YOGA TRAINING CONTENT

In many ways, the content of a yoga teacher training is drum beat of a program and can be the difference between feeling lost and finding your life’s path.

Some programs take the McDonald’s approach and offer a dozen or more homogenized yoga teacher trainings a year. On the upside, the program will be predictable. On the downside, you could lose out on the magic. Our program has a steady structure and it is adaptable enough to meet the needs of an individual cohort or student.

Components of a cohesive and
integrated training.

Yoga Training Design

We integrate the above components into our yoga teacher training to make it cohesive and integrated. Classic theory, meditation, pranayama, regular asana practice, student teaching and integration exercises are the through-line of our program.  A typical class will have most of these components.


yoga teacher training content

Students study, learn and integrate this content into their yoga practice and into their lives.  The training culminates in a final practicum for the  public. It’s the student’s turn to teach the room.

Asana has always been integral to our program. We recognize most of the world relates to yoga through the postures and students learn to instruct them proficiently. At the same time, there are many other components to a complete yoga practice.

We want you to assimilate the teachings over time so they become woven into your lifestyle at a sustainable pace.  We present each topic in the largest scope and progresses towards greater detail. Gradually the students deepens their knowledge.

As a rule, yoga teacher training is a powerful experience. However, I would be leery of trainings that extol that their program will radically change your life.

This kind of change tends to be impulsive and does not stick in the long term. In their enthusiasm some programs mistake change for transformation. Transformation is learning to be more loving and accepting in your relationships. “Radical change” can look more like divorce.

I recommend a program that moves at a challenging and organic pace.


Three outlines of training topics:

  1. Asana
  2. Ayurveda (The diet & lifestyle component of yoga)
  3. Yoga Psychology

1. Asana

Denver Yoga Underground features an in-depth asana curriculum comprised of both posture workshops and experiential sessions.  We emphasize both the correct form of the posed and more importantly its proper function – the deeper why behind the pose.

What style of asana do you teach?

In a word, “Hatha Yoga.” This may conjure up the image of doing yoga is sweatpants, on a carpet, perhaps with some incense and dim lights. Or we simple associate it with “easy.”

This is not accurate. Hatha Yoga is not a measure of intensity (and it can be intense) but rather a holistic orientation towards greater physical, mental-emotional, integration and spiritual discovery.

Hatha Yoga is a seven limb system –of which asana is a part– and the genesis of all asana “styles” we see today, from power to restorative.

Hatha can be applied in a variety of ways from flowing to more stationary approaches. It’s much more than the “class schedule” may lead you to believe.

Visual graph of Denver Yoga Underground's asana content.

Asana Curriculum Explained

Weeks 1-8:  Foundation – Workshop 28 progressively more advanced, signature postures. Learn modifications and prop usage.

Weeks 1-10 Metaphysics – Study the subtle body and the psycho-spiritual aspects of each posture.

Weeks 1-13: Experiential – Dedicated time to set theory aside and have an embodied experience of asana’s deeper intent.

Weeks 5-7: Asana and Ayurveda – Learn where India’s ancient health system and the postures intersect. And how to do the poses for optimal health.

Weeks 3-13: Sequencing – How to combine postures, breathing methods and meditation to affect specific energetic changes.

Weeks 1-15: Student Teaching – Bring out the teacher within. Gain the skill and heart to guide others.

2. Ayurveda

This unit starts with a basic and applicable understanding of ayurveda and gradually moves towards integrating dietary and lifestyle changes into your life, step by step.

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Sample image of the Denver Yoga Underground's ayurvedic content.

3. Yoga Psychology

Yoga is an ancient system of total physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.  Yogic philosophy and psychology is the map by which we can recognize our place upon the path and where we are headed.  This unit culminates in a hands on exercise that will bridge these teachings into your life.

Visual representation of the Denver Yoga Underground's yoga psychology content.


Visual synopsis of the approximate
amount of time dedicated to the
major topics in our yoga training.

yoga training percentages