YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
 & IN-DEPTH STUDIES 

 

Becoming a Yoga Teacher Is a Path of Deep Practice, Self-Inquiry, and Service

Whether you’re beginning your teaching journey or advancing your skills and knowledge, these programs support your growth as a well-informed, confident, and compassionate teacher. Drawing from decades of experience and rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern science, these trainings offer a comprehensive, inclusive, and integrated approach to teaching yoga—now available in formats designed to meet your life.

🧭 Training Format Options

Choose the format that fits your life and learning style.
All three options offer the same rich curriculum and exceptional mentorship.

 

🔗 Live Online Immersion (Hybrid One)

  • Begins in January every year

  • Premier videos covering the entire curriculum

  • Presented in self-paced modules released every 6 weeks

  • Bi-weekly 4-hour live Zoom sessions

  • Includes small group practices and personalized feedback

  • Ideal for those seeking structure and community in a flexible online format

🌊 Santa Cruz Immersion Add-On (Hybrid Two)

  • Includes everything in the Live Online Immersion

  • Adds monthly in-person full-day immersion session in Santa Cruz, California

  • Offers deeper practice, direct connection, and embodied integration

  • Ideal for Northern and Central California students or those able to travel monthly

🌱 Self-Paced Journey (“Evergreen”)

  • Begin anytime from anywhere

  • Progress entirely at your own pace

  • Learn through pre-recorded video modules

  • Extensive library of live monthly Q&A and practice sessions

  • Ideal for self-directed learners 

200-hour Teacher Training 

Build a strong foundation in the art and science of teaching yoga.
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300-hour Teacher Training 

Deepen your skills and evolve your teaching with advanced studies
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The Heart of Teaching Yoga

In practicing yoga, I discovered a language that transcends words yet speaks directly to the heart—making life richer and opening us to share with others in the most meaningful ways.

Over time, I felt a natural desire to go deeper, to understand more, and to share the practice with others. We teach because we sense that yoga can truly make lives better.

For me, teaching is part of living a conscious life in service—an aspiration to bring more presence, compassion, and well-being into the world. And we teach to learn: about ourselves, about one another, and about the boundless path of yoga we are all invited to explore in this life.

Mark Stephens Yoga Teacher Training

Curriculum Overview – 200-hour & 300-hour

The programs integrate five essential elements of teaching yoga—rooted in tradition and informed by modern science—to help new teachers step in with confidence and experienced teachers deepen and refine their skills.

Aligned with & exceeding YA standards Earn RYT–200 / RYT–300 / RYT–500

Practical Yoga Anatomy & Physiology

Understand how the body moves and functions in yoga—joints, muscles, breath, energetics—and see the connections to foundational yoga therapy principles.

Yoga Philosophy & Personal Self-Transformation

Explore yoga’s roots in the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gītā, Yoga Sūtra, and Tantra with Hatha traditions and contemporary perspectives in psychology, improvement, and wellbeing.

Teaching Asana, Prāṇāyāma & Meditation

Refine verbal, visual, and tactile teaching across 100+ postures; teach seven core prāṇāyāma safely and effectively; and integrate meditation for holistic well-being—with practice teaching and feedback throughout.

Designing Classes & Sequences

Create intelligent sequences for different levels, styles, intentions, and seasons—including themed classes, workshops, and retreats.

Specialized Teaching Applications

Adapt yoga for children, seniors, pregnancy, athletes, and students with a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological conditions.

Why Study with Me?

Trusted by new teachers and seasoned professionals worldwide.

With over three decades of teaching and authoring some of the most widely used yoga textbooks, I bring a unique blend of depth, clarity, and practical insight to every training. These programs are designed not just to meet standards—but to exceed them, giving both new and experienced teachers the confidence, skills, and perspective to grow as teachers and as students of yoga.

What sets this training apart:

  • Proven Expertise: Learn with a teacher whose books and methods are trusted by teachers worldwide. For newcomers, this means a rock-solid foundation; for seasoned teachers, it means depth and refinement.

  • Integrated Approach: Rooted in yoga’s rich traditions, enriched by modern science, and always grounded in real classroom experience—ensuring relevance no matter where you are on the path.

  • Personalized Mentorship: More than information—you receive direct guidance, feedback, and support tailored to your level of experience, helping you grow with authenticity and confidence.

CONNECT

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JOIN AN UPCOMING EVENT

• 25 Forward Bends & Hip Openers
• Classes in Santa Cruz, California
• November in Cologne, Germany
• December Hamburg, Germany
• Winter Solstice Retreat, Mexico
• Yoga Teacher Training – January 2026

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Breathing: The Art & Science of Pranayama (2026)

Yoga Sequencing Audiobook (2026)

Teaching Yoga Audiobook (2025)

Yoga for Better Sleep Audiobook (2024)