Taking Sellwood Yoga’s Teacher Training Program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Bill and Savonn have created a program that supported and nurtured me, while also pushing me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I am so inspired by Bill and Savonn’s commitment to creating accessible and creative classes taught by knowledgeable and passionate teachers.

SYTT emphasizes a holistic approach to teaching and learning. Throughout the course, we met so many amazing instructors, and we learned everything from anatomy and sequencing to breathing techniques and philosophy. One of my biggest takeaways from the program is that, in order to be the best yoga teacher you can be, it is crucial that you begin by taking care of yourself. I personally benefited tremendously from the pranayama and meditation-based stress reduction modules, and I know that I will be able to transfer my newfound love for those modules into the classes that I teach. As a yogi who practices both vinyasa and restorative styles of yoga, I was thrilled that we had the chance to immerse ourselves in both.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you are ready to take the leap into this program, I highly encourage you to join this beautiful community and begin your journey of self-discovery and growth. You could not ask for a better team to guide you along the way.

The teacher training at Sellwood Yoga is well structured, engaging, supportive, and multi-dimensional. Savonn and Bill set an encouraging, and sometimes playful, context that facilitates learning and risk-taking. The program includes class sequencing for vinyasa and restorative yoga, alignment and adjustments of the asanas, anatomy relevant to yoga poses and movement, breathwork, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and yoga philosophy.

The program’s flexibility was ideal for me. Being interested in one-on-one restorative yoga instruction rather than teaching group classes, Savonn problem-solved with me about how to prepare for that goal. We created a plan that differed from the rest of the training group, and it fit my needs perfectly.

Over the course of five months, our student group became very connected and supportive of each other. Learning together was a wonderful way to get to know a diverse group of talented and sweet people.

Because of the program, I have discovered a special interest and have been working individually with the guest presenter, breathworker Margaret Townsend. This unexpected outcome has deepened my personal practice and my understanding of the importance of breath.

I recommend this teacher training program without hesitation. It is enriching, challenging, deepening, and, ultimately, very satisfying.

Sellwood Yoga provides a warm, welcoming, and professional teacher training program that is affordable and accessible for people of all ages and body needs. The course takes place over many months, allowing students to not only bring yoga to a new depth within their own lives, but to bond with the other participants. The community-building aspect deepened the work by allowing trust to grow within the cohort.

Without trust, the practice of yoga stays physical. It’s true—physical asana has an important place within yoga, and this is well-covered in the training! Beyond the physical layer, though, the teachers at Sellwood Yoga cultivate time and place for a wholehearted and vulnerable yoga teaching practice to both emerge and take root.

Gratitude for this brilliant program’s offering!

I had researched yoga teacher training options for years, never finding the perfect fit. Once the announcement had been made that Sellwood Yoga was going to offer their first-ever teacher training, I was in. Since the studio’s opening, I have deeply appreciated the respect and grace with which Savonn and Bill lead their classes. This attitude is definitely conveyed in the teacher training. From day one, the focus was on discovering a deeper understanding of yoga and finding an authentic, individual voice with which to share this passion with students. The six months of sessions are a big commitment, for certain, but the program was structured in a way that didn’t interfere with work or personal responsibilities. The course content was rich and comprehensive, and it was paced in a way that allowed us to lay a solid foundation for our practicum teaching toward the end of the training.

And what an awesome group of classmates! Sellwood Yoga has always attracted a community of souls that I can relate to, so I shouldn’t have been surprised to find such kind, brilliant, balanced folks training alongside me. But I was truly wowed by the connection created amongst those of us taking this journey together—it made for an unforgettable life experience.

I wasn’t sure, going into teacher training, whether I would actually be interested in teaching, but along the way, I discovered that I am eager to impart the joy I’ve found on the mat with others. Sellwood Yoga Teacher Training has helped me to find my personal way of doing that, for which I am incredibly grateful.

The Sellwood Yoga teacher training made my life more worth living. For many years, I had practiced yoga, and for at least five years, I had considered training to be a yoga teacher. I looked at a variety of programs and none of them seemed right for me. Then, I found the Sellwood studio and began to practice there. Within a few weeks, I knew I had found the right place to learn to teach. It is a community-based program that seeks to make yoga accessible for all people—the young and the old, the neophyte and the master. The training program was comprehensive, giving teachers-in-training a broad base of knowledge from yoga philosophy to anatomy. We also learned a great deal about designing interesting classes with themes and with adaptations for special populations. I’m looking forward to pursuing more training from this gifted group of teachers, and most days, I pause for a moment in my practice to express my gratitude for them and all they do to make the world a better place.

I am forever grateful for this journey to becoming a yoga teacher. I feel like I have a solid foundation from which to grow. I appreciated the well-rounded teaching style that included hands-on teaching experiences with my fellow classmates from the very beginning. The coursework in philosophy, anatomy, and mindfulness exposed me to the fundamental components of a holistic approach to yoga and planted seeds for further exploration.

During this process, I felt supported at every step. When I felt uprooted, I found grounding. When I felt challenged, I found successes. When I felt intimidated, I found that I was also ready. However, the most impactful teachings came not from the texts or the weekend workshops, but through the shared experiences with this extraordinary group of people. Yoga became so much more than asana.

From the wonderful and diverse group of teachers who inspired me with authenticity, to the unique curriculum that included mindfulness training and real-life teaching experiences, Sellwood Yoga’s teacher training program was everything and more than I could have hoped for. The journey advanced my practice, but not in the “I learned how to do a handstand push-up kind of a way.” Instead, it taught me how to truly live yoga—both on and off the mat.

In the Sellwood Yoga teacher training program, I expected to learn more about yoga, and I did. What really stood out, however, were three things. First and foremost was that we covered so many of the important aspects of yoga—from philosophy and breathing techniques to anatomy, alignment, and the many poses used in yoga practice today. Because the curriculum was well thought-out, we were able to cover a really impressive amount of material in a way that just made us want to keep learning more. When we finished the program, we knew we had built an amazing foundation.

Second was that we were truly taught to teach—to go beyond learning about yoga to really learning how to teach real students. It was not about any one style or approach either; our instructors helped every one of us find our voice and begin to develop a style that was personally authentic. They brought us along every step of the way, helping us build our skills and our confidence in teaching.

Third, the program helped us build a supportive team. Our training class of 2016 was able to work together, learn from each other, practice together, build new friendships, and complete the program with plans to keep in touch and continue supporting one another. I would recommend this program highly for anyone who thinks they might want to teach—even if you are not sure. It is an amazing journey of learning, growth, and discovery.

When Savonn remarked at our first meeting something to the effect of, “This course will change your life,” I thought it was a nice sentiment but was doubtful it would have such an impact. Six months later, I ask myself, did it indeed change my life? Yes, in the sense that the experience connected me with a wonderful, caring, and supportive community of instructors and fellow learners. Yes, in that I was challenged physically, mentally, and spiritually to reach beyond my comfort level. Yes, in that I have come away with a passion for sharing yoga with others and with the teaching skills to do so.

Savonn was right; she and Bill believed in our abilities from the first moment and genuinely and continually offered encouragement and inspiration. As is so often the case, a little knowledge leads us to seek more. Paradoxically, I feel confident in beginning my yoga-teaching career after completing the 200-hour training course, but at the same time, I know that there is so much more that I want and need to learn. That’s the truly exciting part: coming away with an eagerness to continue the journey begun six months ago!

When I signed up for the 200-hour yoga teacher training program at Sellwood Yoga, my goal was to increase the accessibility of yoga to the patients I care for who are undergoing surgical breast cancer treatment. After completing the training, I have gained a much deeper personal practice, made lifelong friends in a lovely community, and feel prepared to lead yoga classes, in a variety of settings and with yogis of various abilities and interests.

The mindfulness practice woven through the first half of the experience provided a lovely foundation on which to build our classes, bringing out our authenticity into our teaching. The philosophy classes, pranayama, and asana breakdown classes allowed me to deepen my understanding of yoga in its entirety and strengthen my design of future classes. My fellow students taught me so much through their feedback, life experience, and individual interests.

Currently, I am starting to teach a variety of classes, including classes focused on people following breast cancer surgery. I highly recommend the yoga teacher training at Sellwood Yoga and am eternally grateful for this life-changing experience with outstanding teachers and fellow students.

Sellwood Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training was everything I hoped it would be! Bill and Savonn did an excellent job setting up this training, making sure I had all the tools and resources to confidently complete the course. I am ready to start teaching with a newfound outlook and knowledge of what yoga “is” and what it means to me. This yoga teacher training is unique, with a focus on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and breathwork, in addition to vinyasa and restorative yoga flows. I will forever be grateful for the amazing group of people this training brought into my life. This experience will live in my heart for years and years to come.

The Sellwood Yoga teacher training program was an amazingly transformative experience. Bill and Savonn created an environment that allowed for exploration, growth, and challenge, all the while providing a safe space that did not once make me feel like I was doing something wrong or asking the wrong questions.

The additional teachers seemed to have been selected with such care because they were all effective and knowledgable: Caroline, an anatomy expert who made learning fun, introduced us to “Frank” and his bones and muscles; Matt, our philosophy guide, had the most wonderful presence and teaching style that promoted open discussion without judgment; Denise took us on a journey of mindfulness from what we ate, to how we got ready in the morning, to how we walked; Rosey and Annie, the two sweetest sisters, touched on pre-natal yoga to give us just what we need to assist pregnant women in a class.

On top of all the knowledge, confidence, and a deeper meaning to yoga I gained, I met fourteen wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, and wildly colorful women who I know will be lifelong friends. I feel so grateful to be a graduate of the teacher training class of Sellwood Yoga and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I highly recommend the training for anyone wanting to deepen their own practice, gain a new perspective, seek confidence, or teach in any fashion.

Thank you, Bill and Savonn, for extending your hand out to each of us, guiding us through this journey, and giving us the strength, courage, and wisdom to share our love of yoga with others.

I don’t know what I expected. I tend to jump into things blind so I don’t change my mind, especially when I know it’s a great, healthy, adult action. I did not expect to come out the other side so loved and accepted as a human; I did not expect the serenity that has befallen me post-graduation. I don’t feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, and I don’t feel abandoned by the “ending” of school; it feels more like beginning, like transitioning into becoming more of the human I want to be.

Savonn and Bill are irreplaceable. They hold you gently in their hands and patiently learn who you are and how you learn, giving you the confidence to fly away and the comfort of knowing you can fly back and stay whenever it is needed. The teachers they employ to guide the teachers-in-training are not only well-versed in their subjects, but they are true friends to Savonn and Bill. The anatomy, philosophy, and mindfulness portions were all taught with a deep respect and passion for each subject by yogis who are firmly grounded.

My favorite part of the program is something I almost can’t promise another—my sangha. The love and support I have found in those women (and Bill) is unprecedented. The community that Savonn and Bill have made is heart-warming, humbling, awe-inspiring, and quickly became everything to me.