Integrative Yoga Studies
Yoga Therapy Certification Program
The Institute for Integrative Care Yoga Therapy Program guides trainees through a comprehensive experience that empowers, enriches, and develops an integrated approach to yoga therapy as a gold standard of yoga therapy education in becoming a C-IAYT and continuing education to work in public health, sector and with communities.
Trainees will enhance their craft through our flexible module training format blended with residential and virtual learning. This includes a practicum delivery through our community partnerships including the VA and other non-profits to position trainees in professional success.
Please see prerequisites below to apply.
Overview
Graduates of The Institute for Integrative Care's Yoga Therapy Program will successfully work as a holistic practitioner embracing philosophical teachings and literature in context with current integrative health sciences to develop inclusive and collaborative Yoga Therapy services that embraces all walks of life. We pair Vedic teachings with modern research to demonstrate application and relevance into health and medical arenas while equipping trainees with tools, techniques and methods to facilitate clinical Yoga Therapy.
The training program is crafted to encourage trainees to contribute to the public health landscape through blending yoga philosophies and conventional medical knowledge. Trainees are supported through the practicum to establish techniques to serve communities that equip trainees to develop a yoga therapy model and framework as a skilled Yoga Therapist
The Institute for Integrative Care's Yoga Therapy Program is offered through Four Residential Immersion Modules focused on speciality curriculum, Two Phases of Residential Integration Immersion Trainings, Two Phases of Virtual Integration Immersion Trainings, iRest Training, Vedic Counseling Training, Monthly Integration Check-Ins, 1:1 Mentoring and a Supervised Practicum. This format allows students to participate in the training as they can creating a schedule that works for their budget and time.
Trainees begin to develop skills as a Yoga Therapist after enrollment through 1:1 Mentoring, access to virtual education, attending scheduled residential modules and progressing through their practicum delivery after a year in the program.
More Details
Prerequisites
The Institute for Integrative Health's Professional Yoga Therapy Program has the following prerequisites:
1. As this program is part of the 800 Hour Yoga Therapy Program. To apply, you must have RYT-200 or equivalent (if you are a 200 Hour Teacher you must complete our 300 Hour Training before beginning the 500 Hour level. If you are a transfer student, see details below.)
2. You must also have a minimum of one year teaching experience
3. You must have at least one year of personal practice.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are considered on a case-by-case basis. Prior to the admissions process, Transfer Candidates will be required to do a transcript evaluation, letter of recommendation with our Program Director to determine the number of transfer hours that directly relate to required yoga therapy competencies. Students entering the program at the 500-hour level will need to complete our 56 Hour Bridge which includes Adaptive Yoga Foundations and Subtle Anatomy Training at a rate of $800 to ensure cohesion amongst Yoga Therapy Training Program before beginning their 500 Hour Yoga Therapy Certification. Depending on hours not accepted by The Institute for Integrative Care, students may be required to complete modules within the 300 Hour at $550 per module or $80 per course.
Residential Training Location
Our programs are facilitated at North Western Health Sciences University and satellite studios around the country. Out of state students are currently able to access training through Zoom due to COVID-19 until further notice.
What career opportunities are there as a Yoga Therapist?
Yoga Therapy is an up and coming field in Integrative Medicine and found throughout through private practice, merged into medical teams, physical therapy, stress reduction care, adjunct for mental health and so much more. Yoga Therapists serve a wide variety of conditions and works in conjunction with conventional health providers especially addressing rehabilitation, noncommunicable disease, prevention and health maintenance. The Institute for Integrative Care's faculty works directly in medical care and in program development and teach from perspectives of real lived clinical yoga therapy experiences and modern health care knowledge. The field of yoga therapy continues to expand and grow for the unique person centered and holistic methods of approaching patient care, lifestyle modification and more. Graduates will be equipped to apply the many tools and knowledge gained from this program to utilize and address wellness for their clients.
Tuition
Our program offers a "pay as you go" option for the program or pay in full with a special discount. For more information on tuition and NEXT STEPS click here.
Why Choose Our Integrative Yoga Studies Program
Flexible Training Schedules + Accessibility
Through our modular format, trainees are able to move through the program at their own pace of study within the four year mark. If trainees cannot attend a module immersion in person, they have the option to tune in virtually and participate through interactive live stream access. Once trainee's enroll they will receive their professional development manual that compliments their personal application of the Yoga Therapy Training and will continue receiving materials and supplies as they progress through the program.
Mentoring and Application Resources
Our programs offer 24 hour access through our mentoring app, scheduling sessions and support to aid trainee's through reflection, application and fine tuning their skills. Our goal is for this program to serve as a personal transformation and professional upgrade for all trainees participating in the experience. We offer First Friday's once a month that allows our yoga therapy community to come together through zoom to go over specific topics and skillset to ensure that even during time away from residential learning trainees are able to apply their skills and develop their Yoga Therapy tools.
Long-Term Support
Graduates of The Institute for Integrative Care's Integrative Yoga Studies Yoga Therapy Program will always be connected and first to receive opportunities for filling job requests, client requests and professional development access. Through our non-profit we are committed to amplifying our graduates professionally and providing resources to support their success as a Yoga Therapist.
Our Faculty
Our Integrative Yoga Studies Program is led by a robust team.
Melissa Aguirre, CIAYT, ERYT 500, Program Director
Our Program Director, Melissa Aguirre, is a Yoga Therapist with over ten years experience in the field. Mel has maintained a full-time yoga therapy practice from being stationed at Fort Bragg, NC to opening her studios in San Antonio, Texas. She has worked successfully with populations of all ages developing programs for the US Army, non-profits and clinical facilities that educate and equip providers and leadership in self referral skills and mindfulness. Her light hearted and grounded approach provides students with real-world applications of the ancient wisdom of yoga and its multi-faceted ways to be applied in our modern world. Mel offers a compassionate approach invested in her trainees focusing on mentorship, personal reflection and creative, professional integration.
For more on Melissa Aguirre learn about her professional background and work with the military.
Charlie Noel, Director, LCSW, NBC-HWC, RYT-500
Charles “Charlie” Noel lives in the Colorado Springs area. Charlie joined the Marine Corps in 2001 at the age of 17 where he served in the infantry. During this time, he completed two tours in Iraq before being honorably discharged in 2005.
After leaving the Marines, he pursued an education at East Tennessee State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. During this time, he began a journey of mentoring foster children. This is where he developed a passion for working in the social service field. The passion that he developed in the social service field led him to earn a Master’s in Social Work. Also, he is pursuing a doctorate in philosophy in social work with a concentration on leadership and is pending his dissertation. He started to work with children and families. After years of working in this field, he became the VP of the company but has always wanted to work with the Military and Veterans.
Charlie began a new journey in 2013 by joining the Tennessee National Guard as a Behavioral Health Officer. In 2016, he accepted a position working in Mental Health at the Department of Veteran Affairs. Since this time, Charlie became the Chief for the Whole Health System of Care and served as the Veteran Integration System Network Executive Sponsor for 5 VHA hospital systems implementing the Whole Health Philosophy throughout these systems. Currently, Charlie strives to transform the VA system through how the system provides healthcare. Charlie expanded his knowledge during this time by graduating from Duke’s Leadership Program in Integrative Medicine which partnered with Duke’s Fuqua School of Business to provide graduates with a robust opportunity to lead the healthcare transformation. Charlie is currently working as the Executive Director and Chair for Integrative Care with Northwestern Health Sciences University. Charlie strives to make a difference by moving the system from a “find it fix it” mentality and implementing a holistic approach to care throughout the system. Even though the transformation can be challenging, Charlie finds the process to be a rewarding opportunity. He is elated to be a part of the transformation journey. Part of this cultural shift is implementing an integrative health model throughout the Veteran Health System and America.
Stephen Graham,PT, DPT, OCS, FPS, NBC-HWC, E-RYT 500
Dr. Stephen Graham is an Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran, where he served as an Army Aviation Officer in Special Operations. After his eight years of Active Duty Service he completed his training as RYT-200 in 2007. In 2012 he completed a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Belmont University, soon after he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2013. Dr. Graham is an ABPTS Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics, as well as a certified Vestibular specialist through Emory University. He has obtained certification as a Therapeutic Neuroscience Pain Specialist and as a post graduate Fellow in pain neuroscience through Evidence in Motion. Additionally, Dr. Graham is a Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness coach, a HeartMath™ Certified Trainer, a Certified iRest™ teacher, a ERYT-500 yoga teacher, and continuing education provider through the Yoga Alliance. Stephen lives in Tennessee with his wife, and daughter. He enjoys playing music, exploring the world of mindful movement, and approaching life with an open mind and heart.
Alane Lucht, DC, MA, LPCC (cand), LADC
In 1990, Alane began taking classes at The Minneapolis School of Massage and Bodywork where she completed over 600 hours of training. As she continued to practice massage she took classes with the Upledger Institute in such bodywork techniques as Cranio-Sacral Therapy and Lymphatic Drainage. Having been practicing Yoga since the late 1980's she decided to become a Yoga Instructor. After spending over a month in an ashram she completed the 200 hour course offered by the Sivananda Vedanta training in 1994 and taught Yoga continuously for nearly 25 years. She still maintains a regular home practice of both Yoga and meditation. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology she went on to study the healing art of chiropractic at Northwestern College of Chiropractic. She graduated with a Doctorate in Chiropractic in 2001 and began a private practice. In 2002 she obtained her 100 hour certificate to perform Acupuncture.
Christina Meyer-Jax MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, RYT-200
Christina Meyer-Jax, MS, RDN, LDN, CLT, RYT, is a nationally recognized food and nutrition expert dedicated to enabling successful organizational and health outcomes. Christina is the Standard Process Nutrition Chair of the fully online Master of Health Science in Functional and Integrative Nutrition program at NWHSU. Christina believes good food matters and is passionate about educating the next generation of practitioners about health and nutrition. Christina obtained her BS-Nutrition, University of Minnesota, 1997 and MS-Nutrition Education, Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine and Science, 2007.
