Inner Alchemy: Root & Radiance 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training for Women
Yoga Alliance–Registered · Bend, Oregon + Online + Nicaragua · Begins October 2026
13 Years · 40+ Retreats · 700+ Women
Retreat Highlights
You’re probably just like I was and you’ve been thinking about yoga teacher training for longer than you’d admit.
Not because you want to do a 180 degree pivot and teach full-time — maybe you do, maybe you don’t. It’s quieter than that. Something in you wants to understand this practice from the inside. To stop being the woman in the back row who defers to everyone else, and start trusting that you actually have something to offer.
And every training you’ve looked at was either a month you can’t take off, or a weekend cram that hands you a certificate and not much else.
This one is built differently. It begins with three days together in the high desert of Bend — pine, sage, mountain air, and a small circle of women. Then seven months you fold into the life you already have: your job, your family, your Tuesday nights. Two-thirds of the way through training we immerse again with eight days in Nicaragua, teaching real classes embodying and integrating everything you’ve learned.
You don’t have to be ready. You just have to be called.
That’s what this is.
Here's the Scoop: Yoga Was Never Built For Women's Bodies. We're Rewriting that.
Most trainings skip this important detail:
Classical yoga asana was developed largely for young male bodies preparing for long hours of seated meditation. The Sun Salutation you know today took its modern shape in the early 20th century, shaped in part by military-style physical training — not the ancient lineage most of us were taught. And almost none of the sequencing handed down to us was designed with women’s anatomy, hormonal cycles, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or the lived reality of a modern woman’s nervous system in mind.
And yet — women are more than twice as likely as men to practice yoga (CDC, 2022), making up an estimated 70%+ of practitioners in the United States. Women are the heart of modern yoga. We practice more, teach more, and lead more.
We deserve a yoga education built for the bodies actually doing the practice.
That’s what this is.
Who This Yoga Teacher Training is For
This training is for the woman who isn't trying to become someone new — just to trust the teacher she already is. You might recognize yourself here:
- You've practiced for a while and you're ready to understand why the practice works, not just how to follow along.
- You want to teach — a class, a workshop, your own retreat someday — but you're not sure you're "qualified" to lead.
- You want a cohort you'll still know years from now, not a room of strangers
- You want a training that fits around your real life, not one that asks you to disappear for a month
- You've felt that yoga wasn't built for your body — and you want to teach the version that is
- You want the science under the practice: the nervous system, real anatomy, how change actually happens
- You already have a 200-hour certificate that skipped everything about women's bodies, cycles, and nervous systems, and you want the training you actually needed.
- You want to learn to lead women — from someone who's led 40+ retreats and 700+ women — not a faceless online platform.
The Credential
Is this a real, recognized certification? Yes. Inner Alchemy: Root & Radiance is a Yoga Alliance–Registered 200-hour program (RYS 200). On completion, you’re eligible to register as an RYT-200 and teach anywhere that credential is recognized — studios, gyms, community classes, and your own offerings.
You’re not just leaving with knowledge. You’re leaving with a credential you can build a teaching life on.
“Amazing program!! Absolutely love the women as teachers.” Gella, Santa Barbara, CA YTT
What Makes This YTT Different
Most 200-hour trainings teach yoga as if every body in the room is the same. This one doesn’t.
It’s built for women’s bodies. Most classical yoga sequencing was developed for young male bodies. We teach anatomy, sequencing, and practice across the actual arc of a woman’s life — cycles, pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and the strength and stability shifts of aging. And we don’t hand-wave it: perimenopause is taught with a naturopathic physician who specializes in it, and pelvic floor health with a Doctor of Physical Therapy who works with it clinically. If yoga has ever felt like it wasn’t made for you, you weren’t imagining it.
Science under the spirit. You’ll learn chakras and koshas — AND you’ll learn what’s actually happening in the nervous system when a woman regulates, why breath changes state, and how attention rewires the brain over time — neuroplasticity, the reticular activating system, aligned action. Not “raise your vibration.” The mechanism, so you can teach it with a straight face. Not woo dressed up as wisdom.
If you’re the kind of woman who wants the why — who reads the research, who’s suspicious of anything that sounds too magical — this was made for you.
You’ll learn to teach in a way that hands agency back. This is the thread through everything we do. We train you to cue with choice instead of commands — to help students find their own edge instead of chasing yours, to build a room’s self-trust instead of its dependence on you. It’s called consent-based, choice-led teaching, and it’s grounded, not fluffy: a regulated nervous system is how self-trust becomes physical. You learn it by living it. The training rebuilds your own agency first — so you can return it to every woman you’ll ever teach.
Hybrid, for a real life. Two immersions bookend seven months of online learning you weave into the life you already have. You don’t step out of your life to become a teacher. You become one inside it.
Women teaching women. 700+ women, 40+ retreats, 6 trainings since 2014. Real ages, real bodies, real stories. No influencer yoga, no posed photos, no spiritual hustle.
Picture This...
Imagine standing at the front of a room a year from now.
Not performing. Not hoping you’re doing it right. Actually teaching — reading the bodies in front of you, adjusting on the fly, cueing in a way that gives every woman there permission to be exactly where she is.
Imagine understanding your own practice so deeply that it stops being something you consume and becomes something you can offer. Imagine the women who’ll come to your class because of how you make them feel.
That woman already exists in you. This is where she gets her training.
How the 7 Months Flow
The training is a hybrid — two in-person immersions with your online months woven around them, paced to fold into a real life (yours and mine).
Opening Immersion — Bend, Oregon · 3 full days of training We open together in the high desert — three full days of practice, teaching foundations, and meeting your cohort face to face. Accommodation in Bend is booked separately from tuition — which keeps your cost down and lets you choose what suits you. We’ll send a short list of recommended places, all walkable to the cafes and restaurants downtown. Dates: Nov. 6-8, 2026. We recommend arriving in Bend on Nov. 5th.
Don’t want to bother finding a hotel? A limited number of on-site spots let you stay right in the house where we train — wake up, walk downstairs to class, walk out the door to dinner with the group. This is shared-house living, not a private hotel room, and it’s first-come: 7 spots, $300 add-on (includes 4 nights of accommodation: Nov. 5-9)
The Online Months — from home, on Skool The heart of the training happens in the life you already have. Live sessions plus a self-paced library on Skool, mentorship, and steady practice-teaching you build into your week — carrying you to the midpoint, and Nicaragua.
Mid-Course Immersion — Nicaragua · 7 full days of training (9 days, 8 nights) Just after the halfway mark, we meet again on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. This isn’t the finish line — it’s the momentum. Seven full days of teaching, refining, and practicing on real bodies in a real setting, so you come home sharpened for the final stretch. Plan for 7 training days plus a travel day on each end. Dates: March 4-13, 2027
The Final Months — from home The last stretch is where you step fully into teaching. You’ll choose something about yoga you want to understand more deeply, build a workshop around it, and teach it to your cohort — because the fastest way to learn something is to teach it — with a paper to go alongside. And you’ll teach your final checkout class: a full class, start to finish, that shows you’re ready to lead. You don’t leave this training hoping you can teach. You leave having done it.
The Time Commitment, Honestly
How much time does this take each week? Plan on roughly a few hours a week between live sessions, self-paced study, practice-teaching and actually getting on your mat (which you’re probably already doing) — plus the two immersions: 3 full days in Bend to open, and 7 full days in Nicaragua (9 days, 8 nights) around the midpoint.
This is built for women with jobs and families. The online months are designed to fold into a real life, not replace it. You won’t disappear for a month. You’ll show up consistently, in the margins you already have, for seven months — and come out the other side certified.
If you can protect one evening a week and two blocks of travel, you can do this.
Want the full 200-hour teacher training brochure?
Everything in one place — itinerary, inclusions, pricing — ready to read offline or share.
What You'll Be Able to Do After
By the end, you'll be able to: Teach a safe, intelligent, women-centered vinyasa or slow-flow class with confidence. Sequence for real bodies — modifying for injury, cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Cue in a way that gives women agency instead of correcting them into shapes. Explain the nervous-system science behind why the practice works. Register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200 and teach anywhere that credential is recognized. Take the first honest steps toward your own workshops or retreat, if that's where you're headed. You will leave with:
- Foundations & Practice — Asana, pranayama, meditation, and the history and philosophy behind them — enough depth that you understand the lineage, not just the poses.
- Anatomy for Women's Bodies — Functional anatomy tuned to the female body: the pelvis and pelvic floor, the spine and breath, and how the practice meets the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause and menopause. Taught with our guest clinicians.
- Sequencing & Class Craft — How to build a class that goes somewhere — warm-up to peak to close — and how to adapt it live for who's actually in the room.
- The Science Layer — Nervous-system regulation, neuroplasticity, the RAS, and the real mechanism behind manifestation and mindset work. You'll be able to teach the "why" as fluently as the "how."
- Teaching Methodology & Agency — Pedagogy Cueing, demonstration, hands-off adjustments, and consent-based, choice-led language. How to hold a room so women feel led and free.
- The Business of Teaching Yoga — The basics of actually working as a teacher — how to find your first classes, what to charge, how to talk about your teaching, and where to go from here. Enough to take a real first step, not a full business course.
What Past Students Say
Rosalee O."The best decision of my life. This work ignited a beautiful spark in me — spiritually, personally, and as a student of yoga. I learned that yoga is so much more than the asanas we..." "The best decision of my life. This work ignited a beautiful spark in me — spiritually, personally, and as a student of yoga. I learned that yoga is so much more than the asanas we see everywhere."
Isa Iolani"I did my 200hr yoga teacher training with Autumn and it was just great! Autumn is such a lovely teacher in every aspect. She is so inspiring, she has so much knowledge and she was..." "I did my 200hr yoga teacher training with Autumn and it was just great! Autumn is such a lovely teacher in every aspect. She is so inspiring, she has so much knowledge and she was so welcoming and fun. The yoga teacher training with Ambuja Yoga was one of the best experiences in my life and I am so happy to have chosen it. Autumn was empowering and gave us courage on beginning our journey. We learned so much and the training was so well structured. It was not only practice and not just studying, it was learning for life, it was yoga as a whole. A journey through the body, mind and soul and I got the tools and training to grow and shine and also to teach & inspire others. I am so grateful for the connections I have made with Autumn and Toni and the other students. So many inspiring people and such an empowering experience. Something I will remember and be grateful for all my life and I know I can reach out to Autumn any time. Lots of love and thank you so much Autumn."
Candice K. Eugene, OR" Autumn is so kind and generous, as well as being a kick-a** yoga teacher and facilitator." "If you're looking for an outstanding woman-focused yoga (and more!) experience, this retreat is for you. Actually, ANY of the fabulous retreats offered by Autumn and Toni is sure to be a great choice. No matter where you travel, with an Ambuja Yoga retreat, you'll experience excellent communication, support and activities from the moment you sign up. Autumn is so kind and generous, as well as being a kick-a** yoga teacher and facilitator. The locations and materials are top-notch--you'll feel cared-for and, yes, loved throughout the experience. And it is an experience. It's so fabulous that you'll want to return again and again (I've just completed my 4th retreat.). Perfect for any woman, whether you've never 'done' a retreat or are a seasoned traveler. Try it; you'll be glad you did.
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Cheryl T."When I came home my friends and family asked how it was and one of the best words that came to me repeatedly was magical." "This was my first yoga retreat and in fact my first official yoga class. I was as green as they come. My friend told me how great it was and I had always wanted to learn yoga so I signed up with her with the intention of taking classes for a few months before attending the retreat. I was a little nervous about my lack of practice and skill but decided there was no better time than now to dive in and learn. We had around 21 women in our group, every one of them was wonderful, kind, and interesting to talk to. The food was excellent and the location can't be beat. I went to every session, I wanted to get the full experience. The beds were so comfortable, a new outdoor shower was installed and it too was excellent. The property could not be more peaceful. When I came home my friends and family asked how it was and one of the best words that came to me repeatedly was magical. I have already found a local yoga studio that is close to me to continue by practice and have been practicing daily since coming back home. If you are thinking about booking a retreat with Autumn you won't regret it. You will leave a better person with more knowledge about many things but most importantly your true self. I plan to go again next year (with some refined skills) and am looking over a few other destination locations as well. Autumn and Toni are awesome teachers and I highly recommend the retreats they offer, thank you for a great first experience.
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Helen A. Nicaragua 2016"This was by far the best experience I had in a yoga class. I never expected the multilayered, life-enhancing experiences I had on this retreat."
Alison D. OR"Trip of a lifetime! I fully recommend Autumn's retreats to anyone wanting a truly transformative experience. And to hang with a seriously cool group of women." "Trip of a lifetime! My sister in law and I arrived on the island knowing Autumn and each other, that was it! So we went ahead and tried to meet everyone in the group, including those who arrived late due to the earthquake. I believe you get what you put in, and those interested in connecting with others will naturally gravitate together. I always consider it an open invitation and dive right in. Those who want to focus on their travel buddy are allowed the space to to that as well. As Autumn always tells us, this is OUR time and we're in charge. We choose what we want to do. Nothing is mandatory. Autumn is the perfect host, she's there when you need her and gives space if that's wanted. I enjoyed being able to sidle up to her after a meal and fawn over the yoga practices. I fully recommend Autumn's retreats to anyone wanting a truly transformative experience. And to hang with a seriously cool group of women. Already saving my pennies for next year :).
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Meet the Women Guiding Your Journey
Autumn Adams
Lead Instructor & Founder, E-RYT 500, YACEP
Autumn Adams — Founder & Lead Instructor · E-RYT 500, YACEP
Autumn founded Ambuja Yoga in 2014 and has led 40+ women's retreats in the years since — 700+ women across Oregon, Sedona, Patagonia, Greece, and Thailand. She teaches yoga grounded in nervous-system science: rest first, and let real change follow. Author of The Little Book of Mudra Meditations, she's been featured in Insider, Shape, Zappos, and Asia Spa. Warm, grounded, and a little funny, she builds retreats where women can finally put everything down and come back to themselves.
Toni Larson
Co-Instructor & Spiritual Mentor, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Shamanic Therapeutic Yoga
Toni became a yoga teacher in 2010, with advanced training in Therapeutic Yoga, Reiki, and shamanic practice. She teaches what yoga really is — inviting each student to find her own practice, and to understand how her body, mind, and nervous system respond in every breath, on and off the mat. Her roots run deep into nature; when she's not teaching, she's dreaming about her next garden, hiking trail, or mountain bike ride. Her invitation: breathe deeply, and love yourself with all your heart.
Read MoreWhat's Included
- 3-day opening immersion in Bend, Oregon
- 9 day retreat-style immersion in Nicaragua (lodging + meals + transport)
- 3 live teaching calls per month for 7 months
- Practice teaching, cueing labs, written feedback, and a hybrid final checkout class
- Guest expert workshops (women's health, pelvic floor, pre/postnatal, peri/menopause, trauma-aware teaching)
- Full manual, teaching templates, and cue scripts
- Weekly accountability + the Skool community
- 6 months of post-graduation mentorship
- Lifetime, growing access to the Skool class + workshop library (more on why this matters below)
Why We Love Buena Vista Surf Club
Buena Vista Surf Club
Buena Vista is six hand-built cabañas tucked into the treetops above one of the best surf breaks on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast — and the moment you step onto the deck, you understand why this place gets under your skin. Mornings begin with monkeys as your alarm clock and yoga on an open-air platform that hangs out over the jungle with the ocean spread wide below you. Days are salt water and sunshine and the kind of fresh, family-style meals people genuinely write home about, eaten shoulder to shoulder at one long table with women who feel like sisters. There’s a cold plunge when you want to feel electric, a beach a short walk down through the trees, and sunsets that stop every conversation mid-sentence. It’s rustic, it’s a little wild, and it’s completely alive — the kind of place that reminds you, in your whole body, how good life is allowed to feel.
Getting There
Nearest Airport: Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport (MGA)
We arrange scheduled group transport straight to Buena Vista — one van, all of us together, no haggling with taxis, no working out shuttles in a language you may not speak. You land, you find us, you exhale.
Venue Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
- Flights
- Nicaragua Travel insurance (recommended)
- Bend Oregon immersion lodging and meals
- Your Yoga Alliance registration fee (paid directly to Yoga Alliance)
No. You don’t need to be advanced or bendy — you need a steady practice and a desire to teach. This is a 200-hour foundational training; we build from where you are.
Plan for 3-5 hours a week, including live calls, on-demand lectures, reading, practice teaching, and your own practice. You have 18 months to complete everything, so the pace flexes with your life.
Every live call is recorded and posted in Skool. You need 80% attendance to certify — so you can miss roughly one in five and still be fine.
Yes. This 200-hour yoga teacher training is designed for women — the anatomy, the pacing, the nervous system work, and the community are all built around women’s bodies and lives across every stage.
Yes. Ambuja Yoga School is a Registered Yoga School (RYS 200). On completion you can register as an RYT-200 and teach at studios, gyms, online, or in offerings of your own. The training exceeds the Yoga Alliance 200-hour standard.
Yes — many of our students already hold a 200-hour and come for what theirs skipped: women’s anatomy across life stages, nervous system and trauma-aware teaching, and a consent-based, agency returning way of cueing that most trainings never touch.
Yes. Perimenopause and menopause are taught with Dr. Marsha Hamilton, ND, a naturopathic physician and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner — so you learn the hormonal and physiological changes, and how to teach women through them, from a clinician who specializes in this transition.
Yes. Pelvic floor health is taught with Dr. Amy Newberry, PT, DPT, a pelvic health physical therapist — so you learn to sequence and cue safely for pregnancy, postpartum, prolapse, and leakage from a specialist who works with the pelvic floor clinically.
The training begins in October 2026 with an in-person 3-day immersion in Bend, Oregon Nov. 6-8, runs online for seven months, goes deeper and rebuilds momentum with a mid-training, 9-day retreat-style immersion in Nicaragua in March, and completes in May 2027.
Online mentorship continues for another 6 months.
Yes. A $500 deposit reserves your seat, then you choose a 3-, 6-, 12-, or 18-month plan. Pay in full and save $500.
Your $500 deposit is non-refundable but transferable once. Before the training begins, everything you’ve paid beyond the deposit is fully refundable. Once training begins, tuition is non-refundable — but if something serious comes up, you can defer once and finish with the next cohort at no additional tuition. Full policy above.
Can’t make it this year?
Leave your email and we’ll let you know the moment next year’s dates open — plus early-bird pricing before spots go public.
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