Daphne | Costa Rica 200hr YTT Testimonial
I signed up for the 200 hour yoga teacher training in Costa Rica with a very specific intention in mind. I wanted to learn skills that would allow me to offer yoga classes to the families I care for in the NICU and to the healthcare providers who support them. Working in critical care, I see how trauma affects parents and how burnout affects clinicians. I believed yoga could be a powerful tool for both groups, but I didn’t yet know how to teach it, or even fully understand how deeply it could transform me in the process of learning how to teach yoga.
I arrived in Costa Rica early in the morning. Liberia airport was quiet at that hour, and those first steps out into the warm air were filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know what the next ten days would look like, and I definitely didn’t know that I would show up in a space designed for deep personal work. But the shuttle ride to Aves Hotel and Resort was smooth, and the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of ease. The staff greeted me with genuine warmth, and everything about the resort, the lush greenery and the quiet pathways, felt like an invitation to slow down. My private room by the pool, complete with a peaceful outdoor rain shower, felt like a sanctuary. The shala at Aves was the perfect backdrop for this training. It is air-conditioned, spacious, and overlooks both the jungle and ocean. We even saw monkeys swinging through the trees during our practice a few times. On one morning, a few of us hiked up “Mount Shala” early to watch the sun rise as mist lifted off the canopy. At night, we lay on the nets outside the shala and looked up at the stars. The pools were a cool escape during breaks, and the vegetarian meals were fresh, varied, and prepared with so much care. We went ziplining on our day off, jumped into waterfalls, and explored Montezuma’s beaches and local street vendors. The hotel staff made everything effortless from booking shuttles, taxis, and local tours.
Physically, the training wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. We had an asana practice and meditation for about two and a half hours every morning, followed by breakfast and then sessions on the yoga sutras and art of teaching. We ended each day with dinner and community Satsang, which often included singing and music. The schedule was full but nourishing. What challenged me the most was the self-reflection and internal work. One of the most transformative moments came when we were asked to write a letter of love to ourselves. I stared at my paper for a long time, realizing how foreign it felt to acknowledge my own strengths and offer myself compassion. When we later shared our letters in pairs, something shifted. It was the first time I realized how rarely we show ourselves the kindness we readily extend to others. That moment opened the door to a deeper sense of self-awareness that carried through the rest of the training.
Vulnerability became a theme. Within a few days, our diverse group of women of all different ages, from different backgrounds, and different countries, formed a tight community rooted in trust. People shared personal stories, past traumas, and hopes that you normally wouldn’t share with a stranger. Tears were shed, but in the best way because we had a safe space where walls could come down. I can’t imagine doing this program with any other collective group of amazing individuals. We all felt, in our own ways, that we had been called there from all parts of the world to convene and accompany each other in this journey. Living and practicing together reminded me how healing community can be when everyone shows up with openness.
One of the concepts that resonated with me most deeply was brahmacharya, moderation. It struck a chord because medical training often glorifies the opposite: overwork, self-neglect, and pushing past limits. Learning about the yamas and niyamas helped me understand yoga not just as physical movement, but as a way of living. The idea of creating balance rather than depletion is something I want to carry into my career not only for myself but also in how I support colleagues experiencing burnout.
The peer-teaching component was another highlight. We all started the training unsure of how to cue or how to adjust someone safely. But by the end, it was incredible to witness everyone’s growth. Teaching one another allowed us to build confidence, learn from mistakes, and celebrate each small moment of progress. Watching my peers step into their voices made me believe I could do the same.
Our facilitators, Mindi and Nadine, were truly the heart of the program. Their backgrounds in psychology and social work shaped the training not only in the content they taught but in the way they held space for us. They complemented each other beautifully. They were patient, thoughtful, and deeply intentional in how they introduced yoga philosophy and community connection. Their use of singing and instruments added a grounding, joyful dimension I didn’t expect but came to love. I felt genuinely supported by them, not just as a student but as a person.
What I’m most grateful through this yoga teacher training experience is the community we built. I didn’t expect to walk away with lifelong friends, but that’s exactly what happened. The biggest surprise was how quickly we bonded, and how much each person contributed to my growth. The lesson I hope to carry forward is simple but profound: healing happens when we create space for ourselves and others to be fully seen. This training gave me that opportunity, and I’m committed to passing it on as a teacher who holds space with compassion, who listens, who honors cultural roots, and who prioritizes accessibility and safety.
LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TRAINING OR LOCATION? LET’S FIND THE PERFECT FIT FOR YOU