DEEPEN YOUR TEACHING
HYBRID MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR YOGA TEACHERS
Join us in-person to take your yoga teaching to the next level.
Confidently facilitate healing and transformation through yoga, as you support your students to overcome depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
EDUCATION. WISDOM. COMMUNITY.
Nearly 80% of yoga students report practicing yoga for mental health reasons
Yoga teachers are at the frontline of contemporary mental health care, and need this knowledge more than ever.
This is your invitation to join our inclusive and trauma-informed training for yoga teachers, with Clinical Psychologist and Senior Yoga Teacher, Dr Lauren Tober.
Upgrade your skills, join our community and learn how to deeply support your yoga students experiencing mental health challenges, with compassion, clarity and confidence.
THIS TRAINING WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU TEACH
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
The six pillars of Mental Health Aware Yoga are at the foundation of this transformative training, and through them you will develop your skills to safely and confidently support your yoga students experiencing mental health challenges, so they (and you!) can thrive.
1. WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY
2. YOGA PSYCHOLOGY
3. SAFE CONTAINER
4. THERAPEUTIC SKILLS
5. YOGIC PRACTICES
6. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
By the end of the training, you will have up-skilled in the growing niche of yoga for mental health, and have both a theoretical and embodied understanding of how to support your yoga students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
THE HYBRID TRAINING MODEL
This program is not your usual yoga training.
You will find flexibility and accessibility with immediate access to our on-demand course material.
Community connection and embodiment with the two day in-person event
And personalised support with our brilliant support team and options for ongoing mentoring
It’s a training that will actually make a difference in your life and teaching (your students will notice right away)!
This 60-hour hybrid training includes:
Self-paced training prior the event
Two days in-person training with Dr Lauren Tober
The online component includes:
Engaging video lectures on-demand
Mental Health Aware Yoga classes on-demand
Detailed training manual (200+ pages)
Self-directed practicum tasks and reflections
Outstanding student support throughout
The in-person component includes:
In-depth group discussions
Mental Health Aware Yoga classes with Dr Lauren Tober
Learning specific yoga practices for mental health
Practice teaching and receive feedback in small groups
Community connection and lifelong sanga
WHAT THE GRADUATES ARE SAYING
“If you’re interested in supporting your community with yoga, I highly recommend the Mental Health Aware Yoga training with Dr Lauren Tober.
It’s vital that we educate ourselves with this work so we impact our students’ well-being in a positive way.”
YOGA TEACHER, TRAINER + MENTOR | BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
Hi, I’m Dr Lauren Tober.
As a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of nearly 20 years, I’ve seen first-hand the way yoga helps with mental health. But I’ve also seen the way it can hinder it.
I developed this innovative Mental Health Aware Yoga training to support Yoga Teachers to make their classes safe, nourishing and transformative for all students, including those experiencing mental health challenges. And to help Mental Health Professionals bridge the gap between what they learnt in their Yoga Teacher Training courses and their clinical work.
This work is soulful without being new-agey. It’s evidence based without being clinical. It’s authentic, heartfelt and life changing.
Join me in changing the landscape of yoga.
It’s time.
WHAT THE GRADUATES ARE SAYING
“I can hardly think of any supplementary training for Yoga Teachers that is more relevant than Lauren’s Mental Health Aware Yoga training! I will recommend all of our trainees – and in fact all Yoga Teachers – to do this training to educate themselves in these very important topics. Because in all yoga classes that we teach there is likely to be several students affected by stress, anxiety, depression or trauma – and we want to be able to hold the space and teach the yoga that support their inner journeys in the best possible way, too, right?
UPON COMPLETION
Once you have completed the training you will receive:
Listing in our global Teachers' Directory
Certificate of completion
CPD/CE points for Yoga Alliance + Yoga Australia
Our logos to use on your website
Priority for mentoring with Dr Lauren Tober
An invitation to join our global Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers Community for ongoing group mentoring, masterclasses and more.
POSTED ON FACEBOOK
WHAT WE COVER
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PILLAR 1 → WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY
In the first pillar, we look at mental health through the lens of western psychology including depressive, anxiety and trauma disorders as well as stress and co-morbidity.
We take a deep dive into the DSM-V to understand diagnostic criteria for mental illness, so if a student tells you that they have a specific diagnosis, or you’re collaborating with other mental health professionals, you will know what they’re talking about, and be able to engage meaningfully in the conversation.
We will also look at the ways that different mental health presentations might show up in the yoga class, so while you won’t be diagnosing students (this is outside the scope of practice for a yoga teacher, and isn’t appropriate during a yoga class anyway), you can get an idea of what might be going on for them psychologically, and adapt your class to meet their individual needs.
PILLAR 2 → YOGA PSYCHOLOGY
In the second pillar, we explore the foundations of yoga psychology, including Patañjali’s model of yoga psychology, how the eight limbs of yoga apply to Mental Health Aware Yoga teaching, the gunas, koshas, kleshas, samskara and non-dualism.
In this pillar we thread together western and yogic psychology, and uncover the similarities and the difference between the two.
Having a solid understanding of yoga psychology and how it relates to contemporary mental health challenges, will set you up for effectively sequencing your yoga classes, and help you identify which practices may be helpful, and which may be harmful, for each student.
PILLAR 3 → SAFE CONTAINER
In the third pillar, we will explore ways to create a safe container, including honouring the sacred role of the teacher, professional boundaries, creating a safe and nourishing environment for your students, predictability, ethics, touch and hands-on assists, scope of practice, mentoring, self practice, self care and self enquiry.
You will find validation for some of the things you are already doing to create a safe container for your students, and some ah-ha moments as your discover new ways to subtly but powerfully change the way you hold space for your students so they are more likely to feel safe, seen and regulated in your classes.
This pillar is a game changer!
PILLAR 4 → THERAPEUTIC SKILLS
In the fourth pillar, you will learn therapeutic skills for yoga teachers, including skillful and trauma-informed language, effective listening, unconditional positive regard, meeting your students where they are and the different rhythms of a yoga class that you can utilise to support community connection and self regulation.
Whether or not you are a therapist, these therapeutic skills are advanced ways to support your students mental health.
PILLAR 5 → YOGIC PRACTICES
In the fifth pillar, we will explore traditional and evidence-based yogic practices for mental health, including asana, pranayama and meditation.
We will look at what practices might be helpful for what mental health presentations, and what practices we should avoid or adapt so we don’t cause harm.
We will explore the power of sequencing yoga classes for different mental health presentations, and how to meet your students where they are.
Instead of giving you cookie-cutter sequences for mental health health, you will learn how to design and sequence your own yoga classes, no matter what style of yoga your are teaching, for YOUR students.
PILLAR 6 → MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
In the sixth pillar of Mental Health Aware Yoga, you will learn what to do in a mental health crisis, including how to respond when students cry, what to do if a student has a panic attack, trauma reaction or discloses suicide ideation or self harm.
In the safe space that we so often create in our yoga classes, students often open up in ways they don’t out in the world. Students can also be triggered with the embodied movement, breath work and silence that we offer in class, so knowing how to support students through these challenges is so important for yoga teachers (and all humans beings really!).
Instead of getting triggered yourself, learn how to compassionately and confidently support your students through challenging times in your classes.
THE BONUSES
Sign up to a hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training today, and you’ll get these very special additional bonuses
MASTERCLASS
Immediate access to the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop recorded live with Dr Lauren Tober.
Dive into the fascinating world of nervous system regulation and the window of tolerance, and come away with a new understanding of your nervous system and a trauma-informed way to sequence yoga classes for mental health.
PLAYLISTS
Our beloved Mental Health Aware Yoga playlists.
If you’re using music in your yoga classes, it’s important to choose the right tracks, so they’re not triggering or challenging for your students.
These Spotify playlists have all been carefully curated by Dr Lauren Tober and are the ones she uses in her Mental Health Aware Yoga classes.
WHAT OUR GRADUATES ARE SAYING
Kate Pippos
Head Yoga Teacher at Virgin Active
Jacqui Jarrett
Trauma-informed Yoga Teacher
Sarah Truman
Yoga Therapist + Psychology Student
Fuyuko Toyota
Senior iRest Trainer + Yoga Therapist
Andrew Olson
Yoga Teacher + Physiotherapist
Mischa Telford
Yoga Teacher + Yoga Therapist
Rachel Zinman
Yoga for Diabetes + Yoga Teacher Trainer
Libbie Nelson
Yoga Therapist + Physiotherapist
Julie Clark
Yoga Teacher + Counsellor
LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINU BHAVANTU
[ may all beings be happy + free ]
IS THIS TRAINING RIGHT FOR ME?
This trauma-informed training is designed specifically for Yoga Teachers (and Yoga Teachers-In-Training)
THIS TRAINING MIGHT BE FOR YOU IF:
- You want to learn how to effectively support your yoga students experiencing mental health challenges
- You have an interest in mental health and yoga psychology
- You are a Yoga Teacher and a Mental Health Professional and would like to learn how to integrate these two fields
- You are interested in traditional AND evidence based practice
- You are committed to ongoing professional and personal development
- You want to connect with like-minded colleagues
- You are big-hearted, curious and compassionate
THIS TRAINING IS NOT:
- For therapists wanting to learn yoga skills for the therapy room (join one of our programs for therapists intead)
- To learn to become a therapist (it takes many years to do this)
- For Yoga Teachers who want prescriptive postures, practices and sequences for mental health (it’s not that simple)
- For Yoga Teachers who are currently experiencing their own mental health crisis (please seek support from a therapist and connect back in with us when you’re ready)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you give me some more details about what is included in the course?
By the end of the training, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of the Six Pillars of Mental Health Aware Yoga.
In the first pillar, we look at mental health through the lens of Western Psychology including depressive, anxiety and trauma disorders as well as stress and co-morbidity.
In the second pillar, we explore the foundations of Yoga Psychology, including Patañjali’s model of yoga psychology, mental health and the gunas, koshas and kleśhas, yoga as cultivating sattva, saṃskāra and non-dualism.
In the third pillar, you will learn how to Create a Safe Container, including the sacred role of the teacher, professional boundaries, creating a safe and nourishing environment for your students, ethics, touch and hands-on assists, scope of practice, mentoring and self practice, self care and self enquiry.
In the fourth pillar, you will learn Therapeutic Skills for Yoga Teachers, including meeting your students where they are, the rhythm of a yoga class, skillful language, effective listening and unconditional positive regard.
In the fifth pillar, we will explore traditional and evidence-based Yogic Practices for mental health, including yoga and mental health research, assessing (not diagnosing) your students, āsana, prāṇāyāma, meditation, contraindications (what to avoid), compassionate non-judgemental witnessing presence, sankalpa bhâvâna and teaching themes.
In the sixth pillar of Mental Health Aware Yoga, you will learn what to do in a Mental Health Crisis, including how to respond when students cry, what to do if a student has a panic attack , trauma reaction or discloses suicide ideation or self harm.
Following completion of the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, Yoga Teachers will be able to:
– Articulate why knowledge of mental health is important for Yoga Teachers.
– Identify Western Psychology diagnostic criteria for depression, anxiety, trauma and stress.
– Discuss basic yoga psychology, including Patañjali’s 8 limbs, gunas and koshas.
– Create a safe container for students in a yoga class.
– Use appropriate therapeutic skills in a yoga class.
– Assess their own and their students’ emotional needs and practice/teach appropriate yoga practices to meet these needs.
– Identify what to do in a mental health crisis.
Dr Lauren worked with an education and instructional course designer to make this course the best educational experience possible.
I am a Hatha / Ashtanga / Restorative / Svastha / Yin / Vinyasa / Flow / Prenatal / Chair Yoga Teacher. Is this course suitable for me?
Yes!
Mental Health Aware Yoga is designed to apply to ANY style of yoga teaching.
Mental Health Aware Yoga is not a new brand or style of yoga, but rather a set of principles that can be applied to any style of yoga that you’re teaching.
I am a Psychologist / Social Worker / Therapist. Is this course suitable for me?
If you are already trained as a Yoga Teacher (or currently undertaking your training), then yes!
This training would be a wonderful bridge for you to bring the worlds of psychology and yoga together.
The course doesn’t train people to become therapists, but with your qualifications and experience, you will no doubt be able to draw on your existing knowledge and experience in this area, and integrate it with all the yoga practices and concepts we cover in the course.
With your background as a Mental Health Professional, it’s likely that you will already have the some of the knowledge that we cover in the Western Psychology and Mental Health Crisis sections (two of the six pillars of Mental Health Aware Yoga), however the other four pillars will give you much insight into teaching yoga to students with mental health challenges. The course really pulls these two worlds together, and will help you to integrate what you learnt in your Yoga Teacher Training course with what you already know as a therapist.
The training doesn’t give you set class plans for different diagnoses, yoga for mental health is not that simple, but it will give you a framework and a lot of different practises, that you can bring together to share with your students.
There have been many therapists, including Psychologists, Social Workers and other Mental Health Professionals, who have taken this program, and have told us that they have benefited greatly and are using the knowledge they learnt in the course in their classes and clinical practice.
If you haven’t started or completed your Yoga Teacher training course, join us for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training instead.
I am not a therapist. Is this course suitable for me?
Yes, 100%!
While many therapists are undertaking the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, the program was designed specifically for Yoga Teachers.
The only prerequiste for the training is that you’re already a Yoga Teacher (or Teacher-in-Training). You do not need to be a therapist.
In the training you will learn therapeutic skills for Yoga Teachers, like meeting your students where they are, the rhythm of a yoga class, skillful language, effective listening and unconditional positive regard.
Do I have to attend any part of the training at a specific time?
Yes! Unlike the self-paced online Mental Health Aware Yoga Training, there is a two day in-person event to attend.
To receive your certificate of completion, you must complete the entire online component of the training attend the entire 2 days of the in-person event.
As soon as you join the training, you will have access to our online Shala, where you can access the lessons, yoga classes, questionnaires and assignments that must be completed prior to the in-person event. This online component is pre-recorded and self-paced, so you can access it whenever you like, and work through the course material at your convenience.
We think that they hybrid training is the best of both worlds; you get the flexibility and structure of the online component and the intimacy and connection of an in-person event!
However, if you’d prefer 100% online training, then we have you covered. Go here to see our online training.
What will I need to do before the in-person component?
Prior to attending the in-person component, you will get access to the online component of the training, including lectures, yoga classes, multiple choice questionnaires and assignments.
The assignments are designed to support you to integrate and embody the teachings and include journalling, practicing yoga and trying out some of the concepts from the training in your yoga teaching (if you’re not currently teaching, you can practice teaching with friends instead).
There is also a 1 hour pre-training online welcome call. We would love to meet you there live, however the call will be recorded and you can watch it later if you cannot make it live.
There is approximately 46 hours of online content (including the lectures, questionnaires, yoga practices assignments and welcome call) to be complete before the in-person component of the training.
How long do I have to complete the course?
There is approximately 46 hours of online training to complete before the in-person event, but this will vary from person-to-person, depending on the speed you work at and the depth of your integration and embodiment. The more you put into this training, the more you will get out.
This 45 hours includes around 8 hours of video lectures, multiple choice questionnaires (these are actually fun!), yoga classes, reflections and assignments.
You will get access to the online component of the training as soon as you sign up, and to receive your certificate, it must be completed before the in-person event.
After successfully completing the training, you will be invited to join our global Teachers’ Community, at a small cost, and you can continue to access all the training material (as it’s updated) as well as additional group mentoring, masterclasses and resources.
Is this course accredited?
Yes, this course is accredited with both Yoga Alliance and Yoga Australia. You will receive a certificate of completion (PDF) once you have completed the course to lodge with your accreditation body.
The course takes approximately 60 hours to complete, including 14 hours at the in-person event, 17.5 hours online training (lectures and questionnaires) and 28.5 hours reflective practice and self-directed practicum tasks.
Yoga Australia members can claim 45.75 CPD points.
Yoga Alliance members can claim 14 contact and 46 non-contact hours.
During to COVID-19, Yoga Alliance have advised that “RYTs may count online courses taken during this time as contact hours for Continuing Education (CE) requirements.”
If you would like to claim CPD points with another organisation, you can take the certificate you receive upon completion of the training to your accreditation body; this is usually sufficient.
Will I get to learn directly from Dr Lauren Tober?
Yes! All the online course material was created by Dr Lauren Tober, including the video lectures, yoga classes and practice library.
At present, Dr Lauren Tober is teaching the in-person component of the hybrid training, however this might change in the future.
You are also welcome to book additional private mentoring sessions during or after the course, at an additional cost.
I'm not very techy, can I do the course?
Taking the online component of the course does require some computer skills. But if you can use email and Facebook, it’s likely you have enough computer skills to take the course.
We have designed the course website to be super-intuitive and easy to use (not to mention beautiful).
We’re also backed up with an amazing IT support team, so if you have any issues, we’ll have you covered.
Our students who identify as not very techy, have told us they found the program very intuitive and easy to navigate.
How is the course taught?
The online component of the course is taught in our online Shala; a custom built membership website that hosts all our online courses and trainings.
Once you sign up, you will receive an email within a few minutes with your personal log in details for the Shala, and an invitation to join the members-only Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community.
The online component of the course consists of approximately 8 hours of video or audio lectures, plus full length yoga classes.
After each lecture you will complete a multiple choice questionnaire (no trick questions, if you have watched the lectures these are really straight forward) and after each section there are self directed practicum tasks including writing reflective journals, attending live yoga classes of your choice (in person or online), practicing pre-recorded yoga classes and practices with Dr Lauren Tober, teaching yoga classes using the principles of Mental Health Aware Yoga and more.
You will also receive an in-depth PDF training manual (over 200 pages) that you can work with online, or print out to bring to the in-person component.
The in-person component of the course includes in-depth discussions, participating and teaching yoga classes and practices, and the opportunity to build community with like-minded teachers.
How do you know that nearly 80% of yoga students report practising yoga for mental health benefits?
The fact that you’re asking this question tells me you’re likely a great fit for the Mental Health Aware Yoga training!
In a landmark study several years ago, Penman surveyed 3,832 Australian yoga students and teachers and found that 58.4% of yoga students began yoga to reduce stress or anxiety and 79.4% of yoga students continued to practice yoga to reduce stress or anxiety (Penman did not mention other mental health issues in his research, so it’s likely to be even higher).
He suggested that mental health may be the primary health reason why people practise yoga.
Here is the reference:
Penman, S., Cohen, M., Stevens, P., & Jackson, S. (2012). Yoga in Australia: Results of a National Survey. International Journal of Yoga, 5(2), 92–101.
If you like to nerd out on this kind of research, you’re going to love the Mental Health Aware Yoga training!
What qualifications and experience does Dr Lauren have in this area?
Dr Lauren Tober is a Clinical Psychologist, Senior Yoga Teacher and certified iRest Meditation Teacher.
She has been working as a Psychologist since 2003, teaching yoga since 2004, training Yoga Teachers since 2010 and teaching online since 2011.
Lauren has been working the area of yoga psychology for many years, and is considered by many to a leader in this field.
I've already taken a Mental Health Aware Yoga training, can I come to the in-person event as a refresher?
For some of our hybrid trainings we offer our Mental Health Aware Yoga graduates the opportunity to attend the in-person component of the hybrid training to re-immerse in the teachings and gather together in community.
If you’ve graduated from either an online or hybrid training and you’d like to attend the in-person component of a up-coming hybrid training, get in touch and ask us how.
What is your COVID policy?
We take the health of our students and teaching faculty seriously, and will follow the COVID guidelines set out by the government and venue of the training location at the time of the in-person component of the training. We ask that you do the same.
We also ask that you only attend the in-person component if you are well, and do not attend if you have any illness that could be contagious, including COVID.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please choose your purchase carefully, as no refunds, credits or transfers are available.
If you are unable to attend the in-person component of the training due to illness or genuine emergency, you may transfer to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training instead at our discretion, at no additional cost.
While we will endeavor to deliver the in-person component of the training as advertised, should circumstances change due to reasons beyond our control (e.g. illness, government restrictions, flight delays, natural disasters etc), then we will make alternative arrangements that may include a different teaching faculty, new location, re-scheduling to a different time and/or delivering the program online. If the changes mean that you are unable to attend the in-person component, then you may choose to transfer to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training instead, at no additional cost.
You can read our full T&Cs here.
WHAT THE GRADUATES ARE SAYING
“Dr Lauren Tober offers a timely and accessible framework for yoga teachers to increase their understanding of common mental health challenges, together with practical insights and guidance around the intentional application of specific yogic practices to support psychological well-being.
This course presents an inspiring learning opportunity for yoga teachers looking to provide an optimally supportive, inclusive and beneficial experience of yoga for students experiencing mental health challenges.
What you learn in this course will empower you to make positive changes in the way you teach.”
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET
ONLINE TRAINING MATERIAL
Innovative and accessible lectures and handouts on mental health and trauma-informed yoga teaching
200+ PAGE MANUAL
You will want to keep this brilliant resource forever and use it as a guide to design your classes and support students
ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple-choice questionnaires and practical assignments to support you to integrate and embody the teachings (they’re fun, we promise!)
IN-PERSON EVENT
Join us for the two day in-person component to practice, deepen your knowledge and receive loving feedback on your teaching
YOGA CLASSES AND PRACTICES
Yoga classes and practices with Dr Lauren Tober both in the pre-recorded online material and during the in-person event
BECOME A MENTAL HEALTH AWARE YOGA TEACHER
After successfully completing the training you can refer to yourself as a Mental Health Aware Yoga Teacher, be listed in our free global directory and join our graduate Teachers Community
PLUS THE BONUSES
NERVOUS SYSTEM WORKSHOP
Immediate access to the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop recorded live with Dr Lauren Tober
PLAYLISTS
Three full length Spotify playlists, carefully curated by Dr Lauren Tober for your trauma-informed mental health aware yoga classes
Learn everything you need to shine in the growing field of yoga for mental health, and deeply support your students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and trauma
JOIN A HYBRID TRAINING
Study online and in-person, and learn everything you need to shine in the growing field of yoga for mental health, and deeply support your students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
MULLUMBIMBY
AUSTRALIA
Bundjalung Country
APRIL 2025
Online training | Start immediately
In-person | Sat 12th April 9am – 5.30pm + Sun 13th April 9am – 5pm
Location | 55 Dalley St, Mullumbimby 2482, Australia
Teacher | Dr Lauren Tober
Investment | $1495 AUD or $795 deposit and $795 balance on 12/3/25
Includes | Online training, PDF training manual + 2 day in-person event
JOIN THE WAITLIST TO BE THE FIRST TO HEAR WHEN REGISTRATION OPENS
JOIN THE WAITLIST
Be the first to hear when registration for the next hybrid courses are announced and download the free Patañjali’s Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga eBook