Surf Shack Yoga Teacher Training
Winter 2027: Costa Rica & Kingston
A profound ride of self-discovery — and unlike anything else out there.
Surf Shack's 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training is a 6-month journey that begins where the jungle meets the Pacific and ends with you fully equipped to share yoga on your own terms. You'll come away with deep, integrated knowledge of asana, anatomy, philosophy, meditation, and whole health — and the tools to teach in a way that's authentic, contemporary, and entirely your own.
Open to aspiring teachers and dedicated practitioners alike.
Ready to book your spot? Go to our buy page at the link here.
The Journey
This isn't your average teacher training. We kick things off with a week-long immersive retreat at Peace Yoga on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica — steps from the legendary surf break at Playa Negra — before coming home to 11 weekends of deep learning right here at Surf Shack.
Costa Rica Retreat January 10–16, 2027 Peace Yoga, Playa Negra, Costa Rica
Surf Shack Weekends January 30 – June 27, 2027 Every other weekend, Saturday + Sunday afternoons
This training is for you
You don't need to be an advanced practitioner. You just need to love yoga and be ready to go deeper.
This training is for you if:
-
You want to deepen your personal practice
-
You want to teach yoga
-
You want to be part of a community of learners and practitioners
One year of committed yoga practice is required. No advanced physical practice necessary. Our intention is to offer a welcoming experience of the yoga practice — for every body.
The Retreat
Peace Retreat is an intimate, community-rooted retreat centre and spa nestled into the jungle near the village of Los Pargos, walking distance from the world-class surf at Playa Negra. It's a space built for meaningful, embodied experiences — a safe place to reset, restore, and reconnect with what matters.
Your retreat package includes:
-
6 nights shared accommodation (private room upgrades available)
-
3 daily meals (dinner on arrival night; breakfast on departure day)
-
Morning coffee and tea service
-
Round-trip transportation from Liberia International Airport (LIR)
Click here to see the Peace Retreat's website.
Direct flights from Toronto to Liberia (LIR) are available with Air Canada, Porter, WestJet, and Air Transat. Flights are not included in the retreat package.
The Schedule
Costa Rica: January 10–16 We open together as a group in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Expect morning meditation and practice, theory sessions, afternoon workshops — and yes, time to hang at the beach and explore the surrounding area.
Surf Shack: January 30 – June 27 Back home, we gather every other weekend for Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions. You'll have ample time between weekends to process what you've learned, work through readings and homework, and log practice hours. You'll also complete 50 drop-in classes at the studio on your own schedule — included in your tuition.
Full weekend schedule:
-
Saturdays 1:00–5:30pm
-
Sundays 1:00–4:30pm
January 30 + 31 · February 6 + 7 · February 20 + 21 · March 6 + 7 · March 20 + 21 · April 3 + 4 · April 17 + 18 · May 1 + 2 · May 15 + 16 · May 29 + 30 · June 12 + 13 · June 26 + 27
What You'll Learn
This program meets the requirements of a 200-hour teacher training. Over six months, you'll build deep, integrated knowledge across:
-
Physical asana — intelligent sequencing for beginner, intermediate, and mixed-level classes
-
Anatomy — Eastern and Western approaches; how to cue, assist, and modify safely
-
Philosophy — the history and roots of yoga, including Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita
-
Meditation + pranayama — foundational practices, mantra, chanting, and basic Sanskrit
-
Yin + restorative yoga — understanding and teaching these styles
-
Whole health — tools to develop a personal, authentic teaching style
What Makes This Training Different
Anatomy meets philosophy. We believe you can't separate the physical practice from its roots. Both Western biomechanics and Eastern anatomy are woven throughout — always tied back to the tradition and philosophical foundations of yoga.
Personal support. A moderate group size means individual mentoring throughout the training, and plenty of learning from and alongside your peers.
A head start on teaching. Participants are considered for the Surf Shack mentorship program — offering real teaching opportunities at the studio or related events, plus ongoing feedback and development support.
Six months of unlimited classes. Your tuition includes unlimited drop-in classes at Surf Shack for the full duration of the program.
Your certification. After completing all in-person hours, homework, and written and practical exams, you'll receive a certificate qualifying you to teach yoga anywhere in the world. (Note: Surf Shack is not affiliated with Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance is not a regulatory body and YA certification has no bearing on your ability to teach.)
Tax credit (coming soon). Surf Shack is working toward certification by Employment and Social Development Canada, which would make tuition eligible for a T2202A tax credit. Updates coming soon.
Required Reading
-
Yoga Anatomy — Leslie Kaminoff
-
The Mirror of Yoga — Richard Freeman
-
The Bhagavad Gita — Eknath Easwaran
-
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali — B.K.S. Iyengar
-
One elective from a curated list by Liz and Roland (themes: social justice, environment, and community) — list coming soon
We recommend purchasing Yoga Anatomy to have on hand throughout the training. The other texts may be purchased or borrowed; a short book report is required for each. The elective reading includes a short presentation on how its themes relate to yoga philosophy.
Your Teachers
Liz + Roland are internationally recognized yoga teachers who have led workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings worldwide, and guest taught at festivals and conferences across four continents. They offer online content in English and German on udaya.com and doyouyoga.com.
Their teaching is rooted in their own deep, dedicated practices — a unique blend of detailed anatomy and alignment, storytelling, philosophy, meditation and mindfulness, and a healthy dose of humour. Modern and traditional approaches, woven together.
Liz and Roland have travelled widely, including to many holy sites in India and Nepal to understand yoga's roots firsthand. They have practiced with diverse teachers from East and West, and their studies include multiple visits to Plum Village (Thich Nhat Hanh) and years of study with Tsakpo Rinpoche.
Tuition + Pricing
Training Tuition
Early Bird (until August 31, 2026): $3,200 + HST tuition · $1,500 + HST retreat · $4,700 + HST total
Regular: $3,500 + HST tuition · $1,500 + HST retreat · $5,000 + HST total
Retreat pricing is based on a shared double room with private bathroom, or a small single room with shared bathroom. Private room upgrades are available on request.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 + HST is required to secure your spot.
For early bird pricing, full payment or an approved payment plan must be in place by August 31, 2026.
Regular tuition balance must be paid before the end of November. No refunds on tuition after September 30, 2026.
Payment plans available on app & website.
Please email info@surfshackyoga.com if you'd like to use the payment plan so we can keep track.
Flights to and from Costa Rica and required reading books are not included in tuition.
Info Sessions
Come meet Liz & Roland, learn more about the program, and ask all your questions. Dates coming soon.
Email us at info@surfshackyoga.com or request an in-person meeting — we'd love to connect.
Ready to book your spot? Go to our buy page at the link here.
%20(Instagram%20Post)_20231120_161033_0000.png)