RYT 500 Yoga Teacher Training

Become a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT 500, with Yoga Alliance!

Come grow with us. Get your RYT 500 hour certification at the Yoga Center of Columbia with your co-directors, Jen Randle and Kelly Fisher, plus a host of fabulous instructors. Our 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training is a comprehensive 12-month program conveniently scheduled on selected weekends (Friday evening through Sunday) from January 9 through December 6, 2026.

Included in your tuition is a 14 week online Yoga Philosophy component Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm from February 11 to May 13. Join this part in real time online or view the recorded content afterward at your pace.

Participants are also required to take 10 elective hours, approved by the director, in an area of study of your choice.

Jen, Kelly, and your other instructors like Lucy Lomax, Cathy Rees, Kristine Weber, Katie Huber, and Barbara Day will help you learn how to share the gift of yoga more skillfully. Deepen your own practice while gaining practical experience and expanding your yoga teaching toolbox regarding asana practice, pranayama, meditation, yogic culture, philosophy, and much more. Upon satisfactory completion you will be eligible to register with the Yoga Alliance at the RYT 500 level. This program is enriching, fulfilling, and worthwhile.

Learn with a cohort and make life-long friends!

To apply - Click Apply Now, fill out the application and submit your deposit. Or you can download and print the application, and forward (by mail or in person) with a check to the Yoga Center of Columbia. Please note the deposit will be refunded if you are not accepted into the program. If you have any questions, call 410-720-4340 or email us at info@columbiayoga.com.

Featured

A Perfect Blend

This program is the perfect blend of rich yoga philosophy, structured anatomy and physiology courses for correct alignment and student accessibility, community engagement, meditation, and self-study. Thank you for all the knowledge, experience, and passion you have poured into this program and into your trainees.

-MB

So Much More Than I Thought

I expected to learn more about asana, pranayama and meditation, but it was so much more. This was a deep dive into learning about the self and how I want to show up in the world as a human and a yoga teacher. My fellow teachers-in-training became very close and supportive through this program. The instructors were so knowledgeable and found the perfect balance between serious and fun. I had a great time, even though it was a lot of inner work as well as studying and practice. I highly recommend this program not only for people wanting to teach yoga, but also for those who would like to deepen their personal practice.

- PI

The Best Possible

The RYT 200 program at the Yoga Center of Columbia is nothing that you would expect it to be, in the best possible way. My personal practice and teaching has become richer, deeper, and more respectful, both of myself and my students. Learning how the physical parts of yoga (asana, pranayama) work inside of the larger yogic tradition was enlightening. The teachers respect the students in a way that I have not experienced before. That respect was something I can carry on into my own teaching and daily life and I am eternally grateful to have learned it.

-ZD

Transformative

This teacher training with Kelly and Lucy has been a transformative and rewarding experience. It was not just about any one thing about yoga like asana or teaching, it was about all of yoga! It is a well thought out course, and the monthly meetings really allowed me to process everything, let the teachings marinate before we went on to the next topic.

-EW

Learn All of Yoga

I am so happy that I chose to do my yoga teacher training at The Yoga Center of Columbia. What an amazing experience with amazing teachers and fellow students. Such an amazing studio. I recommend The Yoga Center of Columbia for all of your yoga needs.

-WO

About This Program

This program will expand your awareness, practice, and teaching ability of a wide variety of yogic teachings, breath work, and meditation. In this student-centered program, we encourage you to delve further into your evolutionary path. Go deeper into anatomy and physiology, lifestyle and ethics, philosophy, and teaching methodology. Become an even more effective teacher with your deepened knowledge. We align with root aspects of yoga, breath, meditation, intention, and service which give rise to the various schools and styles. This program is transformational and designed to enhance and enrich your teaching and your life. As part of the training you will apprentice with a senior teacher in a content area that is of interest to you.

Why Become an RYT 500 Teacher Through the Yoga Center of Columbia?

• To enhance your personal practice and your understanding of yogic principles

• To apply principles from a variety of yoga traditions and find your own voice

• To expand your understanding of key texts in the wisdom traditions of yoga beyond the Sutras and Gita; explore the Upanishads, Puranas, and Tantras among others

• To expand your understanding and experience of both physical and subtle anatomy

• To become an even more effective and inspiring teacher

• To be prepared to teach advanced level Hatha Yoga classes that include breath work and meditation

• To qualify to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level

• To work hands-on in person with other people who can see you in real life

• To apprentice directly with senior teachers in live classes

• To learn with a live cohort and make life-long friends! 💖

Eligibility

Teaching yoga requires a commitment and dedication to learning and studying the principles and practices of yoga. To participate in our Yoga Teacher Training Program and receive maximum benefit from it, participants must:

* Hold a current RYT 200 registration with Yoga Alliance

* Have a consistent home yoga practice

* Be committed to studying, learning, and developing further skills necessary for teaching yoga

RYT 2026 Information Session

Curious to know more before you register? Join us for our free RYT 200 and 500 Information Session on Sunday, October 5 4:30-6:00pm.

Training Requirements

Registration as an RYT 500 Yoga Teacher requires an RYT 200 certificate plus 300 study hours with a professional trainer. These 300 hours include:

Techniques, Training, and Practice including asana, pranayama, the subtle body, meditation, therapeutics, modifications, and professional essentials class hours (150 hours)

Teaching Methodology (30 hours)

Anatomy and Physiology (30 hours)

Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics for Yoga Teachers (55 hours)

Practicum (35 hours)

10 of these hours are elective study on your own outside of class. Your area of study and the training itself need to be approved by your RYT Director.

Participants typically spend more than 300 hours completing the program. Yoga teaching is a calling and a beautiful service. Your work will be fulfilling and to quote Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, “no effort is ever wasted.”

Online Learning

There will be a 14 week, 1.5 hour, online component to your training in Yoga Philosophy included with your tuition. Meet on Wednesdays, Feb 11 - May 13, 6:30-8:00pm with experienced trainers Michael Levin and Kelly Fisher in real time. Or if you cannot attend live online, watch the recording before your next in-person weekend. These classes will involve meditation and/or pranayama practice as well as study of Sanskrit, sacred texts, history of yoga, modern concepts in yoga practice, and more.

Elective Hours

Each participant is required to take 10 hours of elective study outside of the posted class times. Your area of study is up to you and for your enrichment, but the training needs to be approved by your RYT Director prior to your taking the training.

Required Reading

Required reading materials are not included in the cost of tuition. You may purchase textbooks at the Yoga Center or wherever you buy your books. Please support small businesses when you can.

Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes, Mark Stephens

Functional Anatomy of Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers, David Keil

Recommended Reading:

Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses: A Practical Workbook for Integrating Themes, Ideas, and Inspiration into Your Class, Sage Rountree, Alexandra DeSiato, Cyndi Lee

YogaBody: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana, Judith Hanson Lasater

2026 Dates and Times

Fridays 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturdays 12:30 - 6:15 pm
Sundays 12:30 - 6:15 pm

Jan 9-11
Feb 6-8
Mar 13-15
Apr 10-12
May 1-3
May 29-31
June 12-14
July 10-12
August 7-9
Sept 18-20
Oct 2-4
Nov 6-8
Dec 4-6

What Happens If I Miss Class?

You may make-up missed hours by substituting hours from approved workshops or trainings. Approved workshops shall include most workshops offered at the Yoga Center of Columbia by an RYT 500 teacher or any workshop approved by the Directors of the program prior to taking the workshop.

Registration Process and Refunds

Complete your application online and provide a $395 non-refundable deposit. If your application is not approved, your deposit will be refunded.

The program fee is $4,295 which includes your deposit. Pay in full or take advantage of our payment plan with 10 monthly payments starting in January! Payment in full or arrangement for payment plan is due seven days prior to the start of the program, January 2, 2026.

Register by December 1 and receive a $300 Early Bird discount. Your total investment would be $3,995.

Full refunds (minus the non-refundable deposit of $395) will only be granted until January 2, 2026. After January 2, refunds will only be considered in cases of medical emergency.

Instructors

Jen Randle

She/her
E-RYT 500, Pilates Specialist, Myofascial Release Specialist, Comprehensive Balanced Body Pilates Certified, MA

Jen has been teaching yoga since 2007, and teaching at the Yoga Center of Columbia since 2017. She completed both of her Yoga Teacher Trainings at the Yoga Center of Columbia and was part of the very first YCC RYT 300 Teacher Training program. Jen wants to pass on her love of the practice while guiding and inspiring professional growth for others. She focuses on functional movement that students can take off their mats and into their lives. She is passionate about adapting yoga for those with various spinal conditions including osteoporosis. Caring for her spine early in her yoga journey shaped the way she practices and the way she teaches. Jen's classes help students find strength, confidence, and restoration in movement. She believes in the healing benefits of daily meditation and yoga and enjoys integrating poetry and philosophy into her classes.
Kelly Fisher

She/her
Certified Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, AYS, YACEP
Kelly Fisher is the current steward of the Yoga Center of Columbia. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for over 25 years and has taught at YCC since 2011. She believes in the physical and spiritual healing power of yoga, and aims to empower her students to strengthen their bodies, hearts and minds through her challenging yet calming instruction. Her style is rooted in her many years of meditation practice and her multidisciplinary study of hatha yoga, tantric philosophy, and Ayurveda. She was one of the first in the country to earn her Yoga Therapist certification from the International Association of Yoga Therapists in 2016. In 2017 she earned her certifications as a Yoga for Healthy Aging teacher from Baxter Bell and as an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist from the Himalayan Institute.