Yoga Development Course

The Yoga Development Course is a three-month residential yoga retreat at Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, British Columbia. It is the Ashram's most immersive offering and the only course that gives complete instruction in every practice of its women-led Yasodhara Yoga lineage. It suits people looking for a deeper sense of purpose, those at a turning point, anyone in need of spiritual renewal and deeper self-knowledge, and those who want the company of like-minded people in a spiritual community.

What to Expect

You live at the Ashram seven days a week for the full term, in a full-time residential intensive totaling 675 hours of class time. The course is built from integrated workshops of one to five days, with a rhythm that moves between movement, reflection, work, spiritual practice and study.

Most days begin with Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, which pairs listening to the body with reflection on the symbolism of the asanas. Morning and afternoon workshops are interactive, in large and small groups, with time set aside for reflection and personal practice. Each evening the whole community gathers for satsang to chant, hear inspiring readings and send positive vibrations to those in need. One day a week is given to Karma Yoga, work as selfless service.

The course structure rests on the symbolism of the Kundalini system, with exploration of the senses, the mind and speech. Life Seals and Transitions let the unconscious speak through drawings, and Dream Yoga looks at the personal messages in dreams. Along the way you are taught mantra, the Divine Light Invocation, meditation and visualization practices, silence and speech awareness. Sacred texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras are studied through personal reflection on key verses and what they mean for your life now.

Writing is central. You keep a spiritual diary, write reflections in each workshop, and work through a reading list chosen for in-depth study.

After the course, a mentored study component is optional. Students have one year to complete a personalized reading list of thirty books with written reflections, which is required before the Hidden Language Hatha Yoga or Kundalini Yoga and Dream Yoga Teacher Certifications. Immediately after the course you can also apply for the Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification. An extended stay of up to five months is offered at no charge, centered on Karma Yoga, morning Hatha Yoga, evening satsang and a weekly reflection class.

Who Teaches

Swami Radha offered the first Yoga Development Course in 1969, drawing on her own exploration of the ancient teachings of yoga and her understanding of mind and consciousness. All staff teachers are Yasodhara-trained. The senior teachers are disciples of Swami Radha, each with twenty to thirty years of teaching experience, and resident sanyasis oversee and advise the education program during the course.

The Setting

Yasodhara Ashram sits on the unceded territory of First Nations peoples, including the Ktunaxa and Sinixt. Rooms are mostly single occupancy, with some doubles for those coming with a family member or friend. Most share a hall washroom with one other person, and a limited number of ensuite rooms are available. Meals are prepared by the Ashram community, and shopping, cleaning and food preparation are taken care of so you can focus on your own growth.

Before You Go

Prior experience is recommended. Before applying, take an online course, or experience a retreat or Karma Yoga at Yasodhara Ashram. Classes through a Yasodhara Yoga Centre also count. Each applicant has an entrance interview with the Program Advisor, and you can ask to speak one-on-one with a past participant.

Room, board, the full workshop schedule, daily Hatha Yoga, evening satsang, the weekly Karma Yoga day and reading and reflection guidance are included. Travel is not, nor is optional teacher certification or training. A small Reconciliation Fund contribution is added to the invoice and donated to a First Nations non-profit. Bursaries are available for Indigenous participants and for young adults with financial need who have spent time at the Ashram, and payment plans are offered after admission. A deposit reserves your space.