Functional Flexibility Yoga Teacher Certification Course

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.

All of our courses go beyond a cursory overview of chronic stress and trauma. 

The lead instructor specialized in Trauma-Informed Yoga during the completion of her RYT 500 certification. Beyond that, this course will weave other elements of her academic education including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and more. These topics will permeate the entire course, as we revisit them time and again through the lens of pranayama, asana, and mediation.  

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. 

There's no catch. No hidden fees. Really.

There are two reasons we are offering this course at a rate that is significantly less costly than other live YTT training opportunities. 

First: This will be the first time we are offering this course. We are pouring everything we have into making this an incredible experience for all our students. And, we also acknowledge that we will inevitably learn from this experience and refine our offering as a result. With this in mind, we want to make sure there is an extraordinary value for those who choose to embark on this initial journey with us.

Second: Rev. Lenora Rousseau is an Ordained Elder in Full Connection with the FLUMC. As we lean into the connectional nature of the Methodist Church and receive referrals from past students, we do not have to spend the same amount of money on advertising as our competitors spend. Because of this, we are passing that savings on to our students to make this course as affordable as possible, packing in as much value as we possibly can!

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. 

To be a Registered Yoga Teacher with the YA as an RYT 200, you will need to complete an additional a 200 hour YTT approved course.  We will meet the criteria to register this course as YA RYT 200 provider in the fall of 2023. For our graduates who wish to complete their RYT 200 Certiffication, we will offerring a booster course for our 150 Hour YTT Certification to complete the remaining YTT hours in 2024 (stay tuned for dates in the fall of 2023). 

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 honest and upfront about the fact that the Yoga Chapel retreat sessions and subsequent Yoga classes offered during the online sessions will draw from Biblical passages and incorporate teachings from Jesus that center around themes such as love, grace, peace, kindness, service, joy, hope, forgiveness, healing, and transformation. We believe these themes 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.