For Niki Lundberg, a Yoga Teacher Training is about far more than learning to teach. As a senior teacher and lead trainer at Vikasa in Koh Samui, she has guided hundreds of students through one of the most transformative experiences of their lives. Along the way, she’s witnessed people let go of self doubt, reconnect with who they truly are, and discover that the greatest lessons often happen far beyond the yoga mat. We spoke with Niki about what makes a Yoga Teacher Training so powerful, how to know if you’re ready, and why the journey begins long before your first class.
How did you go from student to teacher trainer?
It was one of my teachers back in Sweden who really inspired me to take the next step and do a training. Not that he told me so, it was simply the way he taught - the container of presence which he created - that really sparked something in me. I just felt I had to do it. After my first YTT I got offered to teach in the space where it was held and since then I’ve been doing it full time. With that said, I will always consider myself a student as I just love to learn, explore and grow.
What is a Yoga Teacher Training really about, beyond the certification?
We call Yoga Teacher Training: “a training for life”. It’s a journey towards yourself with the potential to transform and truly change your life (and the way you perceive it). It’s hard to explain, you just have to go through the experience yourself.
What transformation do you see most often during a YTT?
I see people shed layers and come closer to their hearts. This is probably the biggest thing. They’re not becoming someone new, they’re just becoming more who they truly are. It’s beautiful to witness and be a part of.
How do you help trainees find their own teaching voice?
By creating a space where they can meet themselves fully - with all that they are. That’s where it all begins. We don’t force any particular style or script on anyone; our mantra is “freedom within structure."
What’s the biggest misconception about becoming a yoga teacher?
That it’s about becoming a yoga teacher. The certificate and the tools to teach are of course a part of it but in reality, it’s so much more than that. It’s one thing to teach classes, another to really embark on a yogic path and it’s the latter that can change and shape the direction of one’s life.
How has leading YTTs changed you as both a teacher and a student?
I really don’t know who I would be without all these trainings - it’s hard to look back or even try to imagine a different version of me. Being a part of the Vikasa teaching team and all these years of training after training has definitely brought me to where I am within myself today. There’s so much I could say but the essence would be that I, both as a teacher and student, have become more open, anchored, intentional and in tune with myself and the world around me.
What advice would you give someone considering their first YTT?
Just to do it. Don’t think too much. Life is short, there’s no need to hold anything back. If you can dive in with an open mind and an open heart you’re definitely more than ready.
Your training and background have taken you everywhere from Vikasa's YTT to a role in the television series The White Lotus. What does that say about where a yoga teacher training can actually take someone?
Haha, yeah, that’s true. We had the casting team from the production participating in my class during one of our 300 hrs and then I got the part (very minor!). It was fun! To answer your question, though, I’d say it could take you anywhere. To places you might never have considered going. And this is true externally but also within. The latter is the one I find most intriguing.
Vikasa Flow Practice with Niki
Move, breathe, feel, and connect in this 75-minute Vikasa Flow practice with Niki. Designed for all levels, this flowing class links breath with movement to build strength, improve mobility, enhance focus, and create a deeper sense of presence on and off the mat.
Listen to Niki's Playlist
Connect with Niki
Website: sandanayoga.com + nikimariahelena.com
Instagram: @nikimariahelena
Upcoming events:
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Yoga Teacher Trainings in 2026 at Vikasa
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100-hour Vikasa Flow Teacher Training in 2027 at Vikasa
- 100-hour Vikasa Yin Teacher Training in 2027 at Vikasa
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