200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training.
Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.
The program will expose you to the major styles of yoga as practiced in modern America while giving you a thorough grounding in yoga philosophy as practiced through the ages. Along the way, we will have fun together exploring music, meditation, breathing practices, chanting, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll have:
- a new and full understanding of yoga’s role in your life
- the skills to teach and to explore the approaches that resonate best for you
- a whole bunch of new friends & connections
- a better sense of connection with yoga, yourself, and your community
Our 200-hour Yoga Alliance–the registered program will give you a thorough grounding in:
- The philosophy and history of yoga
- The yoga techniques of asana, pranayama, meditation—nuts and bolts, safe practices
- Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, from both Western and Eastern perspectives
- Teaching skills, from language to sequencing to adjustments and modifications
Upon completion, you can apply to the Yoga Alliance for registration at the 200-hour level.
Our 200 Hour Teacher Training program is designed for anyone who wants to soak in the experience, expand their practice, and inspire others to improve their lives in meaningful ways.
And anyone who wants to harness yoga & mindfulness to be an agent of change bringing joy, health, and healing to our planet.
STUDENT
EXPECTATIONS
We recommend you have consistent practice before joining our training. To supplement your in-class practice and discussion, you’ll need to commit to a regular personal practice. This will include:
- Five days of home or class practice (asana, pranayama, and/or meditation) each week (Each student receives a complimentary membership to Danja Yoga.)
- Attending two classes per week in person at Danja Yoga
- Optional assisting at classes as the training progresses
You will also be expected to have donated 25 hours of your time to community service during the 9-month program.
IN PROGRESS
2022/23 200-HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING 9-MONTH PROGRAM
INTENSIVE WEEKENDS
Kickoff & Anatomy Weekend
- October 21 (6pm – 9pm), October 22, (8am – 6pm), October 23 (8am – 6pm)
Embodied Weekend
- March 25, (8am – 6pm), March 26 (8am – 6pm
REGULAR SESSIONS
- October 27
- November 3, 10, 17
- December 1, 8, 15
- January 5, 12, 19, 26
- February 2, 9, 16, 23
- March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
- April 6, 13, 20, 27
- May 4, 11, 18, 25
- June 1, 8, 15
- June (practicums)
- July 8 (graduation)
STARTS IN JANUARY
WINTER 2023 200-HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING WEEKEND PROGRAM
WEEKENDS
Fridays 7PM - 9PM
Saturdays 9:30AM - 6:30PM
Sundays 9:30AM - 6:30PM
- Weekend 1: January 20, 21, 22
- Weekend 2: January 27, 28, 29
- Weekend 3: February 17, 18, 19
- Weekend 4: February 24, 25, 26
- Weekend 5: March 17, 18, 19
- Weekend 6: March 24, 25, 26
- Weekend 7: April 14, 15, 16
- Weekend 8: April 21, 22, 23
- Weekend 9: May 19, 20, 21
This program takes place in partnership with the Columbus School of Yoga. For more information or to enroll, please email Colleen McFall.
COMING SOON
SUMMER 2023 200-HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING IMMERSION
DATES COMING SOON.
FACULTY
DANIEL SERNICOLA
Daniel is Co-Owner of Danja Yoga, teaches Vinyasa Yoga and Meditation, and is Lead Teacher on our Teacher Training Faculty. Daniel came to yoga after weightlifting left his muscles tight and he wanted regain flexibility. He soon grew to appreciate yoga for not just its physical benefits but also the focus and calm that yoga provides. His classes are highly inclusive and well-loved for their physical and mental inquiry, cultivation of curiosity, courage, strength. and sense of humor.
FACULTY
JACOB HAYS
Jake is Co-Owner of Danja Yoga, teaches Yoga Basics and Vinyasa Yoga, and is a member of our Teacher Training faculty. He has been athletic for much of his life having played sports and he's an avid weightlifter. He's noticed how both activities affected his body and learned to modify his practice to work in his body. Jake will help you ignite a love for yoga as he's passionate about teaching others. He's also pretty jovial and laughs often. In fact, he's usually the first to be told to bring his voice down in the lobby! You'll laugh in his classes, sweat a little, and learn a lot.
FACULTY
SALLY WALSH ROBERTS
Sally Walsh-Roberts teaches Vinyasa and Ashtanga at Danja and is on our Teacher Training Faculty. Her classes include playful and dynamic movement with an emphasis on presence and smart sequencing. Sally puts her soul into her classes combining her experience in various traditions of yoga. She is knowledgeable in helping students explore poses through expert verbal and optional hands-on adjustments. Her sense of humor will guide you through poses and you’ll feel immediately at home in her classes.
FACULTY
MATTHEW BOWMAN
Matt teaches Vinyasa, Restorative, Deep Stretch, and Yoga Sculpt at Danja and is also a member of our Teacher Training faculty. Inspired by his love for movement, Matt crafts his classes striking a balance between strength and fluidity. He enjoys breaking down poses focusing mainly on alignment and anatomy. Matt provides optional adjustments in classes (with permission) and encourages students to ease into poses. He's a teacher that will challenge you, but not push. His personality is kind, nurturing, and he's a true professional who will help you immediately feel at ease no matter what class you’re taking with him.
FACULTY
COLLEEN MCFALL
Colleen's classes immediately instill a sense of calm, compassion, self-acceptance, and empowerment within her students. Her flow classes are infused with fluid and creative movement, intelligent sequencing, and perhaps a soft lullaby during savasana sung by Colleen herself. She takes a genuine and caring approach yoga and offers a safe and sacred space for inward reflection.Known as a teacher’s teacher, her versatility to work with all levels of students and teachers is a testament to her vast knowledge and rich experience.
A Well-Rounded Curriculum
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
In true “great books” style, we go right to the source as we study the major styles of yoga practiced in America today. We’ll investigate:
- Hatha Yoga
- Ashtanga Yoga
- Vinyasa Yoga
- Traditional Yoga
- Yoga for Athletes
- Trauma Empowered Yoga
- Prenatal Yoga
- Restorative Yoga
- Yin Yoga
- Yoga for Seniors
- Adaptive Yoga
- Modifications & Adjustments to help Yoga work for Every Body
- Creating an inclusive, antiracist, anti-xenophobic classroom
WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM DIFFERENT
Our program provides a practical approach to teaching yoga in today's studio setting. Our students come from varying degrees experience, backgrounds, and body types. You'll receive a brief introduction to making yoga to accessible to various populations:
- Yoga for Athletes
- Trauma Empowered Yoga
- Prenatal Yoga
- Yoga for Seniors
- Adaptive Yoga (Yoga for Amputees)
- Yoga for Those Struggling with the Disease of Addiction
- Modifications & Adjustments to Help Yoga Work for Every Body
- Creating an Inclusive, Antiracist, Anti-xenophobic Classroom
Please Note: These intros are in no way individual certifications.
RYS 200 Core Curriculum
Our 200-Hour Curriculum is based of the latest Yoga Alliance Standards. We take a practical approach to our training so that teachers are well equipped to work with a variety of people, bodies, and abilities. Our training is taught from a trauma-empowered perspective so that today's yoga student can get the most out of their yoga experience.
TECHNIQUES, TRAINING, PRACTICE
Asana
- Historical context
- Poses specific to RYS's lineage—must include sukhasana and savasana
- Complete sequencing (asana, pranayama, meditation) to achieve particular effect safely
- Shared anatomical and alignment principles plus contraindications
Pranayama & Subtle Body
- Historical context
- Effects of pranayama on anatomy and subtle body
- Complete sequencing of pranayama safely, including alternatives and adaptations
- Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, among others
- Koshas, kleshas, chakras, nadis and prana vayus
Meditation
- Key meditation terms
- Meditation methods by lineage
- Ability to practice school's chosen meditation practice
- Chanting, mantras, and mudras
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Anatomy
- Skeletal system, incl.:
- Major bone
- Types of joints
- Major muscles involved in asana
- Types of muscle contraction
Physiology
- Nervous system, incl. ‘fight, flight, freeze’ stress response, vagal theory, overall mind-body connection
- Cardiovascular/circulatory, endocrine, digestive systems as they relate to yoga practice
- Respiratory system, incl. muscles that affect breathing, involuntary vs voluntary breath, how air enters and leaves body
Biomechanics
- Types of joint movements
- Joint stabilization
- Safe movement as it pertains to balancing, stretching, awareness, and physical limitations
- Contraindications, misalignments, adaptations
YOGA HUMANITIES
History
- Term ‘yoga’
- School’s lineage, style, and methodology
- Dates and key ideas such as the Vedas, Vedanta, Hatha, Colonial, Modern
Philosophy
- Definition of yoga and key terms
- Relationship between asana, pranayama, meditation per school’s approach
- Familiarity w/ major yogic texts (i.e., Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika)
- Self-reflection on how philosophy relates to practice
Ethics
- Awareness of Yoga Sutras or similar yogic ethical precepts
Relationship to Yoga Alliance Ethical Commitment including Scope of Practice, Code of - Conduct, and Equity Position Statement
- Comprehension of and responsibility to increase equity in yoga
- Accountability measures
- Self-reflection on how yoga ethics relate to practice and teaching
PROFESSIONAL ESSENTIALS
Teaching Methodology
- Sequencing
- Pace
- Environment
- Cueing (verbal, visual, physical)
- Class management
Professional Development
- Yoga-related professional organizations, including the Yoga Alliance credentialing process
- Ethical Commitment, including Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct and Equity Position Statement
- Lifetime of learning and continuing education
- General professionalism, including timeliness, consistency, cleanliness
- Marketing and promotion
- Liability insurance, waivers, invoicing
Practicum
(Practice Teaching)
- Knowledge, skills, experience across 12 key competencies
- Mentorship component, incl. apprenticeship, feedback
Plus Elective Hours (maximum of 15 classroom hours)
Required Reading
You’ll buy these books on your own (or borrow them from the library). When we plan to discuss a specific book in class, we will let you know.
The Professional Yoga Teacher’s Handbook, by Sage Rountree
Teaching Yoga, by Mark Stephens
Everyday Yoga, by Sage Rountree
Yoga for Everyone: 50 Poses for Every Type of Body, by Dianne Bondy
Being Human: The Yamas & Niyamas, by Sara Adams
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Bhagavad Gita, by Stephen Mitchell
The Power of Breath: Yoga Breathing for Inner Balance, Health and Harmony, Swami Saradananda
Skill In Action, by Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Real Happiness, by Sharon Salzberg
Illustrated Yoga Anatomy, by Stu Girling (Please Note: The studio has plenty of these in stock.)
When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron
Suggested Reading
The Yamas & Niyamas, by Deborah Adele
Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, by Sage Rountree & Alexandra DeSiato
Om Yoga, by Cyndi Lee
Radical Dharma, by Rev. angel Kyodo Williams, Lama Rod Owens, & Jasmine Syedullah, PhD
Yoga for Everyone: 50 Poses for Every Type of Body, by Dianne Bondy
Ashtanga Yoga, by David Swenson
Relax and Renew, by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., PT
Back Care Basics, by Marry Pullig Schatz
The Heart of Yoga, by TKV Desikachar
The Subtle Body, by Stephanie Syman
Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness, by Erich Schiffmann
A Life Worth Breathing, by Max Strom
PROGRAM
PRICING
Upon acceptance, a $500 deposit will reserve your slot.
Program: $3150 due the first day of the training (this includes the deposit)
Early bird 1: $2950 if paid in full by September 2 (this includes the deposit)
Early bird 2: $3050 if paid in full by October 7
Installments: $3300 in six payments of a $500 deposit to reserve your spot, then $560 due October 1, November 1, December 1, and January 1, and the final payment due March 1.
We extend a 10 percent reparatory and gratitude discount to our YTT; let us know if you self-identify as Black, Indigenous, Non-white, Indian, or Indian American and we will apply your discount.
PROGRAM
ENROLLMENT
We accept applications on an open schedule—it’s never too soon to apply. Here are your steps:
- Begin by contacting the studio to schedule a visit. Plan to take a class with Daniel, Jake, Sally, or Matt. This gives you a sense of the lead teachers’ teaching styles and agendas.
- Also, feel free to visit on your own! If you aren’t a studio regular, we’d love for you to come in and see the spaces and experience the energy.
- Complete online form by clicking the button below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
We have a maximum of 10 students. We keep our program smaller to provide individualized attention and personal mentorship.
We are very proud of our “great books” format, which will take you straight to direct sources representing each of the major styles of yoga practiced in America. Instead of telling you what to think about yoga, our program encourages you to investigate your preconceptions as you develop a new understanding of what yoga is and how you should teach it.
We also take a practical approach and deep dive into modifications and adjustments to make yoga work for a variety of individuals and bodies.
Yes! Many folks enter teacher training programs to deepen their understanding of yoga and find ways to direct their personal practice. Whether or not you become a teacher, you’ll grow in ways you haven’t expected. still
Should you have to withdraw from the program before it begins, you’ll receive a refund, minus a $150 administrative fee, according to this schedule, depending on the reason:
Voluntary Withdrawal from the Program
Should you have to withdraw from the program before it begins, you’ll receive a refund, minus a $150 administrative fee, according to this schedule:
Nine-Month Program: 100 percent by September 1; 75 percent by September 15; 50 percent by October 1. Refunds after October 1 will be in the form of a credit toward the next teacher training program cycle.
Involuntary Withdrawal from the Program
Should you be requested to withdraw from the program for any reason, you will receive a refund, minus a $150 administrative fee, according to this schedule:
Nine-Month Program: 100 percent by September 1; 75 percent by September 15; 50 percent by October 1. Refunds after October 1 will be in the form of a credit toward the next teacher training program cycle.
Should the Danja Yoga Teacher Training staff determine that the candidate will not be welcome in any subsequent teacher training at Danja Yoga, the student will receive a pro-rata refund calculated by the tuition minus the $150 administrative fee.
No; the staff of Danja Yoga Teacher Training reserve the right to refuse to graduate any individual that they, in their sole discretion, determine does not meet the requirements of graduation. No graduation after completion of the program will not result in a refund of any kind.
If you miss a day, you may pay for a tutorial to cover the material you have missed. We’ll arrange these case-by-case. If you must miss multiple sessions, consider waiting for the next training.