My vinyasa practice 200-hour online yoga teacher training reviews
Have you been curious about online teacher training but need help determining where to begin? This review provides a comprehensive look at my experience with the online 200-hour YTT My Vinyasa Practice offers.
My Vinyasa Practice is a yoga studio and school based in Austin, Texas. It offers online and in-person teacher training and other yoga certifications. Founded to remain authentic, affordable, and accessible for all students, My Vinyasa Practice provides an unmatched online training experience with a comprehensive curriculum, high-quality materials, a supportive community, and highly qualified instructors.
With an overall school rating of 4.8/5 from Yoga Alliance and an NPS score of 8.6/10, drawing upon over 4,000 reviews, My Vinyasa Practice has over 60,000 online students from more than 100 countries.
Recognizing the diverse student population, My Vinyasa Practice creates cohorts of students, ensuring the grouping of similar time zones. It also offers support calls and office hours throughout the day to ensure students can easily access assistance and information.
I found My Vinyasa Practice while searching for online yoga teacher training during the pandemic. Having received an in-person 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2018, I was initially drawn to their online 300-hour training. The curriculum emphasized yoga philosophy, advanced anatomy, and different styles of yoga, including adaptive and trauma-informed.
The cost of the 300-hour was less expensive than any other online training I could find, but without sacrificing quality or quantity of learning. The breadth and depth of knowledge were unlike any other training I had participated in. So, after completing my 300-hour online yoga teacher training with My Vinyasa Practice, I immediately enrolled in the 200-hour online training.
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The 200-hour online training gave me a deeper understanding of yoga foundations, laying the groundwork for my yoga practice and teaching. My knowledge of anatomy and alignment improved dramatically. I also enhanced my teaching language and used creative sequencing using sequence blocks.
Although the 200-hour online training was also the most affordable option I could find then, it sacrificed little regarding quality, content, and support. I had been searching for an online program that offered the benefits of hybrid learning:
- A flexible schedule.
- Ease of access to the curriculum.
- Foundational underpinnings of yoga.
- Teachers who were invested in your success.
I found all of that through the 200-hour training offered by My Vinyasa Practice.
Comprehensive Curriculum
The curriculum covers all aspects essential for becoming a proficient yoga teacher, from yoga philosophy to anatomy, sequencing, and teaching methodology.
Each module is meticulously crafted to provide a well-rounded understanding of yoga’s rich tapestry. The 200-hour yoga teacher training curriculum is divided into nine complete sections, ending with the practicum and Certification:
- History and Philosophy of Vinyasa Yoga: incorporating the Yoga Sutras, with understanding of samadhi pada, Chitta write, the history and mythology of Yoga, lineage, and foundational sun salutations
- Living Your Karma Through Your Dharma: provides further foundational knowledge by teaching students about the gunas, sadhana pada, the yamas and niyamas, ethics in yoga instruction, and a special inclusivity series that focuses on teaching to diverse populations, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+
- Understanding the Pancha Maya Kosha System: this section covers Vibhuti pada, kaivalya pada, yoga from a Hatha perspective, energetic blockages within the body, the importance of accessing our story, and the Pancha Maya kosha system
- Anatomy, Mechanics, and Sequencing: the fourth section discusses Tantra yoga, compassionate self-forgiveness, and Ayurveda before delving into anatomy. The anatomy covered includes an in-depth analysis of the spine and shoulder, emphasizing load optimization and bone orientation.
- Integrating Body and Mind begins with an anatomy review and progresses into understanding proprioception and orientation in asana structure. The instruction then discusses sequencing by creating blocks of asanas grounded in anatomical understanding and provides students with common modifications needed in classes. Hatha yoga, the chakras and nadis, the subtle bodies, kriya and bandha, are thoroughly covered from sequencing and modifying.
- The Veils that Blind Us: section six delves into the kleshas, lines of energy, and alignments with adjustments, providing students with an understanding of shared beliefs, inner body awareness, and movement through the kleshas and kosha body system.
- Chakras and Specializing Sequences: this section encompasses understanding sequencing for diverse populations and how to sequence for the subtle bodies. The spine and its relation to the chakras are discussed, and learning how to facilitate self-awareness is essential.
- Introduction to Specialized Practices: this section introduces various types of yoga for special populations, including trauma-informed, adaptive, prenatal, yin, yoga nidra, and restorative. It also includes a breakdown of the yoga business, including how to start building your brand and business model.
- Practicum and Certification: This includes detailed descriptions of how to complete final practicum assignments, which include a learning lab and personal practice log, a community involvement log, a final essay touching upon all aspects of learning in the course, teaching a karma class, and taking a final exam. Upon completing these assignments, the student is fully certified and can register as a 200-hour yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance.
The first eight sections of the 200-hour yoga teacher training include pre-recorded video lectures, worksheets, and learning labs. Each learning lab contains several pre-recorded lectures that further explore the topics covered in each course module.
The course also provides a complete manual, with detailed written descriptions of the issues covered and images that extensively cover sequencing, anatomy, yoga philosophy, and subtle bodies. The option to download a digital copy of the manual or order a hard copy was a nice bonus, as I found the hard, helpful copy when I was practising or studying at home.
In contrast, the digital copy allowed me to continue learning on the go. The manual was incredibly detailed and expanded upon the topics covered in the course. The writing was excellent and complemented the videos, as I am a learner who often absorbs material better from reading.
The training felt as though consideration had been given to all types of learners, providing ample written and filmed examples, descriptions, and knowledge.
The knowledge offered in this course is pervasive without becoming overwhelming. Working from an online perspective, I could pause, review content, and re-watch lectures at my convenience, which allowed me to explore the material in an approachable and understandable way.
Learning about the panchamaya kosha system fundamentally changed my approach to sequencing, allowing me to see each class as an opportunity to guide the students through the layers of the kosha system.
Expert Instruction
Michelle Young founded my Vinyasa Practice. With an M.Ed in Curriculum Development, Michelle understands how to transmit information authentically, clearly, and embodied. Michelle is an E-RYT500, as well as an IAYT-certified Yoga Therapist.
She is an established yogi with over twenty years of practice and intuitively understands how to teach, adapting to the needs of each student.
Each 200-hour yoga teacher training module features video lectures led by Michelle.
Michelle incorporates other teachers from the studio into the 200-hour training who are experts in other yoga lineages and styles.
Maire McGlasson, featured in the Hatha yoga section, is an E-RYT500 creator of My Vinyasa Practice’s 200-hour Hatha yoga teacher training. Ana Pilar Cruz, the lecturer in Tantra, is an E-RYT500 and C-IAYT and a dedicated Viniyoga student. She is the author of the 200-hour online Tantra yoga teacher training.
The teachers at My Vinyasa Practice are all Yoga Alliance registered and certified, with a minimum of RYT500, to ensure expertise in their field.
In addition to the expert instruction available through the online 200-hour teacher training, an entire peer support team is always available to answer any questions or concerns that may arise.
Whenever I had questions or sought to deepen my understanding of a subject, I would drop into office hours or contact peer support.
The quality and quantity of information I received helped me better understand my practice and translate that into my teaching skills.
I learned about adaptive anatomy and alignment and applied that directly to my work with the veteran population.
Supportive Resources
The videos and educational content provided by My Vinyasa Practice are clean and well-organized and provide a natural progression through the courses. Having recently moved to a new platform, the courses integrate homework and feedback directly into the platform.
All videos feature closed captioning, ensuring accessibility for deaf students and allowing audio controls to assist non-English speaking students.
Many of the videos have been newly recorded to ensure higher-quality audio and resolution while providing updated information.
The videos are accompanied by a 120-page manual that features a detailed description of the topics covered in each module, including full text and pictures.
Worksheets, available for download or viewing within the platform, also accompany each module, allowing students to use the materials as part of their practice.
My Vinyasa Practice has an outstanding peer support team, available 24/7 to answer questions or concerns.
The move to the new platform has been relatively seamless, with open communication, an online help centre with updated articles that explain platform differences, and live assistance from peer support.
I was able to respond to any questions I had during training within 24 hours, and any corrections were implemented almost immediately.
The course tracks in real-time when you finish an assignment, finish watching a video, or move through a worksheet.
All assignments are either directly located in the platform, providing immediate grading for quizzes, or involve uploading directly to the platform, with clear instructions on uploading paper or video assignments.
Additionally, the MVP School App allowed me to take my training on the go, meaning I could access my curriculum while working in the morning or taking a walk in the evening.
The learning platform has a simple user interface characterized by a clean aesthetic and tracking of learning activities, showing the user completed sections and allowing direct homework submissions through the platform.
In addition to support from teachers and peer support, My Vinyasa Practice has a dedicated Facebook group that is only for online 200-hour teacher trainees.
With this group, I found a sense of community and camaraderie among students from all over the world with whom I may not have had a chance to interact otherwise.
Flexibility and Accessibility
The flexible nature of the 200-hour teacher training is what initially drew me to the course. I was searching for a hybrid learning format that would allow me to move at my own pace, and this program offered that at an affordable price.
Without compromising quality, I could move through modules at my speed, reviewing material, re-watching videos for improved comprehension, and receiving real-time feedback from fellow students and teachers.
This training also offers drop-in office hours, allowing direct and immediate communication with teachers and other students.
As I mentioned, moving at my own pace allowed me to rest when needed, pause and pick back up, or take longer to process material without feeling rushed.
Giving myself space and time for reflection allowed the training to become a truly transformative experience, where I learned to value listening to my own body and respecting what I needed from the training each day.
The accessibility of My Vinyasa Practice’s yoga teacher training was an additional bonus; I found the inclusiveness, consideration of differing students’ schedules and backgrounds, and diversity highly appealing.
The transparency and warmth I saw at the My Vinyasa Practice community made the online learning experience feel as though it was in-person, and the office hour schedule was offered multiple times to accommodate different time zones and schedules.
Personal Experience and Impact
In 2018, I attended an in-person 200-hour yoga teacher training and completed My Vinyasa Practice’s 200-hour online training several years later.
I received a more in-depth training and immersive experience with the online training versus the in-person.
The depth of material covered in My Vinyasa Practice’s training was more comprehensive than the in-person training.
With videos, lectures, written content, a complete manual, and comprehension checks for each module, I found material retention and comprehension much easier to manage.
Additionally, I could re-watch videos, reach out directly to a teacher with questions, and read suggested materials at my own pace.
All of this allowed me to fully immerse myself in the learning experience without worrying about finishing at a particular time or trying to retain live lecture information.
I spent four months on attaining my 200-hour YTT certification. While it could be completed in less time, I reviewed the material frequently and replayed sections to deepen my understanding.
Just as My Vinyasa Practice encouraged my growth and self-improvement through the knowledge I gained via the 200-hour teacher training, the school has also recently transformed, shifting to a different hosting platform.
With this upgrade, homework and feedback occur within the internal platform, and the school has responded by upgrading videos and course content and maximizing learning opportunities.
Representing a spirit of growth while maintaining consistency for students and ensuring the accessibility of the materials is one of My Vinyasa Practice’s strengths.
I could better comprehend the kosha body system, the doshas, and the applications of how these can fundamentally impact an individual’s practice. I could tailor my classes to make them more approachable, adaptable, and aware of student needs and differences.
Before my online training, I felt little confidence in teaching an all-level yoga class, always afraid that I would offer too much or too little. After learning the types of modifications, adjustments, and sequence blocks that could be utilized in teaching, I felt capable of teaching a class that provided options for beginners to advanced students.
The 200-hour teacher training strengthened my foundations of yoga and expanded my knowledge in areas I had yet to realize were lacking by providing a more in-depth examination of anatomy, sequencing, modifications, and yoga philosophy than I had previously received.
I felt more capable as a teacher and could incorporate this learning into my work with veterans and military populations.
Online v. In-Person Training
While some new trainees may worry about the balance of knowledge and community that can be derived from online training, my experience strongly indicates that online training is the same as in-person: it is what you make it.
I took my time, reviewed materials, and actively sought connections with fellow trainees.
Frequent concerns include a need for hands-on training, the actual course content, a schedule in online training, and the quality of the instructors.
I found that My Vinyasa Practice addressed all these concerns directly. While hands-on training is not offered online, I was given frequent opportunities to instruct fellow students during scheduled training sessions.
I even met one-on-one with fellow students via Facebook to practice sequencing or discuss the learning content.
The course content was better than in-person training, as ample videos, written content, and office hours combined provided an in-depth understanding of the material.
Additionally, the high-quality of the videos and the easy user interface of the learning platform, which tracked assignments and completed sections, provided an enhanced experience.
While online training does allow you to make your schedule, which was an advantage for me with my typically busy days, it can be a struggle for some students.
Understanding this, My Vinyasa Practice provides in-depth content in bite-size pieces, allowing students to spend as little as 5-10 minutes on a video or reading section and return to the course later.
There were days when I could spend 3 to 4 hours on the course and finish an entire section, and other times when I only watched a five-minute video and came back to explore further later.
The flexibility of the content and pace allows multiple learning styles and time management to flourish.
Online
Pros
- Accessible content that can be reviewed at any time
- In-depth curriculum
- Quick feedback
- Affordability
- Ability to connect with individuals from all over the world
- Flexibility
- 30-day full refund policy
- App for training-on-the-go
Cons
- It might be difficult for those who have trouble focusing or do better in a direct learning environment
- Places responsibility on you to make time for learning
- Places responsibility on you to find direct contact teaching experience
Overall, the online training provided more features that worked with my learning style and allowed me to create my schedule, whereas the in-person training expected my schedule to fit with the studio.
I also took advantage of online classes through the MVP School App, which allowed the curriculum to be accessible any time of day or night when I wanted to get back into learning.
The easy user interface of the MVP School App allowed me to learn from the course when I wanted while still enjoying the benefits of high-resolution videos, access to written content, and viewing the course manual.
Is MyVinyasa a legitimate option?
Absolutely! Before diving into the MyVinyasa program, I did plenty of research to ensure it was top-notch.
They’re fully accredited with Yoga Alliance for their 200, 300, and 500-hour courses and offer online yoga therapy training and personal development courses. Plus, their continuing education units (CEUs) are all Yoga Alliance-approved.
The robust team behind the courses and the sheer volume of training they’ve sold really speak to their credibility.
Whether you’re diving deeper into your practice or aiming to teach others, their courses are designed to fit right into your life.
From my own experience, I’d give it two thumbs up.
It’s a solid choice if you consider taking the next step in your yoga journey!
Conclusion
In conclusion, My Vinyasa Practice’s 200-hour online yoga teacher training offers a holistic approach to yoga education.
It combines a comprehensive curriculum, expert instruction, and supportive resources to empower aspiring teachers on their personal growth and professional excellence journey.
The 200-hour yoga teacher training with My Vinyasa Practice created a new path on my trip, allowing me to expand my foundational understanding of yoga and incorporate healing movement into my professional practice.
My 200-hour teacher training through My Vinyasa Practice guided me further in working with the veteran population, teaching me the basics of anatomy and alignment and incorporating adaptations, modifications, and appropriate sequencing for diverse populations.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this program provides the tools and guidance to thrive in yoga teaching.
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