Whether you’re hoping to craft a rewarding new career as a yoga teacher or simply crave a release from the stress of a busy and fast-paced life, Santosha Yoga Institute's Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Teacher Trainings can help you find a fresh perspective
and deeper meaning for a more authentic life.
We’re on a Mission to Help You Live a More Meaningful and Joyful Life Through Our Transformational Yoga Teacher Trainings
Find the Right Yoga Teacher Training for You20+ Years
Training & Retreat
Experience
Experience
20,000+
Yoga & PILATES Teachers
Trained & Qualified
Trained & Qualified
3 Training
Locations Around
the World
the World
Specialists
and experienced Master Yoga & PILATES Teachers
Enjoy World-Renowned, Authentic Yoga Teachings in a Flexible Format That Suits Your Schedule
We know you’re special and have many gifts to share with the world. We’d love to walk beside you and guide you as you discover the hidden depths of your strength and wisdom. We do this both in-person and online (or a combination of both) so that you can progress on your journey in the way that is most convenient for you.
Our Incredible Team of Teachers and Support Staff Have a
Sincere Desire to Help You Live Your Best, Most Fulfilled, and Open-Hearted Life
We’ve gathered the most passionate and skilled yogis from all corners of the globe to support you on your journey of deepening your yoga practice. We share your joys, tears, triumphs, challenges, and successes - once you’re part of the Santosha Yoga Institute family, we will always be there for you. We invite you to come learn with us and transform your life!
Meet the Talented Santosha Yoga Institute TeamWe’ve Been Transforming Lives Through Yoga Since 2007
We’re delighted to celebrate more than 17 amazing years of helping students step into their strength. We’re excited to help you on your journey of self-discovery so you can connect with your authentic self and live with more purpose. But first, let us share some of our journey with you…
1995
The Planting of the Seed for Santosha Yoga Institute
This is when it all began! Our founder, Sunny, is a former surfing champion. Yoga and meditation played an integral part in her life from a very young age but were particularly impactful when she was competing as a high-level professional surfer. Combining yoga and surfing allowed her to unlock the power of her mind, driving high performance and fueling her ability to advocate for women’s sport internationally.
1996
Turning to Yoga in the Journey to Motherhood
After winning her first pro surfing tour in America, Sunny paused her surfing career for 18 months to give birth to two beautiful twin boys (and later her beautiful daughter in 2001). This transformational experience deepened her relationship to yoga and meditation as a means to reconnect with herself and find a balance between being an athlete, businesswoman, and mother.
2003
Answering a Deep Calling to Teach Yoga
After completing intense practice of yoga and meditation, including deep work with renowned yoga teachers, Sunny realised she could create anything she wanted in her life. Wanting to share this knowledge and experience with others, she travelled to India to learn authentic yoga in the place of its origin.
Sunny’s first experience as a yoga teacher was on a US Military Air Force base in Japan. This experience spurred her to study further with the world’s best teachers, leading her to the teachings of Krishnamacharya.
2006
Santosha Yoga Institute's First Yoga Surf Retreat is a Success
Santosha Yoga Institute was excited to run its first yoga retreat in Byron Bay with the help of an Ashtanga teacher who teaches with us to this day. Likely the first-ever retreat to combine yoga and surfing in Australia, this successful event paved the way for Santosha Yoga Institute's transformational training courses and programs.
2007
Santosha Yoga Institute's First Yoga Teacher Training is Launched
Sunny’s first Yoga Teacher Training was held in idyllic Byron Bay, Australia. This first training program was so impactful that we knew we were on the right path. Santosha Yoga Institute continued to flourish as we grew our close-knit team and embraced the opportunities for growth that came our way.
2010
Taking Yoga Teacher Trainings to Paradise
With a few years of successful teacher trainings behind us, the Santosha Yoga Institute team was ready to expand and embark on new adventures. We followed the path that had been lit for us, travelling to Thailand to run our first yoga teacher training in paradise on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan. Eventually, we expanded to an incredible location on the island of the Gods, Bali.
2012
Santosha Yoga Institute Levels up to Level 2 Yoga Teacher Trainings
After what some might consider divine intervention, we followed the lineage of yoga to its origin in India for our first Level 2 yoga teacher training. This first training in India helped Santosha Yoga Institute become globally recognised for the authenticity and depth of our training and connected our team more fully to our yogic roots.
2014
Making the Leap From In-Person to Online
Santosha Yoga Institute offered one of the world’s first online yoga teacher trainings, enabling more people around the globe to access the life-changing knowledge and practice of yoga. Meanwhile, Sunny deepened her love of the ocean and its healing effects on the mind and body while completing her Free Diving Certificate with her 16-year-old sons. This profound experience deepened her appreciation for the incredible power of breath, which informs her Breath/Meditation and Asana Teachings to this day.
2017
Santosha Finds a Home on a tropical island in Bali
Sunny fulfilled a long-held dream with the establishment of Santosha Yoga Institute’s very own dedicated yoga shala, on the stunning tropical island of Nusa Lembongan, Bali. The Santosha Yoga Village created an incredible space for students of yoga to come together in a nourishing environment to learn and connect.
Meanwhile, Sunny continued to study with leading instructors, including Yoga Therapy study with the Mohans. She was humbled by learning directly from AG and Indra Mohan, longtime disciples of TK Krishnamacharya, the “father of modern yoga”. Their principle of meeting students where they are at, to encourage students of all ages, sizes, and levels of flexibility to access yoga became a guiding principle at Santosha Yoga Institute.
Sunny’s other interests are Biohacking and working with regenerative farming for the benefits of all of humanity. She continues to study with Dr Zach Bush and more on these important pieces which she threads through her Yoga Training.
2018
Santosha Yoga Institute Becomes Trauma-Informed
Sunny completed Trauma-Related Yoga Training and incorporated trauma-informed modules into all our yoga trainings. With approximately 70% of the world’s population having been exposed to a traumatic life event, at least one in six students is affected by PTSD. Santosha Yoga Institute believes awareness of trauma-informed yoga is a vital skill for all yoga teachers.
2020
Santosha Yoga Institute Offers Certified Online Trainings
As the world came to a standstill, we were dedicated to enabling our students to complete their in-person training online, so their dreams and careers were not limited. We then opened our online training to all of humanity, allowing students around the world to foster community and connection during a fragmented time. In addition to our world-renowned certified Level 1 RYT-200 course, we created 10 new specialised online yoga trainings to allow students to broaden their knowledge and skills from the comfort of their homes.
2021
Santosha Yoga Institute Returns to In-Person Trainings in Byron Bay
We were thrilled to be able to once again share life-changing teachings face-to-face after the lockdowns of 2020. The healing energy of Byron Bay added a special element to our first post-pandemic trainings and continues to make this course an incredible experience to this day.
2022
Santosha Yoga Institute's Bali Yoga Village Reopens
We were overwhelmed with gratitude to be back on our island home of Nusa Lembongan. Reconnecting with the beauty, spirituality, and slow pace of Bali life was a blessing for Santosha Yoga Institute teachers and students alike as people from around the globe were united again through our passion for yoga.
2023 and Beyond
Santosha Yoga Institute Continues to Change Lives Through Our Unmatched Variety of Online and In-Person Yoga Courses
Santosha Yoga Institute now offers regular
RYT-200 and RYT-500 courses in Bali, Byron Bay, and Sri Lanka. In addition to this, we offer certified Online RYT-200 courses and specialised short courses. We are continually growing and expanding our offerings to ensure our students get the highest quality training available. In addition to yoga, we are continuing to expand our offerings to support humanity and teach far beyond a general yoga teacher training.
We are thrilled to see our Santosha Yoga Institute family growing and thriving, sharing in our goal of spreading the joy of yoga throughout the world. We welcome you with open arms to join this incredible community by enrolling in our courses!
It’s Time to Make the Change You Know, Deep in Your Heart, You Need to Make to Live the Life You Truly Want
Santosha Yoga Institute’s Teacher Trainings are the perfect way to embark on an incredible personal journey of self-discovery. Whether you want to build a successful career as a yoga teacher or simply to live a more authentic and peaceful life, we’d be delighted to partner with you to help you harness yoga and meditation to change for the better.
