Trauma and Service Yoga Teacher Training

Scholarship Winners February 2021


Three and a Half Acres Yoga is pleased to announce the scholarship recipients for the February 2021 Trauma and Service Yoga Teacher Training. With funding provided by lululemon and the ‘Here to Be’ social impact team, these yoga instructors will be able to participate in our training without any financial obligations.

We are thrilled to expand our training to this group of individuals who reflects more diversity and inclusion in the teaching space. We have no doubt these teachers will bring their own knowledge and experience to our organization and will shine as representatives of THAY on their own journey.

We are so inspired by the work these individuals are doing using yoga as a healing modality for themselves and the individuals they connect with. I can not wait to see how this training acts as a catalyst for them to continue empowering their own communities as representatives of Three and a Half Acres Yoga.

Lara Land

Executive Director and Founder, Three & Half Acres Yoga

There are still a few spots left for our training taking place virtually on February 6th & 7th. Visit our training page to find accessible forms of payment options including a volunteer hour exchange!

The lululemon ‘Here to Be’ Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship

Meet the recipients:

Alejandro D.
Alejandro is a native of Brooklyn, NY and works and serves youth of color in various settings. Alejandro has recently received their 200HR yoga certification, and takes this opportunity with THAY to expand their yoga knowledge even further.

“We all experience some form of trauma, and for those at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities and experiences, the risks and rates are part of the backbone of this country. Having recently completed my 200-hr certification I find it necessary as an embodiment practitioner and student, to continue developing an understanding of how trauma interferes with folx’ inherent power.”

Almetria T.
Almetria lives in Memphis, Tennessee and has completed her 200HR yoga training and found a focus on chair yoga, restorative yoga, and ayurveda has healing tools for herself and wants to be able to offer this to her community.

“I want to create a safe space for POC because while we as humans share general trauma issues, POC share in common systemic racism, diversity and inclusion issues, social, work and health disparities and other issues that mainstream yoga studios don’t care to understand. I want to be a yoga teacher that can offer a holistic and accessible practice that POC can see someone who looks like them and can relate to them in front of the class. I want to be a voice to the voiceless. Be an ally, activist and advocate for my people. We’re in a season of healing from the inside out.”

Donna C.
Donna is a resident in Washington Heights, NY and has been teaching yoga for the past two years. She has certifications in trauma informed outreach, as well as prenatal yoga and is looking to expand her toolkit. Donna has been working with nonprofits and local schools to teach yoga and offered classes to her fellow public health coworkers during the pandemic.

“I am committed to THAY’s mission of providing mindfulness to underserved communities because I too believe that these techniques empower people and inspire positive change.”

Ebone L.
Ebone is from Illinois, and received her 200HR yoga certification last year. She became immediately interested in working at a women’s shelter to share her yoga knowledge, but realized the fragility of working with such a unique group.

” I realized my YTT only touched the surface of being trauma informed. I want to learn more to properly support my class participants.”

Felix G.
Felix has been practicing yoga for over 20 years, and teaching yoga and meditation for almost 10! His passion led him to found ‘Yoga in the Park’ in Hudson County, NJ and has worked with underserved groups like teen members of the LGBTQIA community.

“I am interested in taking this Trauma Yoga Teacher Training to welcome additional yoga tools and techniques to manage trauma. I hope to learn more about myself in order to continue healing and so that I may pass these teachings to others that have experienced trauma.”

Frances H.
Frances has been involved in yoga for 25 years and is eager to share yoga with her community as a tool for healing trauma. She also wants to be a person that offers more diversity in the representation of yoga teachers and for students of color to have someone they can relate to.

“As a curvy Afro Latina it’s important for others to see themselves in me so they don’t feel that place of not belonging I felt as a yoga student years ago. So many BIPOC have already experienced so much trauma and when we are done with the effects of this pandemic we are going to need more trauma trained teachers to be available to provide this support.”

Sejal M.
Sejal is studying to become a social worker, and has been teaching children’s yoga most recently. She approaches this training to deepen her understanding in offering a more inclusive space for her future students.

“I understand that as a yoga instructor, the responsibility extends well beyond instructing people into poses and more importantly, exemplifying the power of showing up for ourselves compassionately, especially when we feel inadequate or “less than.” …I strive to create an inclusive space for students to feel accepted and valued for who they are.”

Pin It on Pinterest

Share this page

with all your friends!