200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program

We have been a locally owned and family-run yoga and wellness business since 2002.  What sets our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program apart is our experience both teaching yoga as well as running successful yoga and wellness businesses. Besides Sellwood Yoga, we owned and operated Bernal Yoga (in San Francisco). After nearly two decades of operating and teaching at our studios, we know what it takes to teach, and we know what business owners are looking for in new teachers.

Our program captures everything that makes Sellwood Yoga so outstanding. We strive to cultivate a warm, welcoming, and non-dogmatic atmosphere; we believe that yoga is a spacious and flexible practice with room for a diversity of approaches. Our emphasis is on the benefits of yoga, mindfulness, and healthy living for the whole person.

​Our next 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program runs from October 2023 – March 2024, enrollment opens in January 2023.

If you haven’t taken a class with us before, we  recommend that you do so before applying.  That way we have a chance to meet you, and you have the opportunity to make sure our teachers, classes, and studio are a good fit.
 
The exact dates and times of the next training will be finalized soon. Here is what the typical schedule looks like:
 
Weekend Intensives (10-12 weekends):  
  • Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00-5:00pm:   We try to spread these out so they are two times per month, every other weekend.
 
Weekday Evening Sessions:  
  • Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm:  Weekday evening classes meet once per week during certain months (about 1/3) of the training.
 
Self Directed “Homework”:  There is some course work that is assigned during certain modules of the training.
 
Please get in touch in you have any questions. You can email us at info@sellwoodyoga.com
 
We look forward to hearing from you!

Our teacher training program will meet you where you are and take you where your inherent strengths lead. We will help you build on those strengths and align them with your vision and goals.

We have an extremely high placement rate for those who want to teach after graduating from our program. Many of our past graduates have gone on to teach at Sellwood Yoga and other studios, while others have decided to continue as students with a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of the role yoga plays in health, healing, and well-being.

If you’re interested in finding out more, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at info@sellwoodyoga.com, so we can answer any questions and help you decide if our program is a good fit for you.

Program Details

Faculty

Our lead instructors, faculty, and guest teachers are committed to helping you hone in on your strengths, expand your skill set and deepen your knowledge. Our supportive guidance will help build your confidence so that you not only feel the positive effects of your growth but also enjoy what you are learning and teaching.

You lead instructors are Sellwood Yoga studio owners and siblings, Bill and Savonn Wyland:

The other Sellwood Yoga instructors are an integral part of the teacher training program and will be leading modules on mindfulness, yoga anatomy, philosophy and spirituality, pranayama and breath work, social justice, trauma informed yoga and more!

Learn more about other faculty members by following the links below:

Techniques, Training, and Practice: Asana, Pranayama and Mindfulness

Asana: The physical practice of asana (yoga poses) is often what first brings people to the yoga mat. In this module we cover yoga poses in two distinct and different styles of yoga; Vinyasa Yoga and Gentle and Restorative Yoga. This broad approach helps students personally learn how to teach yoga to both new and experienced students as well as people who benefit from a gentle, restorative, or therapeutic practice:

  • Skillful, alignment-based teaching principles and practice
  • Adjustments, modifications, and variations
  • Sequencing safe and level-appropriate classes

Pranayama & Breath Work: Pranayama is the formal practice of controlling the breath and is one of the key elements of yoga. In this module, we will cover simple and effective breathing techniques to incorporate into your own practice and use in your teaching. You will also get to experience relaxing and rejuvenating breath work sessions with local breath teacher Margaret Townsend that are always a favorite of each teacher training.

Mindfulness and Meditation: We are proud of our emphasis on mindfulness and meditation at Sellwood Yoga, In this unit, students will learn how how to help reduce the physical and emotional symptoms of stress through mindful practices and meditation. This module helps keep a calm and balanced approach in learning how to become a yoga teacher. 

Teaching Methodology and Instructor Skills

In this unit, we will cover the basics of skillful, effective teaching, including:

  • Communication and observation skills
  • Teaching and demonstrating styles and skills
  • The role of assisting and recommending variations/corrections
  • Time management and setting priorities
  • Coaching skills
  • Injury prevention/rehabilitation
  • Special considerations for pre/post-natal, kids/tweens/teens, and seniors

We will also cover the important business-side of teaching yoga. Our 20 years of industry experience means we can show you the best practices for getting started in a new yoga teaching career or bringing the skills you learned into your current profession. Each student is given a custom plan of action based on their interests in applying the training to the real world. You will feel comfortable and confident that you have the knowledge and skills to set you apart.

Yoga-Related Anatomy and Physiology

One of the beautiful things about yoga is that it forces us to acknowledge our embodiment. The practice is grounded in the fact that we have bodies, and it’s essential that yogis have a solid understanding of the basic workings of our physical forms. In this module, Christine Morita McVey will give students  an in-depth exploration of human anatomy and physiology as it relates to yoga poses. Students will be able to apply this knowledge into a greater understanding and depth of both a personal yoga practice as well as applying it to teaching yoga.

Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics for Yoga Instructors

Yoga Philosophies, Traditions, and Texts: In this unit, we will dive into the ancient foundations of yoga, including some select readings of the historically important Yoga Sutras,  Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita. Honoring the past and and paths of yoga are an integral part of keeping the practice of yoga sacred. Maria Williquette will lead you through an enticing and relatable study of these traditions.
 
Ethics for Yoga Instructors: We will explore what it means to be an effective and responsible yoga instructor, including upholding safe and trusting relationships and boundaries between students and teachers.
 
Seva and Service: Yoga is an inherently service-oriented path; we practice in order to more fully engage in the world, with all of its joys and suffering. In this module, we will work to understand the ways that yoga can serve others, along with other ways to be of service as a yogi.

Trauma Informed Yoga: NEW for 2023

This training provides a foundational understanding of trauma and how it impacts the body and the mind. Through a trauma sensitive lens, sisters Rosey and Annie will explore the framework of trauma on an individual and collective level and provide opportunities for self-reflection, growth, and learning. This module will also offer yoga and mindfulness-based practices and provide tools to foster resilience. Participants will learn best practices to support themselves and others on the path of health, healing, and empowered well-being.

Teaching Livestream Classes: NEW for 2023

This section covers the best practices we have learned from teaching livestream and “hybrid” livestream combined with In person classes during the COVID19 global pandemic. Through our trial and error from the past almost 2 years and counting you will learn about the best audio and video equipment we now recommend to how to set up and use the required technology Zoom etc, as well as how to teach effectively in this different medium.

Teaching Practicum

It’s time to put everything into practice! In this final module, we’ll put all the pieces together. We build up to this point in the training by giving you experience little by little so that you’re prepared to teach on your own. 

Students will:

  • Participate in practice classes to give and receive feedback
  • Observe, journal, and discuss classes taught by other instructors
  • Assist students while other instructors teach
  • Practice teaching as the lead instructor

Interested in applying?

The dates for our next 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program are October, 2023 through  March, 2024.  If you’d like more information about the program, drop us a note!

Timeline, Tuition, and Payment

Please send an email to info@sellwoodyoga.com to inquire about application timeline and exact dates of the training.

The total cost for the teacher training program is $3500. This tuition includes unlimited regular yoga classes (in studio and/or live stream) at Sellwood Yoga from the start of the program until the end. It does not include additional required textbooks (you can usually pick up used copies of these books or borrow them from previous graduates).

Payments: Once accepted into the program, you will be asked to select a payment method and plan (we will go over the options with you). We accept cash, checks, and most credit cards. You will receive $80 in studio credit if you pay by cash or check.

  • Option 1: 2 payments of $1750. 1st payment is due within 14 days of acceptance. 2nd payment of $1750 is due within 2 months of your first payment. You can make arrangements with us to have your card charged for the 2nd payment on a date you select.
  • Option 2: 4 payments of $875. 1st payment is due within 14 days of acceptance. The remaining payments will be billed on an agreed upon schedule to a credit card on file. Includes a $100 processing fee.

If you decide not to complete the teacher training program, you are still responsible for any remaining payments.

Cancellations and program withdrawals need to be in writing and sent to info@sellwoodyoga.com.

  • If made before August 31, 2023 you will receive a refund less a $875 deposit.
  • No refunds given after August 31, 2023.

 

Partial scholarships and work study options may be available. Please arrange a time to talk with us about your need/situation.

What Our Graduates Are Saying

Sellwood Yoga’s Teacher Training far exceeded my expectations in terms of preparing me to be a yoga instructor. The curriculum steadily guided the deepening of my own practice while introducing me to key concepts in anatomy, body mechanics, proper alignment, and intelligent sequencing. Yoga philosophy and the practical application of mindfulness and breathwork made the program a rich learning experience. All of the instructors consistently emphasized listening to the body, healthy and safe alingnment, and self-care and modifications.

Not only did I learn so much from the many amazing program instructors, but I also learned a lot from my classmates. Savonn masterfully facilitated my deepening into my own wisdom and my learning from the wisdom of my classmates with fun Q&A sessions and active discussions. The safety and respect I was given as a student modeled for me how to create the same for my students.

From the get-go, Savonn and Bill encouraged us to find our voices and unique gifts and to bring our inspired selves to our teaching. Actual practice as teachers began early in the program, so that, upon graduation, I already had a meaningful amount of positive experience as a teacher. This aspect of the program has been so valuable in helping me to make the transition from practicing to teaching. Savonn and Bill are deeply dedicated to creating compassionate and confident teachers. Most importantly, I have learned to teach from my authentic self, confident in the knowledge that I have something unique to offer. I highly recommend Sellwood Yoga’s Teacher Training Program!

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.