200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Community Pathway 2025-2026

West Chester University is now collaborating with Cage Free Yoga to offer a new 200-hour Community Pathway Yoga Teacher Training program or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Yoga theory and practice. Since 2010, this program has only been available to full-time undergraduate students, but thanks to the College of Health Sciences and the Conference Services, this training is now open to the greater community.

After successful completion, trainees will receive a certificate of achievement through West Chester University and Cage Free Yoga (WCU & CFY) that will allow registration through the nationally and internationally recognized organization, Yoga Alliance. Our comprehensive training, rich with philosophy and methodology, will propel those who desire to move into teaching Yoga to others to do so with confidence. Our mission is to guide each trainee to cultivate a strong, consistent home practice which is the essence and basis for being able to share Yoga with meaning, purpose, and authenticity.

WCU&CFY's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program is an 8-month curriculum to be completed through weekend seminars. Only one training will be held per year and space is limited to sixteen. Supplementary reading and writing assignments are to be completed throughout the program. Teacher trainees will also be expected to observe, assist, and eventually teach in Goshen 108 A Yoga Studio (for Residence Life) and/or for various sports teams at WCU.

Register for Yoga Teacher Training

Faculty

Proposed Weekend Seminar Dates

Module 1(Yoga I and Seminar 1): SEPTEMBER 19 - NOVEMBER 9, 2025

SEP 19-21, OCT 3-5, OCT 17-19, 2025 (30-minute lunch on in person days)

  • Friday 6:00-8:00p.m. online
  • Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Also in November: Combined seminars with WCU YTT 200 Undergraduate students

NOV 7-9, 2025

  • Friday (Asynchronous online) 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday (in person-Goshen 108A) 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (30 min lunch each day)

Module 2 (Meditation for Yoga teachers): Dec 6-7, 2025

DEC 7-8, 2025

  • No Friday session
  • Saturday & Sunday (in person-Goshen 108A) 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (30 min lunch each day)

Module 3(Yoga II and Seminar 2): DEC 12 - FEB 8, 2025 - 2026

DEC 12-14, JAN 9-11, JAN 23-25, 2025 - 2026 (30-minute lunch on in person days)

  • Friday 6:00-7:30 p.m. online
  • Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Also in February: Combined seminars with WCU YTT 200 Undergraduate students

FEB 6-8, 2026

  • Friday (Asynchronous online) 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday (in person-Goshen 108A) 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (30 min lunch each day)

Module 4(Yoga III): FEB 20 - APR 12, 2026

FEB 20-22, MAR 20-22, APR 10-12, 2026 (30-minute lunch on in person days)

  • Friday 6:00-8:00 p.m. online
  • Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Module 5(Program Completion and Graduation): APR 25, 2026

APR 25, 2026 (30-minute lunch on in person days)

  • Saturday 9:00 am - 2 pm
  • Practical Exam, Exit Interviews, Certificate Ceremony (In person Goshen 108)

Program Requirements

  • Attend all training sessions
  • *Make Up Policy: All make up sessions are determined on a case by case basis. We understand that unforeseen events (illness or emergency) are part of life and there are things we have no control over, therefore make-up sessions are determined on a need basis. In the event that a student misses content longer than four hours, or has repeated absences for more than two weekends, the student will be asked to complete the content with the new cohort (the following year). Makeups are extremely difficult due to the schedules of each instructor. If a session is missed that is four hours or less, the student must schedule with the instructor(s) who covered the missed content. These are charged as synchronous private sessions at the rate of $70 per hour. Cost to complete missed hours in person is $80 per hour. In the case of hazardous weather on a scheduled weekend, all content is moved online.
  • Completion of all assignments

Required Material (additional expense)

Enrollment in the WCU & CFY 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program will include

  • 70-75 class and seminar hours with Alison Donley, ERYT-500, YACEP, BSEd, and creator of the WCU yoga program and the 200-hour YTT at WCU, where she taught for 24 years. She is the former Wellness Advisor, and now a current Provider for Unite for Her: www.uniteforHER.org and https://www.nudjhealth.com/ as a Cardiac Yoga instructor. Alison is a former Yoga studio owner, and currently owns Cage Free Yoga, LLC, www.cagefree.yoga teaching private therapeutic yoga, group classes, and continuing education for Yoga teachers. She has been practicing yoga since 1977 and teaching since 1982. She was a nationally competitive athlete during her undergraduate studies at WCU, and was recently honored as one of the "150 Most Influential Women of West Chester University."
  • 70-75 class and seminar hours with Lakshmi U Thoniyil aka Usha Lakshmi, MSc., ERYT-500, RCYT, YACEP and Yoga Professor, Kinesiology Department, WCU. She is a lifelong learner of yoga and the owner of Yogabhyasa Kalari LLC teaching Yoga and Meditation full time in the Philadelphia area since 2010. She often runs yoga and wellness retreats to India. Currently she is a program director for several 300-hour level programs for a non-profit called Pranakriya, which includes one of the modules for their 95-hour Children's YTT program. You can learn more about her at https://yogabhyasakalari.com/.
  • 40-45 class and seminar hours with Kate Simmons-Souell, M.Ed., E-RYT 500, YACEP, and Yoga Professor, Kinesiology Department, WCU. Kate discovered yoga in 2007, and the practice has since played a vital role in her recovery from a life-threatening eating disorder. Her initial quest for a sweaty workout evolved into a practice of appreciating and caring for her body after many years at war with it. Through her teaching, Kate strives to share the power of breath and movement in healing and strengthening from the inside out.
  • 10 seminar hours with Dr. Emily Duckett, PhD, LAT, ATC, CYT200, an assistant professor and athletic trainer for the Sports Medicine Department at West Chester University, where she has served in a dual role as a course instructor and athletic trainer for 7 years. She is grateful for the opportunity to combine her passion for yoga and human anatomy by teaching in the YTT program. In her personal time, she enjoys making memories with her family, husband Jonathan, daughter Charlotte, son Bryce, and therapy dog Ace.

Lectures with guest faculty:

Dr. Meghan Ramick- Meghan is an Associate Professor in the Exercise Science division of the Kinesiology Department at West Chester University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in Exercise Testing and Prescription, Cardiopulmonary Physiology, and Exercise Physiology. She received her PhD in Applied Physiology from the University of Delaware in 2017 and started her Yoga Teacher Training through WCU in the Fall of 2020. In 2022, she completed a certificate in Cardiac Yoga to merge two of her interests and bring a more holistic approach to the prevention of and healing from cardiovascular disease. Meghan Ramick - West Chester University.

Dr. Selen Razon- Dr. Razon is an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at WCU. She teaches courses in Kinesiology. In her research, Dr. Razon looks into the effects of exercise including yoga on mood, cognition, general well-being, and exercise adherence in clinical and nonclinical samples. Dr. Razon has recently earned her YTT-200 and teaches gentle yoga in the community.-Selen Razon - West Chester University.

  • A binder for all class material
  • Individual mentoring and labs with program teachers

A certificate of 200 hour course completion allowing eligibility for application to register with Yoga Alliance.

Program Cost for Community members who are NOT Fulltime Undergraduate students

The *tuition for The WCU & CFY Yoga Teacher Training Program can be paid in full for a reduced rate of $2,800 if paid on September 1, 2025. A tuition fee of $2,900 can also be paid in 2 installments:

  • $1,500 by September 1st, 2025
  • $1,400 fee by January 1st, 2026
    Additional expenses will be incurred for Required Reading material. Application fees for 200-hour RYT status will be required to complete your registry with Yoga Alliance. You will submit your Certificate of Course Completion from the WCU & CFY YTT Program with application fees by following the instructions on the Yoga Alliance website (www.yogaalliance.org).

Program Cost for Full time Undergraduate students

Depending on the courses already completed at WCU the tuition for the WCU & CFY YTT program varies and can be ONE of the following six options (I through VIII):

  1. $1850.00 if paid in full -includes nine full weekends with Yoga II, Yoga III, Meditation, Seminars
  2. $1600.00 if paid in full (includes six full weekends with Yoga III, Meditation, Seminars)
  3. $1400.00 if paid in full (includes five full weekends with Yoga III, Seminars)
  4. $950.00 if paid in full (includes two full weekends with Seminars)

These amounts can be partially paid as one of the following based on the courses already complete

  1. $1890.00 paid partially as nine installments of $210 each (for Yoga II, Yoga III, Meditation, Seminars)
  2. $1620.00 paid partially as six installments of $270 each (for Yoga III, Meditation, Seminars)
  3. $1450.00 paid partially as five installments of $290 each (for Yoga III, Seminars)
  4. $1000.00 paid partially as two installments of $500 each (for two Seminars)

When paying in installments, each partial payment must be made prior to attending the upcoming weekend. For example if you choose option V, you will need to pay 290 before Weekend 1, 580 before Weekend 2, and so on and so forth till 1450 is paid before Weekend 5. The program must be paid in full to begin your teaching hours no matter which option you choose from above. Please make use of the Mind Body Health three credit course offering from the Department of Contemplative Studies to avoid choosing the most expensive options I and V. If you have any question about the fee structure, please contact Professor Lakshmi Thoniyil (LThoniyil@wcupa.edu).

All requirements must be completed within one year of graduation from WCU. If not finished by this time, trainees will need to retake components as determined by the directors on a case by case basis.

*Additional expenses may be incurred for Required Reading material (list on page). Application fees for 200 hour RYT status will be required to complete your registry with Yoga Alliance. You will submit your Certificate of Course Completion from The WCU & CFY YTT Program with application fees by following the instructions on the Yoga Alliance website (www.yogaalliance.org).

Cancellation Policy

The WCU 200-hour YTT Certificate Program will refund all money paid if the applicant is not accepted or if the program is canceled for any reason. $100 application fee is non-refundable.

If the student completes this amount of training: The WCU 200-hour YTT Certificate Program may keep this percentage of the full tuition cost:
One Module* 50% of program fees
Two Modules* 100% of program fees

The WCU & CFY YTT for Community Pathway program must be completed within 2 years of the submission of your application. This is for Non undergrads only.

The WCU & CFY YTT for Undergrads program must be completed within 1 year of graduation from WCU. This is for Undergrads only.

*Any portion of the Module

Required Reading

  • Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele
  • *Yoga A Path to Wellness by Alison Donley
  • Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
  • Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

As you read the selections provided, please take any notes from the texts that will allow you to further your exploration and understanding of the practice of Yoga. *No review of the workbook is required as that material is covered in Module 1 and 2. For each title, please provide a minimum of 1 paragraph per question and place in your binder. These will be reviewed at your exit interview.

  1. What impact did the material have on you?
  2. How do you feel the knowledge gained from reading this material has affected you personally?
  3. How do you feel this material will influence you professionally?
  4. How do you envision using the material in your practice and teaching of Yoga?