FAQ for Yoga Trainings

Most yoga teacher trainings focus only on the physical practice and how to teach it. Ours does that too — you leave fully certified and prepared to teach. But what runs alongside the curriculum is something most programs don’t offer: Our training integrates Hatha-Kundalini, Vinyasa, Acro Yoga, and Himalayan Kriya Yoga with pranayama, mantra, ritual, and Bhakti, offering a path that is both technically grounded and spiritually alive. This is a space where practice becomes prayer, and every moment becomes part of the journey.

Our trainings create a space to slow down, regulate the nervous system, release stress, and reconnect with what truly matters. Through breath, movement, ritual, self-inquiry, and community, you are invited to find deeper meaning, emotional clarity, and a healthier relationship with your body, mind, and heart. It is a sacred pause from daily life, a journey into spiritual depth, inner healing, and renewed purpose.

Ancestral Ceremonies: Engage in profound rituals like Rapé, Blue Lotus, Temazcal, and Cacao ceremonies. Rapé, a sacred tobacco-based practice, helps ground your energy and clear mental blocks. Blue Lotus supports deep relaxation, subtle inner vision, and meditative awareness. The Temazcal, a traditional sweat lodge ceremony, encourages purification, release, and renewal through heat, steam, and prayer. The Cacao ceremony fosters heart-opening connection and self-awareness.

Intimate Group Size: You’ll receive personalized attention and build deep connections within a supportive community and One-on-One Mentorship to reflect, ask questions, and receive compassionate guidance – supporting your evolution as both a student and future teacher.

Community: We unite people from every corner of the globe, of all ages, genders, and beliefs – in a community of peace and kindness. A place for friendship and true connection. Many of our graduates continue travelling through Colombia after the training. We connect them with places where they can start teaching right away and share valuable contacts, opportunities, and ideas to support them on their journey. We nurture a vibrant community of almost 200 members, encourage exchange among alumni, share new content, and inspire our alumni to connect, learn, and grow together.

The Himalayan yogic tradition is one of the oldest living lineages of yoga, rooted in the original texts and oral transmissions passed down through teachers in the Himalayan mountains of India and Nepal. It includes Kriya yoga (a systematic practice of breath, energy and awareness), Hatha yoga (alignment of body and prana), Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion and sound), and advanced Pranayama (breathwork that works directly with the nervous system and the energy body). This is different from most contemporary yoga styles like Vinyasa or Power Yoga, which are largely modern creations of the 20th century. If your yoga practice until now has been primarily physical, this training will introduce you to a much older, profounder and more complete system.

The 100-hour is a specialization, not a shortened version of the 200-hour. It focuses specifically on Himalayan Kriya Kundalini yoga, Nondual (classic) Shaiva Tantra, and Bhakti yoga over 14 days at a private sanctuary in Anapoima, near Bogotá. It is YACEP certified by Yoga Alliance, which means certified teachers can use these hours toward their continuing education requirements. It is ideal for: certified yoga teachers who want to deepen or expand their teaching in Kundalini, Tantra, or Bhakti; advanced practitioners who want an intensive immersion without committing to 27 days; and anyone drawn specifically to these traditions regardless of teaching intentions. No prior Kundalini or Tantra experience is required. 

As a tourist from Europe, the USA or Canada you do not need a regular visa (please check the countries in the list below, if you need an official visa). Nevertheless, you have to register online with the Colombian migration office (CheckMig) shortly before entering the country (72 hours in advance before arrival). Some personal information, an email address and flight details must be entered via this link. IMPORTANT: only use this link, don’t use any other page that offer you a service. They will charge you up to 100 USD for a fake form. The official migration form is for FREE and can be done on your own. If the english version is not working, try the spanish version. Most of our events are taking place in the region of “Magdalena” or if it is in Santa Veronica the area is called “Atlantico”. If all information has been filled out correctly, you will receive an email. We recommend that you print out this email and have it ready when you arrive in Colombia. Tourists can easily stay in the country for 90 days. Please note that the ‘migration form’ is not a visa – Every traveler must fill out this form. Please check in advance whether you also need a visa to enter the country.

Make sure you have a stamp in your passport that guarantees 90 days. This period of stay can be extended by a further 90 days. Important: In order to be able to enter Colombia, you must also be able to prove a return flight. Please note that if you are traveling from Brazil and other countries in South America you will need proof of a yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the country.

The following countries need a Visa as of 2026

(Applying for a Visa takes between 10 and 30 days to process):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Central African Republic, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

This information is without guarantee. Please read the travel regulations of your foreign office carefully to see whether you need a visa. Please check the current visa requirements of Colombia here: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/sites/default/files/Fotos2017/nacionalidades_a_las_cuales_colombia_exige_visa_-_noviembre.pdf

This is the official link to apply for a Tourist visa: https://tramitesmre.cancilleria.gov.co/tramites/enlinea/solicitarVisa.xhtml

We organize your onward journey in Colombia from the airport or hotel to the destination on the day the retreat begins. As soon as we know your flight number and arrival time, we will organize a taxi for you. The driver will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign and your name and will take you safely to your destination. If you are already in the country, we can also pick you up from the hotel if it is in the same city as the airport or on the way to your destination. You can find out which airport is suitable for you on the retreat page. Please check the booking page for the pickup time of this event! For example: Palomino is Santa Marta airport. Lake Chivor Boyaca is Bogota airport – here is an early pickup at 10 AM. We generally recommend arriving early.

For our retreats and yoga trainings, we organize your travel to the venue directly from the airport so that it is smooth and safe. It is in general safe to travel in Colombia as a woman if you are careful not to go outside the tourist areas. However, this also applies to men. The city centers and tourist destinations like Palomino, Park Tayrona or Minca are secured by the police. At night you should not walk alone through the streets of bigger cities away from the center, but always take an official registered yellow taxi. We advise against traveling to the border regions of Colombia without a guide. We already had many female solo travellers in our retreats and training that had no issues at all. But please ask us, if you have concerns or more questions.

We want to keep the experience as personal as possible. That’s why our groups are no larger than 16 people. The average group size is 12 people. In addition, we come as two organizers and one guest teacher for Anatomy. We usally have another short term trainee guest teacher as support.

Our yoga classes are created so that everyone can participate, regardless of age, previous experience, or physical condition. We often welcome older students as well, including practitioners in their 60s and 70s. Beginners receive supportive assists, simple modifications, and clear instruction to help them approach the practice safely and confidently. Intermediate students are offered more challenging variations, and advanced practitioners can explore demanding postures and pranayama techniques. We also take injuries and physical limitations seriously and adapt the practice accordingly. What matters most to us is the willingness to stay open, to step beyond familiar patterns, and to courageously try something new. We encourage all students in this direction, while at the same time respecting personal boundaries and recognizing when someone needs a slower pace or more time to grow into the practice.

We also welcome students who have already completed a 200-hour teacher training and feel called to go beyond the physical dimension of yoga. For many of them, the deeper inquiry begins after the initial certification, when asana alone no longer feels sufficient. In our trainings, we place a strong emphasis on pranayama, kriyā practices, ritual work, and the exploration of subtle energy. This creates a space for those who are seeking a more profound, embodied understanding of yoga as a path of transformation, rather than only a physical discipline.

In one-on-one sessions with the lead teacher, we are able to respond even more precisely to each student’s individual needs and support their process in a personal and focused way.

We have a holistic approach. We mainly teach Hatha Kundalini and Himalayan Kriya Yoga. We also offer Vinyasa Flow Yoga in our 200h trainings, guided by a professional guest teacher. Our yoga classes are not purely physical, they address the emotional level and work with the energy body to release blockages and create inner peace. Our training is a spiritual approach more than a physical one – Bhakti (devotion and singing) and elements of -White Tantra are essential parts of it.

All teachers have many years of teaching experience and bring different styles of India together. You are very welcome to contact us directly if you want to find out more how the program is designed and how we teach.

Himalayan Kriya, as we share it in our trainings, is a transformative yogic practice that combines breath, movement, awareness, ritual and meditation. Rooted in traditional Himalayan teachings, it works with prana, the life force, to help clear the system, balance the nervous system, and deepen inner awareness.

For us, it is not only a technique, but a practical tool for self-inquiry, inner alignment, and personal transformation. Within the training, Kriya is introduced step by step in an accessible way, so that it can become part of daily life and support a deeper integration of yoga beyond the mat.

No, this training is not only for future yoga teachers. It is for anyone who feels genuinely called to explore yoga in its depth, richness, and full transformative potential.We do provide our students with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to begin teaching after the training, and many of our graduates have gone on to work professionally as yoga teachers. At the same time, not everyone joins with the intention to teach. Some come to reconnect with themselves, to gain clarity, or to open a new chapter in life. Others use the experience to shift the way they relate to themselves, their relationships, their work, or their purpose. Some have started new projects, entered meaningful collaborations, or made important life changes after the training.

This training is both an inner journey and a shared experience in community. It is a space for transformation, growth, and deep personal development. Many students join during a time of transition — a sabbatical, a break, a period of reorientation, or simply a moment in life when they feel the need to pause and listen more deeply. For some, it is a chance to spend meaningful time with themselves again, to feel more fully, to laugh, to learn, to be inspired, and to come alive in new ways.

Whatever brings you here, this training may be right for you if you are seeking personal growth, inner expansion, and a sense of belonging within a supportive community where genuine friendships can grow.

Yes. Upon successful completion of the full training, you receive a Yoga Alliance RYT-200 certificate. This allows you to register as a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance,the internationally recognized body for yoga certification. Most studios, gyms, and retreat centers worldwide require a Yoga Alliance certification to teach. Beyond the practical credential, you leave with a full understanding of how to structure and deliver a yoga class safely and authentically. Many of our graduates begin teaching within weeks of returning home. Others use the training as a deepening of their personal practice with no intention to teach professionally, both are equally valid.

The best preparation is a daily routine of meditation, yoga, reading, and a healthy diet. Yoga is more than a class on the mat. Yoga is a lifestyle that pervades all areas of life. Starting with physical exercises, through the things we say and the actions we perform. If you want to go deeper into the philosophy of yoga, read these books: The Bhagavad Gita translated by Jack Hawley; The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translated and interpreted by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Try to follow a vegetarian (or Ayuvedic) diet and try to avoid drinking alcohol. Just giving up meat and alcohol will make a huge difference in your perception, ability to concentrate and powers of observation after just a few weeks.

The curriculum, lead teachers, and the depth of the experience are mostly identical. The difference is the setting and the season. Lake Chivor is a sacred lake in the Andes mountains of Boyacá — remote, quiet, with dramatic mountain landscapes and mild temperatures. Palomino is a private beach on Colombia’s Caribbean coast at the foot of the Sierra Nevada: ocean, jungle, river, and warm tropical weather. Both locations are deliberately chosen for their power and their remoteness. If you’re drawn to mountains and altitude, Chivor. If you’re drawn to the ocean and heat, Palomino. If you’re unsure, ask us. We’ll help you choose based on where you are in your practice.

All sessions, lectures, and ceremonies are conducted entirely in English. The majority of our students come from Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Canada, and Australia. You do not need to speak Spanish. We will help with any practical communication. If you are concerned about your English level, reach out before booking. In our experience, the depth of what we work with goes beyond language, most students find the barrier dissolves quickly once the training begins.

Comfortable yoga clothes for practice, loose, breathable, and layered for cooler mornings. A light jacket or shawl for evenings. White or light-colored clothing for ceremonies if you have it (not mandatory). A journal and pen. Any personal medications or supplements you take regularly. Sunscreen and insect repellent. A reusable water bottle. Good walking shoes and sandals. A yoga mat is provided, you don’t need to bring one, though you’re welcome to bring your own if you prefer. A small amount of local cash for any personal purchases or extra services like a massage.

Yes. we offer special couple pricing on all programs. Sharing this kind of experience with a partner can be profound, and it can also be challenging in ways that are equally valuable. We ask that within the group circle, each person is treated as an individual — not primarily as “the couple.” The training will bring up personal material, and each person needs space to process that independently. Many couples who have trained with us say it was one of the most meaningful things they have done together. If you are considering joining as a couple, reach out and we’ll answer any questions you have before booking.

For us, community is one of the driving forces behind the training and something we care about deeply.Throughout the training, and especially toward the end, we begin preparing our students for the question of how the insights, experiences, and practices of the YTT can be carried into everyday life. What matters to us is not only what happens during the training itself, but how these teachings are translated into lived reality afterward.

After the training, students become part of our living community, where participants from different trainings stay connected, exchange experiences, and continue to inspire one another. From time to time, we also host small events, open conversations around specific themes, and create spaces for ongoing reflection and connection.

This post-training integration is an important part of our philosophy. Yoga, for us, is not something that ends on the mat or with the completion of a training. It is a way of being that gradually becomes integrated into daily life — in the way we think, speak, and act, in the way we approach our work, and in the way we relate to other people.

• 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Yoga Alliance certified
• Printed yoga manual with all essential training content
• Daily classes in asana, alignment, sequencing, anatomy, philosophy, pranayama, meditation, and teaching methodology
• Holistic practices such as Himalayan Kriya, mantra, breathwork, and energy work
• Workshops including Acro Yoga and Arm Balancing
• Chakra-based yoga journeys
• Kirtan and bonfire evenings with Bhakti Yoga and mantra chanting
• Ancestral ceremonies, including Rapé, Cacao, and Blue Lotus
• One-on-one guidance and integration support
• Accommodation with room cleaning
• Three healthy meals per day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and snacks)
• Airport transfer to and from the training location
• One-day trip excursion
• Yoga props for use during the training
• Ayurveda dosha test
• Professional photos for your portfolio
• Access to a fully equipped fitness center
• Welcome yogi package and gifts
• A deep community experience in a unique natural setting around Lake Chivor
• Ongoing post-training connection through the Ancestral community

To make a reservation for a room or a bungalow, all you have to do is pay a deposit via credit card or bank transfer. We ask for 400 € (or equivalent in USD). Afterwards your place is secured. We will then send you a confirmation letter and all the other information you need to prepare for your retreat. The remaining balance has to be paid via Bank Transfer two weeks before a retreat starts. In case of a Yoga Teacher Training half of the remaining balance needs to be paid two month in advance, the rest of it two days before the training starts. If agreed with the Ancestral Retreats & Academy you can pay also half of the remaining balance in cash on the day of the arrival. Please note that we accept cash in Euros (€), USD ($) or Pesos (COP) only. USD and COP are based on the exchange rate against the Euro, Ancestral Retreats defines beforehand. We will send you all the information and reminders in good time.

We prefer a bank transfer. If that’s not an option for you, you can also pay with a credit card link, but please consider that we have to add a fee of 3,5 % on top. We also accept cash. Cash can be paid on the day of arrival. But to make a reservation first you need to pay 400 Euros with a transfer to safe your spot. We also accept Bitcoin. Please contact us directly via email in this case. You will always recieve for any payment method a confirmation from us.

At Ancestral, we want to make space for Colombians living in Colombia who feel a genuine and deep call to this training, but may need financial support in order to join. This support is intended for those who feel in their heart that this path is truly for them, and who are ready to receive it with sincerity, commitment, and the intention to share its depth within their lives and communities. A limited number of partial scholarships are available, and support is offered on a case-by-case basis and subject to availability. If this resonates with you, please reach out to us directly.

Our terms and conditions you find here.

No. Of course there is a light risk during the rainy season, but we never heard about a case in the last year. We do not recommend taking anti-malarial medication when drinking ayahuasca, as it has been known to cause complications. In the end it is your decision.

Rapé, pronounced ‘ha-PAY,’ is a potent blend of finely ground tobacco leaves and an assortment of medicinal plants, sourced exclusively from the verdant Amazon rainforest that is consumed through the nose. Find out more about the benefits and usage of Rapé in our Blog post: ‘SACRED TOBACCO FROM THE AMAZONAS: UNVEILING THE MYSTERIES OF RAPÉ‘

We ask all participants to approach the ceremonies with openness — they are an integral part of the training, not extras. That said, no one is ever forced to participate. If something feels genuinely wrong for you physically or medically, we will always find a respectful solution together. What we do ask is that you come with a willingness to explore beyond your comfort zone.

Temazcal is a traditional sweat lodge ceremony from Mesoamerican indigenous cultures. A small, dome-shaped structure is heated with volcanic stones, and participants enter together in a circle. Steam is created by pouring water infused with medicinal plants over the stones. The experience is physical, heat, darkness, steam, close proximity, and deeply ceremonial. Songs, prayers, and breathwork guide the process. Temazcal is a ceremony of purification and rebirth. It is challenging and profoundly transformative. We always have a facilitator outside the door, you can exit at any time if needed.

We do not offer an Ayahuasca ceremony as part of the training. Instead we offer a optinal Temazcal ceremony at the Chivor venue.

All our venues have WiFi available. We encourage you to treat this as a feature rather than a limitation. The training schedule is full, and the immersion is deeper when the pull of screens is reduced. We do ask that phones are kept away during sessions and ceremonies. If you need to communicate with family or handle something urgent, there will always be a way to do so.