If you are a yoga enthusiast in Houston looking to take your passion for yoga to the next level, you can enroll in one of the Houston yoga teacher training programs.
It will channel your love for yoga by empowering you to become an excellent yoga teacher. You can also use this yogic wisdom to maneuver your way through life’s problems.
A yoga teacher training will give you all that and much more. It will also teach about the art and science of body movement to increase your working capacity, breathing techniques to clear your mind, deep relaxation techniques, and the business aspects of yoga.
This post provides you with details about a few certified yoga schools that provide authentic Houston yoga teacher training to get you started in your yogic journey.
Lex Gillan & The Yoga Institute
Certifying Yoga Teachers Since 1974
About Lex Gillan & the Yoga Institute
Lex Gillan is the Founder and President of the Yoga Institute, Houston. His yoga journey began in 1969.
During his journey, he was privileged to learn about aspects of and related to yoga: Psychoanalysis, Hatha & Raja Yoga, Benedictine Monastery Learnings, Dharma, Vipassana, Buddhist Philosophy, Christian, Buddhist, Sufi, and Hindu practices, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinny Yoga, and Vinyasa Krama Yoga.
He also underwent training under Ram Dass (the spiritual icon) and a Zen Teacher.
Lex’s passion for yoga is visible through his deep collection of 6000 books on yoga, philosophy, and spirituality.
He is an avid reader who has turned his yogic wisdom into words by authoring the book called “Be Still and Know—Every Teacher Has a Teaching.” This book is written in a historical context interlaced with personal anecdotes full of his yogic wisdom from 50 years of experience. He is also a co-author of 12 other books on yoga.
Farida Meguid began her yogic journey at the age of 16 through the teachings of Ram Dass. She has been assisting Lex in conducting yoga classes and providing yoga teacher training Houston Tx since 2017 and has completed over 2000 hours of yoga education since then.
Courses Offered
Accreditation
Lex Gillan and the Yoga Institute’s Yoga Teacher Training is approved by the National Association of Certified Yoga Teachers and the Yoga Alliance.
Style of Yoga
They primarily focus on Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. These practices are eclectic, non-dogmatic, and compatible with all styles of yoga- Vinyasa, Iyengar, Sivananda, Kripalu, Bikram, Integral, Ashtanga, Power, Hot, Kundalini, and other styles taught across the globe.
What Will You Learn?
- To Teach a Complete Yoga Course
- To Develop Knowledge, Skill, and Confidence to Teach Yoga
- To Identify and Cultivate One’s Own Teaching Style
- About The Business of Yoga
- How To Find Work in The Yoga Community or The Importance of Networking
Curriculum
Their yoga teacher curriculum is divided into three parts:
What to Teach?
- Pranayama – Traditional Breathing Practices for A Cooler Mind
- Asana – 50 Classical Stretching, Twisting, Bending, Balancing, and Inversions Postures
- Dhyana – Different Types of Meditation and Relaxation Practices
- About Seven Schools of Classical Indian Yoga– Hatha, Kundalini, Mantra, Bhakti, Raja, Jnana, and Karma Yoga
- Working with Children and Seniors
- Working with Injuries/ Limitations
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology
How to Teach?
At Lex Gillan and The Yoga Institute, they adopt a teaching methodology to cultivate your individual teaching style with clarity, conviction, and passion.
The Business of Yoga
This part of the curriculum equips you to start your own yoga business. It teaches you everything about the business of yoga – from writing a course syllabus, planning, marketing, budgeting, retaining students, and honoring the differences between different styles of yoga.
Soul Tribe
Enabling The Wholeness Experience of Body, Mind, Breath, and Heart
About Soul Tribes
Soul Tribes is the brainchild of Alexandra Charles. She has been a professional dancer throughout her life. All the injuries and stress she endured during her practice and performance were overcome through yoga and meditation practice.
Experiencing the magical healing of yoga practice, she decided to join her three loves: Yoga,
Meditation, and Community. Thus, came the idea of Soul Tribes.
It is a yoga studio that teaches yoga with a gentle approach. They focus on muscle awareness, body and joint alignment, stability, flexibility, mobility, and balance with mindful breathing.
They have over 50 classes a week – in studio or virtually. You can also register for their monthly events and workshops.
Types of Yoga Classes Provided By The Soul Tribe
Seed
These are beginner-friendly yoga classes to embrace stillness with Yin Yoga. Soul Tribe describes it as “Sleepy Stretching”. It teaches you to hold and relax in the poses to open your connective tissues, muscles, ligaments, and fascia.
Bloom
These are also beginner-friendly yoga classes that help to discover the basics of Vinyasa Flow Fundamentals. It helps you to connect with your breath, move, and get in tune with your body.
Thrive
These are the intermediate or advanced-level yoga classes. It is a Vinyasa Flow class for yogis who want a little more adventure and challenge in their practice.
Types of Meditation Classes Provided by the Soul Tribe
Connect
It is a mindfulness meditation technique to be in the present moment with yourself, your mind, your breath, and your heart.
Listen
This is a Sound Bath meditation class. It helps you to bask in the immersive vibration, frequency, and sounds of the crystal singing bowls.
Infuse
This is a guided meditation through visualization. You become more aware of your own energy body, clear your energy blockages, and radiate your highest energy frequency. It also makes you experience the aura and chakras.
Courses Offered
200-Hour Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training
Duration
Three months
Accreditation
Their yoga certification in Houston is Yoga Alliance affiliated and recognized globally.
Style of Yoga
Their Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training focuses on Vinyasa, Breathwork, Yin Yoga, Meditation, and Sound Healing.
Quality Assurance
- Three months of free membership at the Soul Tribes during the course to ensure all facilities are provided to the learning students.
- The training consists of two-weekend intensive immersions with seven additional weeks of training.
- There is a limit on the number of students to ensure personalized attention and quality education.
- Certification is given after the 100% completion of your training.
Curriculum
Their Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training curriculum includes the following topics:
- Asanas or Poses
- Sequencing
- Anatomy of Yoga
- Subtle and Energetic Body
- Philosophy
- Meditation
- Breathwork
- Sound Healing
- Practical Tips for Self-Practice and Teaching Others
Cost
$3200
SVYASA Houston
Combining The Best of The East With The Best of The West
About SVYASA Houston
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) – USA was established in 1999. It is a registered non-profit organization with its parent organization being SVYASA Bengaluru, India. It is dedicated to teaching yoga, training teachers, yoga research, and providing service through yoga.
The instructions in their classes and their yoga teacher training Houston Texas are as propounded by Swami Vivekananda who heralded the grandeur of Advaita Vedanta or non-dualism.
SVYASA Houston also undertakes extra-mural studies, extension programs, and field outreach activities to bring peace, poise, harmony, love, health, and happiness in society.
Courses, Accreditation, And Other Requirements
200 Hour Yoga Instructor Certificate Course
- SVYASA-USA is a Registered Yoga School (RYS-200) of the Yoga Alliance.
- This is a five-month beginner yoga teacher training. You can enroll even without any previous exposure to yoga. It teaches you to learn, teach, and understand the principles of yoga.
300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training
- This course is inspired by SVYASA, Bengaluru, India.
- You must complete the 200-hour certification and one year of personal practice and teaching experience to enroll in this 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course.
1000 Hour Yoga Therapy Training Course
- This course is affiliated with the IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists).
- You must complete the 200-hour certification and one year of personal practice and teaching experience to enroll in this 1000-hour Yoga Therapy Training Course.
Patanjali Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Study
- This is an online course taken by SVYASA, Houston.
- If you want to deepen and enrich your knowledge of yoga philosophy, you can enroll in this comprehensive course. You will learn traditional chantings, in-depth meanings, historical contexts, and practical applications of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras.
Yoga Foundation Course (YFC)
- This course is designed by SVYASA, Bengaluru, India.
- This course is for those interested in the personal journey of yoga but do not wish to take certification exams or teacher training. It is for yoga enthusiasts who want to improve the quality of their lives with yoga.
Curriculum
Yoga Instructor Certificate Course (YICC), certified by the Yoga Alliance, is the basic yoga course for most Advanced Yogic Studies taught at SVYASA-Houston. Its comprehensive curriculum includes the following:
Theory
It includes the theory of different concepts of yoga: Definitions of Yoga, Streams of Yoga, Asanas, Pranayamas, Kriyas, Meditation, Yoga & Diet, Basic Anatomy and Physiology, Vedic Chanting, Life and Teachings of Spiritual Masters, Yoga Research, Yoga Application, and Yoga Relaxation Techniques.
Yoga Practices
It includes different tools, techniques, tips, and variations of yoga practices: Foundational 60-70 postures, Loosening and Stretching, Pranayama, Meditation, Kriyas, Mudras, and Bandhas.
Field Training
Each student must complete 40 hours of teaching yoga under a Certified Yoga Instructor over 1-9 months.
Report on Suitable Yoga Topic
Every student has to prepare a report on some topic related to yoga. For example, Yoga for Children, Yoga and Women’s Health, Yoga and Exercise etc.
Benefits of Becoming a Certified Instructor
It includes topics to shape your career as a yoga instructor. For example, Empowering Career in Yoga to Serve Society, Holistic Understanding of Yoga Philosophy, Stress Management, and Prevention of Stress-Related Ailments.
Cost
$1875
Union Yoga Studio
Coming Home to Yourself with Effective Yoga Practices
About Union Yoga Studio
Union Yoga Studio is a non-heated yoga studio in Houston that provides Yoga and Meditation classes. It believes in and preaches the power of consistency of practice and community (sangha). They help make positive lifestyle changes in the lives of their students.
Union Yoga Studio’s profound experience in yoga teaching can be seen through its different yoga classes. They take the following yoga classes teaching different styles of yoga to multiple types of people:
Ashtanga – Short Form
This is a one-hour rigorous and movement-centric class of the Ashtanga primary series.
Vinyasa
It uses breath to link different dynamic yoga postures.
Power Vinyasa
It is an energizing class to challenge your strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Flow + Go
This short, 45-minute Vinyasa Yoga class can be taken before lunch, after the office, or when you have less time for a traditional yoga class.
Flow + Rest
This class tries to acquire balance within. It offers both physical vitality and mental calmness.
Flow + Steady
This class is recommended for beginners and those looking for more detailed instructional cueing.
Yoga Basics
This class builds a strong foundation in yoga. It further enables your seamless transition to more advanced practices.
Gentle + Hatha
This class preaches the use of breath, body, and mantra to unite all levels of existence at its center, the heart.
Mobility Lab + Myofascial Release
This class focuses on improving mobility, flexibility, and stability with the help of different props.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga perfectly complements the dynamic yoga classes. This class consists of passive seated and supine positions held for 3-5 minutes.
Restorative Yoga
This class focuses on deep relaxation using different props.
Yoga Wind Down
This is a gentle and restorative class focused on de-stressing.
Move To Yoga Nidra
This is a blissful yoga class. It consists of forty minutes of Gentle Hatha-Yoga and Passive Yin Yoga postures followed by 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra or Deep Sleep.
Meditation
It helps the mind to focus on the here and now.
Prenatal Yoga
This is for the mum-to-be. It is specifically designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Its postures and breathing techniques help to accommodate your growing body.
Kids Yoga
These classes teach age-appropriate yoga poses, breathing techniques, and mindfulness activities to children between 5 and 12 years of age.
Courses Offered
- 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (called as “Journey to Self”)
- Yin Yoga Teacher Training
Accreditation
Their yoga teacher training program “Journey to Self” is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, USA.
Duration
Seven months
Curriculum
Their comprehensive curriculum is designed to enable you to lead and teach life-changing yoga classes. The topics taught are as follows:
- Practical Philosophy
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Sequencing, Modifications, and Adjustments
- Essential Sutras and Philosophy
- Pranayama and Meditation
- Subtle Body and Yoga Nidra
- Teaching Methodology
- Business and Ethics
Cost
$ 3500
The Bottom Line
If you want to become a yoga teacher, choosing a certified school for your yoga teacher training Houston Texas is the wisest choice. The recognition of your yoga education across the globe gives you an edge over other teachers.
You can choose an appropriate yoga teacher training based on factors like the accreditation, the cost of the program, duration, the style of yoga taught, the depth of the curriculum, experience, and the size of the yoga community of the school.
These factors along with the nature and type of your personality, and the current stage of your life will prompt you to choose the best school for your Houston yoga teacher training.
