Upaya School of Yoga | Level 1 Yoga Teacher Training

Co-taught by Ashley Van Dyne & Rebekah Boatrite

  • You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.

    Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

At Upaya, we believe yoga is a holistic path of self-understanding, transformation, and deep remembering. 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 (Upaya) — 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 fill out the application below if you are ready to take the next step.

Application Link

Program Structure

Our 200-hour training is offered in two parts, giving you time to integrate the teachings and develop both your personal practice and teaching skills.

Part One: Student Immersion

2026 Cohort
Schedule: Saturday and Sunday 9 am–6 pm · 1-hour lunch break
Dates: Sept 26-27, October 10-11, 24-25, November 7-8, 21-22

Location: Upaya Yoga Studio, 1633 Fillmore Street, Suite 112, Denver, CO

Building the Foundation of Personal Practice

This five-weekend immersion forms the first half of our Level 1 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.

  • 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 itn text goes here

Part Two: Teaching Skills + Practice Development

2026 Cohort

Schedule: Saturday + Sunday 9 am-6 pm | 1-hr lunch break Dates: December 5-6, 19-20, January 2-3, 16-17, 30-31
February 13-14: Graduation weekend
Location: Upaya Yoga Studio, 1633 Fillmore Street, Suite 112, Denver, CO

Weekdays: December 16, 30
January 13, 27
Schedule: Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 pm Location: Online

The second half of the training builds on the philosophical and energetic foundations explored in Part One, guiding you to apply what you've learned through practice, self-inquiry, and teaching. Whether or not you plan to teach, this phase is about refining your understanding and learning how to construct practices for yourself and others that are intentional, effective, and rooted in tradition.

You’ll Learn To:

  • Translate philosophical teachings into embodied, accessible practice

  • Sequence classes that support specific outcomes (physical, energetic, or emotional)

  • Teach with clarity, confidence, and presence

  • Offer language and cues that are attuned, grounded, and inclusive

  • Incorporate subtle body awareness, breathwork, and ritual into your classes

  • Deepen your own sadhana as the foundation for authentic teaching

  • 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 learningption text goes here

Certification

Students who complete both parts of the training will be eligible to register with the American Yoga Council as a Level 1 Certified Yoga Teacher.

Your Investment

Full Program: $3000
Student Immersion: $1400 · Teacher Training: $1600 (Early Bird Discount of $100/section if you register by June 15)
$250 deposit for Immersion | $500 deposit for Full Program

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. You can send me an email if you have any questions, or if you are ready to take the next step, submit your application below.

Submit Applicaiton
Send Us an Email

Meet Your Teachers

  • Lead Facilitator | E-RYT 500, YACEP

    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 through 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.

  • Lead Facilitator | E-RYT 500, 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.

FAQs

  • Yes, we offer flexible payment plans and are happy to work with your budget. Reach out to explore options.

  • Yes, we offer a limited number of need-based scholarships. Contact us to see what’s available.

  • The Student Immersion can be taken on its own if you're looking to deepen your understanding of yoga philosophy and subtle body practices. It’s also the required prerequisite for the Teacher Development program, which is necessary for those pursuing a 200-hour teaching certification and recommended for anyone wanting to grow their personal practice more deeply.

  • 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.