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YT 202: Befriending Pranayama & Asana | 16 Hours

Course ID & Title: YT 202 Befriending Pranayama & Asana
Instructors: Julie & Alex

Course Objectives
  • Deepening understanding and practice of pranayama techniques.
  • Exploring the therapeutic applications of asana practice.
  • Developing personalized pranayama and asana sequences for clients.

Lessons
  • Understanding the Concept of Befriending in Yoga Practice
  • Exploration of Breath Awareness and Functionality
  • Instruction and Techniques for Teaching Pranayama
  • Integration of Breath and Movement in Asana Practice
  • Developing Mobility and Strength through Asana Practice
  • Demonstration of Classes Incorporating Pranayama and Asana
  • Certification Program Mentorship Support with Alex

Program Frameworks & Guiding Philosophies
  • Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga: Continued focus on Asana (physical postures) and Pranayama (breath control), exploring their therapeutic applications.
  • Integration of Trauma-Informed Principles: Emphasizing the importance of creating a safe, supportive environment for clients.

Grounding in Teachings
  • Understanding the Concept of Befriending in Yoga Practice: Emphasizes the importance of a compassionate and supportive approach to yoga practice, especially when working with trauma-affected individuals.
  • Exploration of Breath Awareness and Functionality: Detailed study of how breath awareness can support emotional and physical well-being.
  • Instruction and Techniques for Teaching Pranayama: Practical instruction on teaching various breath control techniques, tailored to individual needs.
  • Integration of Breath and Movement in Asana Practice: Techniques for combining breathwork and physical postures to enhance the therapeutic impact of yoga.
  • Developing Mobility and Strength through Asana Practice: Strategies for using asanas to build strength and mobility in a trauma-informed manner.
  • Demonstration of Classes Incorporating Pranayama and Asana: Practical demonstrations of how to structure and lead classes that integrate breathwork and physical postures.​

Program Integration
This course builds on the foundational concepts introduced in YT 200 and YT 201, deepening students' understanding of how to integrate pranayama and asana into yoga therapy. These teachings are woven into subsequent courses, providing a consistent framework for learning and practice. Students will build on these teachings throughout the program.

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 :)​