Feeling God’s Presence during Christian Yoga Teacher Training

DeAnna shares a candid moment.

Hello Friends, I wanted to share a little story from our recent graduation.

On graduation day, we usually have a special graduation ceremony acknowledging everyone for all their hard work and how hard they pushed themselves and what they achieved.

However, several days prior to this last class graduating, my heart was tugged by God to change the focus of our graduation ceremony.

Words from Him strongly came to my heart. None of this is about you or them…it is about feeling My Presence within them at all times and sharing this peace as they teach so others can feel the same way.

I prayed “What do you want us to do Lord?”

He said, Just wait…I’ll show you. So with full confidence I waited.

Shortly after this awareness, one of our graduates Lisa O’Quinn came up to me while I was on break at my desk and said “Listen to this song, it will move your soul.”

Lisa brings me her IPod and I heard “Your Presence,” by Bethel Live. This song moved my heart and I knew instantly: this is the song to remind our graduates why we choose to teach Christian Yoga.

So, here’s the kicker.

Now we all know how the Lord works, He never leaves us or forsakes us and always seems to bring home a point to let us know we’re on track and that we’ve heard Him correctly, right?

Our very last teach scheduled was Tathiana Wan, a young snowboarder athlete. As Taty lead the class in her beautiful final teach (which is always kept secret from others until it is actually presented) we learned that her chosen Scripture was revolved around remaining in God’s presence.

Of course, Taty’s final song was the beautiful “Your Presence” by Bethel Live! It seamlessly segued into what was the most moving graduation ceremony that we have ever had. As any of the graduates present can tell you, emotions flowed and boxes of tissue were used!

The moral of this story is that we are always in His presence.

God always with us through character-building times that range from good, bad and just plain painful and gives us fellowship with others to encourage us and uplift our spirits.

Christian yoga allows us the precious time to be quiet on our mats for a few minutes each day with others who love Him. (Remember, Christ went to a quiet place to rest and pray every day.) He speaks in our hearts, and blesses us to move our bodies in health for HIM and to inspire others to do the same.

What an awesome God we serve! How blessed are we to have been chosen to do this for the Kingdom!

Love and Peace,
DeAnna

Recent Yahweh Yoga Graduates Speak Out!

Our first teacher training graduates of 2010 share their experiences.

People interested in enrolling in the Yahweh Yoga RYT teacher training program always want to know what to expect when they enroll in teacher training. Here what our graduates have to say in their own words:

My experience going through the Yahweh Yoga training was like no other experience I have ever had. Nothing even closely compares. Learning the beautiful art of yoga in a Christian setting with two outrageously amazing godly women is not something easily described. There were so many added benefits: learning about nutrition and about starting your own yoga business…the list goes on. I am so grateful that God brought me to Yahweh Yoga.
~Mary Beth Senechal
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The teacher training exceeded my expectations. Not only did I get the proper education on becoming a yoga teacher: learning postures, proper alignment, anatomy, marketing of my business, etc, but you gave us a holistic approach to embracing our yoga lifestyle. I was thrilled to learn so much about living/raw foods, and making healthy choices to take care of and nurture my mind, body and spirit.
~Marta Bailey
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I would describe my Yahweh Yoga teacher training as very intense, in body, mind and spirit; nurturing, supportive, loving and knowledge filled.
~Angela Ross
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I would describe my teacher training experience at Yahweh Yoga as a necessary preparation. The curriculum was exceptional and the hands on instruction gave me the confidence to take the seat of a teacher. In my opinion it is the best training in the world. I am forever grateful for the opportunity.
~Dawn Jones, Truth Yoga
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The Yahweh Yoga experience has been A M A Z I N G. Deanna and Courtney are such an inspiration—their love toward others and passion for spreading Yoga in using a Christ-centered approach is such an inspiration. They are really good people pursuing their passion for Yoga for HIS glory. They are a blessing in the Yoga community.
~Susan Spangler, ProSkills Plus and Pilates Wellness Center
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The most important thing I learned about the teacher training experience is that it is not about me, but to give my students a gift, an experience that is energizing, relaxing, and worshipful.
~Darbra Adair
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Every single one of the students as well as both instructors were so encouraging and supportive. There was NEVER a feeling of competition. The feedback we were given was consructive rather than critical. There was alot of emphasis on creating an environment in which to give our students an EXPERIENCE rather than just a yoga class. I don’t think I would have learned this in other teacher training programs.
~Kim Dumas
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To be a great Christian yoga teacher means that everything you do is to serve your students. DeAnna and Courtney have given us all we need to know about postures, alignment, marketing, anatomy, teaching methodologies, adjusting and so much more. All of these tools are just to do one job, to serve our students. Teaching a Christian yoga class is about giving a gift to our students. One class it may be the gift of stress relief, or freedom in a joint in another the gift of grace or peace. We will be most successful when we allow God to be Himself through us, and He is always others focused, serving and loving. This is the most important lesson Yahweh Yoga teacher training has imparted to me.
~Hope Crane, Breath of Life Christian Yoga
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God doesn’t waste even one opportunity to draw all of us closer to HIM all the while providing and preparing each of us to recall and regain inner strength and peace to give back. The true meaning of life cycle I learned at Yahweh Yoga.
~Christie Banyas
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We treasure every one of our graduates and feel blessed to have a role in their ongoing education about Christian yoga, health, nutrition, and spirituality. Thank you, graduates for allowing us this role in your personal growth and transformation.

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Do you love Jesus? Do you love yoga? You may learn more about the Yahweh Yoga Christian Yoga RYT program by reading our FAQ.We are now accepting applications for our April course. Enroll now to secure your space - our last class sold out quickly.

A letter from DeAnna: My Personal Transformation During our Recent Teacher Training

Hello Dear Yahweh Yoga Family,

As I write this, it is the first day after our January, 2010 Christian Yoga RYT Teacher Training graduation. During the ending days of the training, many students used the words “personal transformation” to describe their teacher training experience.

As I was reflecting on what students had to say, I realized that I too experienced personal transformation and deeper appreciation of daily life as a result of my role in our last class.

Hard work and the Word of God

Twenty-three students participated in our teacher training experience this month: they were Christian women from all over the world, from all backgrounds, and of all ages and fitness levels.

This was the first session of our revised RYT program where we cut back from 22 eight-hour days to twelve- to fourteen-hour days…for 15 days straight!

By the end of those long days, we came to realize that we had all grown close in heart and fellowship as we filled our minds and bodies with education about God, health and yoga. We pushed our bodies to the limits in terms of strength and endurance, and relaxed together over healthy eating and drinking.

Having this entire experience tethered in the Word of God was truly amazing for me personally.

Why this course was different from other sessions

I was asking myself, what was so different about this course and why did it impact me so intensely?

I won’t sugar-coat it, we worked long – and sometimes grueling – hours. Yet all the women, from ages 20s to 70s grew in their confidence and ability to teach Christian Yoga.

As my first yoga teacher told me once: “If it’s not hard, why are you doing it?” I realized that pushing myself to my limit was invigorating and I believe everyone else felt the same way. We were proud of ourselves (and it wasn’t like we went beyond good sense and/or safety), but we did push ourselves and it felt great to do so.

Overcoming the challenges of long days with the blessing of being able to serve both God and these wonderful women with my co-instructor (and precious daughter) Courtney, was life-changing for me. It helped me to see that God loves me so much that He has placed this purpose in my heart to help build strong, skilled, Christian yoga teachers to serve others worldwide. I know Courtney feels the same way.

How the students transformed

All 23 students could feel the presence of God each and every day and they radiated His love as they encouraged their classmates to reach their goals. We all saw first-hand how people of different ages and fitness levels can teach some form of Christian Yoga. I truly believe that all of the students came away with a new awareness that they can personally serve others through the gift of health and fitness.

Time to chill

Honestly, it may take me a week to process and recover! But an important part of my personal transformation is a renewed realization deep in my heart of the importance of living a balanced life that offers time for personal quiet time with God each day, my own personal fitness time, caring for my home, visiting with my friends and of course…relaxing at the spa.

Our thanks go out to you

I know that there were many of you praying for the students and Courtney and I during training; thank you sweet friends. His presence was felt at all times and we thank you for your encouragement.

To all of our Yahweh Yoga teacher training students that were there…we love you forever and eternity.

To all the YY staff teachers…you rock! Thank you for the memorable classes.

To all the YY studio students…thanks for your patience during these two weeks, we love you!

To Julia and Star Lynn…The plant-based menu was truly delicious and inspired us all to appreciate a more natural and healthy lifestyle. Thank you for the sacred yet fun flavor of each meal.

To our families…We love you! All of us —students and teachers— involved in the training couldn’t have excelled without your love, help, encouragement, and support during this time and always.

To God be the Glory!

Love,
DeAnna

Christian Yoga Teacher Training: Food, Glorious Food!

Proper nutrition is key for our trainees’ energy levels

Since we have gotten such a positive response from you on our peek into the world of our teacher trainees, we thought you might like to see what our students eat while they are here for the 15-day intensive Christian yoga retreat.

Light and Nutritious Food for a Health Transformation

Let’s face it, how many of us think about the fuel we put into the bodies God gave us? Most Americans grab processed, unhealthy “food” and wonder why they feel tired, sick, and unhappy.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
–3 John 1:2, New International Version

One of the things we believe at Yahweh Yoga is that eating a whole-food, unprocessed plant-based diet is important to good health. And since most of trainees enroll in our program to jump-start a personal change (as well as a professional one) we wanted our students to experience the best food possible so they could experience for themselves how good a clean diet can feel.

Chef-prepared Vegan and Raw Selections

Does the idea of a plant-based diet scare you a little? Don’t worry, many people feel that way at first, but we find that this reaction is typically a reaction to the unfamiliarity of vegan and raw food more than anything else.

So we decided that if our students are willing to go outside their comfort zone, we should give them food worthy of the effort they are making. We hired Chefs Julia and Starlyn from Whole Foods who have kept our students fueled for rigorous yoga and intensive learning sessions — all while introducing how beautiful and delicious healthy food can be.

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Are you wondering if Yahweh Yoga’s Christian Yoga teacher training is the right step to start your professional, personal, and spiritual transformation? Please see our Teacher Training FAQ for more information, or contact us to speak with us personally.

Christian Yoga teachers learn how to fly!

A conversation with Jenn Chiarelli, expert in arm balances and inversions

In celebration of the Yahweh Yoga RYT teacher trainee group we have currently working at our studio, we thought you might like take a peek at some of the instruction our trainees enjoy.

One area that always generates buzz among our students is the work we do with arm balances and inversions.

We are pleased to introduce Jenn Chiarelli, the woman who guides our RYT students into this exciting realm of yoga practice. Jenn answered a few of the questions that people typically have about these yoga poses.

Arm balances look difficult. How do people know when they are ready to try them?

Jenn:
The surprising thing is that most people can actually do arm balances. It isn’t so much a matter of having extreme arm strength; rather it is more a case of having proper alignment so that you can balance. Really, you need more core strength than arm strength.

A good gauge for if you are ready to try arm balances is a push up. If you can do a push up without falling to your belly or knees, you are a great candidate for arm balances. Also, try to find a teacher who will break down the arm balances into smaller parts so they don’t feel so scary - and try blocks and other props to help you transition.

We get many questions from women wondering if it is okay to do inversions while menstruating. What are your thoughts?

Jenn:
Well, I am not a physician, so I do not give out medical advice, but I can say this: my own gynecologist told me that there is no medical reason for a woman to avoid inversion poses during menstruation. The advice I give women is to tune into how you feel during this time about your energetic body and honor where you are. If you are comfortable doing inversions, great! If not, go easy on yourself and wait until you are more comfortable doing them.

What is your favorite arm balance pose?

Jenn:
I like the Firefly; it is a fun, weird pose! You sit back on your upper arms and extend your legs. This pose is one of the more advanced ones, but it is so freeing as you look upward and lift your heart.

What is your favorite inversion pose?

Jenn:
The Feathered Peacock pose is great. You have a nice, solid base on your forearms and elbows so it gives you freedom to move your legs around. When you shift the balance of your body this way, you get a whole new perspective - one that is so much different than just standing on your feet.

In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle for people with regard to arm balances and inversions?

Jenn:
Fear, without a doubt. People are scared of the unknown, afraid to try something new. At first, these poses are out of most people’s comfort zone. I heard people with very strong yoga practices say, “Oh noooo, I’m not ready to try those.” and I will tell them “Yes, you are!”

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have a teacher you really trust when you begin to try these poses. It makes the transition so much easier.

When I teach someone new to arm balances and inversions, I make sure we have blocks and blanket “crash pads” so that people feel comfortable and safe. I always tell my students, “If you fall, it is no big deal - you pick yourself up and try again.” Trying these poses are just like life in that regard

Another way to help make the transition easier is to be part of a learning group where you feel comfortable and safe. One of the things I love about teaching the Yahweh Yoga teacher trainees is that they are so tight-knit. They support each other, cheer, and applaud. When people feel safe together, trying something new is not so intimidating.

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About Jenn Chiarelli
Jenn Chiarelli began her career in professional ballet, working with such notable companies as the Cleveland Ballet. During her dance career, she discovered Ashtanga yoga and found that the freedom of her yoga practice offered a much-needed counterbalance to the rigors of the professional dance world.

In 2003, Jenn undertook her RYT teacher training education at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. She began teaching yoga full-time shortly thereafter, leaving behind the world of professional ballet. Jenn currently trains people to teach yoga at At One Yoga and enjoys participating in The Movement Source Dance Company, a Phoenix area modern dance group.

You can read more about Jenn on her website, www.jennchiarelli.com or drop her an email at jenn@jennchiarelli.com to be included on her e-newsletter list.

Crazy for Christian Yoga: 180 hours in 15 days!

Meet our newest teacher trainee class

Could you eat, breathe, and think Christian Yoga non-stop for 15 12-hour days? If so, then you are a kindred spirit to the dedicated women in our newest Yahweh Yoga RYT teacher training class.

After spending 70 days in our online classroom environment covering the basics on everything from anatomy to marketing, these 23 students came to Arizona for 15, 12-hour days of live instruction.

Why such intensive days?

Our students come from all over the country and the world to participate in the Yahweh Yoga RYT program. We knew we needed to find a way to make the Yoga Alliance RYT designation available to our Christian Yoga graduates and still allow most students to squeeze in their live training in the amount of time normally allotted for vacation breaks. But we were left with a quandary: How do we make our program accessible to distance learners and still meet Yoga Alliance requirements of 180 contact hours?

God and good planning was the answer

Of course, with God, everything is possible. He gave us the vision to design a concentrated learning experience that alternates rigorous activity with low-intensity work so that students can stay focused without running out of steam. We even cater all the meals with healthy choices so that our students can keep their energy up and their minds engaged. The result is total immersion in the world of Christian Yoga.

Another benefit of total immersion Christian Yoga training

We have many students that take our teacher training program because they want to make a fundamental change in their lives. They want to:

• Change the perception they have with their bodies
• Improve their approach to nutrition
• Strengthen their relationship with in our Savior.

During the course design phase, our goal was to make the Yahweh Yoga RYT program a method for people to commit to improving their lives on spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. When the class session sold out and we had to end the enrollment period early, we felt like we had received confirmation from our students that we were indeed offering a way to help change their lives.

All important endeavors are worth hard work

Our newest class is ready for the rigorous road that they face to their RYT designation. We pray that they are blessed by this challenging, yet worthwhile, educational undertaking. And as one of our friends said on our Yahweh Yoga Facebook page: Ladies, “you can do it through HIM who strengthens you!”

Good luck to our first class of 2010!

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We will be touching base with these ladies as they complete their intensive Christian Yoga journey through the Yahweh Yoga curriculum. Any questions you would like us to ask them? Please post your questions in the comments below.

Teaching Both Christian Yoga and Pilates: Meet Susan Spangler

Fitness professional Susan Spangler offers Christian Yoga at her wellness studio

Yahweh Yoga graduate Susan Spangler was already a health professional before embarking on her Christian Yoga teacher training. Susan owns Pro-Skills Plus and Pilates Plus Wellness Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Susan received her CCYT designation from Yahweh Yoga in 2009 and will receive her Yoga Alliance RYT designation in January, 2010 after completing the Yahweh Yoga 15-day RYT program.

Susan is a busy woman but kindly took the time to share her Christian Yoga journey with our readers:

Why did you decide to become a Christian Yoga teacher?
I decided to become a Christian Yoga teacher because I wanted to merge the physical aspects of Yoga (balance, strength, etc.) with the Christ-centered spiritual aspects which Yahweh Yoga offered. I was hesitant to enroll in other programs and intrigued at how Yahweh was merging traditional Yoga training in a Christ-centered format.

What was your favorite part of the Yahweh Yoga teacher training experience?
My favorite part of the Yahweh Yoga program was learning and practicing Yoga with like-minded and spiritually grounded teachers and students.

What benefits do you receive by practicing Christian Yoga?
I am benefiting by practicing Christian Yoga because the practice puts me in the presence of God.

What has practicing Christian Yoga meant to your relationship with God?
This practice has greatly improved my relationship with God, improved my spiritual meditations on God’s word and made me truly grateful for the gifts I have been given.

Has Christian Yoga helped your health? If so, how?
My body is definitely transforming—I have always exercised and been a devout Pilates practioner, but something had been missing. The Christian Yoga was definitely what I was searching for.

How has Christian Yoga helped your personality “off the mat?”
My goal is to interact and relate to every human and creature that I come in contact with sharing the word of God. I feel very blessed to be in position to motivate others to improve their health and wellness. My goal is to be the best that I can be and to help others do the same.

What made you choose to travel so far to study at Yahweh Yoga?
Honestly, it was DeAnna. In my initial conversation with her, I said something like, “I can’t imagine being able to travel away from my studio and family for an extended time.” She simply said, “Pray about it and ask God to make a way.” I am returning for the second time in Jan 2010 thanks to DeAnna and Courtney.

What does teaching Christian yoga mean to you?
Teaching Christian Yoga is important to me be because it allows me to do what I love (teach) while connecting to God and the students in a way that I can’t in other classes that I teach.

What do you hope people feel when they experience one of your classes?
I hope that people will feel better, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I hope they will feel peace and more connected to God’s word.

It is most important to me is that my students feel feel loved and served.
~Susan Spangler

What was your favorite part of your training and stay at Yahweh Yoga?
I loved all of it, but especially to focus on nutrition and eating.

Anything else you would like to share?
It has been amazing to see how God has worked through all the talented folks at Yahweh and I love seeing them be blessed with success. I look forward to a long lasting relationship with Yahweh and wish them the best.

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If you feel called to learn more about the Yahweh Yoga Christian Yoga RYT program, please see our FAQ.

Celebrating our new 15-day RYT program with a 15-day SALE

Begin a career that you can be passionate about, helps you earn supplemental income, minister to others and maintain your own health at the same time.

15 days only! Save 10% on our 15-day RYT

We are so excited to bring you our NEW 15-day hands-on Christian Yoga RYT certification that we are offering 10% off our regular tuition rate for people registering in the next 15 days! That’s a a $320 savings! As an extra bonus, you may apply this savings to any of our 2009-10 training programs.

To take advantage of the early-bird special, please contact Courtney soon–because after September 21, this celebration pricing will no longer be available. To receive the $320 savings, you must pay half down at the time of registration.

Program details

Our new teacher training program features 250 hours of instruction: 70 hours online and 180 hours in-person at our Arizona studio. Please see our RYT Program page or our FAQ for more details. If you would like to register, please contact Courtney.

NEW! 15-Day Hands-on Christian Yoga RYT Program

Yahweh Yoga is pleased to announce our new 250-hour Christian Yoga RYT teacher training program (Yoga Alliance accredited).

This 250-hour gold-standard program offers yoga teacher training from a Christ-centered perspective with rigor and quality better than that found in most secular programs.

We developed this program in response to requests from our students

Our students prefer the prestigious Registered Yoga Teacher [RYT] designation - even if they do not plan to teach in secular studios - because the RYT is the defining credential worldwide that identifies a yoga teacher as a well-trained professional. So we designed a gold standard program that combines 70 hours of online learning with an intensive 180-contact hour, 15-day in-person classroom experience taught by E-RYTs.

How it works

There are two parts to the Yahweh Yoga RYT program, the online 70-hour portion and the 15-day, 180-contact hour learning experience.

Online portion

Our online class runs 70 days (an hour a day of study), to allow working students the ability to complete the material while still attending to the needs of their families and their jobs. After completion of the online portion, you then come to Arizona for the 180-contact hour, Yoga Alliance accredited classroom experience.

We believe that having online instruction prior to meeting face-to-face offers you the most in-depth education possible. You have time to get to know your classmates, learn terms, and understand concepts that will be needed in your live classroom learning.

180-contact hour portion

In order to meet Yoga Alliance educational standards, you will receive 180-contact hours of instruction over a 15-day period. This means 12-hour days (7 am to 7 pm)–but don’t worry. We have carefully structured your hands-on classroom experience to be both challenging and do-able. For example, we follow active yoga instruction with non-physical academics such as healthy living, anatomy, and Christian philosophy.

Every class day features a fully catered healthy lunch and dinner from Whole Foods. We have fun lunch-and-learn sessions that cover everything from raw food preparation to lectures on the yoga industry. You will be nourished physically, mentally, and spiritually throughout the course.

Highest Educational Quality

Yahweh Yoga is the most highly accredited Christian Yoga teacher training school in the world. Our online classes were designed by a team of Educational Technology PhD candidates from Arizona State University and our live portion is led by E-RYT Christian Yoga experts.

Program Features

When you become a Yahweh Yoga teacher training student, you enjoy fellowship with other health-minded Christians. You receive regular interaction with your teachers and other students and enjoy in-depth learning about Christian Yoga Philosophy, postures, anatomy, physiology, marketing, eating and healthy living, teacher training, and more!

We provide all your learning materials including textbooks, instructional DVDs, and other materials. You will need to have a computer with a reliable internet connection, a yoga mat, and a desire to deepen your faith and yoga knowledge.

Program Cost

Our 250-hour Christian Yoga RYT program costs $3,200. Tuition includes lunch and dinner for each day of the course and all texts and learning materials. Financing terms are available.

We admit students on a first-come, first-served basis. To find a class, please see our 2009-2010 schedule. If you have additional questions on the Yahweh Yoga program, please see our FAQ.