An Earnest Empathic Approach That Embodies Compassionate Teaching

With lead trainer, Denise Divine and selected expert teachers and guides, LIVE and in Person!

LOCATION

All classes meet in person in Santa Cruz, CA

TIMES

Fridays: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturdays: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sundays: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

*Wednesdays On Zoom: 4:00-8:00 pm

Our Program is among one of the highest ranking schools on the globe. 

The Divine Light Yoga Teacher Training program has been registered with Yoga Alliance since 2008. Our curriculum meets & exceeds the official requirements, and it is fully accredited by the international Yoga Alliance. Our rating among graduates is 4.85 out of 5.0!

Full Certification upon Completion with Divine Light Yoga and Register with Yoga Alliance for 200 Hour RYT Status

NEW DATES 2024-2025

 September 12-15 Opening Weekend, all days 8-6pm 
and *25th

 October 11-13th and *23rd

 November 8-10th and *20th

 December 6-8th and *18th

 January  3-5th and *15th and *31st

 February 1-2, Graduation

TUITION

$3100 after July 19th

$3300 after September 1

Scholarship Opportunity for 1 Student, Inquire NOW!

Space is Limited! ONE spot left!!!

Welcome to Valerie Mosell, E-RYT 500, YACEP, RPYT/Author, Educator, Steward of Yoga, Breath and Somatic Meditation! She will join us for two weekends to co-teach Anatomy and Physiology!

Valerie Moselle is an advanced yoga and breathwork teacher, author, and entrepreneur. A 20-year veteran of teaching, her approach is informed by functional anatomy, biomechanics, and emerging theories in neuroscience. Valerie is the founder of ReSourcing™, a system of simple, accessible, movement, breathing, and visualization techniques based on evidence and best practices to regulate the nervous system and promote mind-body integration. She sees folks as individuals each poised to derive unique benefits from embodied practice, and is known for practical sessions that inspire a playful exploration of breath, movement, self-inquiry, and surrender. 

A student of yoga for nearly three decades, Valerie has studied and taught in the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Holland, the U.K. and India. One of her superpowers is supporting new teachers in understanding and applying functional anatomy and core concepts of biomechanics and kinesiology to yoga and breathwork. 

She currently lives in Santa Cruz, CA where she authored Breathwork: A 3 Week Breathing Program for Clarity, Calm, and Better Health and co-founded Luma, an award-winning family-focused holistic wellness center.

Questions: denise@divinelightyoga.com

What is New?

A lot has happened over these last few years with me and Divine Light Yoga.  My teaching has shifted towards a deeply more empathic, compassionate and restorative approach.  Between Covid, the Fires of 2020 and unprecedented changes in my home, personal and family life, my heart and mind were broken open and have slowly reformed.  Underneath it all, my Soul, the essence of me stood witnessing it all and gradually she reminded me of what is eternal…how to come home again and again.  This 24-year practice has transformed, and I feel ready to offer a revitalized and radically empathic approach to yoga teacher training.

Empathy is our feeling of awareness of how others feel whereas compassion is a step further, it is our outreach, our emotional response to offer help.  An empathic approach asks us to see ourselves and students as we are and a compassionate response offers to help ourselves and our students to where the heart desires to be.  That is the earnest shift I am speaking of, a culmination of reformation of my heart and mind, my Souls’ wisdom. 

Experiencing the pain of perfectionism, I realize the profound value of patience over perfection. Not a fan of competition and comparison especially on the mat, I remain committed to compassionate sequencing and asana alignment, consistently reorienting the asana to the person, for optimum benefit.  Working towards reflective witnessing over constructive criticism gives you a stronger experience of your teaching abilities.  Practicing the art of Embodiment and that when it is overwhelming, to know that you can pause, not push through.  Creating a safe practice equates choice, choice to decide what you are and are not ready, able and willing to move into.  And most of all, continuing to ensure a safe, supportive and inclusive environment remains a steadfast element of the Divine Light classroom.  Realizing the intrinsic value of trauma informed language and polyvagal theory opened the way to tailoring the teaching to meet your individual needs to help you blossom into the absolute best version of you! 

Choosing a Yoga Teacher training is one of the most empowering decisions for your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health, ever.  The decision reaches into your reserves of time, energy, money, and most of all, well-being.  After the last couple of years, I know we are collectively experiencing emotions that we cannot place, dissolution of structures and systems that held us steady and seeking authentic community and tools to manage our selves in this rapidly changing world. What held us feels different or gone and we want, we need to find a way to move in this world with a renewed sense of hope, inner peace and vitality.  Whether you wish to teach or not may not be the question to ask. 

The question is

are you ready to genuinely invite personal transmutation of energies, beliefs, practices and fears into a richly connected and contained center that you can live from with a balanced and open heart, stable mind, whole body and most of all, emotional fortitude and harmony?

Why Choose Divine Light Yoga?

Because since 2008 I have offered a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher training that was rich and based in the 8 Limbed Path of Patanjali and refined principles of alignment as well as ethics, rigorous standards for completion and a rewarding path to a daily spiritual practice to base your teachings from.  All of that is still in place, and now, it is overlaid with an earnest focus towards empathic and compassionate teaching to meet you exactly where you are today, so that you can reveal your authentic Self and embody an empathic teaching platform, based in your personal intuitive wisdom.

You will dive deeply into the most sacred texts of Yoga and see how the 8 limbs transition you from an external focus to physical, mental and emotional processes that directly impact your autonomic nervous system towards expanded consciousness.  You will directly experience how your personal relationship to every life experience impacts how your feel, react and respond to life and how you can transform that into a benefit for yourself and students.

Integrated into this training is a dedicated focus on how interpersonal biology, polyvagal theory and somatic psychology provides a physiological basis of how our life experiences influence who we are.  Becoming an empathic witness and advocate for yourself, that generosity in heart will overflow and extend to others, from family and friends to your students.  Your true authentic self will naturally emerge from a wellspring of deep understanding, forgiveness and love for who you are and all you have encountered.  The stories fall away, and we are left standing in our most ebullient and confident Self.

I am overjoyed to share with you this revitalized program, so you are able to learn to listen deeply, trust your intuitive nature, release self-doubt and feel confident as you stand in all of the Light of who you are, in all parts of your life, and most especially in a classroom.  When you are naturally at ease, a magnetic resonance emanates from your deepest being and those that resonate likewise will be drawn to you.  I invite you, from my wellspring of commitment to this path, to join me in this journey.  Whether you wish to teach or emphatically shift your perspectives, this course will surround you in community and give you a radical mental, emotional and spiritual shift towards who you truly are. 

Your light is already there, let’s clear away what is blocking it, and shine it up!

My philosophy as the creator of this course is clear, to empower your Self illumination and for you to experience your own Divine Light, your grace and wisdom and to realize that it is from your self-awareness that you stand to be a guide for others.

We as teachers simply light the path, as authorities on subjects, not in an authoritarian way. Your input, participation and framing brings an essential essence into the classroom. Embodying wisdom and emotional maturity of the lifestyle become natural.  We learn how to carry that which is already within us, once awakened and to aid others in doing the same, to become their own guru, to shine their light, no matter how intense and dark the storm may be.  This course truly is a course on how to “know thyself”. 

PROGRAM INTENTION AND PURPOSE

The Divine Light Yoga Teacher Training program is based in the classical form of the Eight Limbed Path with intentional and contemporary science, tolerance and phenomenal practices practical for today . The course is based on a richly integrated curriculum which provides for a personally transformative experience where you can understand, assimilate and develop a strong platform from which to teach. A personal spiritual practice or Sadhana, becomes the basis from which you teach, and in your own practice and growth, you develop your authentic voice as a teacher.  We teach with humility, wisdom and the experience of what has changed our lives and base these teachings on the proven and sacred yogic texts and upon what the great masters have shared throughout history. You gain the knowledge of the key elements critical for effective teaching from these course components and most of all, you find your footing, your voice and your clear place in teaching.

What We Will Embody

What You will Learn

The Roots of Yoga and Ayurveda

Lineage and History

Branches of Yogic forms

Ayurvedic Lifestyle Practices

The Sacred Texts

The Classical Asanas

66 Important Asanas, Principles to avoid harm, contraindications and modifications

Art and Science of Compassionate Sequencing, Alignment and Use of Props

Effective and Inviting Teaching Language with awareness around Trauma Informed

Class Structuring: remove the mystery, awaken the joy

  Yogic Anatomy and Physiology

Beyond Memorizing Muscles: Digging into Adjustments and Alignment to prevent injury and bring joy

Understanding the why and how of movement in Yoga

Unraveling the Nervous System

Neuroscience of Movement

Subtle Body Energy Systems

Chakras, Nadis, Koshas and the Five Senses

Shadow work, Consciousness exploration and the psychology of Awareness

Meditation, Mantra and Mudra

Finding a Comfortable Seat

Mantra and the Sacred Vibration for Cellular and Spiritual Harmonizing

Mudra for Hands and Eyes: It all comes together

The Seat of the Teacher

Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Classroom

Avoiding the pitfalls of Teacher worship, abdicating Self Authority and False Leadership

Giving Credit where due: Cultural Appropriation to Cultural Appreciation

Ethics of a Yoga Teacher

The Business of Yoga

Creating a basic business plan, certification, registration and insurance

Marketing and Branding your Platform

Keeping Track of your Hours for Experienced -RYT

Social media

Registered with Yoga Alliance

This Teacher Training program is a 200-hour registered Yoga Alliance program. Each classroom hour counts towards the required time and must be fulfilled. In addition, outside study, practice, assisting and observation times will be required as well as meeting a personal Sadhana commitment. All reading, written assignments and class participation is part of meeting the requirements. Any missed hours will be scheduled for makeup, and may require additional work and/or fees. An important part of your participation and successful completion of the program is the continuation and deepening of your personal daily yoga practice. As a student you will be strongly encouraged to participate as often as possible in classes are not included in the cost of the training, but are an integral part of your personal skill and knowledge base.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

• Attendance at all classroom hours.

• Completion of two 40 day meditations with summary paper written.

• Assist in 4 classes within our Teacher Training times.

• Complete all outside reading and demonstrate proficiency of information with passing score on final exam.

• Observe 2 classes outside of Teacher Training times.

• Participate in 6 yoga classes outside of Teacher Training times. These classes are not included in your Teacher Training registration fee and will be at your expense.

• Teach at least 2 classes within our Teacher Training hours created by yourself plus various other short sequences.

• Providing you meet the above requirements, Divine Light Yoga will certify you as meeting the Yoga Alliance requirements and it is up to you to then submit your paperwork to Yoga Alliance for YA Registration.

PROGRAM STUDY MATERIALS AND REQUIRED BOOKS

A comprehensive book list will be provided to you upon acceptance into the program, with recommendations on where to purchase your books. While the cost of these books is not included in the program fee, the expectation is that you are building a library for your continued use. You may find these books to become invaluable not only in your personal practice, but also in your teaching. Also, depending on what books you already own, can borrow or share, your cost may vary. A course manual is included.

 PERSONAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

The program will include asana, meditation and pranayama practices each time we meet. It is highly recommended that you understand your limitations, both physically, mentally and emotionally and work to develop your own practice. If you do have any specific health concerns, please be clear on the application and seek your doctor’s advice and release prior to enrolling in the course. A yoga teacher training course can be demanding on all levels, consider the present state of mind, body and emotion before you enter into this program and do so with wisdom.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

If you have any questions, please email or call me directly (denise@divinelightyoga.com or (410)570-2878) prior to completing the application. When you are satisfied you can meet the requirements please submit the application online with your non-refundable $500 deposit, which is applied against your full tuition payment.  Please select one of the Payment Options and sign the Waiver.

 REFUND POLICY

Deposits are non refundable once your application has been accepted. Tuition minus the nonrefundable deposit is fully refundable up to 14 days prior to the beginning of the teacher training program. Once the program begins and after the first YTT weekend, tuition including the nonrefundable deposit is nonrefundable, and you are liable for the entire tuition to be paid in full, except in extreme cases of unprecedented or unforeseen circumstances. A wait list of students will be held up to the beginning of the course.

ASSESSMENT AND COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM

Throughout the program we will work together in an intimate classroom setting to insure that you fully comprehend what is being taught. Our intention is to be clear, uplifting and fully supportive of your learning, personal growth and future teaching abilities. Empowering you to be comfortable, relaxed and competent in the teaching environment is important as well as awakening in you that divine spark of bhaava, love for yourself and others, in sharing the transformational and healing powers of Yoga.

Each step of the way, throughout the course, you will learn techniques for teaching, how to hold the Seat of the Teacher, and how to create and maintain a personal Sadhana.  You will experience personal growth and transformation. You will know your strengths and challenges and together we will work to draw out your best in our supportive classroom environment.