Many other courses are shorter, some as brief as 12 days. For those, the majority of the work for the 200 hours qualification is done remotely. We believe that this doesn’t give you the best chance at experiencing teaching in a supported environment, growing as a yogi over a period of time as you integrate the learning, and using the power of a group of like minded souls sharing the same journey with you.

Our YTT is designed for a full immersion experience where you are living the complete yogic lifestyle, which involves far more than just asana postures. It includes practicing meditation and pranayama, understanding Ayurveda and nutrition, reading the classic texts of yogic masters, singing Kirtan and doing karma yoga work. All these practices are part of a holistic yoga experience and will benefit and inspire not only you but also your future students.

With all of the media and images of yoga out in the public domain, you’d be forgiven for thinking that yoga was only done by aspiring Victoria’s Secret models with a circus background. Yoga is literally for every body, and as one of the fastest growing pastimes globally, there are as wide a variety of students and teachers are there are bodies and people. To get the most out of the YTT we like you to have your own practice established, but you will ultimately do and teach the kind of yoga that suits you and your future students. You should have had a serious, dedicated, regular practice for at least one year before applying – ideally in a variety of different styles.

All postures can be modified to suit a range of ability, and you will learn how to safely work with all body types – including your own. Many of the best yoga teachers have come to yoga to heal an injury, and understanding the frustration of physical limitations is a bonus for being able to teach empathetically. If you have the desire to be a yoga teacher, and the commitment to give the course your best, you will have an amazing and transformative experience, which is right for your body. Feel free to contact us if you have particular injuries or concerns that you want to discuss.

Lila Kirtana is an internationally experienced Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher with over a decade of teaching experience.

Lila completed an Education degree at the University of Technology Sydney in 1998, and has been teaching yoga since 2005. After spending 2.5 years deeply immersed in the yogic lifestyle as a volunteer in a yoga ashram, from 2008 onwards she has been working full time as a yoga teacher trainer in Byron Bay and Murwillumbah [Certificate IV in Yoga Teaching, RYT-500, Cert IV in Training and Assessment]. She completed Pre/Postnatal Yoga training with Bliss Baby Yoga in 2012, and was also is a regular presenter on their courses. After becoming a mother, Lila completed a Kid's Yoga teacher training with Zenergy Yoga in 2014 and occasionally teaches Mum's and Bubs, Mum's and Toddlers and Kid's yoga classes in the Byron Shire. Recently she completed a Yin yoga training and is currently furthering her studies on how yoga can be used to help with Mental Health issues. She has been the senior trainer on the Yoga Teacher Trainings at Krishna Village since January 2016.

Lila also holds a Diploma of Remedial Massage, is the lead singer of the enCHANTed band which holds regular kirtan evenings in the Byron Shire and at Yoga Festivals, and has a deep knowledge and understanding of Ayurveda through years of study and regular trips to India. Lila is a passionate Bhakti yogi inspired to share the things she loves through yoga teacher trainings.

Michael Kubitzky began his yoga journey at the age of 20 when he left his profession as a studio musician and joined a bhakti yoga monastery. After over a decade of living as a monk, he took an interest in the more physical aspects of yoga. He successfully completed a 3-year diploma course with Satyananda Yoga before finally finding his passion with Power Vinyasa. Since then he’s been certified by Baron Baptiste, became certified with Anti Gravity level 2, founded one of Australia’s most successful regional yoga studios, and has helped pioneer, develop and facilitate many teacher training programs here in Australia. As a teacher trainer, Michael brings with him great integrity and depth, forged by more than 31 years of strict, yet joyful daily practice. His teaching is full of compassion, humour and authenticity, with a deep respect for tradition, but without being over zealous.

One of the unique features of the Krishna Village YTT is that you begin your teaching journey from week 2 of the course. As a trainee, you will be supported in a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow into your own unique teaching style. As Krishna Village runs two public yoga classes a day, the opportunity to teach a diverse range of people and skills over the 6 week period gives you a significant advantage over most other 200hr Yoga Teacher Training courses. Once you have completed the Krishna Village YTT you will have many hours of actual live teaching under your belt, and be confident to share your teaching in any studio or 1:1 situation.

As a trainee, you are supported by our experienced staff all along and will start by teaching a single posture alongside your trainer in a gentle early morning class. You won’t be asked to do any teaching before you are deemed to be ready, and all teaching is discussed and debriefed as a key part of your growth as a teacher. There is plenty of practice before you get in front of a class, and this process of slow, mentored instruction means that your confidence is right alongside you when you get to the teaching assessment tasks at the end of the course.

The Krishna Village Centre for Yogic Studies 200hr YTT course is recognised by Yoga Alliance (YA) which is an international certifying body. Once you have finished the YTT you will be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance (at your own cost) and will therefor be eligible for professional insurance etc.

Karma yoga is the act of undertaking work as a selfless service - you are contributing without any desire for personal or material gain. Working with love and devotion – bringing your inner yogi to every task you perform – is applying your theoretical knowledge of yogic philosophy to create a happy and healthy yogic lifestyle. That might mean working in the massive organic vegie gardens of the Krishna farm, looking after the cows, making delicious Jeeva Juice, helping with construction, working up at the temple kitchen cutting vegies for the famous Sunday feast or sharing your particular skillset where it’s needed. As you are doing your Karma yoga, you will meet a variety of volunteers and travellers who are staying at the Krishna Village for the lifestyle and serenity and form close friendships that last beyond your time here.

From a practical point of view, the Karma Yoga work also subsidises the cost of your course. As you might have noticed, the YTT at the Krishna Village is by far the most affordable option in Australia, as it includes accommodation and food for 1.5 months. That’s possible mainly because you contribute not only financially, but also through your hands-on work. If you find this to be too challenging and need more rest, or have other (study) commitments you need to dedicate time to, you can let us know and instead make a financial contribution of $20 per missed work hour to make up for the work hours.

Our Yoga Teacher Trainee Andria is a Buddhist. Hear about her experience at the Krishna Village.

Henrike explains our way of life and the key aspects of the Krishna Village experience

Krishna Village advocates the notion of ahimsa (non violence) as one of the key aspects of yogic living, seeing animals as beings with souls just like humans. Meat, fish and eggs are therefore not allowed onto the grounds of the Krishna Village or ashram, and while you are undertaking your YTT you will be supplied with 3 delicious vegetarian meals a day including a mostly-raw food lunch to support your healthy yogic lifestyle. It is your choice as to how you choose to eat outside of the YTT, however many yogis adopt vegetarianism as they progress in their commitment to yoga and begin to shift their awareness about their interconnectedness with the world.

We follow a vegetarian diet, of mostly Indian-style food. As our retreat centre is catering for 100+ people most meals, they are unable to assist with any special diets such as vegan, gluten-free or sugar-free. We do our best, however, to always offer a variety of options. People with nut allergies are advised to self-cater.

Breakfasts are an offering of porridge, kitchari [a dahl and rice stew with veggies], bread and butter, and fruit salad. Occasionally they have pancakes, and warm drinks like sweet chai. Most of the breakfast dishes are vegan.

Lunch has a lot more raw food, and is all vegan and mostly gluten-free or will have a gluten-free substitute. We have different types of salads, coleslaw, and some vegie/lentil soup or stir-fries, and always smoothies and teas. In previous courses those people who were not able to eat very much raw food would bring their own container to take some kitchari at breakfast, or would cook their own lunch at the camp kitchen.

Dinner is Indian-style, and almost always consists of rice, dahl, veg curries, fried bread, salad and desserts like halava [semolina], sweet rice, and sometimes cake. Quite often the curries have home-made paneer cheese, and may use sugar [mostly in the desserts].

Every 12 days we abstain from eating grains for an entire day [a special day called 'Ekadasi'], but otherwise we eat a very grain-based diet with lots of lentils, chickpeas, oats and rice.

Self-catering is possible if required - in our camp kitchen is a large fridge where you can store food items, and cupboard space for dry goods. Best, bring a sturdy plastic box to store personal items. We usually offer small veggie boxes at our kitchen at an affordable rate, so you can cook your own meals, depending on what’s in season in our gardens at the time. Definitely bring some snacks, coffee & teas, and perhaps some cereal or breakfast things if you do not want to eat a cooked breakfast every day. We also make fresh juices and smoothies to order, from $12/ltr. 

The Krishna Village YTT is structured to give you the right balance of practical learning, karma yoga and physical activities, structured and self study time and free time to explore the surrounds, head to the beach, or read a book in a hammock. You will need to prepare for the assessment tasks needed to be a competent and safe yoga teacher, which is factored in to your daily schedule. There is one full day off per week (usually Saturdays), and Sundays are usually dedicated study days. One of the many benefits of an immersion course like ours is that you don’t have to do relentless 12 hour days and then work remotely without a break – instead, you can work at a steady pace with plenty of time and space to absorb and integrate your learnings.

You can choose your own adventure when it comes to accommodation at the Krishna Village, from camping (or glamping) and powered sites for vans, to dorm accommodation (4-share) or twin-share and single rooms in one of our awesome converted shipping container residences. Prices and availability vary (first in, best dressed!), with early bird discounts applying. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities service all guests, plus laundry facilities and a newly renovated well-stocked community kitchen with campfire and pizza oven. You can eat at the temple and enjoy our raw food offerings, or pick organic vegies from the garden and cook your own food.

To get the most out of this course you need a reasonable command of English, such that you can clearly instruct a class of beginners in English so it is safe and understandable, read complex text in English and hold philosophical conversations and discussions. If this sounds like it might be above your capacity feel free to discuss with us.

To receive mail, please send your items to:

<Your name>

Krishna Village

525 Tyalgum Rd.

Eungella, NSW 2484

For letters, there is an “inbox” (literally) at the entry of the temple shop where you can find the letters that have arrived over the last few weeks. If you are expecting a parcel, please look out for an Australian Post notification card – you will have to pick up your parcel at the Murwillumbah Post office once it has arrived.

If you give this address to companies (like mobile phone provider, immigration etc.), please remember to notify them of your new address when you leave – we can’t send your mail after you.