UPĀYA SCHOOL OF YOGA

208-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

At Upāya, we believe yoga is a holistic path of self-understanding, transformation, and deep remembering (pratyabhijna). This training is for anyone ready to explore the rich terrain of yoga’s roots and to grow their practice from within.

Our Purpose

We created this training to share the full spectrum of the yoga tradition, not just techniques, but the wisdom and philosophy that help dissolve the inner obstacles that block us from our natural radiance. Whether you’re called to teach or want to deepen your practice, this journey is about cultivating the tools to embody your path with authenticity, clarity, and heart.

What Makes Our Training Unique

Many trainings focus primarily on the mechanics of teaching. While those are important, we begin with the understanding that true teaching arises from lived experience. Our approach emphasizes:

  • Embodiment of the teachings through personal practice and reflection

  • A comprehensive dive into yoga’s roots, including Tantra, Ayurveda, and subtle body systems

  • Skillful means (Upāya) — practical tools for both self-inquiry and teaching

  • Honoring your voice and what it truly means to share yoga authentically

This is a space for honest inquiry, direct experience, and connection.

Learn about the program below or send us an email if you are ready to take the next step.

Our Program

Part One: Student Immersion

Fall 2025 | Every other weekend (Sat/Sun)

Schedule: Saturdays 8am–5pm · Sundays 9am–6pm (1-hour lunch break)
Dates: Sept 27–28 · Oct 11–12 · Oct 25–26 · Nov 8–9 · Nov 22–23

Building the Foundation of Personal Practice

This five-weekend immersion forms the first half of our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Rooted in the philosophy, practices, and mythology of yoga, this phase is designed to help you deepen your understanding and embody the teachings, creating a rich and personal foundation before stepping into the art of teaching.

Rather than beginning with sequencing and cueing, we start by exploring the “why” behind yoga: its history, its practices, and its profound philosophical systems. Through this immersion, you’ll cultivate a more integrated and authentic personal practice, one that will serve as the ground from which your teaching eventually grows. You'll also attune not only to your own unique needs and constitution, but also to those of your sangha, offering the invaluable opportunity to learn from the diverse expressions, experiences, and patterns of others in the group.

The immersion is more than content, it’s about embodiment. When the second half of the training begins (focused on class planning, cueing, sequencing, and voice), you will draw from lived experience rather than theory alone.

The student immersion is designed to help us begin within, clearing up our own inner obstacles, learning to use the philosophy and tools of yoga to support our own practice, so that when it’s time to guide others, you’ll be speaking from an integrated and grounded place.

  • 1. Foundations of Yoga Philosophy & History

    • Introduction to key Indian philosophical systems: Samkhya, Tantra, and Yoga Sutras

    • Core teachings from the Bhagavad Gita

    • Historical development of modern postural yoga (MPY)

    • Exploration of the many paths of yoga (jnana, karma, bhakti, raja)

    2. Asana: Intelligent Embodiment

    • Detailed breakdowns of foundational postures including:

      • Standing poses, Twists, Forward folds, Backbends, Lateral bends

      • Arm balances, Inversions, and individual alignment considerations

    • Introduction to E.A.S.E. alignment system (for self-practice and teaching) and how it supports diverse bodies

    • How physical practice relates to subtle anatomy, breath, and inner awareness

    3. Pranayama & Meditation

    • Daily breath practices (e.g., Ujjayi, Sama Vritti, Nadi Shodhana)

    • Meditation techniques 

    • Introduction to bandhas and their role in breath and meditation

    • Developing personal PY, meditation, mantra practice

    4. Subtle Body + Energetic Anatomy

    • Introduction to chakras, nadis, vayus, kundalini, and koshas

    • Assessing individual vayus in self and others + practices to support each vayu

    • Integration of mudras and bandhas as energetic tools

    5. Ayurveda for Yogis

    • Introduction to doshas, prakruti/vikruti, and the five elements

    • Dinacharya (daily routine) and yogic lifestyle tools for balance

    • The 20 gunas, ojas, agni, and other key concepts

    • understanding how to support your prakruti and vikruti through asana, PY, meditation 

    6. Mythology 

    • Stories of deities like Shiva, Shakti, Hanuman, Lakshmi, Vishnu, and more

    • Understanding of deities as qualities within the self

    • Using mythology to embody deeper meaning in practice

    • Sanskrit pronunciation and invocations

    7. Community, Self-Inquiry & Integration

    • Reflective journaling, small group discussions, and personal inquiry woven throughout

    • Exploration of the question: “What is yoga to you?”

    • Emphasis on living the practice, not just learning about it

Part Two: Teacher Development

Winter 2026 | Weekends (in-person) + Wednesday evenings (online)

Weekend Dates: Jan 10–11 · Jan 24–25 · Feb 7–8 · Feb 21–22 · Mar 7–8
Schedule: Saturdays 8am–5pm · Sundays 9am–6pm (1-hour lunch break)

Weekdays: Jan 14, 21, 28 · Feb 4, 11, 18, 25 · Mar 3
Schedule: Wednesdays, virtually 5:30-8:30pm

Stepping into the Seat of the Teacher

The Teacher Development Program forms the second half of our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. In this five-weekend immersion, we shift our focus from personal embodiment to the art and skill of teaching. This phase is where your voice as a teacher begins to emerge, supported by practical tools, ongoing mentorship, and deep study.

This portion of the training equips you with the methodologies, language, and presence needed to guide others. You’ll learn to craft meaningful sequences, teach with clarity and confidence, and translate yogic wisdom into accessible, resonant themes. Building on the foundation of your own practice, you’ll begin to step forward in service of others.

You’ll be supported in an environment that encourages feedback, creativity, and experimentation, while honoring the ethical responsibility and required inner work that comes with teaching yoga.

The Student Immersion is a prerequisite to attending the Teacher Development Program as it makes up the first half of our 200-hour training.

  • 1. Sequencing Methodologies

    • Learn to sequence from anatomical and energetic understanding

    • Using wave theory to build classes that follow a logical progression

    • Various styles such as peak pose sequencing

    2. Theming and Distilling Yogic Wisdom

    • How to craft authentic themes from philosophy, mythology, and personal insight

    • Tools to weave themes subtly and skillfully throughout class

    • Ways to translate complex teachings into digestible pieces

    • Continued study of yoga philosophy from a teaching context

    3. Teaching Pranayama, & Meditation

    • Techniques for guiding breath and meditation in a class setting

    • Teaching short breath or meditation practices

    4. Cueing, Language, & Voice

    • Effective cueing based on clarity and precision with the E.A.S.E strategy

    • Accessible language for diverse bodies, needs, and learning styles

    • Finding your authentic teaching voice

    • Giving verbal assists that are rooted in consent and clarity

    5. Practice Teaching & Feedback

    • Small group teaching labs with real-time feedback

    • Opportunities to create and teach full-length classes

    • Self-assessment, reflection and refinement

    6. Integration, Identity, & Next Steps

    • Ongoing journaling and self-inquiry to support your growth

    • Exploring your unique teaching philosophy and strengths

    • Guidance on the business of yoga including: teaching opportunities, insurance, and more

    • Honoring the path of the teacher as a lifelong practice of learning

Certification

Students who complete both parts of the training will receive a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification and are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200.

Your Investment

Full Program: $3000
Student Immersion: $1290 · Teacher Training: $1710
Deposit: $250 per part secures your spot! (non-refundable after 8/1)
Early Bird: $100 off per part if you commit before August 1st!

How to Apply

We keep our training small and intentional to ensure personalized guidance and a strong sense of community. If this path speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you. If you are ready to take the next step, click below to send us an email.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The student immersion is a stand-alone program designed for students to deepen their personal practice and begin their philosophical yogic studies. Anyone interested in taking this immersion can take it as a stand-alone program. Additionally, it counts as continuing education for current yoga teachers.

    The teacher development program is only available to those who have taken the student immersion first. In order to receive a 200-hour certificate both parts are required.

  • We welcome students of all levels. While some familiarity with asana and meditation is helpful, you don’t need an established personal, at-home practice. You’ll be supported in developing one throughout the training. Most importantly, bring a genuine interest and curiosity to explore the depth of yoga.

  • Yes, we offer flexible payment plans to accommodate different financial situations. Please contact us for more information on payment options.

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  • A 200-hour yoga teacher training is a comprehensive program designed to deepen your understanding and practice of yoga, whether you aspire to become a certified yoga teacher or simply wish to deepen your personal practice.

    It is the first step to becoming a yoga teacher. After receiving your 200-hour certificate you are considered an RYT200. You can then enroll in a 300-hour teacher training to become an RYT500.

  • Yes. We are a Yoga Alliance registered school and you will be able to register with them upon successful completion of this program if that interests you.

  • We always recommend that students pursue training with a teacher they resonate with and have practiced with before.

    Whether we know each other or not, if you have a passion for yoga, a curious mind, a sense of humor and humility, and a desire to deepen your practice physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, you’ll fit right in here!

    We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who are ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation through yoga.

Meet Your Teachers

Rebekah Boatrite

LEAD FACILITATOR | E-RYT500, YACEP

I was introduced to yoga and meditation as a high school sophomore, but it wasn’t until a pivotal moment a decade ago that I enrolled in my first alignment-based teacher training. What began as a desire to deepen my own practice became the start of a lifelong commitment to studying and teaching yoga.

Over the past ten years, I’ve been fortunate to learn from a wide range of teachers, including Jason Crandell, Judith Hanson Lasater, Tiffany Cruikshank, Darren Rhodes, teachers in the Anusara lineage, and many others.

My spiritual and philosophical practices are rooted in the Trika lineage—a non-dual Tantrik philosophy that recognizes the sacred in all things and views embodiment not as an obstacle, but as an expression of divine Consciousness. I’m deeply grateful to my teachers Douglas Brooks, Todd Tesen, Christopher Wallis, Susanna Harwood Rubin, and the faculty at OCHS and Yogic Studies.

My intention as a teacher is to offer you the tools to empower your practice, to recognize your innate radiance, and to inspire you to explore the inner and outer landscape with more intention, presence, and wonder.

Ashley Van Dyne

LEAD FACILITATOR | E-RYT500

I am an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor with over a decade of experience sharing the healing practices of yoga and Ayurveda. I completed both my 200- and 300-hour trainings under Jillian Glikbarg, with additional studies in the Tantric Hatha tradition with Rod Stryker. My Ayurvedic education was rooted in the Shakti School, where I studied under Katie Silcox, Mary Thompson, Brooke Sullivan, and many other inspiring teachers.

My teaching is rooted in the Sri Vidya lineage of Tantric Yoga, a tradition that honors the path of the householder—the seeker who remains engaged in the world, rather than retreating from it. What I love about this path is its relevance to our modern lives. Tantra offers practical tools to help us show up fully: embodied, clear, and connected to a deeper purpose.

Rather than striving for perfection or escape, this approach invites us to embrace our lives as the practice itself. It teaches us to work skillfully with our energy and awareness so that we can live with more presence, vitality, and joy. Through yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, breathwork, and rest, I guide students toward rediscovering their most vibrant, aligned, and joyful selves.

Mary Santangelo

Supporting Faculty | Teaching Assistant

Dr. Kyle Pratt, PT

Supporting Faculty

Our Studio

Both parts of our training will be held in our gorgeous studio space located at:

1633 Fillmore Street, Suite 112
Denver, CO

  • One block south of beautiful City Park

  • Mats, blocks, straps, and blankets available

  • Plenty of nearby coffee shops and restaurants

  • Ample parking in the private surface lot

  • Kitchenette with fridge, microwave, and tea kettle available

 

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