Comfort Zone Yoga 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Established 2026
View program websiteUpcoming Instances
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Hybrid Sep 7 – Nov 25, 2026 3 months • 200 hours • $ 3500.0+ Carrboro, NC, US |
Led by Sage Rountree 
Level 3
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Enroll now | |
Purpose
To give yoga teachers the practical skills, anatomical knowledge, and confident teaching voice they need to lead safe, effective, and inclusive classes—equipping them with both structure and the freedom to make the practice their own.
What to expect
This 12-week hybrid online program combines self-paced learning with substantial live, synchronous interaction. Each week, you'll work through video lessons from Lead Trainer Sage Rountree's published textbooks and original course materials, attend a live 1.5-hour cohort call for discussion and Q&A, and join a weekly 1-hour live movement class led by Sage. All video content includes closed captions, written transcripts, private podcast feed, and EPUB files for e-readers.
The curriculum spans eight modules: Foundations & Orientation, The Art of Yoga Sequencing, Anatomy & Physiology, Yoga Humanities, Teaching Methodology I & II, Practicum & Community Teaching, and Professionalism & Business. You'll learn the S.E.R.V.E. Method for teacher development and the 6-4-2 Sequencing Framework for designing physiologically balanced classes.
Hands-on practice is built into every stage. You'll be paired with a teaching buddy for peer practice sessions, observe Lead Trainer classes weekly, give and receive structured feedback using the Keep/Drop/Add framework, teach in community settings, and complete a final 20-minute teaching demonstration video with self-assessment. Assessments include module quizzes, written reflections, and practicum logs—all designed to build competence progressively rather than through high-stakes testing. The program totals 200 hours, including 185 contact hours and over 35 synchronous hours.
Style/Lineage
Comfort Zone Yoga's 200-Hour Teacher Training draws on the decades of study and teaching experience of Lead Trainer Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Rather than following a single guru lineage, this program is rooted in a broad, evidence-based approach to yoga education shaped by Sage's academic background in English literature and exercise physiology, her faculty work at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and her pioneering work in yoga for athletes—serving everyone from youth athletes to NBA and NFL teams.
The training uses two proprietary frameworks developed by Sage. The S.E.R.V.E. Method provides a developmental roadmap for teachers: Structure Your Foundation, Experience Before Teaching, Repeat with Purpose, Vary with Intention, and Evolve Your Voice. The 6-4-2 Sequencing Framework offers a memorable, physiologically sound approach to class design based on six moves of the spine, four lines of the legs, and two core actions, ensuring comprehensive, balanced sequences without requiring memorization of hundreds of poses.
Our teaching philosophy centers on clarity over complication, evidence-based education emphasizing physiology and kinesiology, student-centered practices honoring consent and individual bodies, and cultural respect and inclusion that acknowledges yoga's roots while addressing the history of colonialism and oppression surrounding yoga. We describe the learning journey using a culinary metaphor: trainees progress from following recipes to adapting them with guidance to writing their own—from cook to chef—developing both structure and the freedom to improvise.
Additional Information
Prerequisites: Trainees must be at least 18 years old. An established personal yoga practice of at least 6 months is recommended, along with familiarity with foundational yoga poses and breathing practices. No previous teaching experience, advanced poses, or specific body type is required—our program welcomes practitioners of all levels and emphasizes accessibility.
Tuition & Payment Options: Full tuition is $3,500. Payment plan options include a deposit at enrollment with the balance due before cohort start, or extended payment plans available upon request.
Financial Accessibility: We offer a Reparatory Discount (25%) for anyone who self-identifies as Black, Indigenous, or otherwise non-white; a Gratitude Discount (25%) for people of Indian or South Asian heritage; and Early Bird Pricing for those who enroll by the registration deadline. Discounts are self-identified and honor-based.
Required Materials: Five textbooks authored by Lead Trainer Sage Rountree are required, plus a reliable internet connection, a device with webcam and microphone, and the ability to record video of yourself teaching. All course content is provided in multiple accessible formats.
Technology: The program is delivered online with live synchronous components. Trainees should expect to dedicate approximately 15–20 hours per week over the 12-week cohort period.
Core competencies
By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…
| Business Skills |
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| Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics |
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| Yoga History & Theory |
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| Practice Skills |
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| Teaching Skills |
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| Lifestyle & Ethics |
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AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.
Program Emphasis
Evaluation methods
Program evaluations
- Written Submission
- Written Exam
- Graded Demonstration
- Graded Skill Demonstration
- Direct Observation
- Solo Project Or Presentation
- Oral Exam
Competency is assessed progressively throughout the 12-week program using multiple methods. Module quizzes test comprehension of key concepts after each of the eight modules. Written reflections require trainees to connect theory to personal practice and teaching. Teaching buddy sessions (minimum 4 sessions, 5+ hours as lead instructor) are documented via practicum logs and video recordings, with structured peer feedback using the Keep/Drop/Add framework. Trainees observe Lead Trainer classes weekly (12+ hours total) and submit observation notes. Community teaching practicums require trainees to teach in real-world settings with documented logs. The final assessment is a 20-minute teaching demonstration video evaluated by the Lead Trainer, accompanied by a written self-assessment. All assessments use a Pass/Revise model—trainees may resubmit until competency is demonstrated, emphasizing growth over high-stakes testing.
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Program Faculty
Featured Faculty
Sage Rountree is a pioneer in yoga for athletes and a yoga teacher trainer whose 13 books include Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, The Professional Yoga Teacher’s Handbook, and The Art of Yoga Sequencing. A specialist in teacher development, she hosts Yoga Teacher Confidential.