18 Day 200-hour Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training Course in Arcata, California, May 18 – June 4, 2025

Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training in California, USA

Join this Yoga Alliance registered program that includes a transformational and therapeutic approach to yoga. You will explore Vinyasa flow, Hatha, and Restorative yoga through an anatomy-informed alignment system. You will also learn modifications and adaptations for all bodies, including special populations such as seniors and those with injuries.

Highlights

• Eligible to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion
• Train at a top-rated Yoga Alliance school (9.5/10 NPS) and register as an RYT-200
• Study with world-class faculty and C-IAYT yoga therapists with over 25 years of experience
• Learn a biomechanically sound and anatomy-informed alignment framework
• Mindful Vinyasa, Hatha, Therapeutic, and Restorative practices
• Learn to teach from the “eyes of love”
  Help the world heal, one mindful breath at a time
• 17 nights accommodation with healthy lunches included

Skill level

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

Yoga styles

• Hatha
• Vinyasa
• Restorative
• Nidra
• Therapeutic

Accommodation

Facilities

• Dining area
• Garden
• Kitchen
• Picnic area
• Yoga studio
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi
• Meeting room

Blue Lake Sanctuary is a custom home yoga studio large enough to accommodate 16 people, located in Peggy’s abode in Blue Lake, California. With artfully designed architecture, a wood heat fire, and radiant heated floors, the space is perfect for hosting classes, retreats, and training.

In the upstairs kitchen and dining area, with its lovely pastoral scenery and views of the redwood forested hills, you will enjoy delicious, healthy lunches together with other students each day.

Peggy of Blue Lake Yoga Sanctuary is offering a variety of reasonably priced housing options on her property within walking distance to the Blue Lake Sanctuary Yoga Studio. Onsite accommodation options include single rooms, private loft spaces and tent/van camping options. You will have access to a shared bathroom, indoor living room, and a shared kitchen.

Program

Certification
Students who complete the training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).

200-hour Therapeutic yoga teacher training
Soma Yoga Institute’s therapeutic perspective explores yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, personal empowerment, and total well-being. They combine modern-day biomechanics and research-driven science with ancient teachings. You will leave with an understanding of anatomy, alignment, and modifications to keep your body safe for a lifetime of practice.

The institute’s non-dogmatic approach explores yoga philosophy as a practice of radical self-love, uncovering perspectives that encourage body positivity, unconditional acceptance, personal empowerment, and true mind-body-spirit health and wellness.

Graduates of this program are prepared to teach a variety of yoga class types, including all levels of Vinyasa yoga, alignment-based classes, yoga foundations, as well as senior, gentle, and Restorative yoga.

About the training
This teacher training offers students in-depth skills to explore yoga as a vehicle for vibrant health, self transformation, and personal empowerment. The curriculum includes a unique blend of alignment-based Vinyasa flow, a solid foundation in Hatha yoga, and 200 hours of instruction offered within a therapeutic framework.

The instruction will cover a wide range of yoga techniques, including yoga postures, anatomy, relaxation, breath awareness, pranayama, meditations to calm the mind, contemplations to transform limiting tendencies into life-affirming thought patterns, and the application of clear principles of alignment in order to create safety, balance, and freedom in yoga poses.

Students will explore concepts from Ayurveda, the Upanishads, Patanjali, and the chakra system as frameworks for the application of yoga as a journey towards radiant health and well-being. The asana emphasis will include both level one and two alignments based on Vinyasa flow sequencing, as well as gentler and restorative variations.

Rather than offer standard sequencing or rigid methodologies, students will be exposed to frameworks that will inspire each trainee to adopt the practices, awaken their creativity, and find their authentic voice as a teacher.

Graduates of this program will feel empowered to teach a variety of yoga class types, including all levels of Vinyasa yoga, alignment-based classes, yoga foundations, senior, gentle, and Restorative. This California immersion program is scheduled as an intensive program. While the program days will be full, the activities of the day will still be kept diverse and active.

The days will be a wonderful mix of digesting concepts intellectually, applying the concepts experientially, and diving into the practices of yoga. Care will be taken within the program schedule to ensure that students have a healthy experience both physically and mentally.

Soma Yoga Institute promises not to keep you sedentary for too long. There will be physical activity and deep relaxation built into the program every day.

Curriculum

• A solid foundation in classical Hatha yoga, including alignment-based Vinyasa flow and Restorative yoga within a therapeutic framework
• An anatomy and biomechanically informed alignment system that helps to address common misalignments and keep your students safe
• Modifications and adaptations for all bodies, including special populations such as seniors, pregnancy, and those with injuries
• Gain insights into your (true) nature through the wisdom of yoga and its philosophy
• Explore breathwork, mantra, and meditation as tools to create vibrant health and well-being in your life
• Learn the art of sequencing yoga classes that honor your authentic voice and meet the needs of your student population
• Business of yoga and how to build your yoga community
• Learn how to share practices with others in a safe and powerful way
• Build self-confidence and tap into your amazing potential in a supportive, nurturing environment
• Train with highly experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate teachers and yoga therapists

Daily schedule

• 08:00 Yoga asana practice, meditation, and pranayama
• 10:00 Methodology, alignment study, anatomy, and teaching skills
• 12:30 Delicious, healthy lunch prepared for you
• 13:30 Restorative or yoga Nidra, philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, and practice teaching
• 17:30 Break
• 19:00 Personal study or group work assignment

There will be one full day and one-half day off to rest and explore the area.

Included excursions
Trips to explore the Redwoods and California Coast are included in the program. In addition, there will be one full day off mid-way through the program to explore the local area.

Instructors

Peggy Profant, C-IAYT YOga Therapist, E-RYT 500, Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher

Peggy Profant, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 is a certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapy, Anusara Yoga certified, and a lead teacher trainer for Soma Yoga Institute since 2016. Her approach blends the ancient wisdom of yoga with biomechanically sound alignment to help her students become more firmly anchored in their true, radiant self. Every class she teaches is an artistic expression with meaningful and uplifting heart themes partnered with skillful sequencing and therapeutic alignment.

Liz Heffernan, MA, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist,E-RYT 500

Liz Heffernan, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT is an international yoga teacher and Integrative Yoga Therapist. She draws from over two decades of personal yoga practice, 25 years of teaching and extensive training in the Hatha yoga systems of Kripalu, Integrative Yoga Therapy, Ashtanga and Anusara. She currently directs and leads Yoga teacher trainings and workshops in worldwide locations, provides unique one-to-one mentoring for yoga teachers wishing to improve their skills and delivery, instructs daily yoga classes and offers private therapeutic sessions.

Activities

• Boating nearby
• Hiking
• Hot tub/Jacuzzi
• Massage
• Sauna
• Reike
• Shopping
• Spa
• Swimming
• Beach

Facilities

• Dining area
• Garden
• Kitchen
• Lounge
• Yoga studio
• Free filtered water
• Free Wi-Fi
• Tour assistance

Food

Soma Yoga Institute will provide a healthy lunch for you each day (except on your day off), made and prepared for you with love, included in the price.

Kitchen facilities will be available for you to use for breakfast. If you will be staying in the property in the evenings, you will be welcome to join the dinner club and share in meal preparation with each other or cook your food.

The following meal is included:

• Lunch

The following drinks are included:

• Water
• Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

• Vegetarian
• Gluten Free
• Organic
• Whole food
• Ayurvedic

If you have special dietary requirements it’s a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation.

Things to do (optional)
Northern California offers a variety of daily activities, including exploring and adventuring in the Redwood forests, rock climbing, surfing, swimming, hiking along rivers and coastline, and visits to the Arcata Wildlife Sanctuary.

What’s included

• Certificate of completion
• Yoga teacher training tuition
• 200-hour therapeutic yoga teacher training instruction
• 200-page comprehensive yoga teacher training manual
• 6 months of access to the online yoga teacher training material
• One and a half days off to explore the Humboldt Redwood Coast
• Transfers from and to Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV)
• 18 nights accommodation
• Daily healthy lunch (except on your day off)

What’s not included

• Additional activities
• Airfare
• Other meals

How to get there

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV). Complementary airport transportation will be provided from Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) in Humboldt County, California to your housing location.
You may also book your flight to arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Shared shuttles may be coordinated from SFO at an additional cost if others are interested. Please contact Soma Yoga Institute for more information on the SFO shuttle.

Another great way to get from the airport to Arcata / Blue Lake area is either a one-way rental car through Enterprise or via public bus transportation. Soma Yoga Institute can pick you up from the rental car drop-off location or bus station free of charge and take you to your lodging.