non-performative 200hr yoga teacher training
At iyaKIN we believe in non-performative yoga practices that go beyond asana and delve into the lineage of yoga.
next cohort Fall 2022
september - november
2 Month Virtual Intensive
Schedule:
fri,Sat,Sun | 9am-4pm PT
Heyy There!
My name is Abiola Akanni. I’m the Director of the iyaKIN YTT and the educator behind Yoga by Biola. I’m an E-RYT certified, 200hr Yoga Instructor with over a decade of experience. I’ve created yoga programs and guides as an Alo Moves coach and other institutions, including the Institute of Functional Medicine, Hulu, Nordstroms Corporate, Stanford, Boeing and more. You may have seen me featured in Strong Fitness Mag, The Seattle Times or Black Girl In Om, just to name a few!
Over the years I’ve noticed that many of the teacher trainings being offered have become performative in nature, solely focusing on asana and providing a mediocre understanding of the practice. This results in biased instructors unable to support different bodies, beings and lived experiences.
This inspired me to create a non-performative yoga teacher training that taught the lineage of yoga from the lens of holding inclusive space.
Who are we?
iyaKIN facilitators are steeped in anti-racist practices which include awareness of our conscious and unconscious biases and exercising trauma-sensitive language to hold safer space for students. We teach from the lens of holding more inclusive space to make the practice of yoga adaptable to different bodies.
We’re committed to cultivating safer mixed spaces, and are open to all racial and gender identities and all sexual orientations. Although we do center the bodies and voices of those most often underrepresented, including black, indigenous, women of color, trans and lgbtq+ communities.
Who is the Iya kin instructor?
He/she/they are highly skilled instructors who explore the multidisciplinary practice of yoga beyond performative asana. In turn, they are devoted to their journey of accountability, self mastery and dismantling systems that perpetuate harm.
Learning beyond yoga alliance
We believe in creating equitable practices rooted in honoring the lived experiences of diverse peoples. It is for this reason that iyaKIN YTT has chosen not to be affiliated with Yoga Alliance. Upon completion of our program students will receive a 200-HR Vinyasa-Hatha yoga certification from the iyaKIN YTT.
Testimonials
Hear from some of our graduates!
“The iyaKIN YTT was everything I needed to grow into myself & the yoga practice as a whole. The training centered grace, forgiveness, & community as a means of cultivating safety within each of our bodies. In that way, it empowered each of us to feel equipped to cultivate the same sense of pride & safety in our future students’ bodies. I especially valued the trauma-informed approach to ensure that any person could feel a secure sense of belonging on the mat - especially folks across the spectrum of marginalization like myself. While the training certainly honed in on the physical yoga practice, we were able to have critical & reflective conversations across yoga philosophy & our lived experiences. Those conversations affirmed my reason for why I practice yoga in the first place. For that, I feel READY to continue my practice, to pursue more learning, and to begin to reflect to others the gift of yoga.”
-Taylor Thomas (she/her/hers), Education Research Associate
“The iyaKIN YTT has actually changed the trajectory of my personal life, & for that, I am forever grateful. From the first time I saw the opportunity, I knew it was my time to heal, my turn to feel safe, my right to know peace in my body & my chance to return home. All of those things happened in the invitation to train amongst the iya family & since the completion of the program. This training gave me a proper & detailed introduction to yoga philosophy, yoga practice, yoga history, human anatomy & trauma informed teaching techniques. I felt encouraged to explore & express my individual light & quickly fell in love with the light of my cohort. More specifically I felt held, challenged, & supported to take my life back from which unresolved heartache, seasonal depression & daily anxiety withheld. I feel that I now have many tools to live inside of my life. I have witnessed beautiful changes in my relationships with others, how I create as an artist, how I love as a mother & in my ability to also receive life’s joy. This was worth every single ounce of me!”
- Thea Stewart, Teacher & Creative Artist
“iyaKIN came into my life when I needed it most. I've been practicing yoga for about 8 years & wanted to deepen my personal practice but wasn't sure where to start. I also believed that someone like me with a larger body couldn't be a yoga teacher as I didn't fit the idea of a normal teacher. This program empowered me & brought me home to myself. I was taught so much about not only the practice of yoga, but the principles and foundations of yoga. I feel confident in my skills as a teacher & that I can teach any BODY. I'm using what I learned in the iyakKIN YTT in my personal life as well as my professional life by taking themes & applying them to diversity, equity, & inclusion & restorative social justice work. I'm very excited for my future as a yoga teacher & I have immense love & gratitude for the facilitators who taught me & my cohort who held me & grew with me.”
- Amber Wright, DEI Professional
OUR CURRICULUM INCLUDES
LEARN IT
1. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics - 32 hrs
2. Sanskrit, Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting - 22hrs
3. Asana - 54 hrs
4. Art of Sequencing - 22hrs
5. Anatomy - 20hrs
6. Teaching Methodology - 20hrs
LIVE IT!
7. Holding Inclusive Space - 10hrs
TEACH IT!
8. Practicum & Professional Essentials - 10hrs (contact) | 10hrs non-contact
TUITION
$2,999
IN THIS YTT YOU WILL…
Receive a thorough education of the past philosophies, present practices and your future within the yoga arena
Uphold equitable practices within the yoga space
Develop refined leadership skills that advocate for the well-being of other’d communities
Learn intuitive asana in the form of Vinyasa, Hatha, and other styles of yoga
Develop an intimate knowledge of the human anatomy via kinesiology
Cultivate a strong personal asana practice while defining your personal teaching style
Lead inclusive yoga classes with clarity, confidence and skill
Join a lifelong yoga collective committed to advocacy, education and diversity
REQUIREMENTS
One year minimum of a consistent yoga practice
Must complete the iyaKIN application
Must be accepted into iyaKIN 200-HR YTT cohort
Must be committed to holding inclusive space
Must attend all required sessions and complete all assignments on time
Completion of required reading list, weekly quizzes and final exam
Practice all live (contact) and pre-recorded (non contact) videos
Attend all advisor meetings with lead facilitators
Each student will be held to a high code of conduct. Respect all individuals associated with the program, observe timeliness, contribute when appropriate and hold space for others’ opinions and questions.
ATTENDANCE
Optimal attendance is required for IyaKin YTT. For every 1-6 hours missed you will need to schedule a 1 hour private at a rate of $99. You will also have to rewatch all missed modules and complete additional homework. We're happy to work with you on this to ensure you can receive all of the information that you missed.
The maximum time missed can be no more than 10 hours. If you miss more than 10 hours you will be subject to ineligibility for this 200-HR certification.
IyaKin Mentorship Program
At iyaKIN we believe in the continued edification of our students. As a result our YTT cohort will receive weekly advisor meetings with our lead facilitators during this training to ask questions and further refine their skills as service-based leaders.
grow with iya
At iya we are on a mission to disrupt performative yoga by prioritizing non-performative yoga that make the practice adaptable for diverse bodies. Our online platform, iya, offers on-demand and live online classes highlighting instructors of color.
We are committed to providing a platform for iyaKIN instructors to thrive and earn income. We invite YTT graduates to apply to become future iya instructors!
