Certification Programs
The Hamptons offers something rare in yoga teacher training: world-renowned instructors in an environment conducive to deep study. While most aspiring teachers train in urban studios between work obligations, the East End provides space—both physical and temporal—for genuine transformation. Yoga Shanti’s programs with Colleen Saidman Yee and Rodney Yee represent the premier training opportunity in the region.
Featured in the Best Yoga Studios in the Hamptons Guide
Why Train in the Hamptons
Teacher training demands more than weekend workshops can provide. The immersive study that transforms personal practice and develops genuine teaching skills requires dedicated time and supportive environment. The Hamptons delivers both.
Training here means studying with instructors who’ve chosen the East End specifically because it supports contemplative depth. Unlike urban programs squeezed between competing demands, Hamptons training unfolds in settings designed for yoga—light-filled studios, natural surroundings, and communities oriented toward wellness rather than distraction.
Yoga Shanti Teacher Training
Yoga Shanti offers the Hamptons’ most comprehensive teacher training programs. Founded by Colleen Saidman Yee and taught alongside her husband Rodney Yee, these certifications attract aspiring instructors from around the world.
200-Hour Foundational Training
This carefully curated program immerses students in yoga study while preparing them to teach safe Shanti-style sequences. The training comprises eight long-weekends from autumn through mid-February, plus compulsory weekly mentorship meetings.
Curriculum includes:
- Cultivating daily home practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation
- Focus on alignment, flow, and subtle inquiry
- Teaching skills: sequencing, seeing and understanding bodies
- Anatomy fundamentals
- Yoga philosophy
- Individual attention and mentorship
Schedule: Fridays 6:00-8:00 PM, Saturdays 11:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sundays 11:00 AM-6:00 PM (with lunch breaks). Weekly mentorship calls Tuesdays at 7:00 PM.
Requirements: Students attend all sessions live for minimum 80% real-time participation. The entire program is recorded for replay when scheduling conflicts occur. Students must take at least one additional public Yoga Shanti class each week.
Tuition: $3,180 paid in full (previous Yoga Shanti graduates: $1,980). Includes unlimited online classes and 20 in-person classes during training. Payment plans available with $100 fee.
Early Bird Incentives: Register by September 30th for unlimited in-person classes during training OR unlimited online classes immediately through March 31st.
300-Hour Advanced Training
The Essence of Yoga: Ancient Wisdom for our Modern Times moves beyond fundamentals into subtlety and wonder. This program offers extensive access to Colleen, Rodney, and program mentors with individual attention distinguishing the experience.
The training spans nine immersions over four months, beginning with a four-day intensive followed by seven training weekends and final evaluations. Available online, in-person, or combination format.
Advanced curriculum covers:
- Deeper asana practice and teaching
- Advanced pranayama and meditation
- Yoga philosophy and history
- Refined sequencing and observation skills
- Personal practice development
- Professional teaching methodology
The community that develops through training is described as “significant, supportive, fun, and long-lasting”—relationships that extend well beyond certification.
Diversity Scholarship
Yoga Shanti is dedicated to making yoga accessible and increasing diversity in the yoga community. The Yoga Shanti Diversity Scholarship encourages people from under-represented groups to join training programs. Applications have specific deadlines for each training cycle.
What Distinguishes Yoga Shanti Training
Lineage and Expertise
Colleen Saidman Yee earned the title “The First Lady of Yoga” from the New York Times. Rodney Yee’s Oprah appearance helped introduce yoga to mainstream American audiences. Together, they’ve developed the Yoga Shanti method over decades—honoring Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions while addressing modern needs.
The Shanti Method
Training emphasizes safe, welcoming practice. Students learn to teach without asking practitioners to contort their bodies or push past healthy limitations. The philosophy: practice poses “any amount” while breaking new ground. Teachers develop skills in intelligent sequencing, keen observation, appropriate modifications, and authentic instruction.
Community Integration
Unlike destination trainings that isolate students, Yoga Shanti trainees integrate into an existing yoga community. Weekly class requirements connect trainees with the broader studio ecosystem, building relationships and professional networks from day one.
Preparing for Training
Successful trainees typically have established personal practice before beginning certification. While programs welcome various experience levels, those with consistent practice foundations gain most from intensive study.
Consider attending Yoga Shanti classes before committing to training. Experience the teaching style, meet instructors, and assess whether the approach resonates with your practice goals.
Registration Information
Contact: [email protected]
Location: Yoga Shanti, 32 Bridge Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Website: yogashanti.com/training
Registration opens months before each program begins. Popular trainings fill—early registration ensures participation and accesses early bird benefits.
Explore More Yoga in the Hamptons
→ Best Yoga Studios in the Hamptons
→ Yoga Shanti Sag Harbor
→ Complete Hamptons Wellness Guide
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