The Yoga Outreach Certification™ Program: A Service Yoga Training
The Yoga Outreach Certification™ Program (YOCP-200) offers participants a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the practices and philosophies of yoga using a trauma informed, student-centred approach. Students will explore how yoga supports equity, inclusion, and community care within a class, in their daily lives, and in their communities. Built on the foundation of Yoga Outreach’s 25+ years of experience providing classes in social service and community based settings, this is a yoga teacher training like no other.
Is this yoga course for you?
This program may suit you better than a typical yoga teacher training, if you’re interested in:
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- creating more inclusive yoga spaces
- offering yoga in non-traditional settings
- exploring ways to honour the roots of yoga without appropriating
- tools to support social change
Collective Transformation
This immersive program is rooted in the concept of Sva-dharma, derived from the Sanskrit root dhr, “sustain, support, uphold.” We believe that each of us has the responsibility to use personal transformation in service of collective transformation. Sva-dharma is one way to use yoga for equity, fairness, inclusion, social justice, and freedom.
Course Dates: January 4* – April 30, 2023
LIVE ONLINE *All times are in PST
This is a curated offering available to a limited number of participants. Even though the training is online it is designed to be taken synchronously and will require your full participation. We are only accepting a cohort of 20 students for 2023.
Watch our recorded info session here. You will be required to submit a code word from the info session with your application.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION: Students are strongly encouraged to arrive to class on time and attend all classes. Students may miss up to 18 hours of the training for extenuating circumstances. Students are responsible for catching up on what they missed from their peer group. This is a highly experiential training that provides many opportunities to engage and practice. Students will be invited to participate in breakout rooms, discussions, and practice teaching throughout the training. While we will honour students’ choices in these activities, we request that applicants reflect upon their willingness and ability to do so before applying. If you feel that you are not ready to participate fully and would like to discuss before applying, please contact us. We are happy to do what we can to accommodate your needs.
NOTE – During this online training students are expected to have their cameras on and be visible for the majority of the time. While we will honour students’ choices in regards to this, we request that applicants reflect upon their willingness and ability to do so before applying. If you would like to discuss before applying, please contact us. We are happy to do what we can to accommodate your needs.
What’s included:
- Skill in Action Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World by Michelle Cassandra Johnson
- Yoga mat (local students only)
- Additional optional courses in meditation, Ayurveda, and Mantra
- 25% off all Knowledge Development Workshops for the year
Admission requirements:
- Minimum 18 years of age
- Completed application form
- Be able to converse, read, and write in English.
- If you have health concerns or challenges have an adequate network in place to support you throughout this process. A 200 hour immersion can be an intense journey and while we will be doing our very best to support you along the way we need to recognize that we may not be able to fully support all folks particularly if they have complex needs. We want to be able to work with you to ensure that this is a safe experience for you and that means ensuring you have adequate support. If you are living with a health condition for which you may require support or accommodation please contact us to discuss your needs.
Learning Outcomes
Students in this 200-hour course can expect a blend of theory and practice from a trauma-informed perspective. Participants can anticipate completing with:
- a stronger personal practice
- a practical understanding of strengths-based teaching
- a foundation in trauma-informed principles and practice
- the ability to provide safer and more accessible yoga sessions for a diverse range of communities in service yoga settings
- a framework of understanding, have learned misconceptions, and opened conversations regarding the experiences of Indigenous People after contact with Europeans in this land
*Please note non-Indigenous students are required to complete Canada: After Contact, a 10 hour self directed online course prior to commencement of the training. A live check-in is scheduled Jan 4th 6 – 7:15pm to discuss this course.
Curriculum we will explore:
Our curriculum reflects a collaborative way of working, teaching, and learning which allows for a wider representation of perspectives and experiences. Students will benefit from the experience of multiple teachers, each uniquely qualified to share specific aspects of the program.
- Understanding how to teach Asana & Pranayama
- The deeper, traditional dimensions of yogic practice
- Teaching yoga from a Trauma-informed perspective
- Yoga for chronic pain
- Diversity, inclusion, and equity in yoga
- Addressing Cultural Appropriation
- Sanskrit Appreciation & Pronunciation The Yoga Sutras & Non-Violent Communication
- Empowering youth
- Teaching to Larger Bodies
- Sharing yoga with neurodivergent students
- Practice teaching practicum (this includes designing and teaching 3-4 asana classes live) with feedback from peers and senior teachers
- Anatomy & physiology
- Ayurveda, Mantra, Meditation (optional)
Students will need to purchase:
- Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Everybody by Jivana Heyman
- Functional Anatomy of Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers by David Keil
Instruction
This professional immersion reflects our vision that a collaborative way of working, teaching, and learning allows for a wider representation of perspectives and experiences. Thus, students will benefit from the experience of multiple teachers, each uniquely qualified to lead a portion of the program, including asana for different needs, yoga philosophy and culture from ancient to modern times, and holding space for people from specific marginalized communities.
Course Dates: TBC January 4* – April 30, 2023
LIVE ONLINE *All times are in PST
This is a curated offering available to a limited number of participants. Even though the training is online is is designed to be taken synchronously and will require your full participation. We are only accepting a cohort of 20 students for 2023.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION: Students are strongly encouraged to arrive to class on time and attend all classes. Students may miss up to 18 hours of the training for extenuating circumstances. Students are responsible for catching up on what they missed from their peer group.
NOTE – During this online training students are expected to have their cameras on and be visible for the majority of the time. While we will honour students’ choices in regards to this, we request that applicants reflect upon their willingness and ability to do so before applying. If you would like to discuss before applying, please contact us. We are happy to do what we can to accommodate your needs.
*Please note non-Indigenous students are required to complete Canada: After Contact, a 10 hour self-directed online course prior to commencement of the training. A live check-in Jan 4th 6 – 7:15pm PST is scheduled to discuss this course.
2023 schedule
January
*Wednesday, Jan 4 | 6 – 7:15pm Wednesday, Jan 11 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Jan 13 | 5 – 9pm
Saturday, Jan 14 | 10am – 3:30pm
Sunday, Jan 15 | 9am – 2:30pm
Thursday, Jan 19 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Jan 20 | 5 – 9pm
Saturday, Jan 21 | 10am – 3:30pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple with Farah Nazarali Monday, January 23 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Thursday, Jan 26 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Jan 27 | 5 – 9pm
Saturday, Jan 28 | 10am – 3:30pm
8 Non-contact hours – Skill in Action peer group | Asana lab | Anatomy
February
Thursday, Feb 2 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Feb 3 | 5 – 9pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, February 6| 6:30 – 8:30pm
Thursday, Feb 9 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Feb 10 |5 – 9pm
Saturday, Feb 11 | 10am – 3:30pm
Optional – Introduction to Ayurveda with Muneera Wallace Wednesday, February 15 | 5 – 9pm
Thursday, Feb 16| 5 – 9pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, February 20| 6:30 – 8:30pm
Thursday, Feb 23 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Feb 24|5 – 9pm
Saturday, Feb 25 | 10am – 3:30pm
Sunday, Feb 26 | 9am – 2:30pm
8 Non-contact hours – Skill in Action peer group | Asana lab | Anatomy
March
Thursday, Mar 2 | 5 – 9pm
Optional – Introduction to the Yoga of Sound (Nād Yoga) – Mantra, Raga, and Bhajan/Kirtan with Rishima Bahdoorsingh Wednesday, March 1 | 5 -9pm
Friday, Mar 3 |5 – 9pm
Saturday, Mar 4 | 10am – 3:30pm
Sunday, Mar 5 | 9am – 2:30pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, March 6 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Wednesday , March 8 | 5 – 9pm
Thursday, Mar 9 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Mar 10 |5 – 9pm
Saturday, Mar 11 | 10am – 3:30pm
Sunday, Mar 12 | 9am – 2:30pm
Thursday, Mar 16 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Mar 17 |5 – 9pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, March 20 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
8 Non-contact hours – Skill in Action peer group | Asana lab | Anatomy
April
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, April 0 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Thursday, Apr 13 |5 – 9pm
Friday, Apr 14 |5 – 9pm
Saturday, Apr 15 | 10am – 3:30pm
Optional – Meditation Made Simple Monday, April 17 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Sunday, Apr 16 | 9am – 2:30pm
Thursday, Apr 20 | 5 – 9pm
Friday, Apr 21|5 – 9pm
Saturday, Apr 22 | 10am – 3:30pm
Thursday, Apr 27 | 5 – 9pm
PRACTICUM Friday, Apr 28 |5 – 9pm
PRACTICUM Saturday, Apr 29 | 10am – 3:30pm
PRACTICUM Sunday, April 30 | 9am – 2:30pm (Practicum_
9 Non-contact hours – Skill in Action peer group | Asana lab | Anatomy
Yoga Outreach offers a sliding scale for our trainings.
Sliding Scale
$3520/$2950/$1980/$0
There are a limited amount of spaces offered at the middle and lower end of the scale. Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher price, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. *Adapted from wortsandcunning.com/blog/sliding-scale
A 10% deposit is required to hold your place. This means 10% of whichever payment tier you choose.
Payment plans are available – 3 or 6 months.
Each cohort will include a minimum of two work-study scholarships with one of those being reserved for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+ folks. Work-study scholarships will be reserved for those folks who do not have the financial resources to pay, but do have the time to volunteer in exchange.
Each cohort will include a minimum of two 100% scholarship spaces with one of those being reserved for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+ folks. These spaces will be reserved for folks who have a deep interest in bringing this work to impacted communities.
We also encourage those with a diversity of experience including but not limited to ability, mental illness, and/or neurodiversity to apply.
PLEASE NOTE: If you reside outside of British Columbia you will only be considered for a 100% scholarship if you are engaged in working with marginalized communities. Your reference letter should provide confirmation of this.
Refund policy
Withdrawal up to 30 days prior to the training start date – full refund less a 15% admin fee. No refunds within 30 days of training start date.
Please watch our recorded info session prior to completing your application. You will be asked for a code word from the recording in your application.
Complete the online application form HERE. You will receive a response with the outcome of your application and any next steps within 2 weeks.
2023 Faculty
