Shanti Garudasana provides a vibrant and substantive yoga training experience for a select group of W&M students, faculty/staff and community members. Graduates from our program develop the skills and confidence to provide intelligently sequenced, safe, and well-rounded classes. Upon graduation, students are able to effectively integrate principles of pedagogy, communication, and cultural sensitivity in a manner that honors both the rich traditions and modern science of yoga philosophy/practice, mindfulness, and flourishing. While one of the goals of Shanti Garudasana is to develop mature and talented yoga teachers to then serve the W&M community at the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center and Bee McLeod Recreation Center, it is the intention of the school to create lifelong role models and ambassadors for optimal yoga education and practice.
The training is led by the following faculty:
Cindy Crace, E-RYT 500, CYT, Yoga School Director
Patti DeBlass, E-RYT 500, CYT, Yoga School Director
Training Details
Yoga School Training Information
Admissions Requirements
Applicants should be 18 years of age or full-time W&M students who will not be graduating until Dec. 2027 at the earliest in order to complete the program.
Beginning in 2027, W&M faculty/staff members and community members will also be able to take the 200-hour YTT program.. Please see prices below.
Applicants should have a regular yoga practice.
Applicants should submit a completed application by Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Virtual Interest Meeting
Tuesday, Sept. 29th at 7:00 PM.
The interest meeting will be led by Yoga School Directors, Cindy Crace and Patti DeBlass, and Associate Director of Campus Rec, Jenny Dunfee.
All students in Yoga Teacher Training will go through Campus Rec's in-house FitWell Instructor Training Course. The course will meet once a week for 1.5 hours for 9 weeks: 13.5 hours total.
The course is offered in the fall semester and so students in the 2027 Yoga Teacher Training program may take the course in Fall 2026 or Fall 2027.
A total of 23 hours including reading/homework and a Red Cross training.
Students should register for the course using the link on the website.
WINTER BREAK 2026-2027
Yoga Studies Online Module (History & Philosophy)
Approximately 20 hours of listening to audio lectures and completing quizzes that students can do from home over winter break.
Students will participate in 7 hours of virtual training.
Approximately 20 hours, including reading/homework.
Teaching Hatha Yoga Part II (in person)
Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM and Sunday, Jan. 31, from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM 1 hour for lunch will be included on both days.
This instruction focuses on the Hatha Yoga script.
Teaching Hatha Yoga Part III (in-person)
Saturday, March 6, from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday, March 7, from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (in-person) 1 hour for lunch will be included on both days.
On Saturday, students will participate in 7 hours of in-person training
On Sunday, there will be community Hatha Yoga classes team-taught by all students and supervised by the Yoga School Directors. Students will meet before the class to discuss their planned teaching sequence and practice teaching: 7 hours
Hatha Yoga Teaching Practicum (scheduled between students and Campus Rec)
Students will gain another 10 hours of teaching /training practice (with a mentor) from teaching yoga classes and attending continuing education credit workshops (such as trauma-informed yoga).
Anatomy (in-person and virtual)
Saturday, April 3 (in person), 9:00 AM-6:00 PM (1 hour for lunch) and Sunday, April 4, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (virtual)
Students will spend a total of 17 hours in this module, including reading and homework.
FALL 2027
Teaching Vinyasa Yoga I (virtual)
Saturday, August 14th from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (includes 1 hour for lunch)
Students will participate in a total of 15 hours, including reading/homework.
Teaching Vinyasa Yoga II (in person)
Friday, Sept. 17 from 5:00-10:00 PM; Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM and Sunday, Sept. 19 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (1 hour for lunch will be included on both Sat. and Sun.)
Students will focus on developing and teaching Vinyasa Yoga sequences.
Teaching Vinyasa Yoga III ( in-person)
Friday, Oct. 8 from 5:00-10:00 PM; Saturday, Oct. 9 from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM; and Sunday, Oct. 10 from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (1 hour for lunch will be included on both Sat. and Sun.).
Sunday will include community Vinyasa classes, team-taught by all instructors and supervised by the Yoga School Directors. Before the class, students will meet with their partner, develop their teaching sequence and practice teaching: 7 hours.
Vinyasa Yoga Teaching Practicum (self-paced)
Students will gain another 10 hours of teaching/training practice from teaching yoga classes and attending continuing education credit workshops
WINTER BREAK 2027-2028
Finalizing Yoga Teacher Training (virtual/on your own)
Students will complete the remaining hours of their training on topics such as the 8 Limbs of Yoga, Subtle Energies, the Business of Yoga, and Special populations.
PRIVATE SESSIONS
One-on-one review with Cindy and/or Patti is available at $60 per hour per Instructor.
Graduation Requirements
Completion of all of the training sessions and practical teaching hours (totaling 200 hours).
Completion of asana cards for all asanas learned in the training, and revisions made as needed (this assignment will be explained in depth during the first training weekend).
A passing score on the in-house final assessment.
Maintenance of a personal yoga and meditation practice.
Pricing & Registration
W&M Students on Financial Aid are elligible for reduced pricing. Students should indicate whether they are on Financial Aid in their YTT Course application.
A $300 total payment (a non-refundable $200 deposit + $100 for the Yoga Studies Online Course) is due by Nov. 15, 2026, along with the YTT Enrollment Agreement, to secure your spot in the course. The YTT Enrollment Agreement will be emailed to all students who are offered a spot in the course after applications are processed.
Textbooks
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff, $20
The Heart of Yoga, by T.K.S. Desikacha, $17
A blank journal, $10
Total cost for W&M Students; $1,550
Total cost for W&M Faculty/Staff Members: $1,650
Total cost for Non-W&M affiliated Community Members: $2,000
* Students may pay up front or via payment plan. Contact Jenny Dunfee at jvrueh@wm.edu about payment plan options. ** The average price for Yoga Teacher Training Programs in the United States is $2,500.
2027 YTT Application Deadline
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Syllabus
History of Yoga
Yoga Ethics
Anatomy and Standing Asanas
Subtle Energy and Philosophy
Planning a Class and Back Bends
Pranayama and Meditation
Student Check-In Teaching Tools
Forward Bends and Hip-Openers
Specialized Teaching
Yoga Business
The Shanti Garudasana Yoga school follows the for teacher training.
Required Texts
Yoga Anatomy, 2nd. Ed., by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews
The Heart of Yoga, by T.K.S. Desikacha
A blank journal of your choosing
Maintaining Credentials
Every year, Registered Yoga Teachers must renew their membership with Every three years, Registered Yoga Teachers must submit .
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