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200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Starts January 2024.

DirectOr: Stacey Hartman RYT500, Owner of Branches of Yoga. 

Guest Speakers:  Machelle Lee of Roots and River Yoga, Whitney Ingram of Ebb and Flow Adventures Yoga.

Our 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training offers a wide range of opportunities to satisfy your goals and desires for your yoga practice. Whether you're driven to teach yoga, go deeper in your personal practice, or find solace in a tight-knit community that shares your passion, our program is for you.

Throughout our time together, we’ll explore the history, philosophy, and practical applications of yoga, along with meditation, asanas, pranayama, human physiology, and comparative anatomy. This mix of topics and experiences will help you build your teaching abilities and enhance your personal practice. We'll also delve into subjects like Yin Yoga, Myofascial Release (MFR), and Trauma-Informed Yoga.

Our training will be an excellent fit if you seek a smaller, more intimate group setting and a well-rounded foundation in yoga philosophy and practice.  With plenty of personalized attention and support, you will be exposed to the many 'branches" of yoga, dive into exciting complementary disciplines, and more!

By the end of this program, you will be fully qualified to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level.

Join us in this exploration of mind, body, and soul as we uncover the layers of yoga and cultivate a community with a shared love of this transformational discipline.

Space is limited to 8.

 

Program Requirements:

Branches of Yoga follows and exceeds Yoga Alliance’s requirements and regulations.

In Studio:

  • Attend all 10 weekends

    •  Missed hours can be made up through approved workshops and written assignments.

  • Observe 6 classes under the apprenticeship of Stacey Swierzbinski.

  • Attend 20 yoga classes at Branches of Yoga or other yoga studios.

At Home:

  • Yoga Philosophy book discussions Via Zoom on Friday evenings (except the first Friday) from 7-9.  

    • Discuss readings from The Bhagavad Gita, Yamas and Niyamas, and the Yoga Sutras.

  • Daily Meditation and practice journal entries.

  • Complete a community project and provide a written paper on your experience.


Retreat 

Experience a thought-provoking and restorative weekend in Shepherdstown, WV, with E-RYT 500 and Ayurvedic Specialist Whitney Ingram. Throughout the weekend, you’ll delve into trauma-informed yoga, gain practice teaching others, engage in group philosophy discussions, and even enjoy SUP Yoga!


Program Costs:

  • $300 Deposit: required and non-refundable at the time of application

  • $2,600 (after deposit) Early Bird Special: If paid in full by December 1st 

  • $2,800 (after deposit): Paid in full by January 1st - Payment plans are available upon request. 

Pricing includes:

  • Branches of Yoga Teacher Training Binder/Manual

  • 6 Week Apprenticeship w/Director

  • Branches of Yoga 20 Class Pass

  • Trauma-Informed Retreat Weekend in West Virginia with Special Guest Whitney Ingram

Not included:

  • Any classes taken outside of Branches of Yoga

  • Workshops for missed time

  • Required Books (We will send a list at a later date)


Program Dates and Hours

*subject to change*



January

  • January 12th: 6:00-9:00 PM

  • January 13th-14th: 11:30-7:00 PM

February

  • February 9th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • February 10th-11th: 11:30-7:00 PM

March

  • March 8th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • March 9th-10th: 11:30-7:00 PM

April

  • April 12th: 6:00-8:00 PM (via Zoom)

  • April 13th-14th: 11:30-7:00 PM


May

  • May 10th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • May 11th-12th:11:30-7:00 PM


June

  • June 21st-23rd: Retreat Weekend WV

July

  • July 12th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • July 13th-14th: 11:30-7:00 PM

August:

  • August 9th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • August 10th-11th: 11:30-7:00 PM

September

  • September 13th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • September 14th-15th: 11:30-7:00 PM 

October

  • October 11th: 6:00-8:00 PM (Via Zoom)

  • October 12th-13th: 11:30-7:00 PM

Director & Lead Trainer

Stacey Swierzbinski, E-RYT 500, YACEP

Branches of Yoga Founder & Owner

Stacey's yoga journey began 12 years ago after having long-time struggles with depression and anxiety. She was looking for ways to help with these issues and came across an article on how yoga can help and decided to try it. She immediately fell in love with the practice and continued to attend weekly classes.

In 2012 Stacey decided to take the 200 hour yoga teaching training to deepen her personal practice and played with the idea of teaching but was still unsure. After graduating from Blue Heron Wellness in Silver Spring she began teaching a small group of friends and slowly found the confidence to continue teaching adding additional classes along the way.

Stacey completed her 300-hour advanced yoga teacher training at The Yoga Center of Columbia in December 2017 and is now a registered yoga teacher at the 500-hour level. Stacey also has continuing education in Kundalini Yoga and Yin Yoga, and is a certified 40-hour Trauma Informed Yoga teacher. Her teaching style includes meditation, slow flow, strength-building, and finding ease while holding and breathing in the postures.

Guest Trainers

Machelle Lee, MA, E-RYT 500, CMT, YACEP,

Roots & River Yoga Founder and Instructor

Machelle has 29 years of experience as a yoga teacher, massage therapist, childbirth educator, and lecturer. She holds a Masters Degree in Mythology and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and has completed a 300-hour advanced yoga teacher training in yoga psychology. 

Machelle has cultivated a therapeutic approach utilizing Yin Yoga as well as Gentle and Vinyasa styles in a way that weaves together yogic teachings with modern scientific research on tissue rehabilitation, traditional medicines, and psychology. This approach to the whole person aids one in feeling and understanding the bodymind connection both somatically and intellectually. Specializing in the health and rehabilitation of fascia, connective tissues, and joints, Machelle is committed to serving students in a way that best fits their unique abilities and anatomic structure. 

 

Whitney Ingram E-RYT 500, Ayurvedic Specialist

Owner & Founder of Ebb & Flow Adventures. 

Whitney is an ever evolving wellness and outdoor enthusiast, who has always sought education and experiences that broaden her understanding, guidance, and love of mindfulness, nature and community. She has been a yoga practitioner since 2007 and a yoga teacher since 2012. Additionally, she has a former focus within the beauty industry and presently a professional land consultant. Her first yoga teacher was a volunteer who made an impression on her passion to approach wellness with practicality, inclusivity, and to support community.

She is trained in Prana Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, SUP Yoga, and is an Ayurvedic Specialist. Whitney is a continuing education provider for Yoga Alliance, an Ambassador for the Prison Yoga Project and has been featured in Mantra Magazine and Yoga Journal.

She has been guiding yoga classes and trainings, wellness retreats, hikes and more for 10+ years. Whitney blends various traditions including traditional and flow yoga, the science of ayurveda and astrology, and never skimps on rest, relaxation, and humor when curating her adventures. Her passion is to be in service of her own body, mind, and spirit health, in return servicing her community by creating adventure for you from her lived in experiences.