Make a living doing what you love.
Our seasoned Yoga Therapists share decades of experience in SF Bay Area's first IAYT 800 hour accredited program.
Applications for Level 2 Spring 2024 are now being accepted All 300/500 RYT invited to apply.
IAYT profiled our program! Click here to read.
Why Choose SMC?
Become an IAYT-Accredited Yoga Therapist with SMC
A Full Paying Profession
The vast majority of our graduates earn 100% of their living as yoga therapists.
20 Years of Experience
Our team works with the local healthcare community. If that’s the career that interests you, we’re the right team to study with.
Connect to Success
Our experience in the Bay Area is a big advantage for your business. We can help you find the right jobs close to home.
Become an IAYT-Accredited Yoga Therapist with SMC
You can earn your living with yoga therapy.
As the first accredited Yoga Therapy training in the Bay Area, Stress Management Center’s premier training program is led by yoga therapy experts with decades of experience to prepare you for a professional career. In our open approach, all aspects of yoga are taught, from the physical to the philosophical. There will be classes on self inquiry, professional ethics, the running of a yoga business, western medical approaches and building relationships with the healthcare community.
The curriculum covers classical asana, pranayama, meditation and Ayurveda first, and then focuses on applying and modifying these tools to meet clients' needs. We will study tools from diverse methodologies, including: Hatha, Viniyoga, InnerBody Yoga, Swaroopa Yoga and Ayurveda. We will include special teachings from Rama Jyoti Vernon's work with BKS Iyengar and her decades of experience with the Yoga Sutras, as well as Nischala Devi's work with Dr. Dean Ornish developing Yoga of the Heart™.
Empowerment. The client must believe that change is possible.
Alignment. Physical alignment to assist in pain relief.
Ayurveda. Understanding the constitution of our clients and ourselves, as well as it's impact on wellbeing.
Philosophy. Understanding the psychological aspects of our clients and our Self.
Therapeutics. Tools for a wide variety of issues, from heart health to back pain.
Restoratives. Understanding the powers at play in a client’s life to provide tools that will truly help them find balance.
Learn To Use The 6 Lenses of a Yoga Therapist™
What Sets Us Apart?
Seasoned Practitioners
Our seasoned faculty has decades of experience to offer. Kaiser Permanente calls upon us to provide care to their medical personnel. We train Kaiser doctors in Stress Management and Resilience. SMC excels at blending ancient practices with modern science using a research and evidence-based approach.
Authenticity
We only teach practices that we use ourselves and find valuable. This authentic approach built our client base, including executives, tech companies, hospitals, and sports teams. Our programs have been proven to help their teams and themselves – and they keep coming back for that reason.
Heartfelt Approach
Compassionate. Empathetic. Empowering. Our depth of training provides a wide range of tools to choose from, so we can meet people where they are, regardless of the stress or disease. This heartfelt approach has been foundational to our success in serving our community for over 20 years.
Quality
Our successful approach is simple, effective, and replicable. That’s why we are invited by hospitals and healthcare providers to train their doctors and caregivers. We use evidence-based practices to guide us, and conduct our own research to be sure that our programs are effective.
Individualized
Yoga was designed to span the arc of your life, from youth, to householder, to retiree. We will teach you what skills are the right ones to meet people where they are. You’ll be encouraged to individualize your training to match your particular career goals and desires. The high level of mentorship in our program will help you get exactly the training that you desire.
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Laura Fraiser
Kaiser Permanente
Everyone from SMC works collaboratively to provide exceptional services for Kaiser Permanente. We are grateful for consistent delivery of professional services from SMC.
Debra Knowles
Director of Bon Air Cottage
We have worked with many members of the team trained by Robin and the SMC faculty. We have always found them to be highly skilled, bright, compassionate, professional, and full of integrity. SMC-trained therapists are so strong that we have hired several to work full time in our organization. We recommend them highly!
Dr. Shaikh
Private Practice
In my 20 years of business in medicine, the SMC grad we work with is in the top 5% of her field in mind/body health.
Who Hires Our Graduates?
The Pathway To Success
Step 1: 300 hour YA / SMC Level 1 Training Program
Pre-requisites: In order to apply for Level 1 of our IAYT 800 hour training, you will need to have a YA 200hr certificate or equivalent, plus one year teaching experience and one year personal practice.
Coursework includes:
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Anatomy of Asana
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Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
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Ayurveda
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Pranayama and Meditation
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Teaching and Therapeutic Skills
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Tools for the Yoga Therapist
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Professional Practice & Ethics
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Timing for training weekends: Fri 6pm - 9pm, Sat 10am - 6pm & Sun 10am - 5pm. This timing may vary on specific weekends.
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Download Sample Level 1 of 800hr Schedule
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Download Dates of 2023 800hr Level 1
Once you have successfully completed the Level 1 course, you are eligible for a YA 300 hour certificate. You are also eligible for the Level 2 course and Practicum to complete your IAYT-accredited 800 hour program.
You may also choose to finish your C-IAYT later. You have 5 years to complete both levels of the training to achieve your certificate as an SMC Yoga Therapist and C-IAYT, counted by the start date of the Level 1 course.
Step 2: SMC Level 2/ IAYT 800hr Program Completion
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Pre-requisites: In order to apply for Level 2 of the 800hr, you will need to have successfully completed Level 1 with SMC or, if you started in a different IAYT-accredited program, you will need to complete a bridge program to join Level 2.
Coursework includes:
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Advanced Asana
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Bhagavad Gita
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Applied Pranayama and Meditation Design
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Practical Ayurveda
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Holistic Therapies for Targeted Populations
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Research Literacy
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Business of Yoga
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Professional Practice & Ethics
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Timing for training weekends: Fri 6pm - 9pm, Sat 10am - 6pm & Sun 10am - 5pm. This timing may vary on specific weekends.
Download Sample Schedule
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Download 2024/2025 Dates
Once you and your mentor have decided you are ready, you’re eligible to begin Practicum. You have 5 years to complete both levels of the training + practicum to achieve your C-IAYT 800 hour certificate.
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Step 3: Mentored Practicum
What sets IAYT-accredited programs apart? The 150 hour Mentored Practicum.
Your mentor will help you solve client issues, refine your business plan, and support your personal and professional development.
This personalized approach will help you get your practice up and running before graduation!
Anna
Level 1 Graduate
You are a great teacher and a very good person. I feel privileged to be associated with your organization and you.
Jessica
Level 2 Graduate
Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts, thank you. It feels like we’ve been through a rite of passage of sorts, truly seen, held and bolstered by the community here. I am so grateful to you! You have given me more feathers for my wings, and strong smooth wind to fly on by being part of SMC.
Elaine
Level 2 Graduate & Guest Faculty
Dear Robin, Thank you for being my guide, mentor, and inspiration in the past few years….You have been a big part of my personal and career transformation!
Words From Our Graduates
Meet Your Teachers
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Mirka Scalco Kraftsow
Co-founder of AVI (American Viniyoga Institute), health practitioner and educator since 1974.
Subjects: Viniyoga, Koshas, Self-Care and Preventing Burnout
Hansa Knox, C-IAYT, LMT
Board Member of IAYT, owner of Denver studio, PranaYoga.
Subjects: Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Therapy for Cancer, Vedic Astrology, Conflict Resolution, Sanskrit, Koshas
Harvey Deutch, PT
Acclaimed Physical Therapist for 40 years and beloved yoga teacher.
Subjects: Anatomy and Alignment
Simone de Winter, Ayurveda
Simone is a Registered Nurse and Ayurvedic Specialist.
Subjects: Ayurveda, Health and Disease, Ayurpsychology, Ayurpathology, Yoga Therapy from the Ayurvedic Perspective
Baxter Bell, MD, C-IAYT
Integration of therapeutic applications of yoga with Western medicine. Presently serves on the board of the IAYT.
Subjects: Inflammation, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes
Rama Jyoti Vernon, Yoga Master (1941 - 2020)
Rama is one of America’s first Yoga teachers, and brought BKS Iyengar to the US. She mentored Robin for over 30 years and wrote the Sutras class for this course.
A Word About One of Our Graduates
Dr. Shiakh, Soluna Health
Lauren has a specialized skill set, empathy and the ability to get to the core of the issue to support their healing. I was confident in her abilities and she ran the entire yoga program at Soluna on her own. She developed a program providing yoga therapy for individuals and groups while billing insurance, providing in-office yoga and meditation sessions as well as series classes open to the public. She’s a storehouse of knowledge and even gave a lecture about sleep management and mind/body tools at the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine meeting.
I’m happy to give Lauren my highest recommendation as an individual, as a team member, and as a yoga therapist and meditation coach. In my 20 years of business in medicine Lauren is the top 5% in her field of mind body health.
Accreditation/Certification
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Level 1
Successful completion of the 300+ hour course qualifies you to register as an RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance. This course is Level 1 of two levels of training required by IAYT to become a C-IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist.
Level 2
470 hours of study plus 300 hours of Mentored Practicum to prepare you fully for your new career as an IAYT certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). We were the first program in the Bay Area to reach this highest standard of training in 2015.
