22 Day 200-Hour Foundation Yoga Teacher Training in Koh Samui, Thailand

Certification

Students who complete the training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).

This course is for you

Become a certified yoga teacher and share your passion with the world. Vikasa is where passion meets paradise. You’ll practice authentic yoga based on ancient lineages while perched on a cliff-side overlooking the glimmering, azure sea. You’ll connect with genuine people and rediscover your inner self while gaining skills and confidence to teach safely and passionately.

If you’ve ever visualized yourself on a tropical hill surrounded by lush nature overlooking the ocean while meditating in blissful silence, it’s possible that place was Vikasa. Imagine how exciting it could be to take part in a 200-hour yoga teacher training on a tropical island, connecting with beautiful like-minded souls.

Vikasa Yoga Retreat understands that your reality is created first with an intention – let’s manifest that dream into reality together. Step into the beautiful nature of Koh Samui and nurture your passion. Reopen your life and begin a new direction as a certified yoga teacher. Whether you’re a yoga beginner or you’ve been practicing yoga for years, you are welcome to join us in our yoga paradise in Thailand for the next step in your yoga journey. They dare you to dream. Whether you’re new to yoga or you’ve been practicing for a while, it’s time to ask yourself if you are ready for the next step in your yoga journey.

Delve into the art of sequencing, grasp an understanding of ancient and modern philosophy, and connect with an amazing group of like-minded students. Spend 21 days in Thailand on a journey stripping off your protective layers, strengthening your core practice, and reaching inwards to your authentic self. Become a globally certified yoga teacher and take your yoga practice to the next level. Live the dream and share your truth with the world.

Foundation yoga teacher training in Thailand is the most popular course and a cornerstone of the Vikasa Yoga Academy. In fact, they’ve certified over 1,000 yoga students in the last decade to become certified yoga teachers to the international standard of the Yoga Alliance. Recently they’ve added several options to keep up with demand and to ensure each yoga teacher training we offer meets the highest standards.

Now you can take the 200-hour yoga teacher training course several times per year as well as online. You’ll be taught by their excellent Vikasa Yoga Academy teaching team and enjoy all the perks that come with being a Vikasa student.

What you will learn

Practice

• Over 200 asana postures
• The principles of asana
• Warm ups and sun salutations
• Meditation techniques
• Pranayama techniques
• Vinyasa
• Relaxation techniques
• Attention training
• Mantras and chanting
• Traditional Hatha yoga
• Bandhas, mudras, and dristis
• Kriyas for purification
• Concentration training
• Mindfulness techniques

Theory

• The Vikasa yoga method
• The essence of yogic philosophy
• Hatha yoga pradipika text
• Yoga sutras of patanjali
• History of yoga
• The 5 koshas / sheaths
• Science behind sequencing
• Intelligent freestyle method
• The eight limbs of yoga
• The Vayus
• Nadis and the seven chakras
• Self-inquiry and realization
• The principles of teaching
• Static strength and endurance

Workshops

• Food, nutrition, digestion
• The principles of movement
• Anatomy, mobility, and stability
• Skeletal differences, alignments
• Muscles and the nervous system
• Creating sequences for classes
• Introduction to Vinyasa theory
• Asana alignment and geometry
• Warm-ups and sun salutations
• Sequencing methodology
• The 5 movements of the spines
• Inversions
• Arm balances
• The business of yoga

The Vikasa method

Vikasa Yoga Retreat's signature foundation yoga teacher training starts with a strong physical foundation, evolving into energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual practice.

Key principles and rules of yoga are taught, allowing the teachers and dedicated practitioners to gain in-depth understanding, knowledge, and insight into the methodology and the effects of yoga practice. Vikasa Yoga Retreat's approach encourages integration with society in a modern context. Their teaching modules each represent a pillar of the Vikasa yoga method: mind, body, and energy. These three pillars, when taught together, create a well-rounded yoga education with an emphasis on the development of the individual.

The unique curriculum that has been tried and tested over the years, ever-evolving with lasting results. Vikasa Yoga Retreat's approach is further defined by the 5 shells or layers known as “koshas” physical, energetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual. They like to think of their curriculum as two “hands” of learning under two structural pillars practice and theory. The branches of topics vary from asana and meditation through methodology and application. This method of learning has taken years to refine and now provides a stable platform for learning on mental and physical levels.

Asana

Learn over 200 poses

• Active strengthening
• Passive stretching
• Dynamic Vinyasas
• Static poses
• Balancing
• Inversions

Pranayama

Breathing techniques

• Nadi sodhana
• Kapalabhati
• Samavritti
• Bhastrika
• Kumbhaka
• Ujjai

Meditation

Awareness and mindfulness

• Dharana
• Pratyahara
• Passive awareness
• Star breathing
• Chakra breathing
• Microcosmic orbit
• Mantra and chanting
• Raja yoga

Bandhas

Energetic locks

• Maha bandha
• Mula bandha
• Uddiyana bandha
• Jaladhara bandha

Kriyas

Cleansing techniques

• Nauli
• Kapalabhati
• Neti
• Trataka

Methodology

Science and logic

• Sequencing
• Alignment
• Adjustments
• Teaching

Anatomy

The physical body

• Hands-on learning
• Correct alignment
• Effective practice
• Tissue and joints
• Directions of mobility

Philosophy

Wisdom in context

• Patanjali sutras
• Hatha pradipika
• Bhagavad gita
• Tantra
• Samkhya

Chakras

Energetic centers

• Muladhara
• Swadhistana
• Manipura
• Anahata
• Vishuddha
• Ajna
• Sahasrara

Koshas

Layers of self

• Annamaya
• Pranamaya
• Manomaya
• Vijnanamaya
• Anandamaya

Covered topics

• Asana: Learn and practice over 200 poses
• Pranayama: Breath, practice, and the techniques.
• Meditation: Practice awareness and find your focus.
• Bandha: Energetic locks and energy control.
• Sequencing: Intelligent freestyle to create your flow.
• Alignment: Learn the geometry behind safe practice.
• Philosophy: Ancient wisdom in a modern context.
• Anatomy: Hands-on approach to learning the body.
• Methodology: The science and reason behind it all.
• Lifestyle: Learn by living it for 21 immersive days.
• Nutrition: Learn about the fuel a yoga body needs.
• Marketing: Tools for success in the yoga world.

The teachers

The 200-hour foundation yoga teacher training is taught by Kosta Miachin, the founder of Vikasa, along with his team of senior-level yoga teachers.

Vikasa Yoga Retreat offers the highest teacher-to-student ratio of any other yoga teacher training program and their qualified staff of Vikasa teachers are not only highly qualified, they are passionate, charismatic, and have a variety of strengths and credentials. Their international faculty originates from Russia, Australia, Sweden, England, America, and Thailand, yet they are all based in Koh Samui and are an integral part of Vikasa. They are onsite every day of the training and can be found teaching their public classes and specialized retreats outside of YTT dates.

Vikasa Yoga Retreat's faculty are lifelong students, highly experienced teachers, and highly qualified teacher trainers. All of Vikasa's teachers have graduated with numerous teacher training certifications and have diverse and unique ways of teaching and sharing their areas of expertise and interest. Their vast and combined experience will enrich your education, your personal development, and your yoga career in infinite ways. The course is structured around various techniques, vastly ranging according to the expertise of our diverse team.

Vikasa Yoga Retreat's team lives and breathes yoga and lives and breathes the Vikasa lifestyle and ethos. They believe in the power of self-initiative, self-love, and personal evolution, and the only way to truly have an impact on the world is to start with the impact of your own vibration. They believe in the power of community; that a small group of like-minded people have the power to change the world.

Every teacher training is guided by a team of their senior Vikasa teachers, assistant Vikasa teachers, guest teachers, and Karma yoga assistants. Their faculty may shift slightly depending on which dates you attend yet every program has the highest level of teaching faculty accessible in any global yoga training.

Bonus workshop with Daniel Rama: Introduction to inversions and arm balances

Throughout the 2025 200-hour training, Vikasa is excited to welcome their guest teacher Daniel Rama to offer a bonus workshop on inversions. If you’ve checked Rama’s Instagram account, you may have seen a lot of impressive yoga asana shots.

Rama will help you break down some more advanced postures so you can approach them from a foundational level. This will not only offer you a solid base from which you can easily advance it will also support the way you approach your yoga practice in general. Best of all, if you plan to step into teaching, you’ll have a few inversion poses you can confidently offer your own students.

What is your day like?

Your daily schedule for the 200-hour foundation yoga teacher training is a healthy mix of immersive practice, enlightening theory, and hands-on workshops. The daily life at Vikasa starts with the sound of tropical birds as the sun rises over the east-facing hillside home. This is a sample schedule which may vary slightly from your actual schedule.

• 07:00 - 09:30 Morning yoga practice
• 09:30 - 11:00 Healthy brunch at Vikasa Life Café
• 11:00 - 13:00 Self-study, relax, action, and recovery
• 13:00 - 16:00 Theory, lecture, or workshops
• 17:00 - 18:30 Evening yoga practice
• 18:30 - 20:00 Healthy dinner at Vikasa Life Café

Vikasa mornings are magical with meditation and practice before a robust brunch in a community setting at the Vikasa Life Cafe. Throughout the day, you’ll have a mix of structured group activities such as lectures or workshops, as well as solo downtime and freedom to explore this island paradise. There are 6 days of training per week with 1 day off, usually Sunday. End each day with a relaxing lemongrass tea listening to the island breeze.

Key highlights

• Teachers: They have the highest teacher-to-student ratio of any YTT. With 5 lead teachers and 4 assistant teachers, they value personalized support. The global team is from Russia, the UK, Australia, Sweden, Thailand, and the USA.
• Evolution: This is not just about a certificate. A Vikasa YTT is about your personal evolution. This course will transform you. You’ll discover your own authentic truth and return to the world as the most radiant version of yourself.
• Food: The right fuel is essential to help you thrive. Abundant, healthy, delicious buffet brunches and dinners are included. Meals are primarily plant-based, made with local natural ingredients. Meals are always a highlight.
• Salas: They have four stunning purpose-built, ocean-front yoga salas. You will practice daily with unfettered views over the ocean in the most stunning and spacious yoga sala in Thailand. Complete with high-quality mats and props.
• Content: The Vikasa Method is their own signature yoga style, philosophy, and lifestyle. This is a very powerful yoga experience with a high emphasis on meditation and pranayama as well as asana, philosophy, anatomy, and teaching.
• Environment: Vikasa is an environment curated for transformation. The natural elements of the ocean and jungle create an inspiring and enlightening space purposely built for your evolution and to enhance your holistic well-being.
• Accommodation: They offer various unique room options to suit all preferences and budgets. All rooms are clean, comfortable, relaxing and within easy walking distance to the salas, restaurant, pool, and private beach.
• Graduation: Celebrate your final day and certification with a very special and memorable graduation on a luxury boat! You’ll also receive ongoing support, ongoing community bonus offers, and perks for all Vikasa offerings.
• Inclusions: Everything is included for you – an extensive manual and high-quality props, plus excursions, waterfall adventures, bonus workshops, sound healing, and also unlimited access to public classes and all facilities.