Melwell - Level 1 Teacher Training

Established 2026

Upcoming Instances

No instances found for this filter.

Purpose

The MelWell 200-Hour Teacher Training is an American Yoga Council Accredited program designed for aspiring teachers and dedicated practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of yoga from every angle — physical, philosophical, and personal.

What to expect

This isn’t a factory certification. Class sizes are intentionally small so Mel can work with each trainee individually. You’ll graduate not only certified but genuinely prepared to hold space, sequence intelligently, and teach with your own authentic voice.

Whether you plan to teach professionally or simply want the deepest possible understanding of your own practice, this program meets you where you are and takes you further than you imagined.

Style/Lineage

Krishnamacharya Lineage through YogaWorks, ISHTA yoga, Science Hatha Tantra, Ayurveda

Additional Information

Three Decades. One Clear Mission.

Mel Salvatore August didn’t come to yoga through a textbook. She came through comedy writing rooms, life upheavals, and a relentless curiosity about what makes people feel truly alive. That’s what she teaches — and it’s what makes her trainings different.

Mel has trained hundreds of teachers across four continents. She’s published three books, including the award-winning Into Love. And she still shows up to every training session with the same fire she had on day one.

Her approach is personal, not programmatic. She meets every trainee where they are — and walks alongside them until they find their own voice.

Core competencies

By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…

Practice Skills	Demonstrate how utilizing the universal template of tadasana can guide safe and effective yoga instruction Identify the benefits and also the risks of surya namaska and the vinyasa transitions in this practice Discuss the principle steps of a starting ritual that gives tools and support for nervous system regulation, trauma awareness, and inclusivity Demonstrate one posture in each standing pose category and it's main alignment principle: simple neutral standing poses, externally rotated standing poses and complex asymmetrical standing poses as covered in the melwell level 1 asana curriculum, including sanskrit and english names. Practice foundational pranayama techniques of 1:1 ratio sama vritti, visama vritti, and ujjayi breath Identify two simple inner focus meditations hat can be used for most practitioners and levels
Teaching Skills	Identify the seven sections of a melwell sequence and the key concepts of peak pose sequencing, component parts, and class level posture selection Evaluate the key principles of ''how to tell a student is safely ready to invert'' from the melwell level 1 curriculum including the postures you would be able to see the key principle. Apply the main principle of awareness when instructing asana for a pregnant woman in a general population group asana class with this awareness, what kind of twists are appropriate for a pregnant woman? Describe how direct versus indirect language, qualifying language, and inclusive language each affect student experience and safety in a yoga class
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Identify the type of joint and it's movements for the shoulder, elbow and knee differentiating aspects that affect the healing speed between ligament and muscle soft tissue. List the main muscles that move the body into flexion and extension at the hip joint and an example posture in the yoga practice for each Identify the main compensatory action seen of the leg bones during back bends and the two main jobs of the gluteus maximus that causes this compensation Explain the regions of the spine, the four abdominal muscles, the diaphragm, and the primary breathing mechanics as taught in the level 1 curriculum Identify the type of joint that is the shoulder joint and the most stable position of the arm bone in the shoulder socket when the arm is in flexion Discuss 3 common areas of the body for yoga injuries. what is rsi and why it happens.
Yoga History & Theory	Explain the five koshas and the primary chakras as presented in the melwell level 1 curriculum Discuss the ethical principles relevant to the yoga teacher role including scope of practice, student-teacher relationship boundaries, and code of conduct standards Describe the key components of starting a yoga teaching career— including marketing, professional presentation, vision-setting, and the qualities of an effective teacher Discuss the major ages of yoga history, put in correct order to the modern age

AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.

Program Emphasis

Evaluation methods

Program evaluations

Students will be evaluated through a combination of oral exams, written submissions, solo projects, and direct observations.

Did you graduate from this program?

Verify your credential

Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

Melanie Salvatore-August

Mel is an author, teacher trainer, yogic life coach | 30 years of teaching experience | over 2 decades in yoga | functional, accessible vinyasa with focus on pranayama, mantra, mudra, marma, meditation. Previous comedy writer; teaches enlightenment through kindness & humor.

melaniesalvatoreaugust.com/

Hayward, CA, US

Policies

AYC Policies

Progam Code of Conduct

Refund Policy

View program website