Next date TBD
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 only accept a cohort of 20 students at a time.
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 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:
- creating more inclusive yoga spaces
- offering yoga in non-traditional settings
- exploring ways to honour the roots of yoga without appropriating
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, and freedom.
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 blocks & bolster (local students only)
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.
*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 prior to the start date will be scheduled to discuss this course.
A sample of our 2023 Schedule can be viewed here.
Yoga Outreach offers a sliding scale for our trainings.
Sliding Scale
$3699/$2999/$1999/$0
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. Students will not receive their certification until completion of payment.
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
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 prior to the first class 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
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.
2024 Faculty
Sliding Scale Information
Tier 1 – The highest dollar amount reflects the true cost of the class.
Choose this option if you:
- have access to financial security
- own property
- have personal savings
- are able to pay for “wants”
- spend little time worried about securing necessities in your life.
Tier 2 – The middle cost acknowledges that paying the full cost would prevent some folks from being able to attend.
If you are:
- struggling to conquer debt or build savings
- have access to steady income
- not spending most of your time thinking about meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, child care
Tier 3 – The lowest cost represents a deliberate opportunity to welcome participation from folks who lack financial resources.
If you:
- struggle to maintain access to needs such as health care, housing, food, child care,
- are living paycheck to paycheck
- are in significant debt
Scholarship & Work-study Option
Scholarships are available for those who face financial barriers to attend this training even with the sliding scale. PLEASE NOTE: Due to demand if you reside outside of British Columbia you will only be considered for a scholarship if you are engaged in working with marginalized communities.
There are two kinds of scholarships available:
Workstudy scholarships are for those who are able to pay a portion of the tuition (usually $180) and do some volunteer hours (not teaching yoga) ahead of the training. Typically this depends on your skills, availability, and what we need at the time. 100% scholarships are for those who do not have the financial resources to attend. These spaces will be prioritized for folks who have a deep interest in bringing this work to impacted communities. We encourage BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+, immigrant, and refugee folks, as well as those with a diversity of experience including but not limited to ability, mental illness, and/or neurodiversity to apply.
Application Deadline for scholarships are 45 days prior to date of the course. You will be notified as soon as the scholarship committee has made a decision, approx. 30 days before the training. Approved workstudy applicants must complete volunteer commitment prior to attending the training.
Applicants with the following will be prioritized:
- Keen interest in working with marginalized folks
- Demonstrated financial need
- Applicants with current involvement, whether paid or volunteer, within the communities we serve.
At least one scholarship space/training will be reserved for BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+ folks. We also encourage those with a diversity of experience including but not limited to ability, mental illness, and/or neurodiversity to apply.