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YT 200: Yoga Therapy Foundations | 8 Hours

Course ID: YT 200
Title: Yoga Therapist Foundations
Instructors: Melissa & Alex

​Course Objectives
  • Overview of the program objectives, structure, and expectations.
  • Introduction to the faculty and key resources.
  • Orientation to the Teachable platform for accessing course materials.

Lesson Titles
  • Foundational Yoga Teachings and Philosophy
  • Yoga and the Mind
  • Frameworks for Health & Wellness
  • Ethical Principles
  • Psychology & Mental Health
  • Certification Program Mentorship Support with Alex

Introduction of Program Frameworks & Guiding Philosophies
  • Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga: Introduces the ethical guidelines (Yamas and Niyamas), physical postures (Asana), breath control (Pranayama), withdrawal of senses (Pratyahara), concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana), and enlightenment (Samadhi).
  • Panchamaya Koshas: Explores the five layers of human existence - Annamaya Kosha (Physical Body), Pranamaya Kosha (Energy Body), Manomaya Kosha (Mental Body), Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Body), and Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body).
  • Chakra System: Covers the seven chakras - Muladhara (Root Chakra), Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra), Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra), Anahata (Heart Chakra), Vishuddha (Throat Chakra), Ajna (Third Eye Chakra), and Sahasrara (Crown Chakra).

Grounding in Teachings
  • Foundational Yoga Teachings and Philosophy: Students will learn the historical and philosophical roots of yoga, focusing on its application in modern therapeutic settings. This includes a glossary of all core competencies included in the program.
  • Yoga and the Mind: Examination of how yoga practices impact mental health, including stress reduction and emotional regulation.
  • Frameworks for Health & Wellness: Integration of yoga therapy within broader health and wellness frameworks, emphasizing holistic approaches.
  • Ethical Principles: Detailed discussion on the ethical guidelines (Yamas and Niyamas) and how they apply to yoga therapy practice.
  • Psychology & Mental Health: Understanding the intersection of yoga therapy and psychology, focusing on non-diagnostic, supportive guidance within the scope of yoga therapy.​

Program Integration
This course sets the foundation for all subsequent courses in the program, ensuring that students have a solid grounding in the core concepts and philosophies of yoga therapy. These principles are woven into each course, providing a consistent framework for learning and practice. Students will build on these teachings throughout the program.
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Canmore Location:

109-705 10th Street Canmore, AB T1W2A3
We're next to Communitea & Vermelho, 
​on the corner of 10th St. and 6th Ave.

Established in 2014.
​Copyright © 2026 by
Dr. Melissa Jay is an Indigenous, nehiyaw-Métis member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. The primary location of Canmore Counselling and Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School is located in Chuwapchipchiyan Kudi Bi (translated from Îyârhe Nakoda as “shooting at the willows”), colonially known as Canmore. We are grateful to be located on Treaty 7 territory and the current and ancestral lands of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda), which includes of the Bearspaw First Nation, Chiniki First Nation, and Goodstoney First Nation, as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika First Nation, Piikani First Nation, and Kainai First Nation. This is also the home to the Rocky View Métis District 4 within the Battle River Territory. We recognize all Nations who continue to nurture these lands, and we are dedicated to uplifting Truth, language, and culture as essential to right relations. As an act of reconciliation and commitment to decolonization, we are committed to the TRC's Calls to Action. 

At Canmore Counselling, we are also privileged to be yoga students, practitioners, and guides. Our offerings centre on the root of yoga as Indigenous to South Asia, and we are grateful to learn from and amplify the South Asian practitioners and teachers whenever possible. We are grateful for the eight limbs of yoga, as taught by Patanjali. It is a joy to walk alongside our incredible alumni of the Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology School as they create opportunities for care, connection & curiosity within their communities. 

We believe wholeheartedly that trauma-informed care requires commitment to community, social justice, decolonization, anti-oppression, and anti-racism. Thank you for being here :)​