15 Day 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification in the Joshua Tree Desert, California

The 200-hour training at Kootenay Yoga School in Joshua Tree is a full-immersion course that runs over 15 days and 14 nights. Each day blends structured learning with personal practice: you'll start with yoga and meditation, move into asana labs and workshops, and finish with practice teaching and evening sessions. The curriculum covers the details of 45 traditional poses, anatomy, pranayama, sequencing, the eight limbs of yoga, the yamas and niyamas, how to lead meditation, and how to construct a class that flows. The training also includes restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, and deep relaxation, so it's not all effort—there's a lot of rest and restoration built in.

What makes this training different from a generic YTT is the setting and the school. Kootenay Yoga School has been running teacher trainings for years, and their Joshua Tree location—Desert Sage House—is a quirky, creative property on five acres with a hot tub, outdoor showers, a pool, and a sauna. The training is led by Elizabeth Jane "EJ," an E-RYT 500 with over a decade of teaching and teacher training experience across India, Malta, Indonesia, and Mexico, alongside Stephania Spitzer, an E-RYT 200/RYT 500 who has trained in Tulum and India and teaches a fluid, breath-linked vinyasa style. Between them, you get both depth in traditional yoga and a practical, creative approach to teaching.

The program is also built around community. You'll practice teaching with small groups, get feedback from your teachers and peers, and likely form close bonds with the other students—many reviews mention the people as the highlight. The property itself encourages lingering, with hammocks, books, and endless views, and there's free time most afternoons to rest, explore, or go into town. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in yoga theory and teaching, a certificate of completion, and the confidence to walk into a studio and teach.

What's included

- 200-hour yoga teacher training with Kootenay Yoga School - 14 nights accommodation (shared or single depending on package) - 3 plant-based meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Snacks and fresh juices - 2 Yoga Alliance accredited manuals in PDF format - Certificate of completion - Eligibility to register with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200 - Daily yoga and meditation sessions - Asana labs covering 45 traditional poses - Pranayama, philosophy, and anatomy workshops - Practice teaching sessions with small groups - Yoga Nidra, restorative yoga, and sound healing sessions - 3-month payment plan option (upon request) - Full use of property: pool, sauna, hot tub, yoga shala - Wi-Fi access - Ongoing support after the training

What's not included

- International or domestic flights - Airport transfers (Palm Springs to property) - Taxi or rideshare to the property - Personal expenses - Travel insurance - Printed versions of the training manuals (available for $50 each) - Alcohol - Optional excursions (e.g., national park entry fees)