The Best Yoga Teacher Training Programs in Portugal

by Gecko Yoga August 24, 2023

Considering taking the next step on your yoga journey with a Teacher Training Program?

Whether you’re looking to build a career as a yoga instructor or simply want to dive deeper into the wisdom of this ancient tradition, we can say from our own experience that participating in a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) Program is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

As yoga teachers ourselves, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs offered in Portugal. Please note that this list is in no particular order, and choosing the right program for you will depend on the style of yoga you’re looking to pursue, and the way the program resonates with you individually.

Jump Straight to the List of Best Yoga Teacher Training Courses ↓

First, why do a Yoga Teacher Training in Portugal?

gecko x sea shepherd cork yoga mat

Practicing on the GECKO X SEA SHEPHERD Cork Yoga Mat in beautiful Ericeira, Portugal

Yoga Teacher Training programs are offered all over the world, with many taking place in India, the birthplace of the yoga tradition. So, why come to Portugal for a Yoga Teacher Training program?

A Yoga Teacher Training program is more than just a fun vacation or a quick-and-easy professional training course. It’s a transformational experience that will challenge you to dive inward and immerse yourself in the teachings of yoga. Therefore, it’s important to consider the environment when choosing the right course for you.

Portugal is often considered a hot spot for yoga for several reasons.

First, Portugal has some of Europe’s most beautiful natural landscapes, from wild coastlines with rugged cliffs and enchanting mountains with subtropical forests. In Portugal, it is easy to commune with nature and connect with the natural rhythms of the earth, making it a perfect place to embark on your yogic journey.

Furthermore, Portugal has a moderate climate with warm summers and mild winters — no monsoons or snowstorms here! This means that there’s simply more opportunity throughout the year to enjoy the natural beauty and participate in yoga events, retreats, and training.

Lastly, Portugal is home to some incredibly talented yoga teachers, many of whom have trained under highly regarded teachers and gurus. So, for those who already live in Portugal, why look any further when you have some incredible sources of knowledge right in your own backyard?

Why 200-hours?

A good yoga instructor is always a student of the practice first, and a teacher second. Your study of the yoga practice shouldn’t end after you receive a teaching certificate. Rather, your 200-hour training should be a single step on a lifelong journey of learning.

Not all schools of yoga adhere to the 200-hour format, however it is widely accepted amongst the yoga community that 200 hours is the minimum time needed to develop a sufficient understanding of the practice and enough practical experience to teach others.

So, while you may find some 500-hour programs, you won’t be certified to teach yoga without completing at least 200-hours of training.

That being said, there are programs that are only 50-hours or 100-hours, but these are often advanced teacher training programs that focus on a highly specified area of yoga. In order to qualify for these programs, you must first have completed your initial 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.

What does it mean to be Yoga Alliance Certified, and does it really make a difference?

yoga alliance certifications

Yoga Alliance is the largest global organization representing the yoga community worldwide. According to their website, “Yoga Alliance Standards set the ethical and educational framework for yoga teachers and schools in order to ensure high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching in communities around the world.”

When a Yoga Teacher Training program is accredited by Yoga Alliance, it means that the curriculum meets the organization’s standards. However, the RYS (Registered Yoga School) certification does not necessarily mean an excellent program, and on the contrary, some excellent programs come from schools without this certification.

So, how important is this in making your decision?

If you intend on pursuing teacher yoga as a profession, then it’s in your best interest to study at a YA certified school. However, if your intention is to delve deeper into the teachings of the practice, then you can do so without the YA stamp of approval — as it was done for thousands of years.

Here is our list of Yoga Teacher Training Programs in Portugal

GAYA Immersions 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training

gaya immersions yoga teacher training

Principle Yoga Style(s): Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga

Location: Ericeira, Portugal

Course Type & Duration: Intensive, in-person. 3 Weeks.

Accommodation Included: No

Yoga Alliance Certified: Yes

Lead Teacher Trainer(s): Sara Montes

Price: €2,950.00

Description: Gaya Immersions Teacher Training Program focuses on true understanding of the yogic philosophy and inclusive ways to practice yoga. You are encouraged to link the acquired understanding of yoga to a deep awareness of the practice and to integrate that understanding in your daily actions. Yoga hereby becomes a form of practical spirituality and a way of living to empower you and those around you.

Manu School of Yoga 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training

manu school of yoga ytt

Principle Yoga Style(s): Hatha / Precision & Flow Yoga

Location: Sintra, Portugal

Course Type & Duration: Extensive, in-person. 3 Modules over the course of one year.

Accommodation Included: No

Yoga Alliance Certified: Yes

Lead Teacher Trainer(s): Manel Rodrigues

Price: €2,150.00

Description: Manu School of Yoga, is a school of Hatha Yoga, combining Precision in the understanding of all aspects of yoga, and Flow as the creative and dynamic expression of the practice within classes.

True North Vinyasa 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training

Principle Yoga Style(s): Vinyasa Yoga

Location: Ericeira, Portugal

Course Type & Duration: Intensive, in-person. 3 Weeks.

Accommodation Included: Yes

Yoga Alliance Certified: Yes

Lead Teacher Trainer(s): Lisa Andersson Rhodiner & Elin Jensen

Price: From €4,400.00

Description: True North Vinyasa is a yoga teacher training true to the essence of vinyasa with a fresh and open minded perspective. This is an immersion into a transformational personal physical practice. It's a hands-on catapult into skillful vinyasa teaching and the business of being a teacher. It's a tool kit that will help you find your voice and your calling as a yoga teacher.

East Meets West 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training

Principle Yoga Style(s): Hatha & Vinyasa Yoga

Location: Ericeira, Portugal

Course Type & Duration: Intensive, in-person. 3 Weeks.

Accommodation Included: Yes

Yoga Alliance Certified: Yes

Lead Teacher Trainer(s): Karol de Souza & Satyanarayan Jha

Price: From €3,595.00

Description: Whether you would like to become a Yoga teacher, or simply take this course to deepen your knowledge on Yoga this training is the perfect union of Eastern and Western approach to Yoga. On on hand, Satya, flying all the way from India to teach us traditional Hatha Yoga straight from the source and birthplace of this practice. On the other hand, Karol De Souza is passionate about Vinyasa Flow and teaches a more modern and fluid approach to Yoga.

Authentic Flow 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training

Principle Yoga Style(s): Authentic Flow, Embodied Somatics

Location: Algarve, Portugal

Course Type & Duration: Extensive, hybrid. Pre-Recorded Online & 11 Days in-person.

Accommodation Included: Yes

Yoga Alliance Certified: Yes

Lead Teacher Trainer(s): Satu Tuomela

Price: From €2,300.00

So, how do you choose a YTT?

Choosing a Yoga Teacher Training Program is a very personal decision. Our ultimate word of advice is to find a teacher who inspires you, and follow them. The beautiful thing about embarking on Yoga Teacher Training journey in 2024 is that there are so many options available. Follow your heart, and you’ll find the path that is right for you.