Workshop: Acquire the expertise to craft compelling and impactful presentations tailored for your workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings.

To ensure a comprehensive learning experience, all classes follow a format that includes both lectures and practical sessions. This allows you to integrate the teachings, receive feedback from your fellow trainees, as well as your assigned teachers.

Module 3: Anatomy and Physiology

Embark on an engaging and enjoyable anatomy and physiology workshops that go beyond the typical lecture format. Deepen your anatomical understanding through immersive didactic workshops in our Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program. Dive into the latest insights on strength and flexibility, delving into up-to-date data. Gain invaluable insights into addressing common ailments of our generation and uncover how yoga can serve as a potent ally in overcoming these challenges. Experience hands-on adjustments from a meticulously crafted anatomical perspective, allowing you to equip yourself with the precise methods needed to skillfully guide students dealing with the most prevalent injuries. Elevate your teaching prowess and confidently navigate the intricacies of anatomy in the realm of yoga instruction.

Module 4: Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics for Yoga Teachers

At the heart of our program lies a commitment to preserving the purity of yoga, minimizing dilution by delivering lectures that pay homage to tradition, ensuring authenticity. This module delves into the profound depths of classical Saiva Tantra, providing students with knowledge that sparks inquiry and fosters self-awareness for transformative insights.

Exploring the intricate world of Ayurveda, the sister philosophy of yoga, this module equips you with a diverse array of tools for personal growth and for guiding your students. Our passionate and skilled instructors transform the often dense and academic philosophy into an “easy-to-digest” format that is not only accessible but also practical for integrating into your daily life.

The teachings of tantric yoga and Ayurveda within this module aim to unveil the often-hidden majesty residing at the core of our being, facilitating a profound journey of self-discovery.

Food

During this training, you will be served three delicious organic homemade meals daily, using recipes from Vida Asana Yoga Retreat cookbook and healthful eating guide Sustenance

Location

Vida Asana is located in the beautiful coastal town of Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, surrounded by lush jungle and just a short walk from the beach. The peaceful and serene environment provides the perfect backdrop for deepening your yoga practice and connecting with nature.

Playa Hermosa is truly a special place, and the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle and beach provides a unique and inspiring setting for yoga practice and personal growth. The tranquil atmosphere and connection with nature can help students to deepen their yoga practice, quiet their minds, and find inner peace. At Vida Asana, we strive to create a welcoming and supportive community that encourages personal growth and transformation in this beautiful natural setting.

Cancellation Policy Specific to Freedom

• 100% deposit refund for cancellation 60+ days before the training start date.
• 50% deposit refund for cancellation 30-59 days before the training start date.
• 0% deposit refund for cancellation 0-29 days before the training start date.

Teachers

Alejandra Torres

Ale, a native of Costa Rica, resides in the picturesque region of Playa Hermosa in the Central Pacific. In 2006, Ale’s transformative journey with yoga began, providing her with the guidance she sought during a period of darkness and self-discovery. Through yoga, she found solace, overcoming anxiety, sexual abuse, and trauma, and rediscovering her true self. To Ale, yoga is a sacred ritual that honors the body as a temple, a pathway to reconnecting with our authentic selves and experiencing the vastness of Absolute Reality. This profound joy ignited within her a passion for sharing the practice and serving others, making it her life’s mission. Even before her yoga journey commenced, India beckoned to Ale’s heart. Answering the call, she ventured to India in 2011 and returned three more times, spending several months during each visit. This humbling journey immersed her in intensive studies of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, and Kashmir Shaivism under the guidance of esteemed masters. Driven by her dedication as both a practitioner and teacher, Ale continues to deepen her knowledge through constant study under renowned teachers. She has completed numerous trainings and workshops in Costa Rica and India. Presently, she teaches weekly group and private…

Adriana Leiva

Adriana started to practice and teach yoga 19 + years ago, back in 2002 while studying in Centro de Balance Integral Gaia where as well she studied Holistic massage, Reiki and others. She studies two years of Anthropology before she finally got her litentiate degree in Physiotherapy. This background made her teaching approach deeply focused in asana alignment, smart sequencing and biomechanics. She did more than 200 hrs of Anusara Yoga training from 2004 to 2008 which empowered her alignment based practice. In 2011 she travels in India during 5 months and gets immersed in the devotional practice of mantra chanting, harmonium playing and in Benares she meets her philosophy, Kashmiri shaivaism, Anuttara Trika Tantra teacher Dr. Mark Dyczcowski with whom she still studies on a weekly basis. As well in this travel she did her first Ayurveda massage training and Ashtanga Yoga immersion. In 2013 Adriana further her yoga studies doing a 500 hr. training with italian Hari Om Yoga school, after which she joins as a teacher for their YTT’s in Costa Rica and Italy until 2015. Then she joins as a guest teacher for teacher trainings for the Caribe Yoga Academy in 2016 and Awakening Teacher Trainings…

Marco Amador

Marco Amador has been involved into movement and meditation since very young. Raced in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, running, cycling and surfing came natural for him. And at the same time he felt inclination for meditation since he was young. At the age of 18 years old he discovered yoga, but it was not until 24 when he decided to dig deep into the “yoga world”. For more than 14 years he has studied and practiced yoga in Central America, India and USA. He has studied with great teachers as Saraswati (Ashtanga, in Mysore), Richard Freeman (Ashtanga), Tim Miller (Ashtanga), John Friend (Anusara), amongst others. He has found the balance between yoga and sport lifestyle. For that reason ESPN chose him to film a special edition of Yoga and sports in 2016. Marco is now an sponsored athlete of various sports such as Mountain bike, Trail Running and Triathlon. Currently, he is the director of ZENFIT where he coaches amateur and elite athletes. He is also a Crossfit Level 1 certified teacher, massage therapist and graduated physiotherapist. Nowadays he regularly appears in national TV as a movement and physiotherapy expert. Marco is a life enthusiast physioterapist, ZENfit 506…

Catalina Badilla

My name is Catalina, everyone calls me Cata, Costa Rican by birth and 18 years of living in Jaco. It was here that my path in Yoga began. After having my first child, my body was just out of alignment and everything hurt. One day at the beach I met someone who became my first Yoga teacher. From that moment in my life, I never separate from my practice. My life changed and I saw possibilities where I didn’t see them before … It gave me so much fulfillment that I decided to share it with everyone I could. I took several teacher trainings in Hatha Yoga and Anusara Yoga. Many workshops in Bali, Thailand, India and Costa Rica. Each time I am convinced that it is my passion. With Holistics therapies as Reiki and Meditation as tools in my daily life. My goal is that everyone who comes to my classes feels capable of doing the postures regardless of their experience. The fast-paced lifestyle doesn’t always leave us time to feel and that’s where we connect with who we really are. I am really convinced and from my own experience, the practice of Yoga reveals a more powerful state…

Rosemarie Gonzalez Gainza

Rosemarie Gonzales Gainza, RYT-500, is a Holistic Health practitioner, Certified Yoga teacher, and the founder and owner of the Vida Asana Retreat Center in Costa Rica. Her style of Yoga combines principles of Ashtanga, Bikram, and Anusara, creating a strong, healthy, and happy flow. Her classes relieve stress and anxiety, improve balance and flexibility, and increase strength and calmness. A practitioner of yoga since 1988, Rosemarie has over 20 years of teaching experience, and has trained and studied with world renowned teachers including Pattabhi Jois, Desiree Rumbaugh, Shiva Rea, and Shankara Darby-Mariela Cruz. Born in Argentina, Rosemarie has traveled, lived, and taught in Costa Rica, Hawaii, California, Mexico, and now Sarasota, FL.