Winter/spring 2024
200-Hour Yoga teacher training
at giving Tree yoga, Smyrna Ga

Why attend Teacher Training at Giving Tree Yoga? Giving Tree Yoga, in partnership with Kind Heart Yoga, invites you to step into your next chapter and become an exceptional leader in service to others. Come be inspired to deepen your personal practice. Learn to teach yoga to others.
Program co-leaders Christy Newsome, ERYT-500, certified Yoga Therapist, and M.S.Ed., and Karina Stewart Carmichael, ERYT-500, and owner of Giving Tree Yoga, have over 30 years of teaching yoga between them, and they have the expertise and skill to guide you through this inspiring and transformative course.
Participating in a Yoga Teacher Training program will forever change your life in ways you can’t even imagine! Get ready to nourish your mind, body and spirit and to dive deep into the heart of the practice and philosophy of yoga. This 200 hour certification program will give participants foundational and knowledge based skills for guiding students through safe and inspiring sequences and poses, while strengthening their own practices and understanding during the course.
Through this training, you will develop a full toolbox of yoga fundamentals: postures (asana), breath work (pranayama), meditation, mantra, anatomy, sequencing, yogic philosophy, history, adjustments, the business of yoga, and more! The goal is that you will feel confident teaching when you graduate. But, just as importantly, you’ll go deeper: discovering who you are. What makes you unique in this world? How to be comfortable with all of the layers that make up who you are. You’ll find and develop your own voice. You’ll learn to be fully present in a yoga class, knowing that it is what will touch and inspire your students. Yogic concepts combined with authenticity, honesty, and presence will help you become the best teacher you can be. You will begin to develop the heart of a teacher. This training is for those who wish to become yoga teachers or those who simply desire the transformative experience the program offers. Existing teachers who want to deepen their practice and teaching are also welcome to join us.
Although hatha/vinyasa yoga will be the primary focus of this training, you will receive information and experience with chair yoga, wall yoga, and have intensives in restorative yoga & yin yoga so that you feel comfortable teaching different styles. We will challenge the way it’s always been and dive into the anatomy and the science of movement. There will also be discussions on the business/marketing of yoga, the principles of practice, demonstration, observation, teaching, assists, practice-teaching sessions with fellow trainees, study groups, presentations, and observing & assisting “live” classes.
Click here to find out if Yoga Teacher Training is right for you
MEET THE LEAD TRAINERS
Karina Stewart-Carmichael, lead trainer, E-RYT 500, studio owner
Classically trained in Hatha Yoga, Karina embraces and brings influences from Iyengar, Yin, Sivananda, Karma, Raja, Mantra, and most recently completed a wonderful 500hr advanced teacher training in India in Bhakti Yoga. Originally based in Aberdeen Scotland until 2021 when marrying her American based husband brought her to reside in Atlanta, Karina ran regular classes and workshops as well as retreats both in the UK and further afield in India, Spain, Turkey and Portugal. Karina also ran 200hr Yoga teacher training courses and has qualified many yogis.
Christy Newsome, M.S. Ed, lead trainer, E-RYT 500, Professional Yoga Therapist
Christy has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and teaching since 2011. She has close to 5000 hours of teaching experience and over 1000 hours of yoga training. She received her yoga certificates at Peachtree Yoga Center (with Graham Fowler & Elizabeth Nix) and Etowah Valley Yoga (with Sue Hopkins) and also has done intensive study in yin, restorative, meditation, and anatomy. She also has a masters degree in education and a gift for teaching others. She has been coaching or teaching others in some form since she was 16 years old and has a passion for helping new teachers find their voices and their niche in the yoga world.
Although Christy & Karina are your trainers and mentors, you will also experience the value and teachings of other well-trained teachers during your journey.
DATES & TIMES - WINTER/SPRING 2024
Meeting Times for all weekends
Saturdays, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sundays, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Weekend 1: January 27 & 28
- Weekend 2: February 10 & 11
- Weekend 3: February 24 & 25
- Weekend 4: March 9 &10
- Weekend 5: March 23 & 24
- Weekend 6: April 6 & 7
- Weekend 7: April 20 & 21
- Weekend 8: May 18 & 19
- Weekend 9: June 1 & 2
- Weekend 10: June 15 & 16 (graduation on Sunday, June 16)
Your investment is as low as $2800! (see details below)
- $2,800 if paid IN FULL by December 27, 2023
- $3,150 if paid in full after December 27, 2023
- Payment plan if enrolled by December 27, 2023: $3,250 ($500 deposit plus 5 monthly payments of $550)
- Payment plan if enrolled after December 27, 2023: $3,500 ($500 deposit plus 5 monthly payments of $600)
- A $500 non-refundable deposit is due at time of enrollment to reserve your spot
Why is it important to attend in person?
There are training programs out there that blast you through the recommended materials, but our tried and true program prepares our graduates to lead their students safely and confidently in yoga classes so students receive a safe and beneficial yoga experience. Many of our graduates have gone on to teach within the first month of graduating. An online program just falls short of the in-person experience and isn't able to train you to teach the students in your presence.
There are limited spaces for this program so early registration is recommended.
Giving Tree Yoga is a Registered Yoga School (RYS) with Yoga Alliance, which designates this teacher training program as one which follows Yoga Alliance’s standards. Students who complete a verified training with this school may be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs).
TESTIMONIALS
The Teacher Training Program at Giving Tree Yoga was amazing, including the teachers who led the program. The overall course and instruction provided a great understanding of anatomy, philosophy and yoga as a whole. This, combined with the physical practice and instruction on asana, pranayama and meditation, I feel has provided me the foundation needed to deepen my knowledge and awareness, while giving me the tools to not just teach a class but to be a true teacher who can serve others. The teachers themselves made the difference in the program by providing so much encouragement and support, commitment, and space to simply be ourselves, ask questions and practice. It was truly an enlightening and transformational experience. I highly recommend Giving Tree Yoga as a studio, but also, if one is considering a teacher training program that is grounded in a deep understanding of anatomy and philosophy with the actual practice of yoga for a well-rounded training program. Love my Giving Tree Yoga Family! ~Melissa V.
My teacher training experience at Giving Tree Yoga exceeded my expectations. The instructors went above and beyond to prepare a 6-month course. The course was very extensive in Human Anatomy, making me realize how interested I am in the science of the human body. I felt comfortable in the learning environment. The smaller class created a more intimate and hands on learning experience where I was able to get the most out of the training. I recommend this studio's teacher training for anyone interested in teaching or wanting to deepen your knowledge of yoga. ~ Christina P.
The teacher training at Giving Tree Yoga was done both virtually and in studio because of Covid 19 and it ran incredibly smooth. The materials, books and information we received covered a wide array of topics and each lesson built onto the next in a most comprehensive way. Both lead and co instructor were knowledgeable in the topics presented and very engaging. I would definitely recommend this teacher training to anyone that wants to pursue their certification. ~ Lisa B.
Giving Tree Yoga's Teacher Training program was excellent and I highly recommend it. The program focused equally on anatomy of the body, the philosophy of yoga, and the actual poses in English and in Sanskrit. I wasn't sure going into the training if I would be teaching once I completed the training. But I had such a wonderful experience and gained so much support from my instructors that I am already starting to plan how I will teach and share this gift with the world. ~ Madeline B.
Amazing program! The leaders are incredibly knowledgable not only in the physical practice but in the entire lifestyle. We were exposed to many different practices including restorative, yin, chair yoga, etc. We thoroughly covered anatomy and the effects of yoga. This program prepares you for teaching from all aspects. I had a great experience and would recommend the program to anyone. ~ Allie L.