Uplifted Yoga Teacher Training vs Drishti Beats

Uplifted vs Drishti Beats

Feeling a small yet present tension in your chest? 

Have the sense that your brain might just actually explode? 

You most likely have what I call: YTT Search Overload.

Don’t worry, it’s a fully normal part of the process!

I know you thought the hardest part was deciding to do a training at all and then figuring out which training you should be doing—which it mostly is and CONGRATS btw! 

And now you feel like Goldilocks on the hunt for the “just right” training. The one that calls to you and lights you up AND ticks all those boxes around scheduling, pricing, structure, format, and vibes…and it’s a little tougher than you thought it would be?

I totally feel you!  

To help you clarify what “just right” means for you and find your potential right-fit training, this post will provide a head-to-head comparison of just two schools so you can break this overwhelming task down into smaller steps.  

I’ll share an overview of each school, a side-by-side look at important training points, and the pros and cons and pricing of each one using their websites and verified Yoga Alliance student reviews.

The online 200-hour yoga teacher trainings up for comparison are Drishti Beats and Uplifted Yoga Academy.

Drishti Beats was founded by two fitness and wellness educators and shares an upbeat, music-filled, and thorough yoga education that helps you step into your own strengths as a person and potential yoga teacher.

Uplifted Yoga Academy was founded by a pioneer in the online yoga world who wants to help you become the best version of yourself through yoga and to be able to share it with the world sustainably.

Why Choose Online Yoga Teacher Training?

Online training is awesome. I know you’ll have to experience it to believe it, but I’ll quickly give you just a few of the reasons why:

  • Make your own schedule. Online trainings provide the utmost in flexibility since (typically) as soon as you register you can start right away and work through the material as it aligns for you.
  • Maintain your life. If you’re a busy person with people depending on you, it’s not so easy to just say, “Peace out!” to your peeps for several weeks at a time…or even several hours depending on your situation. Online courses make yoga teacher training accessible for the busy folks that just can’t carve large chunks of time out of their schedules.
  • Save money. There are lots of “hidden” costs that can come with both immersive and extended in-person trainings that you get to save when you study online such as childcare, parking, taking time off from work, transportation, flights, and meals. So if your budget is as snug as your schedule, online YTTs have gotchu! 
  • Come back to the content.I’ll be honest: trainings give you A LOT of information. I mean, it’s yoga school after all! But the thing that’s especially great about doing your training online is you don’t have to worry about scrambling to take notes or make audio or video recordings as you can simply press pause and rewind as much as you need. It makes taking in all that amazing info an easier and more relaxing experience.

Curriculum Comparison: Drishti Beats vs Uplifted 

UpliftedDrishti Beats
Lifetime Access to Course MaterialsYesYes
Curriculum Includes Business Training106
Graduation Rate96%Not available
Study ModelFully self-paced, at-home video curriculum plus a structured cohort model with weekly live calls and practice teaching100% self-paced with no required live calls
Payment Plans AvailableYesYes
Refund PolicyNon-refundableRefundable with 7 days of registration
Completion Deadline18 monthsNone
Lead Teacher(s) and Credentials Brett Larkin E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP; Katrina Flahive, 500 E-RYT, Trauma Informed, Kids YogaLori Lowell E-RYT 500, YACEP; Dr. Jeremy Lowell E-RYT 500, YACEP; Asaf B. Goldfrid E-RYT 500, YACEP; Alysia Lowell E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP; Ariel Lowell E-RYT 200, YACEP
Print Manual IncludedYesNo
Synchronous Completion with Other StudentsYesNo
Tuition Includes All Reading MaterialsNo (3 books to purchase)No (4 books to purchase)
Year Established20152015
Price$2850$1188
Yoga Alliance Overall School Rating4.83 (459 reviews)4.92 (128 reviews)
Years Doing Online Trainings105
Required Attendance of Weekly Live CallYesNo
Live Practice Teaching YesNo
Content of Live CallsFollows curriculum Varies

Both programs include self-paced content, but Uplifted adds a structured cohort experience with weekly live calls and personalized feedback, while Drishti Beats remains entirely self-paced.

Yoga Alliance Accreditation

Both Uplifted and Drishti Beats are Registered Yoga Schools with Yoga Alliance, which means graduates are eligible to register as RYTs (Registered Yoga Teachers). Uplifted goes a step further: in addition to Yoga Alliance, it’s also accredited through ACE, AFAA, and NASM—so health professionals can often apply their training toward continuing education requirements. This extra accreditation makes Uplifted especially appealing for doctors, nurses, and fitness professionals.

Overview of Uplifted Yoga Teacher Training

Uplifted online yoga teacher training

Uplifted Yoga Academy is kinda like the OG of online yoga teacher trainings. In case you’re not hip with the 90s slang, OG means “original gangster” and is used to refer to someone who’s an authentic and exceptional trailblazer. Uplifted’s founder, Brett Larkin, certainly blazed some trails with her award-winning YouTube channel as well as by being one of the first to lead online trainings back in 2015.

Brett wants to save you from the challenges she faced as she carved her own path from struggle to success and that’s why this school is known for its unmatched yoga business training (and student’s love it!) Uplifted is also all about helping you live your yoga and create your best life. Students appreciate the organized and thorough content that goes far beyond 200-hours, the global like-minded community, the approachable and encouraging staff that is available even after graduation, the one-on-one feedback from the lead trainer, and her generosity in helping them get started with their own classes.

3 Key Features of Uplifted Yoga 200-Hour YTT 

Uplifted has developed a proprietary teaching methodology over their years of delivering online yoga teacher trainings. This method includes teaching how to transform beyond the mat, a focus on fascia, creating your own signature meditation, and how to share yoga that’s tailored to each unique student. 

Three more distinguishing features of the Uplifted program are:

  1. Expertise in online training. Since the founder had early success in the online yoga space, she began offering online trainings in 2015 before it was “a thing” and everyone thought she was crazy. This has given the Uplifted team a headstart in what’s now the “new norm” as they’ve had years to refine their content, learning platform, delivery format, and proprietary teaching methodology.
  2. Unbeatable business training. Most YTT students graduate knowing lots about yoga and then struggle to actually feel confident enough to get teaching jobs, market themselves, create a business, and otherwise be able to make a career out of teaching yoga. The Uplifted founder wanted to save you from her own setbacks and share with you exactly how to do these things and break through any personal blocks that are in the way so that teaching yoga can help you live your best life financially too.
  3. Progressively structured calls. Uplifted’s experience has shown them that the best way to help get students to graduation is to walk through the material progressively in each live call—just like you would in a “normal” class. This motivates students to stay on track and having everyone on the same page allows you to go deeper with the material.

Fall in love with my 200-Hour teacher training or …

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Experience 3 Training Videos from Inside My 200-Hour Online YTT

    Pros and Cons of Uplifted Yoga 200-Hour YTT

    Pros

    • Online training expertise
    • Become business savvy
    • Progressive call structure

    Cons

    • Higher price for expertise
    • Business training might not interest those who definitely don’t want to teach
    • Might be too much structure for the purely casual learner

    Uplifted Yoga 200-Hour YTT Pricing

    It takes confidence to price yourself high in any market, as Uplifted has done in the online YTT market where just a few high-price trainings reside. The confidence in their program comes from their years of experience in teaching online as well as in leading online trainings, the high-touch and structured format, access to the lead trainer, support towards graduation, and robust business training.

    • Example payment plan: $712.50 up front then $712.50/month for 3 months

    Overview of Drishti Beats

    drishti beats yoga teacher training

    Drishti Beats: An Overview

    Drishti Beats was founded by Lori and Jeremy Lowell who have over 25 years of experience in fitness and wellness education. This online training program is multimodal and delivers material across various learning modalities (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) to better help students grasp the information. The Drishti Beats training supports you in embodying your own authentic style with confidence as the lead trainers help you tap into your talents both personally and as a yoga professional.  

    Trainees appreciate the structured and comprehensive material that is fully self-paced and easy to fit into their busy lives. Students also love the high level of involvement of the lead trainers who go above and beyond and mentor with ample feedback, kindness, and knowledge, and the one-on-one calls included in the program.

    3 Key Features of Drishti Beats’ 200-Hour YTT 

    A key element of the Drishti Beats online 200-hour YTT that truly can’t be found in any other program is the emphasis on music. As you can tell by the name, Drishti Beats considers music a fundamental part of the yoga experience. They even create their own jams and have a Drishti Beats Yoga and Music festival! If that doesn’t clue us in to the community-centered ethos and playful, upbeat vibes of this school, I don’t know what does!  

    Other standout aspects of the Drishti Beats program include:

    1. No completion deadline. While the lead trainers do suggest completing the training within six months for best results, not having a deadline allows you to study as seriously or casually as you would like.
    2. Refundable. Being able to change your mind penalty-free within seven days of registration gives you a bit of extra time to feel solid in your training decision. 
    3. Cost. Drishti Beats’ frequent discounts and various payment plans make yoga teacher training accessible. Unique to this school is the option to pay as you go and spend $99 per chapter of the training (12 chapters total) so that you can make payment manageable and in your own timing.

    Pros and Cons of Drishti Beats’ 200-Hour YTT

    Pros

    • No completion pressure
    • Refund window
    • Budget-friendly pricing options

    Cons

    • Limited motivation stay on track
    • Small refund period
    • Less incentive to graduate

    Drishti Beats 200-Hour YTT Pricing

    Drishti Beats is a middle range training option in terms of cost as it’s a mix of both high- and low-touch points. High-touch points are the mentorship of the lead trainers and four, one-on-one calls included in the tuition. The more low-touch aspects are not having cohort groups or structure in the live calls.

    • Example 3 Month Payment Plan: $396/month for 3 months
    • Example Pay-As-You-Go Payment Plan: $99/chapter (12 chapters)

    Who Each Program Is For

    • Drishti Beats: Best for students who want a flexible, music-infused training with no deadlines. It’s ideal if you value affordability, creativity, and studying at your own pace with minimal external pressure.
    • Uplifted Yoga Teacher Training: Best for those seeking a career-level education with accountability and personalized support. With a 96% graduation rate, trauma-informed teaching, built-in feedback, business training, and a printed manual, Uplifted is designed for yogis who want to confidently graduate and realistically pursue teaching as a profession.

    Key Differences at a Glance

    Here’s a quick breakdown of how the two programs differ in format, structure, and support:

    • Uplifted combines self-paced modules with a live cohort, while Drishti Beats is fully self-paced.
    • Uplifted requires weekly live calls and practice teaching; Drishti Beats has no attendance requirement.
    • Drishti Beats emphasizes music and creativity; Uplifted emphasizes feedback, business training, and community.
    • Uplifted graduates report a 96% completion rate; Drishti Beats does not publish graduation data.
    • Uplifted includes a printed manual; Drishti Beats provides only digital resources.

    So Which Is Better: Uplifted or Drishti Beats?

    • Drishti Beats may be a better fit if you value flexibility, want a music-infused yoga approach, and prefer fully self-paced study with optional one-on-one mentoring.
    • Uplifted is best if you want accountability, personalized feedback, trauma-informed teaching, a printed manual, and extensive business training—especially if you’re serious about building a career as a yoga teacher.

    If you’re looking for a moderately interactive and priced program that helps you be more authentically you in addition to learning about yoga, and you love music, the Drishti Beats certification program might be perfect for you.

    If you’re interested in a highly interactive and experienced school, having a paved path to graduation, and want to be able to earn a good living teaching yoga, the Uplifted YTT could be an excellent choice. 

    If you’re still not sure exactly what you’re into, you might want to check out a few more of the top online yoga certification options and keep preparing yourself for the training journey as you hunt for that just-right training! 

    My Honest Take (Brett’s Perspective)

    If you’re just dipping your toes into the yoga world, Drishti Beats’ affordability and flexibility make it attractive. But if you’re serious about teaching, want accountability, and want to graduate with confidence, Uplifted is the stronger choice. I’ve poured my heart into creating a high-touch, supportive program with a proven 96% graduation rate. That means you don’t just sign up—you actually finish, and you walk away ready to teach.

    And unlike most online trainings, we go deep into both yoga and business, so you can realistically build a teaching career. My best advice? Ask yourself whether you want a light introduction or a transformative, career-level education. That answer will point you toward the right school.

    About the Author | Brett Larkin

    Brett Larkin was the first person to bring yoga teacher training online in 2015. Since then, she’s certified over 4,000 teachers and leads one of the most comprehensive yoga education platforms on the internet. Brett and her team regularly take and review other online YTTs to stay up to date on industry best practices—so their own trainings remain the gold standard. She has over a half a million subscribers on Youtube and is also the author of Yoga Life and host of the Uplifted Yoga Podcast.

    FAQs About Uplifted vs Drishti Beats

    What is the difference between Uplifted and Drishti Beats yoga teacher training?

    Uplifted offers a structured, hybrid model with self-paced video lessons, weekly live calls, and a cohort for accountability. Drishti Beats is fully self-paced, with optional one-on-one calls and an emphasis on music and creativity in yoga.

    Which training is more affordable: Uplifted or Drishti Beats?

    Drishti Beats is priced lower at $1,188 (with options to pay per chapter at $99 each), while Uplifted is $2,850. Uplifted’s higher price reflects its structured cohort model, robust business training, and higher graduation rate.

    Do Uplifted and Drishti Beats both offer lifetime access to course materials?

    Yes. Both schools provide lifetime access, so you can revisit the material at any time after graduation.

    Does either program include business training for yoga teachers?

    Yes. Uplifted includes over 10 hours of business training designed to help you build a sustainable yoga career. Drishti Beats also includes business training, though at a lighter level of around 6 hours.

    What is the graduation rate for these trainings?

    Uplifted reports a 96% graduation rate thanks to its cohort model and structured weekly calls. Drishti Beats does not publish a graduation rate, and its fully self-paced style may require more self-motivation.

    Which training provides more live interaction and teaching practice?

    Uplifted requires weekly live calls and includes live practice teaching built into the program. Drishti Beats offers four one-on-one calls with trainers but does not require live teaching or group calls.

    Who are the lead teachers for Uplifted and Drishti Beats?

    Uplifted is led by Brett Larkin (E-RYT 200, RPYT, YACEP), a pioneer in online yoga training. Drishti Beats is led by Lori and Jeremy Lowell, along with a team of experienced E-RYT 500 instructors, many of whom are also musicians and fitness educators.

    Which training is better for me: Uplifted or Drishti Beats?

    If you want flexibility, a creative, music-inspired approach, and budget-friendly payment options, Drishti Beats could be a great fit. If you want accountability, a proven graduation path, personalized feedback, and in-depth business training, Uplifted is the stronger choice.

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    Experience 3 Training Videos from Inside My 200-Hour Online YTT

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