Earth to Ether Yoga Teacher Training
7 March - 13 July
Hosted by Michelle van Straaten at Shankha Studio, Parkmore, Johannesburg
Cost: R30,000 (payment plans are available)
Earlybird before 21 Jan R28,000 (if paid in full)
For bookings, contact michelle@manymoonsyoga.com
Earth to Ether offers a unique and comprehensive vinyasa yoga teacher training program that draws upon more than two decades of extensive exploration, study, practice, and teaching in not only yogic disciplines but in healing and psychotherapy. This meticulously structured training covers the fundamental philosophy and methodology topics essential for aspiring yoga teachers. You will explore both core teachings as well as specialised topics that are rooted in Michelle's distinctive style, shamanic training and firm commitment to the yogic disciplines.
Earth to Ether was created to transcend the conventional 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) programs, and challenges participants to exceed their perceived boundaries and what they think yoga is as portrayed in a studio setting.
Durga Tara's (Michelle's initiated name) approach aims to empower participants to not only deepen their personal practice, but to be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to transmit this wisdom effectively in a classroom setting.
This training allows the space for yoga practitioners to cultivate confidence and authenticity in both their personal practice and their ability to guide others towards connection and intimacy with all aspects of life - on and off the mat.
CONTENT:
Asana, Pranayama and Meditation
Yoga history and philosophy (with a look at some key texts & debunking some of the “common” historical and philosophical teachings in most modern YTT)
Anatomy, adjustments and alignment
Ayurveda basics (including doshas and sequencing for doshas)
Elemental foundations
Subtle anatomy (including cakras, vayus, mudras, bandhas and energy body theory)
Biotensegrity - how to teach and move to align with the body’s natural distribution and joint movement
Spiral anatomy - getting out of the modern postural yoga linearity
Sequencing (basic sequencing and creative sequencing)
How to have a trauma-sensitive approach to teaching)
Mindfulness in the yoga space
Mindfulness
Animism and earth reconnection
Mantra and nada yoga (the yoga of sound)
Living the yoga - how to take the practices off the mat
Access to a library of meditations, pranayama and practices to build your skill base
DATES AND TIMING: 7 MARCH - 13 JULY 2025
The training is spread over 5 months to allow more time for homework completion, practice and integration. There is approx. one weekend off each month and a larger mid-training break in April and May. Each week the schedule is as follows:
Fridays ONLINE (6- approx. 8pm) Content can also be done during the week in your own time
Saturday 07:30-2pm in studio
Sunday 9am- 1:30pm in studio
Weekends off:
28-30 March
Mid training break 14 April - 31 May with a few online sessions on weekend 3-4 May and 10-11 May
20-22 June
About your host:
Durga Tara is an intiated yogini in a non-dual dharma lineage using both tantic and Tibetan Buddhist modalities. She is a long time yoga practitioner (over 2 decades), yoga teacher, folk herbalist, non-dual dharma practitioner, contemplative psychotherapist, Tibetan medicine practitioner (in training) and nature enthusiast. Her passion is in exploring the application of therapeutic tools of the yogic and healing traditions to build resilience, cultivate lasting change and instill life-long positive habits that support and balance her clients.
Durga Tara trains yoga teachers and runs retreats and mentorship programs in South Africa and Europe. Her love for plants and plant healing led her to Peru as a teenager and birthed a life long love and fascination with the Amazon basin. She has spent time immersed with local tribes gaining knowledge and understanding the plants and cosmologies of healing while doing personal work and facilitating retreats in the Amazon as well as running yearly plant immersions and herbal workshops in South Africa.
Her path has woven together plants, people and spirituality in order to cultivate an environment of peace and growth. Her wish is that all beings may benefit from what she shares and through this, recognize the preciousness of this human life.