Asana Intensive for Yoga Teachers

Online: Mar 10 – Apr 27, 2024

Deepen your Practice and Teaching of Ananda Yoga

Open to all certified yoga teachers

In this engaging, hands-on course, you’ll broaden and refine your understanding of Ananda Yoga as you explore the 25 Level 2 Ananda Yoga postures, which include both advanced asanas and basic asanas not covered in the Level 1 YTT.

Ananda’s YTT staff will instruct and guide you through the magnetic power of Ananda Yoga, designed to awaken your energy—and help you awaken your students’ energy.

Cost: $1375 (regular), $1195 (early bird)

Early Bird Tuition: Apply by Feb 23, pay in full by Feb 25, 2024

Cost: $850

36 hours of live classes & workshops & 4 hours of pre-recorded material
50 page manual
Lifetime access to Ananda Yoga Level 2 Asana video library
Access to pre-taped modules & recordings of 30+ hours of live classes
1x/week live online sadhana & Ananda Yoga classes
Personal feedback & coaching from faculty
Obtain 20 CE Hours for Yoga Alliance

Play Video

Free Zoom Info Session

Saturday January 6, 2024 at 10 AM PT

Watch this introductory session with Director Melody Hansen to learn more about Asana Intensive for Yoga Teachers training.

“I never felt judged or criticized for any asana I found challenging, and I learned very valuable information about how to teach each pose. I highly recommend this course!”

— L.S., 2021 Graduate, CA

Why Take Asana Intensive?

Immerse Yourself in Spiritual Community

An effective yoga teacher needs support to walk the talk. Join your magnetism with like-minded yogis from all around the world who also want to help and uplift others.

This immersive online training is broadcasted from Ananda Village, an intentional spiritual community based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.

Even though this program is online, students are able to develop a personal connection with fellow students through:

1-1 and group practice teaching sessions via Zoom
Optional sharing circles
Participation and interaction in live classes
Interactive discussion forums

Our past graduates come from France, Canada, Sweden, Austria, and within the United States. California etc.

Enhance Your Ability to Teach Spiritual Yoga

This program will train you to use yoga as a tool to help yourself and others grow spiritually and find greater integration in body, mind and spirit.

Practicing and teaching Ananda Yoga will help you understand the mind, energy and body connection, and develop the energy awareness and control to uplift consciousness.

We will share with you techniques to ignite and heighten your teaching ability to utilize yoga science and your intuition to best serve your students and yourself as a whole person— body, mind and spirit:

Learn the energetic benefits of 31 level 1 asanas
Develop energy awareness and control to uplift consciousness through energization, affirmation and meditation
We also offer specialty classes to help you find your presence as a teacher, such as voice projection and increasing your energy & magnetism.
Learn to teach yoga effectively in-person and online

Pursue Advanced Yoga Teacher Training

Asana Intensive is a required course for Ananda Level 2 Yoga Teacher Certification. Level 2 certification explores the deeper aspects of Ananda Yoga®, with a focus on meditation, yoga philosophy, pranayama, asana, refinement of teaching skills, and personal spiritual growth.

Required Level 2 Courses:

Advanced Pranayama
Ananda Meditation® Teacher Training 1
Ananda Yoga® Assistantship
Living the Yoga Sutras
The Bhagavad Gita: Bring Its Power into Daily Living
Asana Intensive for Yoga Teachers
Spiritual Counseling Training

Level 2 Electives:

Yoga for Seniors and Bone Strength Training
Restorative Ananda Yoga Teacher Training

Learn More

Receive Access to All Education Material

All live classes, teaching workshops and sadhanas are recorded. You will receive lifetime access to all material.

The Asana Intensive Review Course includes:

Video library of beautifully designed asana instructional videos to help you with your studies.
Recordings of all live classes and sadhanas to review and deepen your understanding

What You'll Learn

Practice and explore the biomechanics of the 25 Level 2 Ananda Yoga asanas
Complete self-quizzes, video presentations and reading assignments to deepen your understanding of the asanas
Experiment with asana variations to suit individual needs
Exploration of ways to approach advanced asanas in stages, making them more accessible for you and your students.
Asana affirmations to focus your mind and uplift your consciousness
Participate in practice teaching workshops and a team teaching assignment to enhance your teachings skills and receive feedback from instructor
Discuss issues and solutions that are likely to come up when teaching these asanas to your students

Questions? Schedule Call with Program Director Melody Hansen

Questions? Schedule Call

“From the aspect of Yoga philosophy I gained greater insight into how the use of the affirmations in Ananda yoga can assist the yoga posture in connecting body and mind to direct our energies toward our higher self. “

— T.J., 2021 Graduate, CA

Meet Your Instructors

All our instructors practice yoga and meditation daily and are disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda who make it a priority to live the teachings.

Melody Hansen

Melody, E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT, directs the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training and Restorative Yoga Teacher Training online programs.

She is a Certified Ananda Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT and a trained Prenatal Yoga Instructor. Melody has been practicing the teachings of yoga since the age of 14, and began teaching at age 17. She loves to help her students experience the depth of Ananda Yoga and Meditation.

She will be the main asana instructor for this course and will support you every step of the way in becoming a confident yoga teacher. It is her joy to serve you!

Nicole DeAvilla

Nicole DeAvilla, E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT has taught yoga teachers for over 20 years, and has taught regular Ananda Yoga classes since 1984. She has a background in sports medicine and chiropractic physiotherapy.

Currently she teaches private classes as well as a Master Yoga Class for Yoga Teachers. Nicole is an active member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and is a contributor to their journal and several other publications. She has taught Master Classes for the International Yoga Therapy Conferences.

Karen Buckner

Karen, RYT 500, is a Certified Ananda Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT and has been teaching yoga since 2003. Originally from Texas, she directed and operated successful yoga studios in Dallas for over 13 years.

Karen has experience working with students of all levels in studio, privately and corporate settings. She loves to mentor teachers and help them discover their unique gifts while strengthening their self-reliance and positivity. Karen will be a lead asana instructor for this course while encouraging and assisting you throughout this journey!

Amala Elliot

Amala, RYT-500, has practiced physical yoga for over 20 years and has meditation practice for over 10 years.

From Amala: “I will always be a student of yoga. Feeling ever-grateful for what my teachers have given me. I will continue to teach everything I have learned and practice what I teach. So everyone who is interested can learn the powerful life-balancing practices of yoga.

I live and work just north of New York City in Westchester County New York. I am also an artist, book designer and animal lover! I have practiced physical yoga for over 20 years and I have had a meditation practice for over 10 years.”

FAQs

Who can participate in this course?

Asana Intensive is open to all graduates of Level 1 Ananda Yoga® teacher training and Bridge to Ananda Yoga®, as well as any yoga teacher who is, or has been, a Yoga Alliance RYT. Exceptions might be made for teachers whose training was through schools that were not registered with Yoga Alliance.

Is this course self-paced, or does everyone move through the course together?

Certified Ananda Yoga teachers who seek Level 2 Ananda Yoga® teacher certification will move through the course together, week by week. This leads to enriching interactions with classmates and builds a dynamic learning community that you’ll enjoy—and benefit from—immensely. Any other participants are welcome to participate at their own pace.

How much time will the coursework require each week?

The weekly workshops are 3 hours long. Prior to each workshop, you’ll also be expected to do a small amount of study of course materials for the asanas that will be addressed in the workshop.

Are there specific times when I need to be online?

We will have “live” workshops on these dates:

Sunday, March 10 (9:30–11:30 AM, Pacific time)
Saturday, March 16, 23, 30 (9:30–12:30 PM, Pacific time)
Sunday, March 17, 24, 31 (9:30–12:30 PM, Pacific time)
Saturday, April 6, 13, 20 (9:30–12:30 PM, Pacific time)
Sunday, April 7, 14, 21 (9:30–12:30 PM, Pacific time)

Workshops will be recorded for the benefit of those who cannot participate “live.” Ananda Yoga teachers who seek Level 2 Ananda Yoga® teacher certification can miss no more than one workshop, and even missing that will involve a makeup video-creation assignment. Other course participants can attend the workshops if time permits, or simply view the video recordings of the workshops.

Will I be expected to make any videos?

Not unless you miss a live workshop and have a video makeup assignment.

Will I need a paid Zoom account?

No, a free Zoom account is sufficient.

Does this course offer continuing education credit?

Yes, Yoga Alliance RYTs can get 36 hours of continuing education.

How does this course fit with the Level 2 Ananda Yoga teacher certification requirements?

This course is required for graduates of Level 1 Ananda YTT and Bridge to Ananda Yoga who seek Level 2 certification. These asanas formerly were addressed in two courses at The Expanding Light Retreat: The Essence of the Yoga Sutras and The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita. If you already took both of those courses in person, you have fulfilled this course requirement. If you took only one of those courses, you are welcome to take only the half of this course that corresponds to the other course. Please contact Darshana to discuss your particular situation.

If you are not a certified Ananda Yoga teacher (200-hr) then you’ll also need to take the Bridge to Ananda Yoga course (in addition to the Level 2 requirements) if you’d like to become a certified Ananda Yoga teacher. See Level 2 requirements here

Practice teaching in breakout sessions were most helpful. Karen and Melody are experienced and offered variations for each pose, not to mention being open to students' knowledge.

I loved this course! Melody has a knack of making everyone feel very relaxed and at ease, which makes the process of learning much easier. I never felt judged or criticized for any asana I found challenging, and I learned very valuable information about how to teach each pose. I highly recommend this course!

On the technical side of yoga practice the on-line video breakdown of each pose followed up with the in-class in-depth teaching and practice allowed me to feel absolutely confident that I can teach the postures effectively and safely. For instance, I’ve always avoided doing headstands in my personal practice because I didn’t feel confident enough in my knowledge of the pose or the strength in my body. The fact that it was taught in progressions allowed me to practice it safely and I quickly gained confidence in my ability to practice this pose. I now do headstand unassisted daily. I also have the confidence in my ability to teach it to others so they can have the same results.

Program Details

Program Details

Certification Requirements

Sample Schedule

Program Details

Certification Requirements

Sample Schedule