TAKE THE FIRST STEP ON YOUR TEACHING Journey TODAY
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Are you ready to take your practice to the next level?
Starting this August, we invite you to join YogaSource Palo Alto for an in-depth 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, led by Hillary Acer, E-RYT 500, and senior YogaSource instructors.
Accredited by the Yoga Alliance, this immersive training guides you through self-study (svādhyāya) to skillfully advance your practice in all dimensions and cultivate a felt sense of equanimity (samatva).
On that foundation, you will begin to explore the vast pedagogy of yoga, build skills think critically about the practices of yoga, and teach others using a clear, simple methodologies.
Sign up for our Info Sessions:
Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 PM PST
Sunday, October 19 at 1:00 PM PST
Take your first step on your teaching journey today!
what you need to know
Yoga Teacher Training Overview
Over several months, you will dive into Yoga philosophy, history, teachings, and texts, and learn the intricacies of pranayama (breathwork), meditation, alignment, anatomy, and asana.
Each day, students will enjoy a complete 2-hour practice including breathwork and meditation. In the afternoons, students will participate in engaging lectures, discussions, presentations, workshops, asana labs, and practice sessions.
Students will also complete take-home work including online quizzes, readings, personal practice, and and assignments to prepare them to lead a public class by the end of the training. Students will receive peer and instructor feedback and integrate feedback.
This training integrates evidence-based teaching and learning techniques so students retain more information and set themselves up for a fulfilling and successful teaching career.
At the end of the training, you will not only have a deeper understanding of Yoga, but you will have also gained a heightened awareness of yourself and a wonderful community of likeminded yogis to continue your journey with.
Training dates and details
Schedule
DATES:
6 Weekends (**Friday-Sunday OR Saturday-Sunday)
- January 23-25**
- February 7-8
- February 20-22**
- March 7-8
- March 20-22**
- April 4-5
7-Night Immersion Retreat in Northern CA
- April 18-25
Attendance is required for graduation and makeup sessions may cost up to $100/hour additional for outside instruction.
Final Teach Out at YogaSource
- May 9-16
Students must be available to teach their own class (60 minutes) and take two of their fellow trainees classes during this week.
PLUS Live & Recorded Lectures, Readings, & Assignments
Certification is dependent on completion of all program requirements.
Final Immersion Retreat Details
To wrap up our 200-Hour Teacher Training, we will embark on an immersive retreat in Northern California - typically Half Moon Bay.
Each day is thoughtfully curated to blend intensive practice, transformative study, and restorative integration. You'll continue your studies of yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama, and meditation and you’ll begin practicing your teaching craft.
We have set aside time for special hikes, local favorite hangouts, and downtime to explore. Evenings offer time for reflection, study, conversation, or contemplation with occasional workshops, and stargazing.
Investment:
EARLY BIRD RATE*: $3450 before Nov 1
REGULAR RATE*: $3850 before Dec 15
LAST CALL RATE: $4250 until Jan 15
Immersion Retreat Costs of room, board, and transportation/airfare not included. Most cohorts pitch in on an Airbnb and food, or carpool to save costs. Students can expect for that week to cost between $500-$1500 additional on airfare, lodging, food, etc.
Payment plans and Scholarships available for those in need. Email info@yogasource.com for more details.
Meet Your Instructors
This fall, your lead facilitator and trainer is Hillary Acer, E-RYT 500. Hillary has been teaching yoga since 2012 and has studied with some of the best instructors in the world, including Annie Carpenter (Creator of SmarFLOW) and Jason Crandell. Her teaching is informed by both Iyengar and Ashtanga lineages, marrying flow and precise alignment in a perfectly blended practice and training.
Hillary is also the creator and director of the LELA Yoga & YogaSource 200-Hour Teacher Training Program and has been leading trainings since 2015.
Hillary and our experienced faculty average over 10 years of teaching experience and each have an area of expertise in their yogic studies.
Our skilled faculty uses evidence-based learning science and meets students where they are to provide personalized training and support. Students can expect to develop 1:1 relationships with faculty, receive regular written and verbal feedback to help them grow and develop in their own personal practice and teaching skills.
Training Faculty
Learn from some of the most experienced teachers. YogaSource Senior Instructors have combined over 100 years of teaching.
Our Curriculum
We have carefully curated an approachable and comprehensive training to give you the best foundation to start your teaching journey.
Example Topics:
- Advanced asana, pranayama, and meditation practices
- Functional anatomy and physiology, injury prevention and recovery, longevity and health research
- Detailed alignment of commonly taught postures, as well as modifications and benefits
- Smart, logical, and purposeful sequencing methodology
- Subtle body anatomy and traditional eastern healing systems such as the chakras, nadis, and bandhas.
- Finding your voice as a teacher and developing clear, concise cues, integrating mantra, storytelling, and more
- Trauma-informed teaching practices and somatic experiencing techniques
- Pedagogy of yoga, how to instruct using inquiry and how to empower your students
- Teaching skills, including how to use verbal and hands-on adjustments and keep students safe
- History of yoga, key figures, and the evolution of modern yogic practices
- Philosophy of yoga including the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and other Vedic Texts
- Modern application of yoga and teaching to special populations, including prenatal and postnatal care
and many more....!
Our Standards & Requirements
Our training is accredited with and approved by the Yoga Alliance. We cover the required Yoga Alliance Standards & Competencies and we have added a bit more to ensure you are a successful instructor:
Foundational Requirements:
- 75 hours techniques, training, practice
- asana, pranayama, meditation, subtle body
- 30 hours anatomy and physiology
- anatomy, physiology, biomechanics
- 30 hours yoga humanities
- history, philosophy, ethics
- 50 hours professional essentials
- teaching methodology, professional development, teaching practicum
Requirements for Graduation & Certification:
- 90% Attendance and Completion of Assignments
- Completed quizzes to check for understanding
- Completion of personal project & presentation
- 4+ Hours of Seva (Service Work)
- Completion of Teaching Practicum
- Final Exam
- Teach a live community class
What Our Students Say!
“I can't speak highly enough about my experience in yoga teacher training with Hillary Acer of YogaSource Palo Alto! Hillary is extremely knowledgeable in asana, anatomy, physiology, and yogic philosophy and clearly walks her talk. The class was comprehensive, very well organized, and well paced. Hillary's wisdom is well beyond her years. She manages to combine excellent instruction with deep compassion in meeting her students where they are. As such, she is an exemplary model for budding yoga teachers. The training covered detailed asana instruction and sequencing, anatomy and physiology, yogic philosophy, as well as yoga for different populations and the business of yoga. I highly recommend YogaSource's alignment-based vinyasa yoga teacher training with Hillary. As a bonus, she offers mentorship to students after the training, which is invaluable in helping to create a culture of new yoga teachers who value continuous learning and are dedicated to the safety, wellbeing, and growth of their students.”
~ Margaret S., Palo Alto, CA
"When I enrolled in Hillary Acer’s 200-hour yoga teacher training at Yoga Source, I had no intention of becoming a yoga instructor. I simply wanted to deepen my practice and understanding of yoga.
What I experienced over the course of this training completely transformed my perspective. Hillary has learnt yoga from some of the best teachers and she has an extremely thorough approach to teaching the fundamentals of yoga . She skillfully blended anatomy, philosophy, and practical teaching skills in a way that made complex concepts accessible. Her dedication to each student’s growth was evident in how she provided personalized feedback and encouragement throughout the journey. The training format was exceptional – structured enough to cover all necessary components of yoga teaching while flexible enough to accommodate different learning styles.
The balance between theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice created a comprehensive learning environment that built my confidence steadily. Perhaps most surprising was my complete shift in mindset. I entered this training with zero teaching aspirations, but Hillary’s passionate approach to yoga education sparked something unexpected in me. Now, I can’t wait to share these teachings with others and step into my role as an instructor. If you’re considering yoga teacher training – whether you want to teach or simply deepen your practice – I wholeheartedly recommend Hillary Acer’s YTT program at Yoga Source. It’s more than just a certification; it’s a transformative experience that reveals potentials you may not even know you have."
~ Deepa P., Palo Alto, CA
"Hillary is an extraordinary teacher. While the class is intense and covers a lot of material, she paces it intentionally, so that by the end, you’ve learned and accomplished more than you imagined you could back on the first day of class. There’s a nice balance between the philosophy, spirituality, science, and teaching strategies. Hillary models equanimity, wisdom, self-awareness, and care throughout."
~ Helen W., Palo Alto, CA
"The training program was beyond my expectations, a transformative experience. Well-coordinated mix of asanas, philosophy, breath-work, how to structure a class…..Hillary is great ! there are lots of love and caring through out the training."
~ Vina H., Palo Alto, CA