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ABOUT THE SOMATIC YOGA THERAPY TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH MANDORLA YOGA INSTITUTE
Somatic Yoga Therapy is an evolving profession that has its origins in profound ancient wisdom. As a practice and methodology, Somatic Yoga Therapy is an intervention that supports a returning to WHOLENESS through a body-based and trauma-respectful journey. As a bio-psycho-social-spiritual methodology, Somatic Yoga Therapy engages with ALL aspects of the person in a process referred to as the 5 Kosha method, whereby we mindfully tend to the physical, emotional, energetic, and mental sensations that arise in moments of intentionally cultivated ease.
WE offer two designations for those who wish to study Somatic Yoga Therapy; a 675 HR Diploma in Somatic Yoga Therapy practice and an 875 HR Certification in Somatic Yoga Therapy and Integrative Thai Yoga Massage.
The 675 HR SYT Diploma program prepares you to work as an Advanced Somatic Yoga Teacher who is knowledgeable about the workings of the human body with an arsenal of tools that support resolving maladaptive pain patterns, the restoration of energetic alignment through myofascial release and structural re-patterning, and emotionally/mentally supportive strategies that include breathwork, mantra, mudra, and meditation. Rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom, the 675-HR diploma program takes place over a period of 12 months with modules that focus on the 5 Kosha and 5 Element yoga therapy models. The 675-hour diploma is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 300-hour RYT level, so that our students may apply those hours that are non-yoga therapy-related toward an RYT500 registration.
The 875 HR SYT Certification program requires the completion of an additional 200 HR Mentoring program that takes you into the depths of Somatic Yoga Therapy through experiential practice, observation of live SYT demonstrations, and supervised facilitation, all while you complete your practicum and case study research in your home community. The 875 HR designation includes extensive experiential learning in Integrative Thai Yoga Massage and a dual certification is provided to our graduates upon completion of all requisites, allowing use of the designation, 'Somatic Yoga Therapist'. Graduates of this program are eligible to register with the CYA as an 875-Hour Somatic Yoga Therapist and with the NHPC (Canada)/Namasta (USA) as an 875-Hour Integrative Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner..
As an applicant, you may choose to enroll at the time of registration in either the 675-hour Diploma Program or the 875-hour Somatic Yoga Therapy Program. After completing your 675-hour requisites, you may work toward your 875-hour SYT designation by completing the 200 HR Mentoring Program in Somatic Yoga Therapy and Integrative Thai Yoga Massage.
We believe that to offer this work, you must experience it deeply. We have designed our curriculum to be an immersive journey of self-healing through the body with an embodied community of learners. We work with a small cohort of students each year and lead you through the process of BECOMING a Somatic Yoga Therapist, through a carefully designed curriculum that allows time for processing and thoughtful application. We believe that to support you in becoming a trauma-informed practitioner, we must lead from a trauma-informed place. For this reason, we respect your self-agency and right to choice.
675 -Hour Somatic Yoga Therapy Diploma
Our 675-hour Somatic Yoga Therapy Diploma is a 12-month program comprised of engaging self-study modules, a 5-day in-person immersion in Calgary, AB, the week of September 15 - 19, 2025, and 10 months of immersive online study in the practice and applications of Somatic Yoga Therapy through the months of September 2025 to May 2026. Designed as both a stand-alone certification and as a pathway toward our 875-Hour Somatic Yoga Therapist + Integrative Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner, the 675-hour diploma allows you, upon graduation, to register with the Yoga Alliance at the RYT500 level as an Advanced Somatic Yoga Teacher. Those who wish to pursue the 875-hour Somatic Yoga Therapist designation, may use the title, 'Somatic Yoga Therapist-in-training', once they are effectively enrolled in the 200 HR Mentoring Component of the 875-hour training.
875-Hour Somatic Yoga Therapist Training
Our 875-hour Somatic Yoga Therapist Training is comprised of 3 components. To apply, you must have a 200-hour yoga teacher training certification or a Master's degree in a mental health-related field. Those who have not completed 200-hour yoga teacher training in Somatic Embodiment Yoga are asked to complete the 75 Hour Bridge Program as a pre-requisite for this program.
Component One: 75-hour bridge program for those with a 200-hour yoga certification or a master's degree in a mental health-related field. (If you do not have the above prerequisites, you are invited to take our 200-hour Somatic Embodiment Yoga Teacher Training. Graduates of this program are given direct entry into the SYT course track and do not need to take the 75-hour bridge program.)
Component Two: 675-hour Diploma in Somatic Yoga Therapy, see above
Component Three: 200-hour Somatic Yoga Therapist Mentoring Program (Completing this program is mandatory to acquire the Therapist designation. This program also includes a dual certification in Integrative Thai Yoga Massage, giving our graduates more significant access to insurance billing through health spending accounts. The mentoring program is held once per year over 10 months, from September to June, with a 5-day immersion in Calgary, AB, at the start of the program and a 3-day Graduation weekend at the program's completion. While in the program, you can expect to complete a practicum in your home community. A graduation ceremony is held during the 3-day Grad Weekend, where our graduates are given the opportunity to share their case studies as a culmination and celebration of their achievement. A professional photographer is present to commemorate this joyful occasion, and we welcome other community members to attend the ceremony. )
"Living the miracle of openness and surrender to my true nature was a unique possibility that this program gave me, finding myself expanded and aware like never before. Working with Stefani is a gift for your self as a person before being a yoga teacher, and a gift for who we are going to help. Every different part in the journey is woven in so deeply with Stefani’s loving heart and her strong vision. Every piece of the journey to build is so precious and perfect next to the other that you cannot resist this beautiful soul. Thank you for holding my hand so strongly and letting me look deeper, everywhere."
- Giosi Mosca, Sorrento, Italy
"Stefani is an amazing mentor and takes so much time and care with guiding her students through her training. Her style of teaching is like a breath of fresh air and you truly feel nourished through the whole process. She is very mindful of the different learning styles of her students and ensures to teach in a way that everyone feels successful. I love her programs and will continue to learn through the lens of embodiment yoga therapy."
- Emma Gourlie, Cranbrook, BC, Canada