Full Circle Yoga & Healing Arts
Yoga Training & Mentorship
Learn. Heal. Grow.
50-hr Yoga Practitioner Training
200-hr Yoga Teacher Training
Two fully-mentored programs to fit your needs, your schedule, and your budget
How I teach:
My teaching is inspired by the viniyoga tradition of T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar. After 28 years of practice with a variety of styles and several teachers, I teach the safest, most adaptive, and straight-forward approach called hatha vinyasa krama, or viniyoga. These terms refer to postures being sequenced in progressive steps and stages using reference postures and the breath as a gauge for comfort and stability. This is what makes yoga practice highly accessible for different body types and abilities, and leads naturally toward meditation, the ultimate aim of yoga.
Why take Yoga Practitioner Training?
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You have some experience with yoga but want a better understanding of it,
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Embrace a healthier lifestyle using principles of yoga and ayurveda,
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Practice safe and effective postures, breath-work, and meditation for your age, abilities, and stage of life,
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Establish or refine a personal practice that will grow with you,
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Connect with a small group of practitioners and a teacher who cares about you,
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Receive a 1:1 personalized yoga therapy session with a custom designed yoga practice.
"Learning yoga is an act of love to yourself, and sharing yoga is showing compassion toward another person, but teaching yoga is an act of compassion toward humanity."
Why take Yoga Teacher Training?
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You feel called to share or teach yoga to others,
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Learn to design effective sequences and how to use props
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Develop confidence and skills in postural assessment, breathing analysis, and safe hands-on adjustments,
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Build teaching confidence through practice teaching, peer feedback, and business/niche development,
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Form a close-knit, supportive practice community (sangha) within your cohort,
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Add Certified Yoga Teacher to your professional skills as a clinical counselor, therapist, bodyworker, etc.
Why Train at Full Circle Yoga?
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Mentorship Over Benchmarks: We believe close supervision from an experienced teacher creates great practitioners and impactful instructors. We prioritize real-world competency over rigid hourly checkboxes.
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Exceeding Standards: To focus fully on genuine mentorship, anatomy, and ethics, we chose to discontinue our membership with Yoga Alliance in 2020. Our curriculum continues to strictly exceed their educational standards.
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Proven Track Record: Since 2011, we have proudly trained more than 120 yoga teachers who have taught in a variety of locations including wellness centers, hospitals, schools, studios, on garden patios, and in parks.
Yoga Practitioner Training: Winter/Spring 2027
Dates: Saturdays — Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 | Feb 13, 20 | Mar 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Core Texts: The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
The Breathing Book by Donna Farhi
Overview
Build a strong, personal foundation in the essential pillars for yoga practitioners —asana, pranayama, and meditation. This 3-month journey will bring the philosophy of Patanjali's yogasutra to life through embodied practice, guided meditation, and thoughtful, inclusive discussion. Each participant will also receive a custom designed practice and 1:1 guidance to deepen understanding, refine practice, and support the integration of yoga into daily life. To support your studies you’ll also be introduced to foundational texts from respected teachers to build your library of yogic knowledge. This course provides everything you need to cultivate a sustainable personal practice and a loving, lasting relationship with yoga!
If you are considering a Yoga Practitioner Training or Yoga Teacher Training program
in the Orange County, CA area, give us a call. 714-404-2576.
Training Modules
"Dynamic Yoga Anatomy: Unlock the Power of your Respiratory System"
Yoga Practitioner Training
Jan 9, 16, 23, 2027
Sat 1-5:30pm
Breathing affects every system in the body. Learn the anatomy and functions of the respiratory system - from the sinuses to the respiratory diaphragm - and understand its effects on health, wellbeing, and yoga practice.
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respiratory anatomy (sinuses to the respiratory diaphragm)
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nervous system regulation
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understanding respiratory issues
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pranayama techniques: ujjayi, nadi shodana, pratiloma ujjayi, and brahmari.
"History, Philosophy, and the Yoga Lifestyle"
Yoga Practitioner Training
Sat 1-5pm
Dates: Jan. 30, Feb. 13, 20, 2027
Understand modern applications of a classic yoga practice beginning with the ashtanga path of Patanjali. Using a yoga "family tree," we will trace our lineage from yoga masters from India to major modern teachers in the west. The last class is an introduction to ayurveda to learn the qualities of the doshas and how to keep them in healthy balance.
"Developing Effective Sequences" - 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training
"Developing a Personal Practice" - 50-hr Yoga Practitioner Training
Yoga Practitioner Training
Mar. 6, 13, 20, 27, 2027
YPT: This immersive module introduces the foundations of breath-centered yoga inspired by the the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar. Students will learn foundational postures adapted for individual needs, four breathing techniques, and how to do a yoga meditation with a focus object. During the training, each student will have a private meeting with the teacher to receive an assessment of needs and a custom yoga sequence.
YTT: Learn how to design vinyasa sequences using simple diagrams, concise shorthand notation, visual assessment, with breath cues. Designed for yoga teachers and dedicated students, this module emphasizes safety, adaptability, and collaboration in a supportive learning environment. By the end of the module students will have designed multiple sequences and gained hands-on experience practice-teaching short sections of a class up to teaching an entire class with your mentor at your side.
"Ethics in Teaching Yoga"
Yoga Teacher Training
Dates: TBD
The subject of this class is ethical behavior and professionalism within the teacher-student relationship. Using the blueprint of Patajali's yamas and niyamas (behavioral restraints and observances) we discuss solutions to real-life ethical dilemmas which may be encountered between teachers and students, and how to detect imbalances or complications within the dyad. We will screen the documentary Kumare which documents a modern-day guru imposter and the importance of recognizing ethical boundaries.
Teaching Practicum & Mentorship
Yoga Teacher Training
40 hours observation and co-teaching (20 in-class, 20 with flexible dates/times)
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of at least three modules or for already certified yoga teachers.
This module prepares a student for becoming a teacher through mentorship with an experienced teacher. Mentorship is essential for acquiring valuable teaching experience in real class settings. This module helps students practice what they have learned in other modules with the supervision, guidance, and valuable feedback from the lead teacher or another experienced yoga teacher of your choosing. Log sheets and evaluation forms are provided.
Endeavoring to choose a yoga teacher with a program that fits your needs is an important one. My view has always been that students need to take care of their health and their family, and that yoga training should mold around those priorities. If you would like to study with me, and have any questions about how to fit yoga training into your life, there is always a way to make it work. I welcome your inquiry.
~Kristen
What our graduates have to say...
"I was supremely impressed with my training experience at Full Circle Yoga. The modular program is intelligently designed in such a way that trainees are exposed to the material at a reasonable pace and able to take the time to really absorb all the various concepts in a meaningful way. Reading and journaling assignments are provided throughout the program that invite personal inquiry and reflection on one's own values, goals, and purpose--which I feel are at the heart of an in-depth yoga enrichment and training journey. Instruction on yoga philosophy is based on historical texts, and material is provided in a multitude of ways to meet the needs of a variety of students, including reading, lecture, powerpoint presentation, movie screenings, and guest speakers...I could not be more pleased with my experience with this training program."
Kristy Cronkrite, Yorba Linda, CA
"My favorite text was from module 2, Cyndi Lee's Yoga Body, Buddha Mind. It read very smoothly for me, and I found it easy to connect with her easy to read style. The fourth module was structured and set up well to get us to act/talk and function as a yoga teacher. I enjoyed collaborating on the sequences and then practicing them as a group. From this training, I have the confidence to hold a safe space for others and to structure a class well."
Kristin Daniels, Ladera Ranch, CA
"Tonight I taught a student with Parkinson's. Without your guidance and co-teaching your Ornish group (from Dr. Dean Ornish's Cardiopulmonary Lifestyle Reversal Program], I never would have been able to adapt for him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Lisa Lind, Orange, CA
"I signed up for yoga teacher training because I knew I wanted to help others. It was truly the best decision of my life. Kristen is a passionate, caring and warm teacher and her knowledge knows no bounds. She taught the obvious [subjects of] anatomy and the history of meditation, pranayama, and yoga, but also made us think about ourselves and our lives on a much deeper level. Because of Kristen I am a better human being and live a much healthier lifestyle. I am living my dream of teaching pranayama, yoga and meditation! Thank you Kristen and Jeff for providing a wonderful, compassionate and lovely studio. You're a hidden gem in Yorba Linda!"
Diana Zavala, Long Beach, CA