Teacher Training

Avita Yoga Teacher Training

Healthy joints. Strong bones. Peaceful mind.

Simple Movement, Transformative Results

A Different Kind of Yoga Teacher Training

Avita Yoga is a distinctly different approach to yoga—centered less on performance or flexibility, and more on healing, mobility, joint health, observation, and sustainable long-term change.

This training is designed for those who want to understand the body more deeply, help others heal, and learn how to teach with greater clarity, adaptability, and presence.

Avita Teacher Certification — Essentials combines practical anatomy, movement science, breathwork, therapeutic application, and experiential learning to help students work with real people and real limitations in a thoughtful, adaptable, and deeply human way.

Rather than teaching students to fit into idealized forms, Avita Yoga emphasizes learning how to observe, adapt, communicate, and create the conditions for healing sensation, structural support, and meaningful transformation.

What You Will Learn

The Avita Teacher Certification — Essentials program combines anatomy, movement science, breathwork, therapeutic application, and experiential teaching methods to prepare students to teach safe, adaptable, joint-centered yoga practices that support meaningful results.

Throughout the training, students learn how to observe more clearly, communicate more effectively, and work with the body in ways that support mobility, structural support, nervous system regulation, and long-term change.

Students will explore:

Joint-centered anatomy and movement principles
How restrictions and compensation patterns develop throughout the body
The relationship between breath, sensation, mobility, and nervous system regulation
Foundational Avita Yoga shapes, sequencing, and therapeutic application
The difference between pain and constructive healing sensation

Teaching skills for both private sessions and group classes
Observation-based teaching and responsive communication
Practical methods for adapting practice to individual needs
Foundational Avita breathing principles influenced by the Buteyko Method
Hands-on guidance, inquiry, and relational teaching skills

More importantly, students begin learning how to see differently. Rather than teaching students to fit into idealized forms, Avita Yoga emphasizes observation, adaptability, inquiry, and thoughtful progression. The training encourages students to work from direct experience, refine perception, and develop the confidence to meet each student as an individual.

Many students also discover that the process becomes deeply personal—revealing unexpected strengths, hidden patterns, and new ways of understanding healing, teaching, and themselves.

“The whole experience gave me more confidence and trust in my decision-making. The training confirmed that my path as a yoga teacher and student is a legitimate way to go through life.” M. Wheat

Avita Teacher Certification - Essentials

A Therapeutic and Experiential Approach

This therapeutic, joint-centered yoga teacher training is rooted in practical anatomy, movement science, physiology, breathwork, and experiential practice. The program is designed to help students understand and share the healing principles of Avita Yoga through a thoughtful, adaptable, and deeply human approach to teaching.

The aim is not simply to accumulate information, but to develop practical tools for understanding the body, supporting mobility, improving joint function, refining observation skills, and helping others experience meaningful long-term change. As students learn to support others, they often discover profound healing and transformation within themselves as well.

Learning to Observe, Adapt, and Teach

The physical aspects of the training address restrictions, compensation patterns, injuries, mobility limitations, and structural imbalances throughout the body. The philosophical and reflective components of the program encourage students to question old assumptions, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate the clarity and presence necessary to teach responsibly and compassionately.

The Hybrid Training Format

This hybrid program is delivered through two immersive 6-day in-person intensives, each separated by approximately five months of guided online study and practice. During the integration periods, students meet on the second Saturday of each month to share insights, ask questions, refine teaching skills, and deepen their understanding through mentorship and community.

The training begins with a week-long immersive experience focused on foundational Avita Yoga principles, therapeutic application, movement exploration, breathwork, and hands-on learning. Students then enter a guided integration phase that includes ongoing practice along with up to five hours per month of anatomy, physiology, movement theory, and teaching development.

In-Person Immersion and Mentorship

The program concludes with a final in-person immersion focused on practice teaching, observation, communication skills, therapeutic adaptability, and embodied understanding. Both in-person training weeks are currently held at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, within reach of New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington DC.

Room reservations may be made directly through the Himalayan Institute accommodations office. A variety of lodging options are available to support different budgets and preferences.

Certification and Continuing Development

This mostly in-person hybrid format offers a thoughtful balance of immersive learning, personal practice, mentorship, teaching development, and long-term integration.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are recognized as Certified Avita Yoga Teachers and are prepared to begin teaching Avita Yoga with greater confidence, clarity, adaptability, and observational skill.

Avita Yoga Teacher Trainings and certification programs are conducted by officially authorized Avita Faculty.

Don’t want to travel? Check out the Self-Guided Avita Yoga Teacher Program

2026/27 Dates:

In Person
October 25 – 31, 2026
April 4 – 10, 2027

Live Online Sessions
November 14
December 12
January 9
February 13
March 13

East Coast Training Location

In-person immersions are currently held at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, within reach of New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC.

The retreat environment supports immersive learning, focused practice, and meaningful connection.

Ongoing Online Mentorship

Live Zoom sessions are held on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time. These sessions provide ongoing guidance, integration, discussion, and teaching refinement throughout the training.

Students are encouraged to attend all sessions live whenever possible. Recordings are available for unavoidable scheduling conflicts.

Avita Teacher Certification — Advanced (Level 2)

Advanced training opportunities are being developed as part of the ongoing evolution of the Avita Yoga teaching pathway.

This next phase of training is designed for teachers who wish to deepen their understanding of Avita’s therapeutic approach, refine observation and communication skills, and continue developing through mentorship, practice, retreats, and live teaching experience.

Future Advanced trainings will place greater emphasis on:

therapeutic application
teaching refinement
breathwork integration
working with individual needs
live observation and feedback
embodiment, communication, and relational teaching
mentorship and faculty development

Graduates of Essentials who feel called toward deeper study are encouraged to remain engaged through practice, retreats, workshops, and community participation as this next phase continues to develop.

Join us for an immersive in-person training experience designed to deepen your understanding of what you see, feel, and teach with your students.

These live trainings offer an opportunity to refine observation skills, explore therapeutic application more deeply, and experience the relational and experiential aspects of Avita Yoga within a supportive learning environment.

For questions regarding travel, accommodations, or transportation coordination, please contact Lori at [email protected]. We’re happy to help connect participants who may wish to coordinate car rentals, shared lodging, or nearby Airbnb accommodations.

Travel Options
Fly into Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) or Fargo Hector International Airport (FAR).

Location
Exact training location details will be provided upon registration.

Self-Guided Program

The Self-Guided Avita Studies Program offers a flexible and immersive opportunity to deepen your understanding of Avita Yoga, joint-centered movement, breathwork, anatomy, and healing-oriented practice.

Rich in practical theory, physiology, therapeutic application, and guided practice, the program is designed for students, teachers, movement professionals, and dedicated practitioners seeking deeper insight into the principles that shape the Avita approach.

Rather than focusing primarily on physical performance or flexibility, the program explores how thoughtful movement, breath awareness, observation, and healing sensation can help unwind long-standing patterns of tension, compensation, and restriction throughout the body and mind.

The curriculum combines prerecorded lessons, guided practices, and six one-hour online mentoring sessions with Jeff, scheduled individually at mutually convenient times. Students move through the material alongside recordings from a previous teacher training cohort, offering the opportunity to learn through observation, inquiry, and shared exploration.

The educational content is intentionally more concentrated in the early months and gradually tapers toward the end of the program to support integration, embodiment, and reflection.

The program is designed to be completed over six months, though students have up to one year to complete all materials at their own pace.

While this self-guided course provides substantial educational depth and a strong conceptual foundation, it does not by itself confer certification to teach Avita Yoga. Students who wish to pursue teacher certification are encouraged to continue with live trainings, retreats, mentorship, and supervised teaching experiences, where they can develop observation, communication, and practical teaching skills through direct interaction.

For many students, however, the program serves as a meaningful stand-alone experience for personal growth, deeper practice, and expanded understanding.

The Avita Teacher Training Curriculum

Practical Philosophy

In Avita Yoga, philosophy is meant to be lived—not merely discussed.

We learn to grow and evolve. Whether we are studying movement, anatomy, breath, communication, or contemplative teachings, the question remains the same: How does this help us live with greater clarity, freedom, compassion, and peace?

To support this exploration, we draw from The Yoga Mind, co-authored by Jeff Bailey and Gene Langlois, which explores the first pada of The Yoga Sutras through the interpretive lens of A Course in Miracles. These teachings have profoundly influenced the development of Avita Yoga and continue to inform its healing-centered approach to practice and teaching.

Students are encouraged to read slowly, reflect deeply, and engage in thoughtful discussion throughout the training.

The curriculum also draws on a monthly movie chosen for its rich, applicable, and healing theme.

Avita Yoga Theory

Jeff’s book Mobility for Life serves as a foundational text for understanding the principles behind Avita Yoga.

Rather than focusing primarily on technique or performance, the book explores why the practice works—examining mobility, joint health, nervous system regulation, healing sensation, movement compensation patterns, breath, structural support, and sustainable practice for sustainable change.

Students learn to view the body less as a collection of isolated muscles and more as an interconnected, adaptive system shaped by habit, perception, tension, and experience.

Anatomy

Anatomy within the Avita training is practical, applied, and directly connected to lived movement experience.

Rather than emphasizing memorization alone, students learn anatomy through observation, movement, sensation, and functional application. Particular attention is given to joints, fascia, and other connective tissues, breath mechanics, compensation patterns, and the areas of the body most commonly affected by restriction, pain, imbalance, and degeneration.

The goal is not simply to learn anatomical terminology, but to better understand how thoughtful movement and therapeutic pressure can support mobility, stability, adaptability, and long-term joint health.

No anatomy textbook is required, though students are welcome to use one for additional reference.

Physiology

Students explore how the body’s systems and tissues respond and adapt to movement, breath, stress, recovery, and attention.

The training examines how Avita Yoga may influence circulation, respiration, nervous system regulation, fascial health, balance, coordination, bone health, and overall resilience. Understanding these relationships helps students connect practice with meaningful, observable change.

Relevant physiology concepts are woven throughout the training in practical and accessible ways rather than taught as isolated academic material.

Teaching Materials and Class Development

Participants receive an Avita Teacher Manual along with 50 written Avita class plans designed to support both personal study and future teaching development.

The materials include illustrated sequences, teaching notes, foundational concepts, observation principles, and space for reflection and note-taking throughout the training process.

These resources are intended not only to support the training itself but also to provide long-term guidance as students continue refining their understanding, practice, communication, and teaching skills over time.

Become a Certified Avita Teacher – Essentials

Avita Teacher Certification – Advanced

Nationally Recognized Certification

Avita Yoga Teacher Certification — Essentials is recognized by the American Yoga Council as a CYT Level 2 training program, supporting Avita’s commitment to thoughtful, high-quality, therapeutic yoga education.

Payment Options

Level 1
Avita Teacher Certification – Essentials

October 25 – 31, 2026
and
April 4 – 10, 2027

~~$2,800~~

$2,500

**Early Bird Special**
Pay in full by July 1st — Save $300!

Got questions? Please email us at [email protected] or set up a time to chat with Jeff.

Pricing includes a printable PDF of 50 class plans and the Avita Teacher’s manual.

4 Easy payments

$700

Begins on enrollment date

Level 2
Avita Teacher Certification – Advanced

Avita Yoga World Headquarters
“The Bank” Clitheral, MN
June 24 – 28, 2026

$750

Includes three lunches and one dinner. [email protected] for details and help with accommodations.

Why Avita Yoga Teacher Training?

Avita Yoga Teacher Certification helps students develop a deeper understanding of the patterns that work against us. Rather than pursuing flexibility alone, we learn to identify and resolve the limitations that interfere with mobility, structural support, and lasting peace.

Students learn to help themselves and others through therapeutic movement, thoughtful observation, breathwork, and foundational Avita Yoga shapes. The aim is to become truly helpful through unbiased observation, responsive communication, and gentle, consistent practice. Beyond anatomy, sequencing, and teaching methodology, students learn to work more thoughtfully with individual needs, movement restrictions, and compensation patterns.

The training encourages clarity, self-awareness, adaptability, and practical teaching skills in a supportive, collaborative environment. Many students find the process transforms not only how they teach, but how they understand themselves and their ability to help others.

A practical understanding of how anatomy, physiology, breathwork, and movement principles relate to Avita Yoga and everyday life
Greater awareness of movement restrictions, compensation patterns, and the influences that shape mobility and joint health
Foundational skills in observation, pattern analysis, and therapeutic application
Practical teaching tools for guiding both private sessions and group classes
Access to 50 written and illustrated Avita Yoga class plans for practice, study, and teaching development
Certification as an Avita Yoga Teacher upon successful completion of the program
Ongoing connection to the Avita teacher community for continued support, mentorship, and professional growth

Ongoing support for all Avita teachers and graduates

Avita Community Network

Graduates of the program receive access to:

Authorization to use the Avita Yoga® registered trademark for approved teaching activities
Continuing education focused on injuries, joint pain, mobility, and compensation patterns
Monthly support and mentorship calls
Marketing guidance and promotional resources
Illustrated class plans for ongoing study and teaching development
Connection with the Avita teacher community
Accreditation through the American Yoga Council
Unlimited access to online Avita Yoga classes and workshops

The Avita Teacher Pass ($49/month, available upon certification) includes everything listed above plus full access to the Online Practice Pass.

Participation is optional, but many teachers find it a valuable way to stay connected, continue refining their understanding of Avita Yoga, review training materials, and maintain a consistent personal practice.

Become an Avita Teacher

I practiced Avita Yoga with Jeff Bailey a couple of years before I decided to take the Avita Teacher training. The practice was helping me keep mobility in all of my joints. At age 70 this was becoming increasingly important to my active physical enjoyment of hiking, biking and skiing. Over time I heard phrases like “there’s a difference between pain and healing sensation,” “we have to work through the muscles and connective tissues to get to the joints and nervous system,” and “it’s not about accomplishment.” I wanted to understand what was “under the hood” so to speak of the Avita system, which is why I decided to study the practice and theory of Avita Yoga. The training provided that and more!

Rob Schware

Co-Founder and Co-Executive DIrector, The Give Back Yoga Foundation

I am grateful for the experience of the Avita Teacher Training. Having taught other styles of yoga for the past 17 years, none of them resonated with me as deeply as Avita. Being able to meet and connect with other proponents of the practice from around the globe and share this practice, had a power all its own.

Through the training, I was able to expand my own practice and deepen the connection between mind, body and spirit. Jeff has an incredible ability to relay the finer points of Avita in such a meaningful manner. He balances the importance of practice with lightness, bringing a fun sense of humor to his teaching, reminding us to bring those qualities with us off our mats and into our daily lives.

He will challenge you to look inside and trust yourself in order for you to better connect with your students. I am excited to be teaching Avita as I continue to hone my own practice. You will not be disappointed making the commitment to the training!

Lisa Repp Parsons

Yoga teacher for 17 years, Avita Teacher

Thank you so much for this teacher training. I learned so much and have great respect for all that you put into the training. I received more than I expected and I will be using this in my teaching. I admire how you wove the ACIM teachings into this training, and how you embody living as a teacher as the course describes. It was a reminder to me of how we can only ever teach what we are. We don’t seek or strive for truth but rather find out and remove the barriers to the truth for ourselves. Truth and authentic heart connection with others are precisely what this world needs now more than ever.

Your work with the Yoga Sutras was another unexpected surprise. I revere and have been in awe of Patanjali’s masterwork. It was a delight to read your Yoga Mind book and how you wove ACIM into the teachings. Watching and learning from how you navigated the closure of the Yoga Loft has also been an important part of this training for me. I’m impressed with how well your classes translate to the virtual realm, and their value was what led me to sign up for the teacher training.

Chris

I am so grateful that I got to attend the retreat and for all that you and Lori did to make it such a comfortable and relaxing time!!! I feel like the time I spent with you in person was just what I needed to really feel like I understand what Avita is all about. I taught a class today and I felt so much more confident. Seeing how you worked in person with a variety of people, how you met them where they were at, was really helpful. Also, getting to experience how you use the power of touch as you use your hands to add a compressive quality and inviting more awareness for the student of what is possible, really helped me to want to bring that to my classes. I loved every minute!!!

Lynn

The Retreat was the perfect blend of yoga, friendship and adventure. Jeff us led through red, orange and green classes as skillfully in person as he does on-line–plus an advanced hands-on training in the beautiful new studio. His knowledge of yoga, anatomy and ACIM is deep and I am grateful for his gentle demonstration of Peaceful Presence. The Minnesota lakes did not disappoint! Our boat ride and state park hike was a fun add-on to the weekend. We ate at the local restaurants, met the local folks and introduced them to their first Avita yoga class at the Grand Opening of the Avita World Headquarters. Thank you Jeff and Lori for your kindness and generosity and sharing your new Minnesota home with us.

Linda Y.

Nothing can replace the value of the in person, deep dive discussions we had at the AVITA retreat. We practiced with locals doing AVITA for the first time, a practical opportunity to apply “hands on” guidance. I feel enriched and full of purpose as a teacher and a student. I liked the organic way we moved between practice, discussion and fun activities. Bob is inspired to do Avita now!

Katherine S.

Teacher Training FAQs

People join this training for many different reasons. Some want to better understand the therapeutic principles of Avita Yoga and apply them more effectively within their own practice.

Others are seeking greater mobility, healthier joints, stronger bones, relief from long-standing movement restrictions, or a more peaceful sense of self — in body and mind.
Many students have no immediate intention of teaching and simply wish to expand their understanding of movement, healing, breathwork, and self-awareness.

Others feel called to share Avita Yoga professionally and develop the observational, communication, and teaching skills necessary to help others in meaningful ways.

If you feel drawn to Avita Yoga and want to understand the practice more fully — whether for personal growth, greater freedom, or future teaching — this training may be an excellent fit.

Avita Yoga offers a distinctly different approach to movement and yoga education — one centered less on performance or flexibility, and more on mobility, joint health, therapeutic application, observation, and sustainable long-term change.

Students receive more than a certification. Rote memorization is rarely helpful. The training provides practical, applied anatomy and physiology that connects directly to Avita practice, everyday movement, structural support, and long-term joint function.

Students learn how to identify compensation patterns, work thoughtfully with movement restrictions, adapt practice to individual needs, and develop teaching skills for both online and in-person environments.

Rather than simply learning what to do, students learn how to observe more clearly, communicate more effectively, and support themselves and others through therapeutic movement, breathwork, self-awareness, and gentle, consistent practice.

Our teacher training program holds American Yoga Council CYT Program Level 2 certification, which means it meets rigorous national standards for comprehensive yoga teacher education. This Level 2 designation reflects our in-depth curriculum and ongoing support system. This certification ensures you receive high-quality training that’s recognized by yoga studios, wellness centers, and yoga communities nationwide.

The American Yoga Council’s CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher) Program Level 2 certification indicates that our training program meets comprehensive standards for curriculum quality, instructor qualifications, student support, and educational outcomes. It’s a mark of excellence that demonstrates our commitment to providing outstanding yoga teacher education.

Yes! With AYC CYT Program Level 2 certification, you’ll have nationally recognized credentials that are respected throughout the yoga community. Many studios specifically look for teachers with accredited training, and Avita’s certification demonstrates your commitment to excellence and professional standards.

When in doubt, reduce pressure. Your body cannot heal under stress. While the practice relies on compression, it should never cause duress. The primary skill we learn as we go is to discern between pain and healing sensation. Pushing into pain is meaningless; dropping into healing sensation is everything. The primary skill you will learn is how to distinguish the difference.

There are two options for Level 1 Avita Teacher Certification – Essentials. You may enroll in the Self-Guided Program or join the hybrid version (mostly) in person. Consisting of prerecorded material from live trainings, the self-guided curriculum can be completed in as little as six months or over a full year.

Level 2 Avita Teacher Certification – The Advanced Training is held in person over 5 days and includes a practicum. There is new information and skill developement but in addition to a practicum, this certification is a demonstration of mastery.

For the self-guided curriculum, commitment means showing up: watching the prerecorded content, practicing your teaching skills as outlined, practicing the designated classes, and following them in your printed version. While you’ll find flexibility (sessions are recorded, and there’s online content you can revisit), this is a deep dive for the self-motivated, and it works best if you engage actively with the process.

For the in-person trainings, commitment means being present, listening, and asking questions. Commitment means showing up with your concerns and limitations and letting the yoga work for you. This is how we learn and grow. It’s honest. It means we don’t try to arrange ourselves to show up to please others or win people over.

Yes — upon completion of Level 1, you will receive a teaching certificate of completion that enables you to teach Avita Yoga. Level 2 is optional but recommended if you want to delve deeper into therapeutic and hands-on work. After certification, you’ll also have access to the Avita Teacher Community Network, ongoing support, marketing materials, and the ability to use the Avita Yoga® trademark.

Graduates get access to the Teacher Pass, which allows ongoing access to online classes with Jeff, workshops, and all content from the Avita Yoga Teacher Training. You get ongoing support with Jeff Bailey and fellow teachers, video instruction to address injuries and pattern compensation, marketing support, and materials. You’re not just finishing a training — you’re entering an ongoing community of practice and professional growth.

For Part 1 (online/hybrid), tuition is $2,800 full price, $2,500 early-bird. Payment plans are available in four $700 installments. Part 2 (in-person Advanced Therapeutics) is a separate $775 investment. All fees include the printable teacher’s manual and class plans.

Ask yourself: Do I feel called to help others move more freely, live with stronger joints and bones, and experience greater peace of mind? Am I willing to commit time and curiosity to learning, practicing, and teaching? Do I want to join a community of supportive peers and grow both personally and professionally? If yes, this training may be a powerful next step. If you’re unsure, feel free to schedule a call with Jeff HERE or send an email — we’re happy to answer questions and help you with your decision.

All live online sessions are recorded, so if you must miss one, you can view the recording later. We strongly encourage live attendance for interaction, Q&A, and partner teaching.

No yoga teacher training experience is required. In fact, because Avita Yoga principles are so unique, the less you know about yoga, the better. The primary prerequisite is your willingness to open your heart and mind to a new way of thinking. This means engaging, moving, learn, practicing, teaching, asking questions, and reflecting. You should have ample experience practicing Avita and a desire to support yourself and others with the Avita approach. Level 2 requires completion of Level 1.

Avita Yoga Teacher Training

Simple Movement, Transformative Results