85-hour Prenatal + Postnatal Yoga
Teacher Training Immersion
Hosted at Vida Asana School of Yoga in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica
November 2—9, 2025
You’re invited to join us for an unforgettable 85-hour immersion style Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.
Are you passionate about yoga and interested in supporting women through one of life's most transformative journeys? Our 85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training provides a comprehensive curriculum designed to enhance your understanding of maternal anatomy, birth physiology, pregnancy-specific yoga practices, and the unique needs of expectant mothers.
Our training program is led by two moms and experienced prenatal trainers, Jacque Sweet and Kelly Villarreal, who are dedicated to helping you develop the skills and confidence needed to become an effective and inspiring prenatal yoga teacher. You'll learn how to sequence classes specifically for pregnant women, provide safe modifications, address common discomforts, and create a nurturing space for mothers-to-be. Learning to safely and skillfully guide pregnant students in any class style will improve your ability to meet students where they are in mixed-level classes. Becoming a credentialed prenatal yoga teacher also allows you to facilitate specialty classes and workshops to support your students in a sweet safe haven with pre and post-natal yoga offerings.
Our program is certified by Yoga Alliance, which means that upon completion, you'll be eligible to apply for the Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT) designation and teach prenatal yoga worldwide. This program is open to birth workers, registered yoga teachers, and anyone who wants to better support birthing people through the perinatal period.
Immersion-style training offers the best of both worlds: a deep dive into continuing education and a retreat-style experience in a spectacular location. Immersive training allows you the opportunity to create a week of full attention free from the distractions and obligations of home life, and uninterrupted momentum in building skills and practice. We’ll also enjoy a full day off mid-week to explore or enjoy the many local attractions of Costa Rica.
Whether you're looking to specialize your existing yoga teaching practice or begin a new journey supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth, our 85 hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training can help you achieve your goals and make a meaningful impact in the lives of expectant mothers and their babies.
CURRICULUM:
The curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to empower you with the technical skills required to teach prenatal yoga effectively. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of excellence in our training.
The program is structured to provide a balance of theory, practice, and experiential learning. Students will participate in daily yoga practice, meditation, and pranayama, as well as lectures and workshops on anatomy, philosophy, teaching methodology, and ethics. They will also have the opportunity to practice teaching in small groups and receive feedback from their peers and instructors.
All participants will receive a manual with additional resources and materials, as well as digital access to prenatal practices with Jacque and Kelly. Following the immersive week-long training, each participant will include an essay on a topic of their choice as a final requirement for completion. Upon completion of the program, you'll be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance for the internationally recognized RPYT credential.
Our prenatal yoga teacher training program covers a comprehensive range of topics, including:
Maternal & Fetal Anatomy During Pregnancy
Physiology of Childbirth
Pranayama and Meditation Practices for Pregnancy & Birth
Prenatal Yoga Class Sequencing
Postures to Aid Common Discomforts & Support Labor
Contraindications
Yoga Philosophy & the Divine Feminine
Birth Choices and Mindful Birthing
Post-Partum and Fourth Trimester Yoga & Care
Cultural Attitudes about Birth
Understanding the Role of the Nervous System on the Birth Experience
Pelvic Floor & Core Anatomy
Class Observations & Teaching Practicums
During your immersive training, you'll learn and practice the following core competencies. Pre-course work will also be provided to you.
General Background in Prenatal Specialty
Techniques, Training and Practice
Teaching Methodology
Anatomy and Physiology
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics
Practicum
The training integrates wisdom from a variety of styles and traditions, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra, and Mindfulness, with a robust background in modern medicine as our programming was developed in our work alongside an OBGYN partner.
The immersion-style format also allows for time off mid-day and mid-week to enjoy the spectacular location. Vida Asana attracts a diverse community from all over the world, and you are likely to form lasting relationships during this time!
Prenatal Training FAQs
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This training is open to registered yoga teachers, birthworkers, doulas, and anyone interested supporting perinatal populations.
Please note that ONLY yoga teachers already registered at the 200 or 300 hour level with yoga alliance qualify for the RPYT (registered prenatal yoga teacher) designation.
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Upon completion of the program you can upload your certificate to the yoga alliance website.
You will then need to log 30 practice teaching hours with yoga alliance (and this can be to anyone, not only pregnant people). Yoga Alliance will then provide you with the logo and credential!
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This course is for anyone interested in working with pregnant populations, but you will get the most out of this if you have some working knowledge of anatomy and yoga poses.
This course does not qualify you as a 200 hour registered yoga teacher.
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Specialized Focus: Our training is specifically designed for the unique needs of pregnant women, providing you with expert knowledge in maternal anatomy, birth physiology, and pregnancy-specific adaptations that general yoga teacher trainings simply don't cover in depth.
Experienced Instructors: Our lead instructors have years of experience not only teaching prenatal yoga but also supporting women through pregnancy and birth. They bring practical wisdom from working with hundreds of expectant mothers across all trimesters and various pregnancy conditions.
Holistic Approach: We integrate modern scientific understanding with traditional yoga wisdom, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy. Our program emphasizes the divine feminine and honors the cultural diversity of birth practices while providing evidence-based techniques.
Hands-On Learning: The training is structured to provide abundant practical experience. You'll observe actual prenatal classes, practice teaching pregnant students (with supervision), and receive detailed feedback to develop your confidence and skills.
Focus on the Fourth Trimester: Unlike many prenatal trainings, we place significant emphasis on postpartum recovery and fourth trimester care, giving you the tools to support women through the entire journey of pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Nervous System Integration: Our unique approach highlights the critical role of the nervous system in pregnancy and birth outcomes, teaching you techniques to help mothers regulate their nervous systems for more positive birth experiences.
Community Support: Our training fosters a supportive community of like-minded professionals dedicated to nurturing expectant mothers. Upon completion, you'll join our network of prenatal yoga teachers who continue to share resources and support each other's growth.
YOUR TUITION INCLUDES:
A full week of immersion-style training with downtime to enjoy the rainforest and nearby beaches. You’ll also receive access to 20 hours of virtual training sessions before arrival. At the end of the week, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and instructions on how to apply for your RPYT credential from Yoga Alliance.
Your tuition also includes 8-day / 7-night accommodations at the stunning Vida Asana retreat center as well as all daily meals. Facilities include a pool, two stunning yoga shalas, bikes available to ride to the beach, and much more. Expect to feel like family by the end of your week here!
Round-trip transportation to and from the airport (when traveling with the group) is included. If you are local and/or do not require lodging, please contact us for a commuter rate!
DAILY SCHEDULE:
Schedules are subject to change due to the progression of training, weather, or other at instructor's discretion.
6am-8:30am: Practice
8:30-9:30am Breakfast
10am-1pm: training
1pm-4pm: Break
4pm-6pm: training
6pm-7pm Dinner
7pm-9pm study hours with instructors
The Venue
Nestled within the serene landscapes of Costa Rica, Vida Asana School of Yoga is an all-inclusive yoga retreat center with dedicated on-site staff who work tirelessly to ensure an unforgettable visit for every guest.
What sets Vida Asana apart from other yoga retreat centers is the jungle setting, located close to the beautiful beach of Playa Hermosa, only 90 minutes from the airport in San Jose. Enjoy healthy garden-to-table Costa Rican cuisine featuring three organic, mostly vegetarian meals per day (gluten-free and pescatarian diets can be accommodated as well). Located along a river, the property features two spacious yoga shalas, expansive community dining areas, a lounge area, a pool, hammocks, and many places to relax, unwind, and immerse in study.
All rooms are well-appointed, quiet, and comfortable, and all feature AC and daily cleaning. Bicycles are available for guests to use for beach visits, nature hikes, and exploring. In the jungle, you never know what you’ll find but you might expect to see monkeys, Macaws, and more without leaving Vida Asana.
Accommodation Options
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Shared Room - $2250
This is you in either a double or triple-occupancy suite; rooms may have twin or queen-sized beds. If you are coming solo and wish to be paired with a roommate, you may be placed in a double or a triple room
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Private Room -$2750
This is you in your own room with one large bed (queen or king). This room is stunning, private and comfortable!
Important Info + Details
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Fly into/out of San Jose Airport, Costa Rica (SJO). Complimentary transportation from the airport to Vida Asana retreat center will be provided.*
Arrival:
Check-in is available starting from 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 2.Departure:
Check-out is at 11am on Saturday, November 9*Late arrivals/ early departures will be accommodated by Vida Asana. Please book flights to ensure you are on-site for all programming.
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The following expenses are not included in the total cost of training:
Flights
Gratuities ( 10% gratuities will be collected as a lump sum for our group and distributed to retreat staff)
Spa services or add on activities
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Prices are per person
Payment methods: credit card, Venmo, ACH transfer
Payment plans available!
Secure your spot with a $500 deposit
ALL PAYMENTS AND DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Final balance due 90 days before start of training
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Please be sure you will be able to attend before you submit your deposit. All deposits are non-refundable but may be transferred to another participant to attend in your place.
Payment is due in full 90 days prior to the start of the training.
Trip insurance can protect your investment if you need to cancel for covered circumstances.
Due to retreat centers’ refund policies, we cannot offer any refunds, transfers, or credits for cancellations for any reason within 90 days of the retreat start date.
What People Are Saying
“Jacque and Kelly created the sweetest space for this prenatal yoga teacher training. With a balanced blend of perinatal information and yoga asana, we learned how to creatively, safely, and effectively sequence and lead a prenatal yoga flow. As a 200RYT instructor, this training bolstered my yoga teaching skills and helped me expand on my trauma-informed, somatic orientation of movement facilitation. This training also allowed me to add more tools to my toolbelt as a doula and midwife assistant!
— May W.
“The Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training experience was life-changing for me. It ended up being a surprising culmination of all my yoga training to this point. Jacque and Kelly presented such thorough, powerful, and thoughtful training with their usual grace. I finished the training feeling ready to begin teaching prenatal yoga. Their training made this yoga specialty accessible, inviting, and FUN! I highly recommend it to anyone considering taking it!.”
— Julie J .
“This training, and the thoughtful instructors leading it, have reignited my passion for birth work. The attention on intuitive movement and deepening connection with an inner knowing is applicable to all yoga practitioners, and especially those entering the sacred transition into parenthood. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from Jacque, Kelly, and the other brilliant people participating. I find myself inspired to grow my offerings as a yoga teacher to all students, those who are pregnant and those who are not. ”
— Sierra T.
Meet the Trainers
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I took my first yoga teacher training when my youngest son was not quite two years old. Yoga has had such a profound impact on the ways I show up as a parent and is such a grounding force through pregnancy and beyond.
It such a deep honor to gather with expecting parents to witness this big life transition they are making and offer them tools for support.
As a full-time yoga teacher, I hold an E-RYT 500 credential, and a specialty prenatal (RPYT) credential. I have deep special interests in yoga philosophy, meditation, and functional anatomy.
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One of the best days of my week is when I get to circle up with the 7-15 expecting mothers that attend my weekly prenatal yoga class. Each class is different and the same. We all show up from our different days and share what’s present which enhances our time together in connection, centering, grounding, moving, breathing, empowering, and resting. This is the regular cycle we practice in my prenatal yoga classes in preparation for growing and giving new life while honoring our own at the utmost. When prenatal yoga babies are born, I often receive the gift of notice and learn their given names which has become an absolute splendor. If I’m really lucky, I get to see both mom and baby in one of my Bonding With Baby Yoga classes and support parents who need community and 10+ babies making yogi friends! We continue together in connection, centering, grounding, moving, breathing, empowering, and resting.
