Yoga Teacher Training | Breathe and Flow

yoga teacher training
Breathe and Flow Yoga ACADEMY

We sold out of both YTT events but if you'd like to join the waitlist, then please follow the booking links for each event below. If a spot opens up, you'll be notified via email!

SOLD OUT

Join Bre & Flo for an unforgettable yoga teacher training (YTT) in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru to connect more deeply with your Self, mother nature, and the community around you. This YTT is not only about receiving a certification to teach yoga. It offers a transformative journey through the yogic path that leads to personal evolution as you open yourself up to new possibilities; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Whether your goal is to inspire wellness through your love of teaching yoga or to simply uncover new depths in your own personal practice, this 200-hour teacher training will support you on this journey.

From all around the globe, we will gather as a family in a safe and supportive environment that encourages deep introspection, purification, and self discovery in this spiritually driven setting. In addition to the formal 200 hour training, we'll also take time to explore the beauty of this area with a private group guided tour of Machu Picchu.

Throughout the training, we will be following the four cycles of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel representing the four cardinal directions, winds and distinctive animal guides. It can be seen as a tool for personal growth, healing, and a guide for living in harmony with oneself and others and will offer us guidance throughout the journey of the teacher training.

Together, we'll close out the training going far beyond a mere yoga certification but also with more energy, intention, clarity, community, revelation of inner wisdom, and a renewed grasp on our lives, our health, and our future.

ABOUT OUR YTT
bookings ARE open [links at top]

Welcome to our 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training at the beautiful Willka Tika Wellness Center in Peru! This training is designed to deepen your personal practice and equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to confidently teach yoga to others. With over 2500+ hours of combined training, we will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the YTT program. Over the course of three weeks, you'll dive deep into our comprehensive curriculum covering the history and philosophy of yoga, anatomy and physiology, sequencing, teaching methodology, as well as asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, yoga as a lifestyle, and so much more. We’ll be weaving in additional offerings such as a traditional Despacho Ceremony honoring Mother Earth, a healing Sound Bath Ceremony, Cold Plunge (are you surprised?!), and a private BNF YTT guided group tour of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu.

We limit the bookings to 33 students to provide enough 1:1 time with each student throughout the training. This means that you'll receive personalized attention and support from both Bre and Flo, allowing you to develop your own unique teaching style and confidently lead your own classes. Upon completion of the program, you'll receive a certification for successfully completing the training which enables you to register yourself as a Yoga Alliance 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, qualified to teach yoga anywhere in the world. But more importantly, you'll have gained a deeper understanding of yourself and the practice of yoga, and be equipped with the tools to share that understanding with others.

We welcome all levels of experience. Although it's not required, we do recommend that you have at least one year of yoga asana and meditation experience with our style and overall mental and physical health as this will allow you to get the most out of this training. Expect the movement classes to be accessible, challenging, and playful no matter your level of fitness. You can come alone or book a shared room and we’ll pair you with your future besties. Most of our event attendees are solo travelers and we become a family instantly; you’ll feel as though you’ve arrived hOMe.

The Sacred Valley of Peru has long been sought out as one of the most powerful energetic centers in the world and we will respect and honor the Apus (Inca: spirits of the mountains) and the healing traditions preserved in these sacred lands. We will start our journey together with a traditional Andean Despacho Ceremony Offering. This will be facilitated by a local Q’ero to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth) the Andean mountain deities or apukuna while asking for blessings, protection, and permission to be there.

From our students, we ask for dedication, commitment, and surrender, as well as full immersion and involvement in the training. This commitment and immersion will make the work as impactful, potent, and effective as possible. We ask students to come with an open heart and mind, ready to see and to receive all that is out there. To fully embrace the yogic lifestyle, we ask our participants to observe a plant-based diet, abstain from other distractions such as alcohol and processed foods, and to disconnect from technology and unnecessary external communication.

WARNING: this is not a yoga retreat. This is a FULL ON immersive 12-hours a day university style SCHOOL. You will be challenged physically and mentally. If you'd like to attend one of our events where you can relax and kick back, then please consider attending one of our future yoga retreats instead.

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a summary of the deets

Dates: YTT 2023 [Nov 18 - Dec 10, 2023 and YTT 2024 [Feb 24 - Mar 16 2024]
Bookings Open: April 4th 2023 at 12p PDT here on the website
Location: Willka Tika Wellness Center in the Sacred Valley of Peru
Certification: Globally recognized 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher [RYT200]
Yoga Type: Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Class Size: 33 students
Class Length: 22 days
Meals: 2 daily locally-grown organic plant based meals [buffet / catering style] plus all day coffee/tea/fruit
Skill Levels: All Levels
Cost: Ranges from $5500 [shared triple] to $7500 [private luxury king]. With a $500 non-refundable deposit, you can utilize the payment plan option to pay off the remaining balance by Sept 17 [for YTT 2023] and Dec 23 [for YTT 2024]
Beyond the 2024 YTT, the next YTT will be in 2026

daily schedule

Daily schedule will vary especially for the first and last day but here is a basic overview. There will be three rest days throughout the YTT that will not have formal training classes/lectures. One of those three days will be spent exploring Machu Picchu in our BnF YTT private guided tour. The daily schedule is subject to change.

TRAINING DAY

06.00 - 07.00 | Personal morning routine

07.00 - 07.30 | Coffee, Tea, Fruit [served all day]

07.30 - 09.30 | Guided Morning Yoga

09.30 - 10.30 | Silent break

10.30 - 12.30 | Session 1

12.30 - 13.30 | Lunch

13.30 - 15.00 | Session 2

15.00 - 15.15 | Break

15.00 - 17.15 | Session 3

17.15 - 17.30 | Break

17.30 - 19.00 | Guided Evening Yoga

19.00 - 20.00 | Dinner

19.00 - 20.30 | Satsang Community Gathering

20.30 | Personal evening routine

22.00 | Evening silence

REST DAY

13.00 - 19.00 | Free Time
19.00 - 20.00 | Dinner
20.00 | Personal evening routine
22.00 | Evening silence

CURRICULUM

On training days we cycle through the session slots to cover the following four main focus areas of the teacher training:

Practice and Techniques: the formal practice of yoga.
Anatomy and Physiology: functional and holistic anatomy and physiology of the human body.
Teaching Methodology and Teaching Practice: the methodology of teaching, sequencing, cueing, art of assisting and lots of time to practice teaching.
Philosophy and Lifestyle: the underlying philosophy of yoga and the lifestyle of a yogi. This is where the practice extends off the mat into all areas of daily life.

Within these focus modules, we will cover the following topics and so so so much more:

Practice and Techniques

Yoga as the practice and the goal
Asana and the importance of movement
Meditation
Pranayama
Bandha, Mudra, Kriya and Shatkarma, Mantra and Chanting, Yantra

Anatomy and Physiology

Systems of Balance
The Physical Body
- Structure [Integral and Local Anatomy, Fascia, Myofascial Meridians]
- Bodily Differences
- Physiology of Breathing
Movement
- Types and Planes of Movement
- Flexibility vs Mobility
The Science of Fascia and Stretching
- Muscle Contractions and Length Tension Relationship
- Neurology of Stretching
- Neurology of Fascia
The Five Koshas
Chakras
Sleep [Quality, Quantity and Stages, Anatomy of Sleep]
Womb Wisdom and the Natural Cycles
Trauma Informed Yoga
Nutrition

Teaching Methodology and Teaching Practice

Intention of Teaching
Sequencing
The Teacher’s Narrative
Stages of a Class
The Stages as a Teacher
Business of Yoga
Practice Teaching
Giving and Receiving Feedback
The Art of Touch and Assist

Philosophy and Lifestyle

Yoga as the Path and the Goal
History of Yoga
Philosophy of Yoga
Yoga Mythology
Ayurveda
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Yoga as a Way of Life
The Different Styles of Practice

MEDICINE WHEEL

Our teacher training program is divided into cycles inspired by the Indigenous Medicine Wheel. At its core, the Indigenous Medicine Wheel is a tool for spiritual growth and healing. It is a powerful symbol that represents the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things. The Indigenous Medicine Wheel is a sacred circle that represents the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. Each direction is associated with a different wind and animal guide. The Medicine Wheel has been used for thousands of years by Indigenous people as a tool for healing, guidance, and spiritual growth. It is still used today by many spiritual traditions, including Native American, Celtic, Yoga, and Buddhist.

The Medicine Wheel is a powerful symbol of balance and harmony. It teaches us to live in harmony with nature and with ourselves. It reminds us that we are all connected, and that our actions have consequences that ripple through the world. This 200h training is arranged in four cycles with different emphasis in the schedule to support this process. Let’s look at these closer and how they affect the schedule of this training. This is also what underlays the process of dharma. Similar to a compass, there are four directions on the medicine wheel with each direction and winds represented by a spirit animal archetype:

Cycle 1 (7 days of the training): The Wind of the South / Serpent
- Helps us ground down, connect with the earth, and shed our skin/past
Cycle 2 (6 days of the training): The Wind of the West / Jaguar
- Shows us how to face our dark shadows with courage
Cycle 3 (5 days of the training): The Wind of the North / Hummingbird
- Guides us on an epic journey of sweetness and joy
Cycle 4 (5 days of the training): The Wind of the East / Condor
- Teaches us to see the world and what is possible from a newfound perspective

Each animal offers a very specific teaching and healing path. It represents the stages, phases or cycles we go through in this teacher training. We can call upon these Spirit Animals / directions of the wind to welcome them for their healing at any time. These changes are usually subtle, but are very fundamental. Over time, consistent small changes result in big effects. As we embark on the journey inward, we might go through an intense experience and as a result, start living more in-tune with our own rhythm and the rhythm of nature.

We can observe that we are going through the medicine wheel multiple times throughout our life. Sometimes more intense and faster, sometimes more subtle and spread over many years. As we cycle through these directions in this teacher training, each phase represents a stage in your process of going deeper into your practice and becoming an authentic teacher. Each direction is said to offer unique teachings and challenges, as well as gifts and opportunities for transformation. We hope this helps you to ultimately arrive in the place of the center.

We are so grateful to incorporate the four directions of the ancient wisdom of the Peruvian Indigenous Medicine Wheel into our 200 hour yoga teacher training. We hope to share this magical ancient tradition with you and see how tuning towards these animal guides, and calling upon their support, creates change and transformation in your spiritual practice and in different aspects of life.

VEnue and Lodging

Located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, 90 minutes from Cusco en route to Machu Picchu, Willka Tika (meaning “sacred flower” in Quechua) provides the perfect environment for this immersive training experience. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty and ancient Incan ruins, you'll have the opportunity to connect with the land, the local culture, and yourself on a deeper level. Willka Tika is home to the Seven Chakra Gardens which are designed to correspond to each one of the seven chakras and is graced with sacred sculptures, lush vibrant foliage, and enchanting winding stone paths. The property has fireplaces in the living room, library, and music cottage and also has multiple yoga studios and healing gardens so there is plenty of space to explore and enjoy.

Willka Tika aims to co-create a path that overcomes current challenges while respecting and preserving the world's existing wisdom, traditions, and lands. The organization is composed of spiritually focused facilitators and family including 20 local Quechua staff who share a foundation of love, personal growth, radical self-acceptance, and deep connection.

From triple twin bed rooms to single luxury king bed rooms, the venue has a variety of options to fit everyone's needs. Each room is made from natural earth materials, adorned with local artwork, and named for the Andean medicinal plant that grows at each room’s doorstep. Every room has its own private bathroom and entry to the gardens. To maintain a tranquil grounding atmosphere, the rooms have no televisions nor WiFi (wifi is available 24/7 at a designated space near the restaurant).

FOOD

The dedicated and loving onsite chefs cater two delicious plant-based meals served buffet and catering style each and every day as well as an all-day coffee, tea, and fruit bar. They use local and fresh organic ingredients; many of which are harvested on-site daily from Willka Tika’s herb and vegetable gardens and greenhouses. During the entire duration of the training, we follow a yogic whole food plant based (WFPB) diet; no animal products are allowed on the property. Prior to the event, we will be sending out more information about the WFPB diet.

We will send an intake form to all attendees prior to the training to inquire about general topics including diet restrictions and allergies. We will try to accommodate any allergies and restrictions that our attendees have, such as gluten free, peanut, or fruit allergies. However, if you have a lot of dietary restrictions, especially any airborne allergies, please email us ahead of time to see if the kitchen staff can make accommodations for you as we can’t guarantee it unless discussed prior to booking.

BRINGING A CHILD / SPOUSE

While we will have our son at the YTT with us, he will have two full time nannies to care for him from 6a - 7p everyday. We will sadly not be able to spend much time with him that month and that’s honestly the hardest part about teaching these YTTs. However, besides our son, we are not allowing any other children to attend the training regardless of their age. Along the same lines, we are also not allowing students’ friends/family to stay at the venue property during the YTT.

Our program requires a very focused and intensive learning environment that involves long hours of study and practice, which can be challenging for both you and your child/spouse/friend. Moreover, our curriculum is designed to provide a very structured and distraction-free environment for our trainees to learn and grow as yoga teachers.

We understand that this may pose a challenge especially with young children, but we need to create an optimal learning environment for all of our trainees (including YOU!) so each of you can fully immerse yourselves in the YTT and receive the most benefit from it. If your child is too young to be separated from you for a full three weeks, then we suggest attending our next YTT in 2026. Thank you for your understanding!

TRAVEL INFORMATION

General Travel Info

Willka Tika Essential Wellness is located at Paradero Rumichaka, Urubamba 08660, Peru
Since Cusco is at 11,000+ foot elevation, it is *HIGHLY* recommended that you fly in 4-7 days before the YTT to acclimate, although we will not meet formally as a group until 3p on the first day of the training
Ground transportation will be coordinated closer to the event date on your own but WT can reserve taxi rides for you (per direction to/from Cusco to WT for $60 per person or $30 for 3+ people)
Plan to arrive at the Willka Tika venue between 1:30 - 2:30p on Saturday, November 18th
Plan to depart the Willka Tika venue at 10a on Sunday, December 10th

Government Legal Requirements

A valid passport is required
Passport must be valid at least six months after your departure date from Peru
Passport must have at least two blank pages
You must have printed proof of onward / return flights
For most countries, no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days but please confirm your visa requirements before booking your flight
There are currently no vaccination nor covid test requirements but it’s your responsibility to stay up-to-date with your specific country travel restrictions. Global travel restrictions per country can be found here

Elevation

Altitude sickness can be serious and Cusco is at 11,000+ foot elevation, so it’s *highly* recommended to arrive in Cusco at least 4-7 days before the training begins. We will send out resources to prepare for altitude acclimation closer to the event.

Weather

Peru basically has two seasons: wet and dry. The wet season begins in November so you can anticipate chilly weather with a bit of humidity; morning blue sky and afternoon rain with temps ranging between 39°F (4°C) to 61°F (16°C). It’s best to wear layers but we’ll provide more details in the full packing list that we send out closer to the event.

Travel Insurance

We recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover the entirety of your trip. If you book your flight through Expedia.com, they offer travel insurance and health insurance as an additional add-on cost but you can also purchase travel insurance independently. We recommend using https://www.insuremytrip.com/.

Traveling Solo and/or looking for Travel Buddies?

We traveled Peru for a full month in 2021 and felt very safe but we also know it's different when you're traveling alone. We're happy to help coordinate additional requests for you to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable enough to travel (especially solo).
Our venue contact can help coordinate private and shared taxis with their verified drivers.
Based on past live events, 80% of our students come solo so rest assured that you’re not alone. Nearly everyone coming won’t know each other so we'll be offering plenty of opportunities to build community - you’ll feel like family in no time.
For our live events, we always have a shared spreadsheet with everyone's travel itinerary which you will receive shortly after booking your spot.
A month before the event, we also do a group chat on whatsapp so everyone can sync up with logistics (and so we can send out reminders, resources, dope music playlists, and good vibes).
We encourage folks to link up with each other before/after the events so they have travel buddies and so you can also save money by carpooling/dorm sharing.

Reducing Impact

As human beings, by simply existing on planet earth, we leave behind an unavoidable carbon footprint. We always encourage people to explore this beautiful world and of course love that you’re joining us for this YTT, but we also understand our responsibility to sustain and protect the beautiful places we all have the privilege of visiting. We invite you to join us in reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future by purchasing carbon offsets as we have. More information can be found on the Environment page of our website. Thank you for joining us to reduce our impact on this beautiful planet!

PAYMENT

Terms: All prices are per person and include YTT costs only; they do not include airfare, ground transportation, travel insurance, visa fees, additional add-ons, nor required books. If the YTT is canceled for any reason including Covid-19 related issues and political unrest, you will be given a full refund of all payments made to BnF. By booking a spot, you agree to our Breathe and Flow Yoga Retreat Terms & Conditions. If you have any questions regarding our policies, please contact us via email at events@breatheandflow.org.

Pricing: Prices will range from a shared triple twin bed room for $5500 USD to a private single king bed room for $7500 USD. The training includes dozens of offerings so please read the full list of “what’s included.”

Deposit: Reserve your spot with a non-refundable $500 deposit per person.

Payments

Payments can be made by either:
- Bank Transfer Direct Debit from most countries for no fee or
- Credit / Debit card for a bank service fee (bnf pay for the WeTravel transaction fees but you will pay for the credit/debit fees which vary depending on country and card type - more info here)
Payment plan is available but only if paid by credit/debit card
We recommend that you set up your WeTravel account where we host our events so you can glide through the checkout process seamlessly when bookings open. Their website can be a bit confusing since it appears you need to set up as a seller but it's actually really quick and simple as a buyer. Here are the steps to add in your bank/card info:
- Login to your account
- Hit "Profile" (top banner tab)
- Hit "Payment Settings" (left side banner)
- Click "Add Payment Method"
- Add in your bank account, credit card, and/or debit card
- The new bank/card will now show in your payment settings with your name, the bank, and the last 4 digits of the account/card number
- That's it! There's really nothing else you need to do on the WeTravel account (no verification, no address, no nothing).
- You can either login to WeTravel before 12p PDT on 4/4 or you can login after you click on our booking link but either way, it will sync your account with the booking and make checkout a breeze.
The booking links are at the very top of this YTT website page. Refresh your page to get the links right on the minute.

Payment Changes: If it is necessary to make changes to previously submitted payment types such as updating an expired credit card, please contact BnF at events@breatheandflow.org. Do not send credit card information over email.

WHAT's INCLUDED

22 nights accommodation at the Willka Tika Wellness Center
2 daily plant-based meals served buffet and catering style [fresh, delicious, organic meals plus tea, coffee, and water throughout the day]
Detailed Packing List
Course Manual
RYT 200 hour certificate to register with Yoga Alliance upon successful completion of the course
Daily morning yoga classes [vinyasa flow]
Daily evening yoga classes [yin/restorative]
Daily meditation [guided and non-guided]
Daily pranayama [breathing exercises]
Daily lectures and practice teaching
Evening satsang community gathering
Despacho Ceremony [traditional Andean offering honoring pachamama]
Sound Healing Ceremony
Private BnF YTT group full day guided tour of Machu Picchu
24/7 Wifi in a designated communal area
MFR ball
Private yoga studio with mats, straps, blocks, and blankets
Cold Plunge
Seven Sacred Gardens

WHAT's not INCLUDED

Transportation / airfare / ground / gas
Travel insurance
Visa Fees [if any]
Required Books
Additional treatments and activities at Willka Tika [solar bath, massages, etc]
Laundry [service is available but for a fee]

that covers just about everything

Please email us at events@breatheandflow.org if you still have questions

Follow our YTT journey on IG @breatheandflowyogaacademy