Christ Centered, Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training

With the spike in chronic stress and trauma that all human beings are exposed to in our modern cultures, courses that follow the Yoga Alliance curriculum guidelines must include at least a cursory overview of what trauma is, it's ramifications, and key points to be aware of when teaching Yoga to help create a welcoming space for those who are healing from acute or chronic stress, or trauma.

This course will go well beyond a cursory overview of chronic stress and trauma. 

In addition to being an E-200/500 RYT and approved Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, Rev. Lenora Rousseau, the Course Developer and Lead Instructor, is also a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Coach, Certified Spiritual Director, Certified Breath Coach, and National Board Certified trained Behavioral Health and Wellness Coach.     

This course integrates the essentials of traditional, Yoga Alliance approved Yoga teacher training with elements of Lenora's specialized education in the areas of applied psychology and behavioral science in order to create a robust and dynamic learning environment in which students gain a much deeper understanding regarding the impacts of chronic stress and trauma on the body, mind, and spirit, as well as the ways Yoga can specifically help to aid in the recovery process.  

By the end of this course, you will understand how chronic distress and trauma impact the whole human being, how Yoga aids in the healing and recovery process, and how to effectively teach Yoga so that your classes and offerings create a safe and healing space where positive change and sustainable transformation can occur for all those you serve. 

Maybe. If your goal is to be a part of the Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200, this course can serve to move you towards that goal, but it does not meet the 200 hour requirement for that goal by itself. 

To be a Registered Yoga Teacher with the YA as an RYT 200, you will need to complete an additional 50 hour YTT approved course.  We will meet the criteria to register this course (with an additional 50 hours of training) as YA RYT 200 provider in the fall of 2023. For our 150 Hour graduates who wish to complete their RYT 200 Certiffication, we will offerring a booster course to complete the remaining YTT hours in fall 2023 (details available upon request. and covered in our 150 Hour TICYT Course). 

If you are interested in teaching effective Trauma-Informed Yoga professionally and taking a course that will equip you to serve your clients well, this course will get you there! If you want to become a Member of the Yoga Alliance, you will be able to do that, if you choose. Once completed, you can use this certification to start professionally teaching Yoga right away.  

What if I want to be a RYT 200 in the next six months? This course is not for you. You would be better served bypassing this course and choosing to attend a full 200 Hour YTT offered by any highly rated Yoga Alliance YTT provider.

Absolutely not. This training is open to anyone from any faith background.  You can be confident that we will honor your sacred worth, and there is no hidden agenda to change your faith-background or spiritual path. 

Having said that, we want to be transparent and upfront about the fact that Rev. Lenora Rousseau is an ordained Pastor in the United Methodist Church.Throughout the course, Rev. Lenora Rousseau draws  upon her Jewish and Christian faith heritage, as well as her theological education and academic certifications as a Behavoiral Health and Wellness Coach and Cognitive Behavorial Therapy Practitioner. All of this is woven together to create a rich and dymanic approach to understanding the intersections between ancient Yoga philosophy, modern science, as well as western philosophy and Biblical theology. 

Having said this, Lenora focuses on themes that are universal and touch upon the human experience in ways that cross the divide between religion, politics, cultural and economic barriers, and so on.  

By attending this course, you will learn how to create contemplative Yoga classes that you can adapt to match your own faith or spirituality as you find your voice as a Trauma-Informed Certified Yoga Teacher. 

As stated before, we are committed to being a welcoming and inclusive institution, and we expect our graduating students to uphold these same standards. We do not discriminate based on age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, faith-tradition, ability, or cultural background. As a Christ-Centered organization and extension ministry of the FLUMC, our offerings seek to honor the rich traditions of Yoga while also incorporating Biblical themes that are universal and transformative. 

We truly welcome students from all faith traditions and spiritual paths to join us for YTT and honor the seeds of truth that unite all human beings as children of God.