Yoga Vidya In-Depth Studies & Teacher Training
Create more connection and upliftment in hearts, homes, and communities.
Meet Meghan
Hi all!
I am so glad you found your way here.
Welcoming you prompts me to think about how I found my own way “here”— to a study, practice and appreciation of yoga; to friendship and connection in a circle of yoga practitioners; to a trusting, loving relationship with myself; to gratitude and awe for the experience of this life.
Discomfort, curiosity, ego, and grace brought me to yoga. The first teachers I met on this path exuded a sense of belonging to themselves and awareness of their interconnection with nature. They seemed clear, confident, and caring. They appeared to move with joy, to feel freely, to communicate compassionately and to be in relationship with something greater than themselves. I wanted to move toward that, and I have. I found greater ease in my body and am inspired to sustain that ease of movement as I grow older. I learned how to observe my mind and shift into an empowered relationship to my thoughts and feelings. I use these tools daily to quiet anxious tendencies, choose process over perfection and build self trust. I engage a regular practice of pranayama and meditation that reveal a steady clear presence within. It is my desire and ongoing work to infuse that essence being-ness that is full of joy into all that I do.
Yoga practice fosters the transformation of intentions into reality and that is why I am here: to hear your intentions – the attendant doubt and resistance, to see your potential, and connect you with skills, perspective and support to build and welcome a new reality—one where you are restfully at home with yourself and consciously engaged in your relationships and responsibilities.
I can tell you about my certifications, continuing ed courses and years of experience but it is perhaps most important to know that I am an ongoing student and that this is what I encourage of you. As you embark on this path of in-depth studies and teacher training, understand that your sharing is powered by your practice.
The Program
The Yoga Vidya in-depth studies and 200hr Teacher Training is a monthly deep dive into harnessing your energy, expanding your appreciation of yourself and the world around you and understanding how to bring the ease, clarity, and compassion cultivated through yoga practice into your daily life.
~ Hone observation and communication skills to increase efficacy as a teacher and improve interpersonal relationships.
~ Design purposeful class sequences accessible to the students in front of you. Explore an approach to asana that meets each person (including you!) where they are.
~ Practice and teach meditation and pranayama. Draw from a variety of techniques to increase your own experience of feeling steady, grounded, clear, connected, energized.
~ Support your well-being with harmonious daily routines informed by the wisdom of Ayurveda.
~ Inspire and be inspired! Return to wonder, curiosity and contentment. Nurture your relationship to yourself, understand your nervous system, see how self awareness translates into skillful action that creates a beautiful ripple into the spaces you hold.
Scroll for all the details of each module of the program.
Schedule a One on One call
This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and share your aspirations for yoga teacher training. I’ll share more about our curriculum and approach, and answer any questions you have. If we decide this program is good fit, fill out the application to save your spot!
Modules
Module 1: Expand
Expand is the first module, for yoga students who love the practice and want to learn how to live yoga as part of their daily life.
If your interest is piqued about the benefits of yoga for
- managing energy
- relating to yourself and the world around you with clarity and compassion
- cultivating a more peaceful and discerning mind
- maintaining ease of movement
then you will find what you need over the duration of this module.
You will learn to prioritize yourself and your wellbeing, learning to balance your daily responsibilities with a consistent yoga practice. You’ll notice the time you make to practice pays for itself in decreased reactivity, improved stress management, increased joy and capacity to get things done. Not only will your mind be less tight, you’ll notice your physical body is stronger, more flexible, and less achy.
Integrative Approach: What happens in the body will influence the mind. What is present in the mind will influence the body. With the 8 limbs of yoga as a framework, we’re working from the outside-in and the inside-out in this module. You’ll build greater steadiness and ease in the body, improve mental agility, and embrace the process of self discovery to remember your inherent wholeness.
Mind: Learn powerful meditation practices to quiet the chatter of the mind, manage the influx of information and sensory bombardment, and enhance mental clarity. Cultivate a sense of inner peace, adaptability and resilience, finding grace through life’s ups and downs.
Body: Explore the art of embodiment through breath-led conscious movement. Develop a deeper understanding of your body’s capabilities and limitations, fostering a sustainable yoga practice that supports longevity and vitality.
Spirit: Get to know the subtlest part of yourself. You are more than your past experiences, current state and ever-changing roles, relationships and emotions.
You’ll learn how to design and sustain a home yoga practice including meditation, mantra, pranayama, and asana individualized to your needs, interests and constitution.
Explore the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita as they relate to living life with more joy, consideration and purpose. What are you at your subtlest? What is that part of you that observes and is not touched by fear?
Module 2: Embody
The second module of training takes you on a journey from the physical body to the more subtle aspects of self.
Information can only take us so far. Embody asks you to apply what you’ve learned, putting it into practice to create a new reality for yourself.
At this point you will already be noticing changes in how you manage stress, how you view and value yourself and how you move on your mat and through your daily life. Now we’ll introduce some tools for seeing, then uprooting obstacles to sustaining these changes.
You’ll experience:
- Experiential anatomy studies and asana labs with a physical therapist
You’ll learn
- Class sequencing: How to design classes including asana, pranayama, meditation and philosophy to support particular physical, mental and energetic outcomes
- How to determine your dosha and apply ayurvedic principles to experience more harmony in body and mind
- About the nervous system, stress cycle, and benefits of restorative yoga
- How to observe the movements and functions of the mind to develop an empowered relationship to your thoughts
Module 3: Empower
The third module is an integration space for the teachings woven throughout the first two modules.
Here you will practice and demonstrate the skills to design and lead multi-level classes in varied environments. You will be able to convey the postures, not as you practice them yourself, but as they are accessible to the students in front of you.
We will explore the how and why of instruction and assists, incorporating inclusive language and multi-modal teaching. Verbal cues, demonstration, use of props and hands-on adjustments will be covered. You will learn to communicate with clarity and compassion as you guide others toward a fuller appreciation of their own power and potential.
Through 1:1 and small group practice teaching experiences, you will have all the feedback, support and mentorship you need to feel confident in developing your teaching voice. Prior to graduation weekend, you will have led multiple full class sequences, getting a sense of time management and how to adapt in real-time to best serve your students as a class unfolds.
Details
Support our ability to share this transformative program
We are dedicated to making this program as accessilbe as possible. We have included discount options and payment plans. When we have scholarship funds we are better able to serve populations that would be otherwise excluded. It takes a great deal of resources to commit to the training.
Thank you for any support you feel moved to share.
Meet the team that makes it all possible
Our faculty is comprised of dedicated practitioner-teachers. They share from direct experience and specialty studies in areas including:
– Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy, Restorative Yoga, Tantric Meditation
– Occupational Therapy, Chair Yoga, Accessible Yoga
– Psychology, Social Work, Trauma Informed Practices
– Physical Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release
– Sanskrit, Mantra, Yoga Philosophy
What to Expect
One weekend a month from March to November reserved for you to reconnect with yourself, dive into self care, and immerse yourself in joyful learning.
- Each weekend begins with a 2 hour yoga workshop led by a Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner
- Follow up practice with journaling and reflective discussion
- Enjoy a lunch break on your own or with your classmates, some of which are sure to become dear friends as you journey together
- Gather for the afternoon session-focusing on topics from yoga philosophy and community care, to pranayama and meditation, to restorative yoga and the nervous system, to conscious communication and teaching skills….The topics are deep and varied
- We’ll follow up the topic intro with experiential learning – anatomy and asana labs, vinyasa krama and class design, practice teaching, visioning, planning and supporting each other in weaving these teachings into daily life and sharing them with others
An amazing opportunity to show up with love for yourself all while building the skills to be a guide for others!
Frequently asked Questions
Do you offer online yoga teacher training?
Yes. This 200hr in-depth studies and teacher training program is offered in a hybrid format. This means you may participate in-person or via zoom livestream. Synchronous participation in all sessions is required.
What style of yoga will I learn to teach?
The Yoga Vidya Academy approach can be described as hatha yoga influenced by tantra. Classes are characterized by attention to alignment, somatic inquiry in static poses, and incorporation of dynamic flowing sequences prioritizing breath quality and awareness. Bandha, mudra, pranayama, mantra, and meditation are incorporated. Rather than memorizing a predetermined sequence, you will learn sequencing principles and receive a class template which you can customize to create the conditions for the outcomes you seek to address.
What is the tuition for this program?
We have several options for tuition.
- Early Registration Option: $2,850 if paid in full 60 days prior to the start date of the program.
- Regular Registration Option: $3,200, remitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the program.
- Payment Plan Option: Email me for details
A $700 non-refundable deposit is due immediately upon acceptance into the program, regardless of registration option.
I have a conflict on one of the scheduled dates. Are make up opportunities available?
100% attendance and completion of all assignments are requirements for certification. That said, we acknowledge that life happens and you may not be able to foresee every conflict. Exceptions to the attendance policy can be accommodated on an individual basis provided prior communication and a commitment on the part of the trainee to complete assigned independent study or 1:1 work with a teaching assistant.
My body feels very tight and I have never tried doing arm balances before. Will I be able to participate?
A core tenet of this offering is that “We teach people, not just postures.”. This means (in part) that we teach-and participants learn to teach-asana (posture) and movement variations in a scaffolded manner that meets each student where they are. We are well versed in incorporating the use of props, pacing, and offering options to be responsive to individual needs within accessible group classes.
