200 hours
Training weekends plus independent practice, reading, observation, assignments, and study.
200-Hour Ashtanga Yoga Apprenticeship · Maitland, Florida
Go beyond learning poses.Learn how yoga is lived, understood, and taught.
Join Level II Authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher and founder of The Yoga Shala, Krista Shirley, for an intimate, six-month immersion into the practice, philosophy, history, anatomy, and teaching of traditional Ashtanga Yoga.
Nine intensive weekendsJanuary–June 2027Limited enrollment
2027Applications
now available
now available
Nine weekends
Intensive study spread across six months to allow time for integration.
Small cohort
Personal mentorship and direct feedback inside a close learning community.
In person + hybrid
Virtual Mysore participation is available for approved out-of-town students.
Learn through practice, observation, application, and mentorship.
A different kind of yoga education
This is not a weekend certification.It is an apprenticeship.
The Yoga Shala’s 200-hour Comprehensive Ashtanga Yoga Apprenticeship is a rigorous, intimate, and deeply personal training experience that brings together the practical, philosophical, historical, and spiritual dimensions of yoga.
You will study the method from the inside: through your own consistent practice, close observation, direct instruction, thoughtful discussion, hands-on application, and ongoing mentorship with Krista.
The program is designed to elevate both your practice and your understanding of yoga as a whole-life path—not simply prepare you to recite postures or lead a memorized sequence.
You do not have to be a teacher—or even intend to become one. You do need a sincere desire to study, practice, and go deeper.
Who this experience is for
Serious students. Aspiring teachers.Curious lifelong learners.
You do not need an advanced practice or extraordinary physical ability. You do need consistency, curiosity, humility, and a willingness to participate fully.
Deepen your own practice
Develop a more intelligent, consistent, and embodied relationship with asana, breath, attention, and self-study.
Learn to teach
Learn how to see students, communicate clearly, offer modifications, assist responsibly, and teach what you genuinely understand.
Refine existing skills
Strengthen observation, adjustments, anatomy knowledge, sequencing decisions, and your ability to work with real bodies.
Study yoga beyond poses
Explore philosophy, history, meditation, chanting, pranayama, ethics, self-inquiry, and the broader purpose of practice.
Training through relationship
Why an apprenticeship?
Yoga cannot be fully learned through lecture notes alone. Teaching matures through observation, repetition, feedback, lived experience, and a continuing relationship with a mentor.
- Completing a fixed curriculum
- Learning generalized teaching scripts
- Practicing within a training-only environment
- Receiving a certificate at the end
- Developing a disciplined personal practice
- Learning to observe the person in front of you
- Applying knowledge in an active studio setting
- Receiving direct, ongoing mentorship and feedback
- Growing into the responsibility of teaching over time
“The purpose is not to create teachers who know more yoga terminology. It is to develop practitioners who can see, understand, think, adapt, and teach with care.”
Your teacher and mentor
Study with Krista Shirley
Founder of The Yoga Shala · Level II Authorized Ashtanga Yoga Teacher
Krista’s teaching is grounded in more than two decades of traditional Ashtanga practice, repeated periods of study in Mysore, India, and years of teaching students with vastly different bodies, histories, abilities, and goals.
Her approach respects the Ashtanga lineage while refusing to treat the posture as more important than the person practicing it. Apprentices learn tradition, but they also learn how to observe, question, modify, communicate, and make sound decisions for the individual student.
Krista’s experience rebuilding her own movement after significant nerve damage further shaped the program’s emphasis on neuroplasticity, proprioception, functional anatomy, nervous-system awareness, and the body’s capacity to adapt.
Read Krista’s story →
Personal mentorshipDirect feedback throughout the full six-month program
Program curriculum
A comprehensive study of practice,teaching, and the person practicing.
The curriculum combines traditional Ashtanga education with anatomy, movement science, teaching methodology, and practical experience in a working yoga studio.
Asana and the Ashtanga Method
- Primary Series
- Introduction to Intermediate Series
- Vinyasa, breath, bandhas, and drishti
- Memorization and intelligent progression
- Modifications and individual application
Anatomy and Body Intelligence
- Physical and subtle anatomy
- Functional movement and biomechanics
- Proprioception and somatic awareness
- Tensegrity and whole-body relationships
- Neuroplasticity and the mind-body connection
Teaching Methodology
- Observation and student assessment
- Verbal cueing and communication
- Hands-on assists and adjustments
- Sequencing and class development
- Teaching special populations
Yoga Beyond Asana
- Pranayama and breath control
- Meditation
- Chanting and mantra
- Kriyas and cleansing practices
- Developing a personal practice of inquiry
Philosophy, History, and Tradition
- Yoga theory and philosophy
- Historical development of yoga
- The Ashtanga lineage
- Ethics and teacher responsibility
- Applying yoga philosophy in daily life
The Work of Teaching
- Observation and assisting in studio classes
- Teaching practice and constructive feedback
- Professional boundaries and ethics
- The business of yoga
- Final written, oral, and practical examinations
Mark your calendar
2027 training weekends
Nine weekends allow the material to unfold gradually, with time between sessions to practice, observe, complete assignments, and integrate what you are learning.
01January 8–10Opening weekend
02January 29–31Weekend two
03February 19–21Weekend three
04March 12–14Weekend four
05April 2–4Weekend five
06April 23–25Weekend six
07May 14–16Weekend seven
08June 4–6Weekend eight
09June 25–27Final weekend
The commitment
This program asks youto participate fully.
The depth of an apprenticeship comes from what happens between training weekends. Consistent personal practice, reflection, and application are integral parts of the education.
01
Maintain a six-day-per-week personal practice.
02
Attend Mysore classes at The Yoga Shala at least three times per week, either in person or virtually via Zoom for approved out-of-town students.
03
Keep a detailed daily practice log.
04
Attend all nine weekend training sessions with Krista.
05
Participate in assigned observation and assisting during studio classes.
06
Complete all required reading, writing, research, and independent study assignments.
07
Successfully complete the final written exam, oral exam, and teaching practicum.
From a previous graduate
★★★★★
“My apprenticeship with Krista completely transformed my practice and my confidence as a teacher. Her knowledge of the body and the Ashtanga practice is incredible, and she has a unique ability to help every student truly understand what they are learning.AlisiaApprenticeship graduate
Each weekend was filled with valuable lessons, hands-on experience, and thoughtful guidance. Krista challenged me to grow while supporting me every step of the way. I left the apprenticeship feeling confident in my ability to teach and safely adjust students. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience and truly believe there is no other program like it.”
Lifetime community and audit privilege
Graduate once.Remain part of the learning community.
All graduates of the 200-hour Apprenticeship Program are invited to retake the full program in future years at no additional cost.
Return to revisit the material, continue your mentorship with Krista, deepen your embodiment of the practice, or reconnect with the community. You will always have a place here.
This is not simply a training. It is a lifelong path of learning, growth, and belonging.Tuition and membership
A six-month investmentin your practice and education.
Program tuition
$3,400
Tuition includes the complete 200-hour apprenticeship experience.
- All nine training weekends
- Direct instruction and mentorship with Krista
- Classroom and practical learning hours
- Observed assisting and teaching experience
- Comprehensive apprenticeship manual
- Lifetime program audit privilege
Required books are not included and may be purchased through The Yoga Shala.
Apprentice unlimited membership
$1,600
Save $620
Local apprentices must maintain a consistent practice at The Yoga Shala throughout the program.
Students may retain a standard monthly studio membership or choose the discounted Apprentice Unlimited Membership for the duration of the training.
Practice membership is separate from the $3,400 program tuition.
Application deposit
$300 submitted with your completed applicationCertificate and lineage
An educational immersion,not a promise of authorization.
Students who complete all requirements will receive a 200-hour Certificate of Completion issued by The Yoga Shala.
This apprenticeship is designed to provide comprehensive education, mentorship, and practical experience. It is not presented as formal Authorization or Certification to teach traditional Ashtanga Yoga.
Questions to consider
Before you apply
This training is intentionally personal and demanding. These answers can help you decide whether the commitment aligns with what you are seeking.
Continue learning
Read more about what an apprenticeship really teaches.
This article explores why an apprenticeship reaches far beyond learning poses or memorizing a sequence.
Read the Blog PostApplication process
Begin with a conversation.
Request the 2027 application and tell us a little about your practice, experience, goals, and why this program is calling you.
01
Request your application.
Email The Yoga Shala to receive the 2027 apprenticeship application.
02
Complete and return it.
Submit your completed application with the required $300 deposit.
03
Application review.
Krista will review your application and may contact you to discuss your readiness for the commitment.
04
Confirm your place.
Accepted students will receive enrollment and preparation details before the program begins.
Application deposit
Submit the completed application and $300 deposit to The Yoga Shala at 140 Circle Drive, #4, Maitland, FL 32751.
If an application is not accepted, the deposit will be refunded minus a $50 processing fee.
Cancellation policy
Refunds, minus the deposit, are available until November 20, 2026.
After December 20, 2026, no refunds will be issued.
The next chapter of your practice
Go deeper.For the understanding.
Strengthen your practice, expand your knowledge, and learn within a tradition that values discipline, humility, intelligent inquiry, and genuine care for the student.
The Yoga Shala is a body movement studio with a specialized approach, customizing each client's class experience, based on their goals and needs. Our goal is to foster a lighthearted, non-dogmatic, warm and encouraging environment.
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