Bachelor’s Specialization in Yoga Teacher Training

Learn Consciousness-Based Yoga

Consciousness-Based Yoga is a comprehensive system designed to cultivate coherence between mind, body, and consciousness. Rooted in the teachings of our founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, this unique approach naturally fosters the experience of inner calm and ‘steady pleasantness’ while supporting the expansion of consciousness and personal growth.

With over 1000 contact hours—far beyond standard Yoga Teacher Trainings—this program combines a bachelor’s degree with practical training, qualifying you to register as a Yoga Alliance RYT 200. You’ll:

study the classical first set of yoga asanas
embark on a holistic exploration of the complete meaning of yoga
learn how to share the deepest knowledge and origins of yoga with your students
gain a foundational understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.

Deepen your practice with immersive Yoga Residencies

While the program is primarily online, MIU’s Yoga Teacher Training includes two two-week residencies on our Fairfield, Iowa campus. These retreat-style intensives offer 7-9 hours daily of hands-on experience, featuring:

mentored yoga practice to refine your skills
training in how to teach yoga effectively
discussions with Vedic science, ayurveda and yoga experts

Experience what it’s like to live the full value of yoga throughout your day, following an “ideal daily routine” that includes daily group yoga practice, meditations, and fresh organic meals.

Build your Yoga business

Unlike most YTTs that only skim the surface, our capstone course focuses entirely on launching your yoga career. In this course, you’ll clarify your goals and develop an integrative program rooted in yoga practice and knowledge to offer at yoga studios, wellness centers, or corporate environments. You’ll also learn essential skills like self-promotion and financial management.

Our program sets you up for success, whether your goal is to:

Start your own studio
Host yoga retreats around the world
Create a direct-to-consumer online content business
Build a base of one-on-one clientele

Transform your life with Consciousness-Based Education

At MIU, education goes beyond academics, it’s about thriving inside and out. Consciousness-Based Education emphasizes self-awareness and well-being, supporting you during your studies and beyond

Central to this approach, all students learn the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, a simple, research-backed method shown to:

Boost creativity and learning ability
Reduce stress and anxiety
Improve overall brain functioning

Get started by contacting Jenny Beth

Jenny Beth , admissions counselor Jenny Beth is this program’s admissions counselor for US students. Jenny Beth will provide you with all the details of becoming a student, including connecting you with the program director or faculty.

Contact Jenny Beth >

International applicants may connect with us through our international inquiry form.

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Degree requirements

To graduate with a Specialization in Yoga Teacher Training, students must complete:

required courses for the Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences or any other bachelor’s degree program you choose
30 additional credits of Yoga Teacher Training courses

The Specialization in Yoga Teacher Training is available only to US students.

Courses for this specialization may include

MVS 302 Dharma: Insights from Maharishi’s Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita

What action in life is best for your personal development – your “Dharma”? How does this relate to family, social, and global responsibilities? How do we make the right decisions for ourselves and others, and act in a way that is enjoyable, not stressful and exhausting? This course studies timeless questions and dilemmas such as these, discussed in the Bhagavad-Gita — using as a guide Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s translation of and commentary on chapters one to six.

MVS 300 Science of Being and Art of Living

Science of Being and Art of Living was Maharishi’s first book, published in 1963. In this course, both through reading and through studying Maharishi’s videos, students investigate the main themes of the book — Being, the essential constituent of creation; how to contact and how to live Being; how to live one’s full potential, in thought, speech, action, and relationships; and God realization.

MVS 370 Maharishi’s Yoga Theory and Practice

This course explores themes related to Yoga philosophy in light of effortless, natural practice of Transcendental Meditation. The course introduces Yoga both as a settled inner state of mind and a path of development, as brought out by Maharishi in his books and lectures. Topics include Yoga and the brain, Yoga and health, development of full human potential, Yoga and Dharma, and the role of Yoga Asanas in the eight limbs of Yoga brought out in the traditional Yoga text, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.

BIO 268 Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology and Yoga

This course takes students on a journey through human anatomy and physiology in relationship to Yoga. The course emphasizes the connection to human physiology and the Vedic Literature, a connection that provides support to homeostasis and balance. Students explore the terminology, structure, function, and interdependence of the various organ systems that make up the human body. Systems covered include the skeletal system, muscular system, respiratory system, nervous system, endocrine system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, digestive/elimination system, and the renal-urinary system. This course covers relevant medical terminology and biomechanics to prepare students for upcoming coursework in teaching the practices of Yoga.

PH 421 Foundations in Yoga Practice and Teaching

In this on-line course, you will unearth the nature of Yoga – the unification of the body, mind & cosmic life integrated with Maharishi AyurVeda’s principles of cultivating intrinsic & extrinsic balance in life. This course includes coursework in embodied approaches to anatomy, ayurvedic approaches to anatomy, asana, and pranayama through public speaking, presentation exercises and reflective exercises that explore the benefits in practicing and presenting the Maharishi Yoga Asanas. Receiving Yoga Alliance compliance is in process.

More courses

PH 422 Developing the Capacity of the Yoga Teacher

This in-person immersion of the Yoga specialization program leans heavily on the development of both the practice and the state of Yoga. Students will participate in twice-daily practice sessions of the First Set and Transcendental Meditation technique while additionally exploring Maharishi’s approach to Yoga, history of Yoga and Asanas, biomechanics, systems of anatomy, and foundational subtle yogic anatomy in relationship to yoga asana and pranayama. Students will deepen their understanding of verbal and visual cues, while learning how to offer hands-on assistance. They will also learn how to apply ethics and professionalism in the yoga studio setting. This course helps to hone the skills necessary in becoming an effective Yoga Teacher.

PH 423 Deepening the Capacity of the Yoga Teacher

This course continues the in-person development of the personal and professional aspects of Asanas and pranayama practice along with the exploration of advanced hatha yoga practices such as deeper pranayamas, bandhas, and mudras. Continued studies in systems of gross and subtle anatomy and safe movement practices refine the student’s capacity to instruct others.

Ph 427 Refining Yoga Teaching Skills & Lesson Plans

This course supports students as they begin their Yoga teaching practice in their communities. Through weekly Zoom calls and reflective writing assessments, students receive guidance on different aspects of lesson planning, theme planning, case studies, and professional development. The course aims to help students refine their teaching skills and demonstrate their ability to instruct in a Yoga studio or community setting.

PH 420 Ayurveda for the Yoga Teacher

Maharishi AyurVeda and Yoga are Vedic sciences that create a holistic approach to health, happiness, and well-being. In this course, students will learn how to create a personalized daily practice to facilitate healing. Each student discovers mind-body awareness of the gross and subtle energies including the five layers of being through individualized techniques with the purpose of becoming more established in the Self.  Students will learn how mind-body types, health tendencies, time of day, seasons, immediate environment, and far environment (planetary influence) impact the personalized approach to daily and seasonal routines. This course includes reflections and public speaking exercises on how inner and outer observations can awaken awareness, guide attention to self-correct, and add self-care routines to pursue optimal state of health. This course puts knowledge into practice.

PH 424 Capstone: Cultivating the Capacity of the Yoga Teacher

Remaining an active student is what makes a sound teacher. In the Maharishi Yoga Asana Capstone course, the focus is on continued practice, self-referral, and reflection exercises to allow for the integration and development of sattvic teacher attributes. The primary focus of this course will be to create a three-month Maharishi Yoga Asana Program based on your teaching niche, with lesson plans that build upon one another and create sustained Mind Body.

Cost & Aid for bachelor’s degree, 2025-26

US Online Undergraduate

This estimate is based on one year for a typical online Federal Pell Grant recipient (represents 90% of our online undergraduates). File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), using our FAFSA code 011113, and then contact our financial aid office for questions on other variables.

Annual Cost and Typical Financial Aid
Tuition and fees	$18,190
Grants and scholarship (typical)	-$11,700
Net cost per year	$6,490
Federal student loan	-$6,490
Your payment	$0

Part time online enrollment is available. Tuition is $600 per credit with normal load of 9-11 credits. Federal student loans are available and the federal Pell Grant is proportional to the credit load.

Additional Financial Aid Information

Scholarships and Grants

The grants and scholarship described above consist of the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Education Grant, and institutional scholarship based on (1) full-time enrollment and (2) financial need determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Employer Waiver Program

Many companies offer tuition assistance programs to their employees. If you’re currently employed, we encourage you to check on this. If they offer assistance, please contact MIU’s Financial Aid office.

Federal Student Loans

Federal Student Loans have limits based on lifetime usage, annual limits, and limited to the educational costs for each semester. Here are the annual maximum limits:

$5,500 per year for first-year dependent
$6,500 per year for second-year dependent
$7,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year dependent
$9,500 per year for first-year independent
$10,500 per year for second-year independent
$12,500 per year for third, fourth, fifth-year independent

Federal Student Loan Repayment

Federal Student Loan Repayment is postponed as long as you are enrolled at least half-time each semester. If your enrollment drops below half-time, you have a six-month grace period before repayment begins. There are also postponements for low income and unemployment, as well as repayment based on income and Public Service Forgiveness.

Education Tax Incentives

There are a variety of money-saving tax benefits to assist in reducing the cost of education expenses. More about education tax benefits.

Veterans

Veterans should contact the VA for information on Veterans Education Benefits. Veterans eligible for BAH monthly benefits: The VA utilizes a scale of credits per block of courses; therefore, the VA sometimes pays part-time benefits for an individual month while the university delivers full-time federal aid for an entire semester. Our Veterans Certifying Official is our Director of Financial Aid.

Loan Repayment Options

Standard

Payments are a fixed amount that ensures your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Extended

Payments may be fixed or graduated and will ensure that your loans are paid off within 25 years.

Graduated

Payments are lower at first and then increase, usually every two years, and are for an amount that will ensure your loans are paid off within 10 years (within 10 to 30 years for Consolidation Loans).

Income-Based

Your monthly payments will be either 10 or 15 percent of discretionary income (depending on when you received your first loans), but never more than you would have paid under the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan.

Income Contingent

Payments are recalculated each year and are based on your updated income, family size, and the total amount of your Direct Loans. Any outstanding balance will be forgiven if you haven’t repaid your loan in full after 25 years.

Income Sensitive

Your monthly payment is based on annual income, but your loan will be paid in full within 15 years.

Tuition, other fees, scholarships, and financial policies are subject to change prior to the entry date. For more information, contact us at finaid@miu.edu for a quick reply — normally one business day — or see more about financial aid.