See How Learning Yoga With Santosha Yoga Institute Has Transformed Our Students Lives

What a life changing experience – thank you so much for your guidance, teaching and bright encouragement.

As someone that has been “stuck” at home and had to close her business for several months, this has been a life saver for me. It has allowed me to take a super difficult experience and turn it into a gift for myself and now as a teacher, others in my community.

Biggest thank you from the bottom of my heart.

PS – I’ll probably still show of up for some of the classes – just like a good movie you love, every time you watch it you see something new 🙂

Working with Santosha was an amazing experience. The amount of knowledge you walk away with is incredible and you really get a sense of the passion behind each and every teacher.

I wasn’t sure what doing my ytt online would be like but I’m so glad to have chosen that option. I did everything in my own time and didn’t feel any pressure getting things done. They’ve been super helpful in answering questions and giving amazing feedback on the assignments. You can tell they genuinely want you to succeed. It’s hard to know what kind of quality you’re getting with a ytt but I’m walking away knowing I chose the best school there is.

I’ve spoken to others that have done their ytt only just before I did and was shocked by the lack of information/knowledge they were getting as opposed to myself even before finishing the course. Just goes to show how thorough Santosha is at making sure you’re fully equipped with everything you need to become an incredible yoga teacher and doing so in a way that truly helps your future students in their practice as opposed to just throwing out poses blindly.

I’ve received so much confidence as a teacher and I have no doubt you will too if you choose Santosha. Couldn’t be happier with my decision !! Thank you so much Sunny, Andrea and Jennie for being such a massive help encouragement and inspiration on this journey !!! 💕💜

I am Vanesa Marquez, I come from Argentine and I have lived in Melbourne for 1 year and a half. I am a mother of three wonderful children and a happy wife. With that little intro of my life, I can say that it is difficult to describe what it was like to do the 200 YTT with Santosha.

A beautiful process of personal discovery and connection at all levels known and unknown. Knowledge is a matter of time, but transmitting that knowledge, having impact, the ability to share a traditional and ancestral practice from love and respect, honoring to the masters, continuing a legacy, that is Santosha.

In just days I went from feeling anxious, nervous, insecure about taking a course in a language that is not my original language and doubts but at the same time curious to know more about something that made me feel so good. To say with pride and confidence that I am a yoga teacher and feel from the depths of my being an immense love and much gratitude to be able to continue transmitting this beautiful knowledge, this wonderful legacy and lifestyle.

I wish every single day to continue learning, but with many tools. Always with love to transmit from my humble being a most valuable practice. The reality completely exceeded expectations. You have been transcended in me. Santosha family, I respect and honor each one of you, Sunny, Meret, Jennie, Tina, Piera María, Darla, Sarah, Moana, Rabea, each of my peers, friends for life.

it is a pleasure to be part of this family. In a few words, in my life this course meant love, gratitude, simplicity, respect, support, humility, joy, discovery, profound wisdom and growth. Santosha’s light is my guide, I hope to shine with its intensity and love.

I am Vanesa Marquez, I come from Argentine and I have lived in Melbourne for 1 year and a half. I am a mother of three wonderful children and a happy wife. With that little intro of my life, I can say that it is difficult to describe what it was like to do the 200 YTT with Santosha.

A beautiful process of personal discovery and connection at all levels known and unknown. Knowledge is a matter of time, but transmitting that knowledge, having impact, the ability to share a traditional and ancestral practice from love and respect, honoring to the masters, continuing a legacy, that is Santosha.

In just days I went from feeling anxious, nervous, insecure about taking a course in a language that is not my original language and doubts but at the same time curious to know more about something that made me feel so good. To say with pride and confidence that I am a yoga teacher and feel from the depths of my being an immense love and much gratitude to be able to continue transmitting this beautiful knowledge, this wonderful legacy and lifestyle.

I wish every single day to continue learning, but with many tools. Always with love to transmit from my humble being a most valuable practice. The reality completely exceeded expectations. You have been transcended in me. Santosha family, I respect and honor each one of you, Sunny, Meret, Jennie, Tina, Piera María, Darla, Sarah, Moana, Rabea, each of my peers, friends for life.

it is a pleasure to be part of this family. In a few words, in my life this course meant love, gratitude, simplicity, respect, support, humility, joy, discovery, profound wisdom and growth. Santosha’s light is my guide, I hope to shine with its intensity and love.

I’ve very recently completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training with Santosha. I’m so grateful that this opportunity came up and I was able to learn from the most wonderful and knowledgeable instructors from around the world. There is so much to learn and I have been fully supported both during the course and ongoing.

My intention was originally to deepen my own practice, as I love that inner peace I would always feel when doing yoga, and I wanted to tap into that further. I’ve come away with such amazement at what I learnt as yoga is really so much more than I thought. I’m so happy to have found answers and I want to share my love for yoga with all.

“Let me tell you straight. Yes, it is normal to have self-doubts and fears, and YES, Santosha is the right choice, the right teachers to guide you through this beautiful journey.

Only a month after graduating I feel totally confident to start offering classes and that I can keep my students safe and provide real benefit to their health.

“Yoga what? Are you insane?” My closest and most loved people would question me when I told them I have signed up for a yoga teacher course.

Is this where are you at?

To this point I had spent 8 years in graduate and postgraduate studies and another 5 years working in a dream place with people I loved. I loved every second of it, even the challenges.

However, there was this whisper inside, there was this feeling before it became a recognition on a conscious level. And what brought it down as a palpable realisation was, as it often is, a traumatic event or two, something that forces you to stop everything else and re-consider what is important, who are you meant to be? I had a whirl storm of emotions and events after the birth of my first child and these re-surfaced after the birth of my second child. At the same time the person I felt closest to on the entire Earth, my grandmother, became terminally ill.

The inner wisdom that is in me and in you led me to yoga. I already had a glimpse of the profound and inexplicable ways yoga (at that time yoga for me was only the crude physical aspect of it) grounded and started to heal my mind and my body.

I had to deepen my practice, I had to know more, I had to do that for myself in this lifetime and the right time is always NOW. NOW is the time.

I surrendered myself to the process and Santosha literally took me under their wing, the way a mother bird shelters and cares for a young one. Santosha is the teachers, the support staff but also the community of your fellow students.

Santosha feels like a family. Santosha nurtured the most sacred and vulnerable whispers of my heart, Santosha transformed my fears and self-doubts through the power of trusting in me. Trusting that I know what is right for me and providing guidance so that I can follow what was already present within me.

Santosha makes it so easy, wherever you are at, whatever circumstances in life. There is no deadline, no pressure, no judgement. There is infinite amount of guidance, patience, encouragement, love and care and just being there for you.

At the same time the standard is high, the teachings are sacred and transmitted intact from ancient traditions. However, at no point it feels unattainable or beyond reach. The teachers are pure gold.

You will discover so much about yoga you didn’t even know was yoga! Asanas is only such a small part of the yogic tradition. And trust me it is not about being flexible or strong or young. You can do it at any age, any ability, any shape. But why spoil it for you? Discover for yourself!”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of the online TT, I found all the zoom lectures informative and I loved that the teachers were from all over the world. All the teachers were very caring and supportive and helped make the assignments that had to be submitted of a high quality. This really helped my planning of preparing sequences.

Thank you all so much for this positive experience”

Wow! Completing my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training was one of the most profound experiences I have had. As someone with a physical disability, I had always believed I “couldn’t” complete a yoga teacher training course, but the support from Santosha was incredible. I was given space to explore at my own pace, yet I knew that the wonderful teachers were there for me. The learning, the content, the self-practice felt so right and I realised I had gifted myself so much by enrolling in this course.

To think that it was only my mind that was stopping me, yet I discovered I was capable of so much. If you are thinking of embarking on this journey, please don’t let self doubt in yourself stop you. Just come as you are. Thank you Sunny and the beautiful teachers – you have supported my yoga journey and personal growth so much.

My experience with the online Yoga Teacher Training course with Santosha was amazing! I have practiced yoga for over 12 years and I always wanted to get certified to be a yoga teacher but no program ever felt right. Because of COVID-19 lockdown, I started to explore training options again… there was nowhere to be anyways… and I came upon Sunny Richards and Santosha Yoga Institute. I was still skeptical about an online course, but I took a leap of faith and enrolled.

The community of teachers, administrators, and students was so helpful and encouraging. It made me feel like I had made the right choice for myself. We had WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, live zoom meetings and direct emails to communicate, that I never felt alone. With lockdown, there were days I felt so isolated, but the online community of Santosha made me feel connected and part of something. I felt I had a purpose again which was so empowering!

The online material was so thorough and informative that I never felt I was lost or missing something. Learning via online was easy with Santosha because their online platform was well organized with Podia and Google Classroom. There were online videos, live Zoom recordings of classes, mentor sessions, meditation recordings and slides for the various subjects. It took the doubt of online learning completely away.

I also loved that I could complete my training in 5 weeks, following their set pace, or up to 3 months on my own. I chose to follow their suggested pace because I had the time and it was very manageable and doable. Rather than being long and drawn out, Santosha got right to the point, which I wanted. The immersive experience was awesome because I was focusing on yoga, meditation, breathing and how I was treating myself daily. This mentally helped me to stop focusing and worrying on the negative mood of the world and to focus on myself.

The teachers were also amazing! Sunny is a very well trained and knowledgeable yogini. She is so hands on and always there whenever you need her. She feels like a swan taking all her hatchlings under her wing as we coast through the course and life. She remembers you, your stories and is so nurturing.

That care and intellect carries on with the teachers of Santosha. They are understanding that we are learning and that we are learning at different rates. They are there to help whenever we need it. They teach the live classes and online videos in ways that make learning so in depth yet attainable.

My experience of training with Santosha gave me a whole different understanding of yoga. This was the most rewarding part of the training because even though I have practiced for years, I learned a whole other aspect and depth to yoga that I never really encountered. The mental, spiritual, meditative side of yoga was so beneficial to my life and especially in these crazy times we are in currently. This is what also challenged me because I had to breakdown any misconceptions or old habits I had with yoga and really get to the heart of what it truly is.

I am continuing with Santosha online to complete another 300 hours of training so I can become a 500 hour certified teacher.

My many, many thanks to Sunny and the entire Santosha team for all your love and support!

Life is so extremely fast and challenging that these days we have to lift the stop sign by ourselves and take a break from the modern world. Go inward and remember what really matters in our lives. With the help of the Santosha Yoga Institute and Sunny I found this isle of peace and inner wisdom for my own special way of life.

Sunny connects the ancient tradition and wisdom of yoga which helped me to see the pure essence. I learned re-connection to the body, calming the mind, de-stressing the nervous system and much more…

The education is very very detailed and I did not only learn some asanas. Sunny combines the theory, history, philosophy, meditation, breath work and anatomy.

Especially working with the breath helps me to calm my monkey mind.

It’s an honour for me to be guided by such a wonderful team of excellent teachers on my way. In the state of humbleness I will pass on the precious and holy teachings to my own students.

I’m so full of grace to be a part of this very special yoga community.

Thank you from deep inside my heart!

I truly recommend Santosha. From soul to soul, from heart to heart ❤️

The Santosha 200hr YTT course is the kindest, most loving and most caring thing I have ever invested in for myself. I had been interested in becoming a yoga teacher for a long time and this course was more incredible than I could have ever imagined. It truly is a ‘yoga experience filled with love’.

Some questions I remember having when looking for the right school where ‘who are the teachers and what are they like’ and ’what kind of yoga do they teach’. I was so pleased to learn that Santosha teaches traditional yoga as yoga was intended in a safe manner that is accessible for every-body. Santosha teaches yoga that is true and honest, not any fad or popular craze, and in a way that is simple and provides a strong and safe foundation on which to build.

All the teachers and support staff of Santosha are absolutely incredible. The knowledge they have and the way they teach is brilliant and inspiring.

I did the 200hr course online and it was an absolutely incredible way to do it. I felt so connected to my group of fellow students and teachers. The pre-recorded lectures are amazing and the live Zoom sessions where the highlight of this course. I was able to self pace and fit the study into my schedule and the support from the teachers was amazing. I felt included and supported the whole way through.

I am so grateful that this course was made available online so that I could take part without having to travel or take time off work. I will be continuing on with Santosha for further studies. This online 200hr YTT course is the best investment I have ever made and can recommend this course, from the heart, to anyone interested in becoming a yoga teacher.

I retired at 60, then 3 years later I was feeling a bit bored and stale. Friends said “do a course”, “learn a language”. I thought this was good but I wanted to learn about something that I was interested in and was useful.

I had been a bit unwell for a couple of years and after trying many ‘cures’, I found my yoga practice and Ayurvedic way of life had the most positive effect on my health so I thought …. I’ll do a yoga course. My goal was not to teach, it was just to improve my own practice and get a deeper understanding of something that was already helping.

I had already dabbled with this idea a few years ago but I dismissed it as I thought I was too old to learn yoga so I knew about Santosha through my research at that time. They had responded to my queries promptly and the course was flexible enough for me to potter at my own pace.

Having not studied for years I was worried about my ability to retain information and writing assignments. However, although the course is extremely thorough – the suggested reading lists, the online manuals and videos were great. Easy to understand. The biggest challenge that I faced was actually technology or rather my lack of ability using it.

I nearly gave up on about 6 occasions… I couldn’t find materials on Facebook (I’m not a user) I got lost looking for things on the website and I nearly freaked out when I saw the words voice and video recording, never mind actually posting it! Although I have an iPhone it was solely for the purpose of making and receiving calls and simple emails.

After a few distressed calls on Whatsapp (also new to me) to Sunny I was fine. She kept me calm and was really patient and we worked through this. It was this support and flexibility that kept me going. She worked out with me to send my voice and video recording by email as I had another melt down at using YouTube.

The staff were fantastic. This was a yoga course and they were teaching me so much more making sure that these other difficulties did not deter me from achieving my goal. It was not really about my ability but my attitude. I had decided it was too hard. Sunny showed me by keeping calm was more focused and to use this not only in my practise but in my life.

Now that I have finished the course, I can see that it has given me so much more than I expected. I enjoy my practice more and feel more committed to my way of life as I see and feel the benefits. I am much more confident in my classes as well as technology (I even managed online classed in the lockdown!). I’m now considering doing more courses with Santosha.

It’s probably the best value for money I have spent in a long time.

Santosha’s Yoga Teacher Training grounded me in the foundational principles of Yoga in a way that has been very relevant and practical in my daily life. From the comprehensive curriculum to the authenticity of the teachers and the supportive staff, I found the bearings I needed to navigate the path in becoming a Yoga Teacher.

The Module on Yoga Philosophy helped me immensely in understanding truly what Yoga is and how it is very much integrated into my reality in the different roles I play as a Mother, Spouse and Educator to name a few. I am now compelled even more to be conscious in my every decision-making from nutrition to lifestyle to my relationships with the people around me. To be very specific Santosha and Ahimsa is now a precept that resonates in my heart and will be a transformational force in my life.

Even in the midst of a great loss as my mother passed away in the middle of the course, I was able to find the strength to pursue the course having found so much support from the wonderful classmates and teachers in this program. This only proves how much the program is the Universe conspiring to allow me to manifest my dharma.

There is a quote that I love from Christine Caine: “When you are in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you are actually being planted.” Santosha has allowed me to see this wisdom. Santosha has allowed me to bloom from my dark place with the authenticity of heart of all the teachers that I have had the honour to encounter in this program.

I am deeply and tremendously grateful for all the teachers and support staff of Santosha Yoga Institute.

I recently completed my RYT-200 Yoga Teacher Training. It was more than I ever imagined or hoped it could be! I had always wanted to become a certified yoga teacher, but traveled all over the world with my job. As a single Mom of 3 gorgeous daughters I just never took the time for “me”.

Then guess what. At 64 years young I was diagnosed with cancer. Yep, the Big “C”! Surgery, radiation and chemo took me into February 2018. Then a few more health road bumps along the way. But I saw the Santosha Online Training advertised and it was calling my name. (I took yoga instruction on Okinawa from Sunny many years ago.).

I signed up. It was work, hard work. I learned so much — but especially how to breathe during the asanas. I learned meditation. I learned the philosophy. I LEARNED! And I felt welcome and loved by all the instructors and other students. It was as if I finally found home.

After all my health issues I finally feel that I’m certainly on the road to recovery and yoga is going to get me there. My daily practice has become the center of my day. I know after my practice that I can handle anything life wants to throw at me.

And I am looking forward to life post-covid so that I can give back by teaching seniors and in assisted living facilities.

You are never too old!

Being able to get certified online with Santosha was a real blessing. Although online, the course was very thorough and all the help and support that you could need was available so you still feel totally held throughout the process. It was also great to be connected with many more yogis from around the globe. Now I have completed the training I hope to begin to teach specifically trauma informed yoga in order to help people heal. Namaskaar!

Taking a yoga teacher training had been at the back of my head for a few years but I never took the opportunity until being stuck at home due to COVID! I initially did this to deepen my own yoga practise, as I wasn’t expecting to feel confident enough to give a class after an online course.

Yet the 4 weeks training exceeded my expectations! Sunny and the Santosha’s team are so welcoming and kind, I never thought I could feel such a strong sense of community, love and passion through my laptop! The courses are well organized and very complete.

I have learned so much from yoga history to anatomy, to the basic of asanas and breathing techniques. The challenging part for me was to deconstruct what I had learned in my own yoga practise, in order to teach in a safe way for my future students.

After 4 weeks I felt confident I could teach a small class. My life has been turned upside down with the COVID crisis. This training not only gave me new future perspectives, it also helped me go through a difficult time and listen to myself. I can only recommend!

I started off my course on Nusa Lembongan with the beautiful Piera and Andrea. But then due unforeseen circumstances had to return home. Santosha create a whole online course for people in the same situation. And I can say that I felt so supported by Sunny and the team. The online course is different, but just as amazing as being in person on the island. We learnt a lot about just trusting yourself and the process, not to stress. The course covers Hatha yoga, philosophy, anatomy and postures, learning how to structure classes, applications of yoga, pranayama and meditation. Much love to the Santosha team !

I recently completed Santosha’s 200 hour Online Teacher Training. The attentive and warm interactions with Sunny Richards and all of the teachers and administrators made a distance learning opportunity feel connected and engaging. The course offerings were varied, thorough, and thoughtfully presented. I would highly recommend this training and I look forward to continuing my education with Santosha in the future.

Just finished the YTT 200hr certification at Santosha. I am so glad I was able to be part of this amazing community. The knowledge I received incorporates the true teachings of yoga. Lessons enriched with the love of sharing and connecting. This place goes beyond forming great yoga instructors. Be ready to study philosophy, history, postures, anatomy, Nidra, applied yoga, Kirtan, Ayurveda

Now that the emotions and feelings have settled I would like to provide a short feedback regarding my experience with Santosha. The entire course was amazing… I found this course to be a unity of all the factors required to become a good yoga teacher.

Teachers Team – very dedicated, kind and knowledgeable people. They presented the materials, postures and classes in a interesting and captivating way. I have learnt a lot from Ana Lu, Thia, Megan, Sebastian and Jono – and observed their different teaching styles. I want to thank all of them for sharing their personal experiences with us because there was always a new experience or thought to take back home.

Course elements – the textbooks provided were easy to read and understand and the assignments were clear and specific. I liked that the written/ practical assignments were designed to promote the goals of the course.

The teachers created for all of us a nurturing, meaningful and joyful environment – I have learned, experienced, teach, cry and laugh and everything was amazing and gave me the confidence and the example of how to become a good yoga teacher.

The way in which the entire course was taught gave me the confidence to have yoga classes with my first students without emotions or stress – I felt relaxed , enthusiast and happy to share what I learned with them!

Thank you Sunny and Santosha Team for a wonderful experience 🙂

I completed my Level 1 YTT over Sept/Oct 2018 and I could have never imagined it to be so captivating and transformative. The month was absolutely life changing and 100% the most cathartic experience of my life. I feel so blessed and honoured to have had the opportunity.

I felt like each aspect of the day was so well rounded and for the first time in my life.. assessments and lectures were an enjoyable experience.

You have built a beautiful community in Nusa Lembongan and it truly felt like home. I met some beautiful lifelong friends that I still keep in contact with.

One of the most extraordinary and significant parts of this experience were the teachers, the content they taught and how they made me feel.

Thia’s presence, understanding and unconditional love was so powerful from the very beginning. I felt her energy from the very first time I walked up the stairs into the shala. She set the tone for the whole experience. Thia is this radiant light that makes everyone feel so special. Her passion for Yoga, her guidance and her support made this experience something I will never forget.

Andrea’s deep knowledge and love for Yoga was evident throughout her classes. I learnt so much from her. She was remarkably caring and kind. Andrea always put the students first and went out of her way to help, regardless of what time it was. I am so grateful to have been in her classes and I feel so privileged to have had her as a teacher/mentor.

Megan was so gentle, humble and friendly. She had a wealth of knowledge and was so present in every class. She showed up to every class with a smile on her face. The stories she shared were captivating and I really enjoyed learning from her. I am so appreciative for her help and feedback during the final assessments.

Sebastian was charismatic and fascinating. I got lost in his words. The way in which he taught philosophy was extremely thought provoking and powerful. I took a lot of things away from his classes and I still share and refer to the things he said.

Joanna was always so welcoming and friendly. I enjoyed the pre/post natal class with her and I loved learning from someone who was once a student of Santosha.

I think you are so incredibly lucky to have a team of such dedicated, driven, extraordinary teachers and I feel so privileged to have learned from the absolute best.

I could not recommend Santosha enough.

Thank you for creating something that changed my life.

Just wanted to reach out to you and say how much I’m enjoying the course. All the teachers and students are amazing, it’s been such a wonderful journey so far and I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead!

What you’ve created here is beautiful, you should be super proud! To use a metaphor, it feels as though Santosha has been baking the same cake for a long time and gradually refining the recipe and ingredients to create something beautiful. I’m sure it’s ever-evolving, and I just wanted you to know that I feel that I am learning so organically.

I am retaining knowledge easily, and information from the various subjects is integrated perfectly. This is leading me to feel confident in my learnings and teachings. Thia, Sebastian, Johanna, Jaime and Andrea are beautiful souls with such good intentions. Their passion and dedication is infectious and inspiring, they are living examples of what they teach and have been nothing short of amazing. I am experiencing so much positive growth and transformation on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.

I’ve been on a bit of a beautiful healing journey prior to arriving in Santosha and it feels as though this is exactly what I need to consolidate and expand upon my previous learnings. The beautiful journey of life, my heart is radiating love and I’m so grateful for this experience. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to me and I’m so proud of myself for trusting my intuition about Santosha.

This place feels like home, both Lembongan and Santosha, and it feels as though this is the start of a life-long love affair… It’s great there is another male in Luke for support, and I’m also embracing the opportunity to get to know a beautiful group of like-minded women and developing platonic relationships with them. It’s doing wonders for my feminine side in a world where women are so often objectified, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

As a surfer I’m loving being able to surf where possible, as a fellow surfer I’m sure you can relate. Whilst at times it can be challenge to see those perfect rights at Shipwrecks rolling through from the shala, this wave is probably my greatest teacher. It’s a reminder to honour my choices and intentions for undertaking this course and be present, and I’m getting so much joy from this process.

I couldn’t be happier spending my days learning about yoga as a system, the main reason I chose this course is because it focuses on the eight limbs. I fell in love with yoga about a year ago and knew there is so much more to it than I was aware that was making me feel so amazing. I came here to explore that and deepen my practice and it’s such a beautiful and life-changing journey already. I feel like I’ll be back to do my Level 2 next year once I’ve put my learnings into practice and integrate the knowledge I’ve gained.

Sunny!!!! I just have to reach out to you and thank you so deeply and with so much love for creating such an incredible space for everyone to exist in. I cannot actually put in to words how I feel as I feel it on a much deeper and sensorial level…. I feel so much of your love shining through your beautiful teachers, and I know you and see you so deeply through them.

I have been living in a world not so different to the one you have facilitated , but it has just been such a blessing to witness some seriously incredible transformations, and to have the opportunity to really delve in to that part of myself as well. This course has truly been above and beyond what I allowed myself to imagine.

Please let me know if you are ever teaching at one of your courses, or are teaching anywhere in the world, as I would absolutely come again just to meet you.

I wanted to let you know about my time at Santosha last month in Lembongan. It was sincerely one of the best months of my life. I gained so much more personally out of the experience than I thought was possible and I will be forever grateful for that.

The course content was extremely interesting and gave me a greater holistic understanding of Yoga than I ever expected. I am now at a point where I am super keen to continue my yoga learning journey and dedicated to a daily practice which was one of my goals when I signed up for the course.

I don’t think I need to tell you how amazing the teachers are but I just wanted to say that I am indebted to Jo, Johanna, Thia and Piera’s unwaivering support for everyone in the group. They compliment each other extraordinarily well and are an absolute delight to be around. Their energy is infectious and talents to be admired. They made the experience extremely enjoyable and I have a special place in my heart for them. I didn’t get to know Andrea or Seba as well as the others but I really enjoyed their classes and took a lot from them that will hold me in good stead for the future.

Until next time…

“I feel incredibly blessed to have come across Sunny and Santosha in 2012, and to have had the amazing opportunity to attend the YTT course in Canggu, Bali. The course provided a life-changing education that is difficult to put into words, leading to a calmer and more centred attitude to life. Even four months on, I draw on the lessons learned each day-with the knowledge of asana being just the tip of the iceberg.

The amazing people are what makes this course a truly beautiful experience. Each participant is embraced as an individual, rather than another number, as can be the case in other programs.

I thoroughly recommend the YTT 200 course as a valuable investment in oneself, whether or not you plan to teach yoga. As cliched as it may sound, it is an opportunity to discover who you truly are.”

“It’s been several months now since I completed my YTT with Sunny, and it was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.

I’d lived a boy’s own early life, at various times raced karts then cars, briefly flown aeroplanes, run and worked cattle in the bush, stalked game, camped rough and partied hard, an unconscious but ‘fun’ life, all the while chasing selfish needs, desires and experiences.

My time sitting a Santosha YTT easily surpassed it all.

Sunny and her fantastic teachers have huge, open hearts, teaching a thorough syllabus in a compassionate environment. Such a loving and open space was held by our teachers, it made it easy for us as students to open, stay open and be present, soaking it all in as well as having lots of fun, laughs and the most amazing time!

I’ve come away with a more thorough understanding of, and confidence to teach asana safely and appropriately, my rudimentary knowledge of anatomy and yoga philosophy have been greatly improved, I’ve learnt about other aspects of yoga I wasn’t really aware of and I’ve discovered an extended family I just hadn’t met yet.

I’ve acquired new tools for teaching that aren’t limited to the mat, as well as learning much, much more about myself and how we relate to each other.

At various times I was challenged, humbled and stimulated, confronted, conflicted and all the while embraced everything. Things bubbled out of nowhere, feelings and emotions I didn’t realise I contained or could still access emerged. My body coursed with chemicals I didn’t even know it could produce, all the while enjoying the support of my wonderful classmates and beautiful teachers.

Shaucha, Santosha, Tapas, Swadyaha, Ishwara-pranidhana. For me these are the greatest of gifts, difficult, beautiful, incredible changes that started during our YTT and continue to evolve, their positive influence reverberating and touching all those around me.

This is the real gift of yoga.

Arrive with an open heart and a child’s mind. Be willingly led wherever the four weeks take you and the rewards can be sublime.

Thank you Sunny and all my wonderful teachers and beautiful classmates, your incredible openness, teachings and support have had a far greater influence than any of you realise.

With much love and gratitude.”

“It’s been just over a month since I returned from my journey to Bali to become a Yoga Teacher. My journey turned into so much more than that.

There is something special about taking yourself away from your regular world and dropping onto a tropical island to take your YTT – I highly recommend it! There is truly nothing like it, and it allows you to completely surrender to the teaching when you open your heart to it.

From the moment I stepped foot in the Shala I knew that I was in exactly the place I was to be in that moment. Being surrounded by people that are on journeys themselves causes you to become close with them very quickly. I was so honoured to share this journey with them, and so happy that I chose to do it at Santosha. This was the best place to be, for so many reasons.

The training received comes from the heart, and each instructor comes with a heart full of love for yoga, and love for the individuals they are teaching. We were led back to the original intent of yoga – that it is for everyone – for healing and for growth. Santosha leads the training with the guiding principles of Yamas and Niyamas and guides the students to live with these at the forefront of our practice and our lives.

I have left Bali a richer and more mindful person. A person with a different outlook on life. A life that is challenging me to remain present in each moment and to take this outlook and the confidence I now have as a Yoga Teacher to share this gift that was given to me with others.

I am so grateful and thankful for the training and experience that I had at Santosha, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is searching for a Yoga Teacher Training School. I can’t wait to return for Level 2!”

“At first, yoga seemed so out of my reach. For people living with persistent pain like myself, getting out of bed is tough. Becoming a yoga instructor seemed laughable. In my head, I was so intimidated. But my heart told me otherwise.

Coming to Santosha has changed my life. If you live with chronic pain, I have three words for you: GO. DO. IT. I walked away with the same heart and a completely different body. Thanks to Sunny, Peter and the rest of Santosha teaching team, I am free from the pain I have been experiencing for years.

You will never be forced to do anything that you feel uncomfortable with. You won’t be told “push through it” or any of that nonsense. I walked away from the YTT not only at peace with my body, but LOVING my body. Don’t be scared, don’t underestimate yourself. Just come prepared for a transformation.”

“I’m extremely grateful for everything you have taught me, as a person among the athletic, hectic lifestyle community. I have learned to listen to my body, end bad habits and approach life with a BIG compassionate heart. Thank you.”

“Undoubtably the most enlightening and profound yoga experiences that I have ever had. This programme gave me the opportunity to learn from a range of incredibly insightful teachers and philosophers whose beauty and knowledge was shared in abundance. The teachers on this programme have the ability to have you live and feel yoga from moment to moment. Inside of that process you can’t help but look inward to see who you want to be as a teacher of yoga and how that impacts other people.

The breadth and depth of this programme offers far more than I could have ever expected. Not only did it expose me to the deeper philosophy of yoga and have me question who I was as a practitioner of yoga thus far, but it immersed me in its essence, the essence of yoga. And that’s what this course is. I found I experienced the true essence of what yoga is and as a result my seeing, my feeling, my spirit has changed. It’s in my ‘being’ and for that I will always be grateful.”

“Last November I made a life changing decision to sign up for the Santosha Yoga Online Teacher Training Course. Having practiced yoga for more than ten years I had the urge to share my passion with others. Being a school teacher, I know how many young people suffer from stress and anxiety due to modern life’s pressures. I hoped that by completing a yoga teacher course I could introduce yoga to the school as part of a well-being program so all could benefit as I have.

I could not wait to get started and once I received the books and modules I began to work on the assignments. I tackled the variety of assignments from blogs, to essays, to writing scripts to making anatomical drawings with much enthusiasm, as I knew I was closer to my goal of becoming a yoga teacher. The course was very thorough, covering many key aspects including the history of yoga, Chakras and Ayurveda.

I enjoyed the challenge of the assignments, some more daunting than others, particularly writing the script for a full lesson. I managed my time working on yoga assignments during weekends and accelerating through modules during school holidays. With tenacity and determination I completed it all.

Sunny and the Santosha team have been wonderful in their ongoing support. I feel blessed for having completed the course and to be part of the Santosha family now. I am thrilled that the school where I teach is committed to introducing yoga as a regular co-curricular activity for students and staff. The journey will continue…”

“Santosha has made me realize the exceptional, strong, intelligent woman that I am. I could have asked for no greater gift. I will carry this month with me through good times, hard times, and unencumbered joy. Thank you.”

“Six months ago, I made the decision that I needed to make Yoga a bigger part of my life.

I wanted to immerse myself in the practice and learn on an intellectual level the benefits Yoga provides as well as feel them myself. I wanted a spiritual journey (I had some healing to do, but had no idea how or where to begin). I wanted to be inspired to make a change in my life and learn how to inspire others. After a series of events that left me somewhat broken, I realized the time was now. I searched the net and found so many places and groups who offered a full month of yoga, retreats and Teacher Trainings, however something kept pulling me back to Santosha. I now know why…

Santosha provided me with my own unique experience and with endless love and support to really let go – let go of any ideas of who I am and just ‘be’. My eyes were opened to many aspects of Yoga I had never encountered in my practice, and my heart was filled with light and laughter. I was inspired by all the teachers and people around me and I learned how to heal, and watched as others did the same. Santosha has given me many gifts: teachings from afar, tools to cope with both the unknown and the known and last but not least friendships that will last. And of course I am now a qualified yoga teacher with the confidence to teach from a depth of knowledge and to quietly – in my own way – inspire those who want to learn.”

“Thank you so much for the great journey that you enabled us to take. I learned a lot not only about yoga, but also about myself. I was pleased to meet so many different yogis and learn from their experiences. I wish for you that the Santosha YTT will continue to grow and that you are able to further spread the message of the Yamas and Niyamas. You gave me energy when I needed it most and let me develop at my own speed.”

“I felt really supported from the first moment of the course. I contacted Sunny many times during the application and had so many questions… and Sunny was always there to help me. It was a challenging course but the supportive learning environment was so great. The teachers were amazing and there for us, giving us love every moment, teaching us what yoga really means. They are dedicated to the students and helped us all to understand the subject, to feel with our body, and mind….

After the YTT, I felt confident about teaching and humbled by it at the same time. Doing this course has inspired me to further my yoga studies. The teachers inspired me to learn more and to enhance my own practice and my teaching skills.

I feel very grateful for having been able to live this experience and I highly recommend it for anyone, you will not regret it.”

“Keep shining like the sun, radiating love and warmth. Rock ‘n roll and keep surfing.”

“Such gratitude for offering us this experience of growth and expansion. Deep healing and surrender for us all. The creation of this Santosha training is such a beautiful manifestation of all our dreams. Thank you for that. May we all go out in this vision of love spreading the light through yoga.”

“I’d like to express my gratitude for all the support from the teachers and students of my Santosha training, who are like my family now. Everyone’s smile really helped me through.

Sunny, thank you so much for your beautiful smile. I love how you use easy English and some Japanese and use your body language so expressively. Thanks to such an open-hearted teacher. You gave me so much energy.

I feel like a new door has opened in front of me as I spent my time here. I will keep learning and bring as much light to open that new door.”

“Actions of this world are a result of 3 factors: Nature, Human Will Power, and Chance. I arrived at Santosha-Thailand by all three and I thank you deeply from my heart for all the wonderful actions that are now possible.”

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a magical experience. The thought, preparation, and love that you all put in is so appreciated. You have nurtured and guided us on our own individual journeys and that is priceless. You have created a wonderful things with Santosha and I feel blessed to have experienced it.”

What did you enjoy about your time of the training?
Finding out more about myself, my personality and yoga. I loved learning more about the deeper meaning of yoga and integrating more of this in my daily life and in my teachings.

What was the best thing about being in Nusa Lembongan?
Nusa Lembongan is the perfect place to do the YTT. I always called the island my ‘yoga bubble’ as it is far away from the hectic main island Bali and the many tourists, the locals are super chilled and friendly and you find amazing places to eat healthy, do yoga and go for a surf. Not to mention the amazingly stunning beaches and the crystal clear water.

What will you take away from your time on the Santosha YTT?
I loved getting to know amazing people and learning the different aspects of yoga.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining us on this course?
Be prepared for the most intense 4 weeks of your life that will change you for sure! It is a lifetime experience that I would not want to miss for my life!

What did you enjoy about your time of the training?
The Santosha 200 hr YTT was a truly transformative time for me. It was lovely to be around such an amazing group of students and also surrounded by the most inspiring kind teachers, I feel truly blessed to have been apart of the course.

What was the best thing about being in Nusa Lembongan?
Nusa has this crazy chilled vibe, its like being in a community, the locals and people on the island are always happy and helpful and every corner you turn is another slice of paradise.

What will you take away from your time on the Santosha YTT?
I have taken all my learnings with me, for both being a yoga teacher and also for myself.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining us on this course?
Go and do it will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

What did you enjoy about your time of the training?
The Santosha 200 hr YTT was a truly transformative time for me. It was lovely to be around such an amazing group of students and also surrounded by the most inspiring kind teachers, I feel truly blessed to have been apart of the course.

What was the best thing about being in Nusa Lembongan?
Nusa has this crazy chilled vibe, its like being in a community, the locals and people on the island are always happy and helpful and every corner you turn is another slice of paradise.

What will you take away from your time on the Santosha YTT?
I have taken all my learnings with me, for both being a yoga teacher and also for myself.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining us on this course?
Go and do it will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

It has been 365 since I have started THIS amazing journey! This journey that has been the utmost important of all my travels so far! Journey towards myself...

My yoga teacher training has opened an undiscovered box in me and since than I am discovering little jewels. Like that I can really wake up at 5am Like that I can really listen to my body talking. Like the fact I CAN trust myself more. The magic happened in tiny island Nusa Lembongan in Bali. Our yoga purpose has brought together wonderful women from all over the world to find one thing we have in common. Thing which we often overlook. The inner power in ourselves. Always. Wherever we are. The understanding of everyday life, with its sweet moments of love and joy and smiles and the sour moments of struggle and pain and tears. And THE learning how to appreciate both in our life.

It seems the magic vibes has started a spiral of things happening. Things I did want in my life, but they were not meant for me. Things I didn't want in my life, but they were needed for me. Happening for so long until I realized, that all the things were happening FOR ME. To grow.

It has taught me to listen to the silence - that can speak the best. It is showing me the way to happiness - via expressing gratitude. It has taught me the hardest asana - letting go. Nah! Havent nailed that... and it seems like a lifetime work in progress →
My deepest thank you goes to the most beautiful souls in Santosha Yoga Institute and personally to Thia Santosha Johanna Santosha Sebastian Valensi Megan Saukulak Andrea Santosha Words cannot express the feelings behind the photos that, but that unspoken energy ignites the fire in me in western world for past 365 days. And I am setting up a dedication for another 365 ahead.

200 hours of Santosa

Mind blowing and thought provoking philosophy anatomy, postures, asana, self practice, breath and movement, sequencing, Bija Mantra, Yoga Nidra, Japa Mala, Tantra, mindfulness, Learning, growing, teaching, sharing, caring, crying, laughing, dreaming with strangers who became a family

Forever grateful @santoshayogainstitute for bringing each unique and beautiful soul together in this wonderful environment for creating such a nurturing and safe space, with no judgement; only love

We did it Certified 200hr Yoga Teachers