BECOME AN EMBODIED YOGA TEACHER
A Journey into Self-Discovery and Inner Transformation
January 30, 2026
This is yoga that honors your full humanity.
The Embodied Yoga School, Yoga Alliance Certified, 200-Hour Teacher Training is for seekers who want to teach—and live—from the inside out. Over the course of 12 months, you’ll immerse yourself in a program that integrates traditional teachings with modern somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care.
And it’s not just spiritually rich—it’s professionally supported. This program is offered in partnership with the YMCA, a national leader in wellness education. That means you’re learning in a trusted, inclusive environment—backed by the Yoga Alliance, an organization committed to integrity and impact.
Who This Is For
This training is for yoga students, healers, and seekers who want to go deeper—not just in their practice, but in themselves. You don’t need to have years of experience or a perfect handstand. What you do need is a willingness to listen, grow, and show up with heart.
You might be:
A student who wants to teach but isn’t drawn to fast-track trainings
A healer looking to integrate movement and mindfulness into your work
A lifelong learner ready to move from curiosity to confidence
The format is designed to fit into real life. With a 12-month timeline, monthly payments, and flexible livestream access, you don’t have to uproot your life to transform it.
What You’ll Learn
The Embodied Yogi School program is built to help you teach from your center—not from a script.
You’ll learn how to lead with presence, create safe and soulful spaces, and teach in a way that honors both ancient roots and modern realities.
Core areas of study include:
Functional Anatomy
Understand how the body moves and how to teach with clarity, safety, and confidence.Yoga Philosophy (Made Practical)
Explore the foundations of yogic thought—then learn how to translate them into lived wisdom.Somatic + Energy Work
Integrate Qi Gong, trauma-informed teaching, and nervous system regulation to guide students inward.Energetic Class Design
Go beyond sequencing to craft experiences that move energy, not just muscles.Inclusive, Ethical Teaching
Learn how to hold space with integrity, humility, and care for diverse student needs.
The Business of Teaching
Explore personal branding, visibility, and building a teaching path that aligns with your values—not hustle culture.
BONUS
You’ll also learn how to integrate music into your teaching with a training led by international music producer DJ Taz Rashid!
This includes:
curated playlists
hands-on DJ tools
a “My Best Playlist” certification
What is The Embodied Yogi School Format
This isn’t a weekend crash course—it’s a year-long mentorship designed to help you grow into the teacher you’re meant to be. The format supports deep learning, real-time support, and the flexibility to learn at your own rhythm.
Here’s how it works:
12-Month Hybrid Model
A full year of learning, integrating, and becoming—with space to evolve as both a student and teacher.Weekly Mentorship Circles
Live video calls with JoAnn and your cohort to receive guidance, ask questions, and feel supported throughout your journey.Monthly Immersive Intensives
A deeper dive into core topics like philosophy, energetics, teaching methods, and business-building.Online Portal
Your online home for connection, recordings, resources, and conversations with your community.Optional In-Person Retreat
Celebrate the close of your training with an optional 3-day immersive retreat featuring masterclasses, movement, music, and next-step coaching.
This format honors real life. It’s designed for working adults, caregivers, space-holders, and creatives. Show up when you can, engage how you need, and know that support will always be there.
Is Embodied Yogi School the right path for you?
Meet your teacher
JoAnn Drasdis
JoAnn Drasdis, RYT-500, YACEP, is the founder of the Embodied Yoga School and your lead guide throughout this 12-month journey. A seasoned yoga teacher, Qi Gong instructor, author, and healer, JoAnn brings over 18 years of teaching experience rooted in heart, presence, and embodied awareness.
She blends functional anatomy, somatic movement, trauma-informed practices, and spiritual teachings into a grounded, integrated approach. Known for her intuitive teaching style and steady mentorship, JoAnn creates space for students to go deep—beyond surface-level instruction and into the truth of their own practice.
As a mentor, she is here to support you in becoming the kind of teacher who leads from presence and personal alignment. Whether through philosophy, movement, or mentorship, her guidance is always in service of lasting transformation.
JoAnn is also the author of two books:
52 Weeks to a Meditation Practice (a beginner’s guide to mantra and mala practice), and currently working on her memoir From Shadow to Portal: My Unconventional Journey to Becoming a Lightworker.
And as an artist, she brings a soulful layer to this work.
JoAnn transforms decades of poetry into music through her debut album Songs from Silence—a blend of lyrical vulnerability and cinematic soundscapes. Listen on SoundCloud.
Special Guest Faculty
DJ Taz Rashid
Enhance Your Training with Music + Movement
As part of your teacher training, you’ll experience a powerful integration of music and mindfulness with guest faculty DJ Taz Rashid—a globally recognized producer and conscious music creator.
In his signature My Best Playlist™ Certification, you’ll learn how to:
Use music to shift energy and mood in a class
Create meaningful, immersive soundscapes
Match breath, tempo, and theme through curated playlists
Build confidence in your creative expression
You’ll be armed with 108 ready-to-use playlists (on Spotify and Apple Music), tools for teaching with music, and inspiration to lead unforgettable experiences—on and off the mat.
What You’ll Walk Away With
This training isn’t just about becoming a yoga teacher. It’s about becoming more of yourself.
By the end of your 12-month journey, you’ll leave with:
Confidence to teach both in-person and online, in a way that feels natural and aligned
A clear understanding of your voice and style as a facilitator
A strong foundation in the business of yoga—branding, visibility, and how to move forward professionally
Tools for building inclusive, energetically intelligent classes rooted in integrity and care
“My Best Playlist” certification from international music producer DJ Taz Rashid
Ongoing support from your mentors and peers, with optional pathways to collaborate or grow alongside JoAnn’s community
A 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certification, qualifying you to teach professionally and continue your education
