For many people, a Yoga Teacher Training is the beginning of a teaching career. For others, it’s an opportunity to deepen their practice, reconnect with themselves, and discover a new perspective on life.
At Vikasa Yoga in Koh Samui, Thailand, thousands of students have stepped onto the mat searching for something more. Some arrived hoping to become teachers. Others came simply to grow. Along the way, they found a global community, lifelong friendships, and a deeper understanding of yoga both on and off the mat.
We spoke with Vikasa founder Kosta Miachin and members of the teacher training faculty to explore what makes a Yoga Teacher Training truly transformative, what they hope every graduate carries forward, and the lessons they’ve learned from guiding students through the journey.
Kosta Miachin – Founder & CEO (@kostamiachin)
How did yoga lead you to creating Vikasa?
It’s been quite a journey! When I was younger—during university and the years that followed—I lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. There was a lot of partying, substance abuse, and basically no regard for my well-being. Eventually, that caught up with me and started to manifest in serious health issues.
In trying to heal, I thought introducing discipline into my life might help, so I turned to martial arts. That decision brought me to Thailand for the first time. It worked. I began to feel better, and in many ways, that was the beginning of my transformation. I was 26 years old at the time.
After four months in Thailand, I returned home—but my health issues were still lingering. My search for deeper healing eventually led me to India, where I discovered yoga. I loved it immediately. I enrolled in a yoga teacher training course, and by the time it ended in late December, I decided to treat myself to a holiday back in Thailand.
The next morning after arriving, I found a local yoga class to attend. After class, the teacher approached me and asked how come my practice looked so strong. I told her I had just completed a teacher training. It turned out she was overwhelmed with classes due to the peak season and asked if I could substitute a couple sessions for her.
I took it as a sign—and said yes. That moment marked the beginning of my teaching path. The rest, as they say, is history. If you’re curious how the story evolved into Vikasa… well, you’ll just have to come visit us 😉
What legacy do you hope Vikasa leaves through its graduates?
My hope is that Vikasa lives on through the ripple effect created by our students. Thousands of people from around the world have come here not just to learn how to teach yoga, but to transform—personally, emotionally, and mentally. Many of them leave with more than a certificate; they leave with a new sense of purpose, awareness, and alignment with who they really are.
If each of them goes on to inspire just a few others—whether by teaching, leading, or simply living authentically—then Vikasa becomes something much bigger than a place or a brand.
The real legacy, I think, is in the awakening of consciousness. If Vikasa has played even a small role in raising that consciousness globally—by helping people live more mindfully, more courageously, and more compassionately—then I’ll consider that our greatest success.
Mikey Lazano – Senior Teacher
How has Vikasa shaped you as both a teacher and a person?
Vikasa has shaped my teaching in many ways. In particular, I have been highly influenced by Kosta. One of the things I admire most about his teaching style is how minimalistic his instructions are. I love that he only says what needs to be said, and is then quiet, allowing students a distraction free space to go into experience. I’ve always found it irritating when a teacher talks too much. Another thing I respect is how he gets himself into a very meditative state when teaching, which really helps students do the same. From this influence, minimalistic cueing and assuring I get into a meditative state have become two foundational pillars of my teaching philosophy. From a personal perspective, more valuable than changing me, Vikasa has given me the opportunity to do something I truly love, and has thus imbued my life with meaning, purpose, and fulfilment.
What do you remember most about your first Yoga Teacher Training?
My first YTT was at Vikasa. The experience was incredible! I stayed in a prana cabana for three months and did the 200hr and 300hr back to back. I had the time of my life and fell in love with Vikasa. I remember simply adoring everything about it: the stunning location, delicious food, beautiful staff, incredible teachers, and lovely community. I relished the daily routine of morning practice and afternoon lectures and workshops, with dips in the turquoise water, nourishing massages, mouth watering food, and soulful socialising in between. I’m not sure people realise how much fun a YTT can be. I experienced untold joy and laughter with my classmates, and finished the training with friends for life. The experience is what made me want to become a part of Vikasa. Along with having the time of my life, I saw how everyone on my training was affected in an incredibly positive way. I thought it would be simply wonderful and tremendously fulfilling to help give others the same experience.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching a YTT?
Teaching on YTTs is profoundly rewarding. I particularly love guiding workshops that enhance understanding of yoga. I enjoy doing so even more than teaching yoga practice. I relish seeing students deepen their knowledge and develop. Witnessing the journey they go through, and how they transform as practitioners, teachers, and people, is deeply satisfying. I adore the fact that I get to share this journey with them, and have a ton of fun along the way. The YTT is intense and as such can be challenging in a number of ways. Students have long days and only one day off per week. As a result they can get tired, and teachers sometimes need to bring a lot of energy into the room, and adapt their sessions based on the needs of the group. This challenge however is no chore, and only makes teaching all the more interesting.
Alex Vyazovov – Philosophy Teacher (@yogi_alex_hya)
How do you know you’re ready for a Yoga Teacher Training?
Today, a Yoga Teacher Training is the most accessible and effective way to truly immerse yourself in yoga and understand it. Without it, it could take months or even years of scattered study and practice to reach the same depth. If you want to deepen your practice or build a solid foundation—even if you don’t plan to teach—it’s probably the most efficient way to do that. And if you do want to teach, then it’s absolutely essential.
What makes Vikasa different?
There are many things that are special at Vikasa—the people, the locations, the food, the vibe... But I'd like to highlight the yoga itself and the quality of the trainings. Whether you're practicing for yourself or planning to teach, Vikasa offers the right balance between modern application and deep, traditional roots. You’ll come away not only able to teach a strong, meaningful class, but also to practice yoga in a way that is modern, accessible, and still deeply informed by traditional teachings and spirit.
What do you love most about being a yoga teacher?
First of all, becoming a yoga teacher only makes sense if you truly love yoga and live its values. If that's the case, there are two incredible things about this path: you get to do what you love, and it never really feels like work. You're simply living what you believe and sharing it with others. And the best part is knowing that what you share genuinely helps people—it brings more presence, peace, and kindness into their lives and the world around them.
Niki Lundberg – Senior Teacher (@nikimariahelena)
How do you know you’re ready for a Yoga Teacher Training?
Do not let the fear of ‘not being good enough’ hold you back. A yoga teacher training is so much more than just a physical experience and if you are looking for an immersive and transformational journey, where you will dive deep into yourself as well as into the teachings of yoga, you are more than ready.
What makes Vikasa such a special place to learn?
It is a place where people from all over the world come together, with different backgrounds and experiences, but with the same desire to find more depth, meaning, joy and presence in life. The shared openness and willingness for exploration and evolution, I believe, is what makes Vikasa magical.
What transformation do you hope every trainee experiences?
To uncover and discover the love within themselves.
How do you help students find their own teaching voice?
By guiding our students further, deeper and closer into themselves. It is only when we feel grounded in who we are that we can share from a place of authenticity so that foundation, I believe, is essential.
Michael Murray – Director of Wellness (@michael.p.murray)
What does your role at Vikasa look like today?
I wear a few different hats at Vikasa. As Director or Wellness I’m responsible for all of the wellness programming at Vikasa. This includes our full public class schedule, our Personal Programs, and Signature Yoga Retreats. I’m also responsible for the Vikasa Yoga Academy, which runs all of our teacher trainings (50H, 100H, 200H and 300H options)—from the creation of those products, through marketing and sales, to their actual in-person facilitation. Finally, I also have a role as part of the YTT Faculty. I teach classes, assist Niki with the Making Magic module (which is focussed on personal exploration and the development of soft teaching skills) and generally look after group dynamics, attendance and discipline! I’ve been here at Vikasa for around 8 years now.
What makes Vikasa unlike anywhere else?
Vikasa, somehow, continually attracts people at interesting stages in their lives—whether they are embarking on a journey of self-discovery, have just quit their job, left a relationship or maybe are taking a career break to consider next steps. This is true for people coming to Vikasa for a VIkation, on retreat, or for a full teacher training. This means there is always this energy of excitement, possibility and abundance. And people spend time by the pool quietly journaling and contemplating, but they also join together in community and discuss all the big issues, ask the important questions, and understand that they are not alone on this journey of self-discovery.
How did yoga eventually lead you to Vikasa?
I have one of those cliched yoga stories, where I found yoga and it changed my life. I was a finance lawyer for nine years—very focussed on success, image and material things. Then I had a very bad personal relationship breakdown which left me rethinking everything, including who I was and the kind of person I wanted to be. I found yoga at this time and it provided me with the means and tools to explore all of these issues. The practice guided me into presence and, in presence, I could confront those difficult questions and begin to look for answers. I took a three month leave of absence from my job and went travelling to look for these answers. The second stop on my trip was Vikasa and I basically never left. When I arrived here I found a truly magical place (see above answers!) and I found the most incredible person I’d ever met (my now wife, Niki) and my two best friends (Kosta and Mikey). When you fall in love the way I did with Niki, decisions like changing your entire life actually come with relative ease. I quit my job as a lawyer, left my mainstream Melbourne life behind and moved to Koh Samui to be a poor, unemployed, but happy yogi. While the happiness has sustained, the unemployment quickly came to an end as I was brought into the Vikasa team and since then I’ve become more and more involved with every passing year. I think and hope I will be a part of this team forever—it’s a dream to feel this fulfilled in your working life, and this connected and aligned with your colleagues.
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Website: www.vikasa.com
Instagram: @VikasaYoga
Learn more about our partnership here.
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As part of the Manduka community, you’ll receive $100 USD off any Vikasa Academy Teacher Training or Signature Retreat with the code MANDUKA. The discount can also be combined with early bird pricing for even greater savings.
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