Formal recognition by a governing body (such as Yoga Alliance) that a school meets defined standards for curriculum, faculty, and contact hours.
Physical hands-on guidance offered by a teacher to help a student refine alignment, deepen a posture, or release tension. Modern YTTs teach consent-based assisting protocols.
A practice using a hammock or silk suspended from the ceiling to support inversions, backbends, and postures. Decompresses the spine and makes advanced poses more accessible.
Non-violence — the first of Patanjali's Yamas. Applied in yoga as compassion toward oneself and others, both on and off the mat.
An alignment-focused style grounded in Tantric philosophy, emphasising the "opening to grace" principle. Known for its detailed Universal Principles of Alignment.
The Sanskrit word for a physical yoga posture. Asana is the third of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of yoga, though it dominates most modern Western yoga practice.
A rigorous fixed-sequence practice developed by K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. Students progress through set series at their own pace. Particularly popular in Ubud.
B
Internal energy locks used to direct and contain prana (vital energy) during practice. The three primary bandhas are Mula Bandha (root lock), Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock), and Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock).
C
Continuing Education Units — credits required to maintain an active Yoga Alliance registration after initial certification. Teachers must log CEUs every three years.
Seven energy centres in the subtle body according to yogic philosophy, from the base of the spine (Muladhara) to the crown of the head (Sahasrara). Commonly woven into YTT curriculum.
Scheduled hours spent in direct training with faculty — covering asana, pranayama, teaching methodology, anatomy, and philosophy. These count toward your total certification hours.
A posture that neutralises or balances the physical effects of the preceding pose — e.g. a forward fold following a backbend, or Dandasana following deep hip openers.
Verbal instruction used to guide students into and through postures. Includes anatomical cues (action-based), imagery cues, breath cues, and energetic cues.
D
Concentration — the sixth limb of Patanjali's system. The practice of holding the mind's attention on a single object without wavering.
Meditation — the seventh limb. An uninterrupted flow of concentration where the distinction between the meditator and the object of meditation begins to dissolve.
A fixed gazing point used during asana practice to develop concentration, stillness, and balance. Each posture in the Ashtanga system has a prescribed drishti.
E
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 200 — a Yoga Alliance designation for teachers who hold an RYT 200 and have logged significant teaching hours post-certification.
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 500 — awarded to RYT 500 holders who have accumulated extensive teaching experience since qualifying.
Patanjali's complete yoga system (Ashtanga path): Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption).
F
A network of connective tissue that surrounds and connects every muscle, bone, and organ in the body. The primary target of Yin Yoga and somatic practices.
A therapeutic, core-focused style developed by Ana Forrest, designed to release physical and emotional pain. Emphasises breath, abdominal strength, and healing.
H
A foundational yoga style focusing on physical postures (asanas) and breath control. Most other modern yoga styles derive from Hatha — it's the broadest category in yoga.
A combination of in-person residential training and online study — common for 300hr programmes where students may complete some modules remotely.
I
An intensive residential training format where students live and study full-time at the school for the duration of the programme, typically 2–4 weeks.
A precision alignment style developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, using props extensively to help students achieve correct form safely. Teacher certification is one of the most rigorous in yoga.
J
A New York-origin style developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life, blending dynamic Hatha sequencing with chanting, music, scripture, and ethical philosophy.
K
The five layers (sheaths) of the self in yogic philosophy: Annamaya (physical), Pranamaya (energetic), Manomaya (mental), Vijnanamaya (wisdom), and Anandamaya (bliss).
A spiritually focused practice combining breathwork, mantra, mudra, and movement sequences (kriyas) aimed at awakening energy at the base of the spine.
L
The teaching tradition a school follows — tracing the style or philosophy back through a line of teachers. Understanding a school's lineage helps you assess its approach and authenticity.
M
Energy channels from Chinese medicine tradition through which qi (life force) flows. Foundational to Yin Yoga teaching, where long-held postures are thought to stimulate meridian lines.
A training delivered in multiple shorter modules spread over weeks or months, allowing students to complete their hours without taking extended time off.
N
Energy channels through which prana flows in the subtle body — yogic tradition describes 72,000 nadis. The three primary nadis are Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna.
The five personal observances that form the second limb of Patanjali's Eight Limbs: Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender).
Self-study hours completed outside of scheduled class time — reading, journalling, personal practice, and assignment work. A standard 200hr YTT typically includes around 30 non-contact hours.
O
A partially or fully remote training delivered via video calls and pre-recorded content. Yoga Alliance recognises online training hours under specific conditions.
P
The "rest and digest" branch of the autonomic nervous system — activated during restorative, Yin, and Yoga Nidra practices. Associated with recovery and calm.
The target posture that a class is built toward. The sequence progressively opens, strengthens, and prepares the body for the demands of the peak pose before moving into counter-poses.
A Westernised, fitness-focused interpretation of Vinyasa yoga — vigorous, athletic, and less traditionally structured than classical styles.
The supervised student teaching component of a YTT — where trainees practise teaching their peers under faculty observation and receive structured feedback.
Life force or vital energy in yogic philosophy — the animating force behind all living things. Pranayama practices are designed to cultivate and direct prana.
Breath control practices — the fourth of Patanjali's Eight Limbs. Pranayama techniques include Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, and Bhramari, among others.
The body's sense of its own position, movement, and spatial orientation — sometimes called the "sixth sense." Developed through mindful asana practice.
R
A deeply relaxing style using bolsters, blankets, and blocks to support the body in passive poses for extended periods, activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
A modified and more accessible version of the Ashtanga Primary and Intermediate Series developed by Larry Schultz. "It lets you get there faster."
Registered Yoga School 200 — a Yoga Alliance-accredited school authorised to deliver 200-hour teacher trainings and award the RYT 200 credential.
Registered Yoga School 300 — a Yoga Alliance-accredited school authorised to deliver 300-hour advanced trainings for existing RYT 200 holders.
Registered Yoga School 500 — a Yoga Alliance-accredited school authorised to deliver combined 500-hour programmes leading directly to RYT 500 certification.
Registered Yoga Teacher 200 — the entry-level Yoga Alliance teaching credential, awarded after completing a 200-hour training at a Registered Yoga School.
Registered Yoga Teacher 500 — an advanced credential requiring 500 hours of training, achieved by completing a 200hr + 300hr programme, or a combined 500hr programme.
S
A state of complete absorption and union — the eighth and final limb of Patanjali's path. Often described as the goal of yoga practice.
The classical Indian language used for yoga pose names, mantras, philosophical texts, and chanting. Most YTTs introduce basic Sanskrit pronunciation and terminology.
Truthfulness — one of the Yamas. Applied in teaching as authenticity, honest communication with students, and alignment between one's values and actions.
The art of structuring a yoga class — from warm-up through peak pose to cool-down and savasana. Includes peak pose sequencing, arc structure, counter-poses, and energetic pacing.
A classical system based on five principles: proper exercise (asana), breathing (pranayama), relaxation, diet, and positive thinking / meditation. Follows a fixed sequence of 12 postures.
A body-centred approach that emphasises internal sensation and nervous system awareness over external form. Increasingly incorporated into trauma-informed and therapeutic YTTs.
Self-study — one of the Niyamas and a core principle of YTT. Encompasses the study of sacred texts, self-reflection, and the ongoing examination of one's patterns, beliefs, and motivations.
The "fight or flight" branch of the autonomic nervous system — activated during vigorous dynamic practices. Understanding this system is core to trauma-informed teaching.
T
A philosophical and spiritual tradition that informs many yoga lineages — concerned with the relationship between consciousness and matter. Not to be confused with its popular Western misrepresentation.
Discipline or austerity — one of the Niyamas. Refers to the "heat" generated by committed practice and the willingness to do the inner work even when it's uncomfortable.
A teaching approach that prioritises student autonomy, choice, and nervous system safety. Avoids hands-on adjustments without consent and offers options rather than directives.
YTTinBali's independent rating system that evaluates each school across accreditation status, years in operation, review quality, curriculum transparency, and teacher credentials.
V
The five directions of prana movement in the body: Prana (inward), Apana (downward), Samana (centralising), Udana (upward), and Vyana (expansive). Referenced in pranayama and asana teaching.
A dynamic style where movement is synchronised with breath, flowing continuously from one posture to the next. One of the most commonly taught styles in Bali YTTs.
Y
The five ethical restraints that form the first limb of Patanjali's Eight Limbs: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (right use of energy), and Aparigraha (non-grasping).
A slow, passive style where postures are held for 3–5 minutes to target connective tissue, fascia, and joints rather than muscles. Deeply meditative and increasingly included in YTT curricula.
The largest international body setting yoga teacher and school standards, based in the US. Most reputable schools in Bali are registered with Yoga Alliance.
A guided deep relaxation technique where the practitioner rests in a state between waking and sleeping (conscious sleep). Increasingly common in YTT curricula as a restorative and trauma-healing tool.
Patanjali's foundational philosophical text of classical yoga, composed of 196 aphorisms (sutras) outlining the nature of mind, the causes of suffering, and the path to liberation.
Yoga Teacher Training — a structured programme that certifies you to teach yoga professionally.
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