YTT in the heart of Mt. Airy, Philadelphia!

300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training & Continuing Education

Three ways to engage!

Schedule 2024-2025

Weekend Training Schedule: Friday 5 pm-9 pm, Saturday + Sunday 10 am-6 pm

Personalize your journey, hone your voice

Each training is priced at $400*

Our 300hr YTT is a module-based training presented in a 20-hour weekend format. 300-hour participants can be certified in as little as 18 months allowing for registration at the 500 hr level with Yoga Alliance.

Yoga Teachers seeking YA Continuing Education Credits can select individual modules based on topic interest.

Dedicated (non-teaching) practitioners can ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’. Each module is open to members of the community at large who are curious about a deeper approach to the practice.

Program Highlights

Study at your own pace
Connect with other dedicated practitioners and teachers
Each weekend training qualifies as 20hrs of YA Continuing Education OR can be accumulated toward 300 hr. Certification
Get your certification in as little as 18 months (Note: 300hr Certification requires completion of 8 modules + Practicum*)

9 Weekend Trainings + 1 Practicum*

Living & Teaching the 8 Limbs: An active workshop to integrate the organizing principles of Yoga

Friday, Jan 17th-Sunday, Jan 19th (MLK Day) : Registration deadline Dec 1st

Yoga is a vast tradition and practice. This weekend module is a deep dive into the organizing principles and frameworks of yogic practice as articulated by Patanjali. We will examine, play with, and consider the ways Patanjali’s Eight Limbs inform both our practice and our daily lives. Through workshopping, we will learn how to integrate these concepts into our teaching and study the ‘Pedagogy of Raja Yoga.’

Anatomy of Energy: a comprehensive look at the systems of subtle anatomy

Friday, February 21st-Sunday, February 23rd: Registration deadline Feb 7th

We will dive deep into the Chakras, Bandhas, and Vayus with a look at Pranayama and the application of these concepts relative to teaching and personal practice. A significant component of our time will be devoted to sequencing, theme development, and teaching methodologies. Explore how you might share and offer access to these complex and profound systems within us.

Asana by Family, part 1: Unlocking the Seats of Yoga

Friday March 21st -Sunday March 23rd, Registration deadline March 7th

Join us for a weekend of exploration into our methodology of organizing yoga shapes into families; Each asana (posture or ‘seat’ ) has unique properties, alignments, and physiological impacts. The codification of families helps to amplify our understanding of asana, bolstering our ability to creatively and safely lead students, utilize safe and effective hands-on adjustments, and to sequence asana to support class theme and integration. **Note: Asana by Family 1 & 2 will each cover a different set of shapes and can be taken together or independently

Asana Families that we will cover

Foundational
Standing
Balance
Forward Folds
Inversions

Asana by Family, part 2: Unlocking the Seats of Yoga

Friday May 30th -Sunday June 1st, Registration deadline May 15th

Join us for a weekend of exploration into our methodology of organizing yoga shapes into families; Each asana (posture or ‘seat’ ) has unique properties, alignments, and physiological impacts. The codification of families helps to amplify our understanding of asana, bolstering our ability to creatively and safely lead students, utilize safe and effective hands-on adjustments, and to sequence asana to support class theme and integration. **Note: Asana by Family 1 & 2 will each cover a different set of shapes and can be taken together or independently

Asama Families

Twists
Backbends
Hip Opening
Arm Balances & other ‘advanced’ shapes

Discovering the Depths of Sanskrit & Mantra: featuring master teacher, Manorama (Jake’s teacher!)

Friday, July 25th-Sunday, July 27th: Registration deadline June 15th

Immerse yourself in pure vibration. This module centers on Sanskrit, the yogic language of prayer and mantra. Our weekend will include a day-long workshop with a master teacher of Sanskrit, mantra, and yogic philosophy. Manorama, founder of Sanskrit Studies and Jake’s early teacher will lead The Warrior Within through the Bhagavad Gita. The rest of the weekend will feature explorations and applications of mantra, chanting, and Vedic philosophy for teaching and daily living.

Yoga and the Human Body: A Deep Dive into Anatomy and Physiology

Friday, Sept 26th-Sunday, Sept 28th: Registration deadline Sept 10th

With a focus on direct application, this module explores the interplay of anatomy and physiology with the practices of Yoga. We will review and learn about the eleven (11) systems of the body, including circulation digestion, nervous system, respiration, etc. With these systems in mind, we will explore and learn the impact of yogic practices on each one. We will look at asana, pranayama, meditation, and self-study through the lens of the structures and functions of the human body.

Vedic Wisdom and Pranayama: applications for Overall Health and Wellness

Friday Nov 7th -Sunday Nov 9th, Registration deadline Oct 20th

This weekend module will happen in two distinct parts.

Part 1: Overall Health & Wellness

There is much to learn from the ancient Vedic texts about finding optimal mental, physical, and spiritual health. This module will take a deep dive into the profundity of Vedic Astrology and break it down into “user-friendly’ , ‘modern-day’ terminology. We will look at how to practice with the seasons and the days of the week. We will focus on tools and understandings to ‘Yoga’ or ‘yoke’ life on the mat with the practice of life off the mat through the lens of this ancient astrological construct.

Part 2: The Anatomy of Breath

Advanced Pranayama Practices & Teaching include Western and Eastern approaches to breathing, the study of the anatomy of the respiratory system, breath cycles’ impact on our autonomic nervous system, the cultivation of prana by way of Nadis and Chakras, and the relationship between prana and breath.

Honing Your Voice: Advanced Teaching Practices & Methodology

Friday Dec 5th -Sunday Dec 7th, Registration deadline Nov 21st

This weekend module will happen in two distinct parts.

Part 1: Beyond the Mainstream

Yoga is for Everyone. When teachers discern the essence of a shape, they can translate and teach that understanding to everybody. This module will focus on elements of teaching that fall ‘outside the mainstream’. Topics include Principles of Private Instruction, Teaching to Individual Needs, The Art of Observation, and Adapting to Specific Populations,

Part 2- Integrated Class Building

Teaching Yoga is far more than just ‘instruction.’ This module is a workshop-style look at some of the elements that help to build a rich, integrated, excellent class. Topics include Theme Integration, the importance of language and grammar, sequencing, teaching with ‘exercises’ and props, and teaching in the virtual world.

Practicum: a personalized, mentor-guided, thesis

Students seeking 300hr Advanced Teacher Certification must complete the Practicum and participate in eight (8) Topic Modules. Note: students are eligible to begin Practicum work after completing four (4) Modules.

Over three months, students will collaborate with a Blue Banyan Mentor in the pursuit and development of their personal career and teaching goals; this work will culminate in the creation of a final thesis or capstone project. The thesis/Capstone work may center on any variation of yoga-based programs including such projects as student teaching, retreat-building, series development, or more. This is a chance to build out your personal approach to teaching comprehensively and practically. Mentoring supports conceptual/theoretical development, pedagogy, and programming, as well as business planning & marketing strategies.

Tuition

Each module is individually priced at $400. You can study at your own pace, select modules according to your interests!

To Apply for 300 hr. Certification

Please submit the following (by email, US mail, or in person)

A copy of your valid 200hr Certificate
Resume of Yoga Teaching Experience (including the RYS where you received your initial training)
A Personal Reflection on how the Blue Banyan program speaks to you
Tell us what you hope to gain in participating in this 300hr Training

Values & Beliefs

Blue Banyan Yoga Studio & School values yoga as a living practice and approaches the teaching of yoga as an ever-evolving and responsive craft. We believe that Yoga is for everyone and therefore we teach with an awareness of those who are in the room, the season, and all that is present. Our program has drawn from many sources and traditions to offer an integrated, inspired, and informed approach to Vinyasa Yoga.

We value the importance of practicing and teaching today so that we can continue to do so tomorrow. Teaching Yoga is a karmic responsibility and therefore preparing teachers is a great responsibility. The power of the practice can bring great well-being and joy but can be equally harmful if misused or misdirected. Ultimately, we believe that yoga needs to be equitable and accessible to everyone. We are committed to preparing every student to embody and practice these values.

History

Founded by Sophie Simpson and Jake Miller, the Blue Banyan Yoga School Teacher Training program is rooted in honoring authentic practice and tradition. Sophie began her teaching journey studying with Dana Trixie Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi at Laughing Lotus in New York City. Both Krishnamacharya and Desikachar’s work was honored in this teaching. Jake began his teaching career at Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia with Corina Benner, who initially studied with Cyndi Lee at Om Yoga in New York.

While both have advanced their teaching through various modalities, they were both students in the early days of these influential East Coast studios that have helped inform Yoga study in this country. Sophie and Jake both model ongoing professional development so that their students may do the same.

Today, the Blue Banyan Yoga School Teaching Training program has expanded to include teachers from a range of backgrounds who value the Blue Banyan style, including many adjunct teachers who offer expertise in physiology, meditation, equity, social justice, and more. Right in the heart of Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, Blue Banyans YTT is open for all those looking to further their yogic knowledge.

We offer a Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training and a Yoga Immersion program. Each is crafted to empower, support and nurture students.

Teacher Training

Students will graduate prepared to teach an authentic Vinyasa yoga practice. As such, we offer a mulit-dimensional curriculum in the foundations of yoga.

Our syllabus includes but is not limited to: Physical asana, ancient yogic texts & spiritual foundation, 8- Limbs of Yoga, Eastern Body, Deity Pantheon, foundational Sanskrit, applied and practical anatomy, mindfulness meditation, pedagogy, equity in yoga and wellness, the business of yoga and more. The experience is curated to be supportive with mentorship from experienced teachers as well as peer to peer collaboration.

Students of both programs will cultivate an understanding of yoga on the mat as much as they too will explore what it means to live yoga off the mat.The program will conclude with a practical teaching and written exam. When all curriculum is completed and students receive passing exam scores, they will receive a 200-Hour Teaching Certificate from Blue Banyan Yoga Studio & School, which they will be able to use to obtain Yoga Alliance Certification.

*The program is designed to fit into the lives of our students. There will be a series of live and asynchronous sessions throughout a six-month period.

Immersion

Yoga Immersion (YI) is intended for yoga practitioners who would like to deepen their personal practice and expand their understanding of the roots of yoga. YI students will participate in 10 select elements of the Teacher Training Curriculum. Dates are noted on the schedule below. Immersion is not a track to teacher certification, should you later choose to obtain your certification, you would be required to complete the full 200-hour curriculum.

Meet The Instructors

Sophie Simpson

Co-Founder, Mentor and Guest Lecturer is the founder of Blue Banyan Yoga Studio and co-creator of Blue Banyan’s Yoga School. Having been raised in the Sufi Tradition, Sophie is inherently related to and inspired by Eastern philosophy and spirituality that lives in yoga; this inspiration is evident in her teaching. As a result, she has been devoted to the ancient study of yoga for over 23 years and is a master teacher, teaching group and individuals for over 19 years; she is considered particularly proficient in teaching the study and practice of Pranayama (breathwork). Early on, Sophie found her yoga home at Laughing Lotus in New York City where she learned under the inspiring tutelage of Jasmine Takeshi and Dana Flynn. As a teacher, Sophie is dedicated to finding the “Way-In” for each of her students, leading each student toward the transformative power of yoga. From 1999- 2009, Sophie studied Vedic Medicine and Astrology. This work, above all else, has influenced her 22-year mission-driven career towards greater health and well-being for all. Sophie is considered a master counselor in the field of Vedic Spiritual Science and uses this bio-individual approach in her yoga work as well. Sophie believes “Practice on the mat is the bridge to living Yoga off the mat’ embodying all 8 limbs in every day, manifest life. To this end, Sophie is always engaging in professional development through the study of the intersection of physiology and asana, the effects of yoga on autoimmune disease ayurvedic study, and much more. Currently, Sophie is completing her Board Certification as a Health and Wellness Counselor through the The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and will graduate in January 2023.

Sophie Simpson

Jake Miller

Co-Founder, Mentor and Guest Lecturer first encountered the practice of yoga as a student of theater and dance in 1997.
After several years of ‘dabbling’ and a few of serious study, he began teaching in the Vinyasa-style in 2004. In 2007 he completed his 250-hour Teacher Certification at Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia. Continuing studies have included Sanskrit and Sound Yoga with Manorama of Sanskrit Studies, Living Tantra with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait of the Himalayan Institute, and Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael Buck of the Vedic Institute and Saul David Raye of Ritam Healing Arts. Jake is now co-director of Blue Banyan Yoga School and Studio.

Jake Miller

Jenny Burkholder

Lead Teacher began practicing yoga in 2004, when she moved to Philadelphia.
In 2013, drawn to Blue Banyan Yoga’s emphasis on proper alignment and spiritual depth, she began practicing there, and in 2017, she completed her 500-hour teacher training with Sophie Simpson and Jake Miller. Outside of Blue Banyan, she is a full time writer whose work has appeared in various outlets. In 2016, she published a poetry chapbook titled Repaired (Finishing Line Press). In her classes, Jenny combines her knowledge of yoga with her love of imagery and metaphor. She hopes her devotion to yoga will inspire others to develop their own physical and spiritual practices.

Jenny Burkholder

Angella Irwin

Lead Teacher Angella Irwin began practicing yoga privately in 2003 as a way to stay active while traveling in countries where public exercise wasn’t easy for women.
Years later she was delighted to find the Blue Banyan community, and began to deepen her practice under the guidance of Sophie Simpson and Jake Miller. In 2017, she completed her 500-hour teacher training with Blue Banyan and has continued to learn through classes and workshops in restorative yoga and sound meditation, but primarily her growth stems from being an active practitioner and teacher. She is devoted to the concept of practice, and loves the constant work of surrendering to it.

Angella Irwin

What our Teachers Say

“They exemplify the right mix of the philosophic and spiritual underpinnings of yoga and the physical challenges of balance, strength and flexibility.”

– Linda

“It felt natural and like I had actually learned what was being taught, rather than imitating or regurgitating it.”

-Alyse

“I think there are far too few programs with such depth that allow for someone to leave knowing that they have at least a solid base. This program and subsequent teaching has helped me share my voice in other areas of my life much more easily, for which I am grateful.”

– Carly

“I felt that the Blue Banyan philosophy and authenticity in practice was unparalleled. It’s an authentic training that looks at yoga as a holistic life practice. It’s rooted in a greater understanding of ancient yogic philosophy that gives context and a deeper training.”

– Sarah

“This program was intense and well thought out. There was so much information presented in such a humble manner that the idea of remaining a student in order to become a successful teacher really rang true for me. My confidence in myself grew during the course of the program.”

– Teresa