Become a Master Body Mechanic! Study not only the classical yoga postures but also the principles of functional movement;

• Integration Over Isolation – Functional movement prioritizes multi-joint, multi-muscle engagement rather than isolated muscle work. It mimics natural movement patterns like squatting, lunging, and reaching.

• Stability Before Mobility – A strong, stable core and joints provide the foundation for safe, efficient movement. Stability must be established before adding load, speed, or complexity.

• Joint Health & Longevity – Functional movement emphasizes full joint range of motion and healthy articulation, preventing stiffness and imbalance over time.

• Multi-Planar Movement – Instead of just moving forward and backward (sagittal plane), functional movement involves rotation (transverse plane) and side-to-side motions (frontal plane) to build well-rounded strength and adaptability.

• Breath as the Foundation – Breath supports movement efficiency, stability, and nervous system regulation. Coordinating breath with movement enhances performance and reduces tension.

• Strength with Elasticity – Muscles and fascia need both strength and flexibility. Functional training develops dynamic strength, elasticity, and responsiveness to movement.

• Proprioception & Body Awareness – Functional movement enhances proprioception—the body's ability to sense itself in space—improving balance, coordination, and reaction time.

• Movement Efficiency – Good movement is not just about force but also efficiency. Functional training minimizes unnecessary tension and effort, making movement more fluid and sustainable.

• Adaptability & Variability – Functional movement prepares the body for unpredictable, real-world demands by incorporating varied movement patterns, surfaces, and loads.

• Mind-Body Connection – Functional movement isn’t just mechanical—it’s about cultivating awareness, control, and an intuitive sense of how to move well in daily life.

Body Awareness as the Foundation – Somatic healing begins with tuning into bodily sensations, recognizing tension, pain, or emotional imprints stored in the body.

The Body Holds & Processes Trauma – Unresolved experiences and emotions can be stored in the nervous system, manifesting as chronic tension, pain, or dysregulation.

Movement as Medicine – Gentle, intentional movement helps release stored trauma, restore balance, and create new, healthier movement patterns.

The Nervous System Drives Healing – Regulation of the autonomic nervous system (shifting between fight, flight, freeze, and rest states) is key to emotional and physical well-being.

Slow & Subtle is Powerful – Small, mindful movements and micro-adjustments can create profound shifts by rewiring the brain and body’s response to stress.

Interoception Cultivates Self-Healing – Developing the ability to sense and interpret internal bodily signals fosters self-regulation and deeper connection with oneself.

Breath as a Pathway – Breathwork supports nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and the release of tension, making it an essential tool for healing.

Emotions Are Felt Physically – Emotional states have physiological expressions, and working with the body can help process emotions rather than suppress them.

Safety & Support Enable Release – Creating a sense of safety—through environment, grounding techniques, or therapeutic presence—allows the body to release held tension and trauma.

Healing is Non-Linear – The process unfolds in cycles, requiring patience, self-compassion, and an openness to revisiting layers of experience over time.

Explore the core principles of Hatha Yoga by delving into the five classical techniques:

• Asana (Movement & Stillness)

• Pranayama (Breath Control)

• Vinyasa (Rhythm and Flow)

• Bandha (Energy Locking and Integration)

• Drishti (Focused Presence)

Gain a deep understanding of the foundational actions that apply universally to all bodies, creating stability and ease in core postures. With this knowledge, anyone can practice safely and transformatively, regardless of their body type.

Dive into the intricacies of Joint Anatomy and explore the concept of the Spiral Body to enhance movement efficiency and alignment.

Master Pranayama techniques to calm the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering relaxation and stress reduction.

Finally, discover the power of Somatic Meditation, a practice that nurtures deep inner awareness and emotional healing.

Deepen Your Understanding of Hatha Yoga Principles and Practices
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the core principles and philosophies of Hatha Yoga through immersive teaching and study.

Master the E.C.M. Framework (Establish, Clarify, Maintain)
Learn to communicate, organize, and share your teachings with clarity and purpose, ensuring engagement and connection in every lesson.

Explore the Principles of Vinyasa Krama
Discover the step-by-step progression of functional movement that prepares the body for mindful growth, making class sequencing both safe and creative.

Understand Functional Spinal Movement
Learn all the spinal planes of movement to design classes that are functional, intentional, and beneficial for diverse bodies.

Refine Your Teaching Through Practice
Engage in practice teaching to build confidence, receive constructive feedback, and hone your observation and communication skills.

Develop Trauma-Informed Teaching Skills
Master the principles of demonstration, observation, assisting, and correcting through a trauma-informed lens. Learn to provide support and modifications that honor personal boundaries and avoid triggering fight-or-flight responses.

Engage in Ethical Business Practices
Join an open dialogue about ethical and sustainable business practices in the modern yoga marketplace, empowering you to build a mindful, purpose-driven career.

Education vs. Transformation

In Yogic Philosophy, education is the process of acquiring knowledge and skills, while transformation is the deeper, experiential shift that occurs when knowledge is embodied and integrated into daily life. Yoga emphasizes transformation—moving beyond intellectual understanding to a lived experience of unity, presence, and self-awareness. True transformation aligns the body, mind, and spirit, creating lasting growth and inner harmony.

A Short History: Origins of the 5 Elements

The concept of the five elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)—earth (prithvi), water (ap), fire (agni), air (vayu), and space (akasha)—comes from ancient Vedic texts. These elements form the foundation of the physical and subtle universe. In yoga, understanding the five elements helps us connect to the natural world, balance the body’s energy, and recognize how these forces manifest within us physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The 8 Limbs of Yoga

Rooted in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the 8 limbs of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) outline a path to spiritual enlightenment:

1. Yamas: Ethical disciplines (non-violence, truthfulness, etc.)

2. Niyamas: Personal observances (contentment, discipline, etc.)

3. Asana: Physical postures for strength and stillness

4. Pranayama: Breath control to regulate energy

5. Pratyahara: Sense withdrawal for inner focus

6. Dharana: Concentration or focused attention

7. Dhyana: Meditation for sustained awareness

8. Samadhi: Blissful absorption into unity with the divine
   Together, these limbs guide practitioners toward self-mastery, peace, and liberation.

Afflictions of the Mind

In Yogic Philosophy, the five kleshas (afflictions), described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, are obstacles that cloud our awareness and bind us to suffering:

1. Avidya: Ignorance of our true nature

2. Asmita: Ego or false identification with the self

3. Raga: Attachment to pleasure

4. Dvesha: Aversion to pain

5. Abhinivesha: Fear of death or clinging to life
   Through yogic practices like meditation and self-inquiry, we learn to recognize and transcend these afflictions, cultivating a clear, peaceful, and liberated mind.

Sophisticated Definition of Asana and Pranayama

• Asana: Traditionally, asana refers to a "seat" or "posture," originally intended as a stable, comfortable position for meditation. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali define it as Sthira Sukham Asanam—a posture that is both steady (sthira) and easeful (sukha).

• Pranayama: Derived from prana (life force) and ayama (extension or control), pranayama refers to the regulation of breath as a means of mastering the flow of vital energy in the body. It serves as a bridge between the physical and subtle bodies, calming the nervous system and preparing the mind for deeper meditative states.

Body-Mind Connection and the Nervous System

The body and mind are intricately connected through the nervous system, which acts as a communication bridge. Yogic practices, particularly asana, pranayama, and meditation, influence the autonomic nervous system by activating the parasympathetic "rest and digest" response and calming the overactive sympathetic "fight or flight" mode. This connection is central to Yoga’s aim of union, as balancing the body and mind creates a sense of grounding, emotional regulation, and heightened awareness.

The Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: This ancient text provides a systematic guide to self-realization through the eightfold path (Ashtanga Yoga). It emphasizes practices such as ethical living, mental discipline, and meditation to transcend the mind’s fluctuations (chitta vritti nirodhah). The Sutras serve as a philosophical framework for understanding the nature of the mind and the journey to liberation.

• The Bhagavad Gita: This spiritual scripture, part of the Mahabharata, is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield. It addresses the dilemmas of life, duty (dharma), and selfless action (karma yoga), weaving together paths of devotion (bhakti yoga), wisdom (jnana yoga), and disciplined action (karma yoga). Together, the Sutras and Gita illuminate the holistic vision of yoga as a path to inner freedom and service to the world.

The Yamas and Niyamas

The Yamas (restraints) and Niyamas (observances) are the first two limbs of the eightfold path in the Yoga Sutras. They serve as ethical guidelines for personal conduct and interaction with others:

The 3 Gunas

The gunas—sattva (balance), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia)—are fundamental qualities of nature (prakriti) described in Samkhya Philosophy and referenced in the Bhagavad Gita.

Meditation vs. Contemplation

• Meditation (dhyana): In Yogic Philosophy, meditation is the practice of sustained focus and absorption. It involves stilling the mind to experience pure awareness and transcendence. It is less about thinking and more about being fully present, ultimately leading to samadhi (union with the divine).

• Contemplation: Contemplation involves reflective thought, often focused on spiritual or philosophical ideas. It is an active engagement of the mind, seeking deeper understanding or insight into concepts such as dharma, the nature of the self, or universal truths.
  While meditation seeks to quiet the mind for direct experience, contemplation uses the mind to explore and understand, often serving as a precursor to meditative practice.

200 Hour YTT Manual

Access to online training site with recorded practices, pre-recorded lectures, meditations and more

This is a Yoga Alliance Registered Program, your certificate of completion will allow you to register.