The School of Sacred Wisdom

Established 2025

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The School of Sacred Wisdom by Moon Dance Wellness Co

Program Instances

Hybrid

Dates: TBD

200 hours • TBD

Led by

Mandee Peterson

CYT-L3

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Purpose

This program is both professional training and a personal initiation into embodied wisdom, purposeful living and authentic teaching. Students enter an immersive rhythm of movement, meditation, breathwork, philosophy, self-inquiry, sacred study, community and practice teaching. They learn not only how to guide safe, meaningful yoga experiences, but how to embody the teachings with presence, discernment and integrity. The program develops knowledgeable, ethical and inclusive teachers while honoring each student’s unique voice and path. Graduates leave prepared to teach Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra and Kundalini-inspired practices, with a deeper understanding of Tantra, Ayurveda, sacred philosophy, and Western and Vedic astrology. Beyond certification, they carry forward a strengthened personal practice, a deeper relationship with themselves and the ability to create spaces for connection, reflection and transformation.

What to expect

Expect an immersive blend of movement, meditation, breathwork, sacred study, self-inquiry, community and practice teaching. You will deepen your personal practice, build confidence, discover your authentic voice and leave prepared to guide meaningful, inclusive yoga experiences.

Style/Lineage

A lineage-informed, interdisciplinary program rooted in Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Nidra, Kundalini, Tantra, Ayurveda, sacred philosophy, and Western and Vedic astrology. Students deepen their practice and graduate ready to teach ethical, inclusive, transformative yoga.

Additional Information

No prior teaching experience is required; only a sincere desire to learn and deepen your practice. Students will need a yoga mat, journal and required texts. Payment plans are available. Full participation, personal practice, assignments and practice teaching are required for certification.

Core competencies

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

Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Identify the major bones, joints, muscles, connective tissues, and movement patterns relevant to yoga by explaining their roles in foundational postures, movement, stability, and mobility. Apply anatomical and biomechanical principles to yoga practice by using functional alignment, load, range of motion, muscular engagement, tension, and compression to support safe movement. Explain human variation within yoga practice by describing how skeletal structure, mobility, strength, age, ability, and injury history influence individual expressions of asana. Describe the relationship between yoga and the body’s major systems by explaining how asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation interact with the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Adapt yoga practices for safety and accessibility by recognizing contraindications and signs of distress and offering appropriate props, variations, pacing, and referrals within the teacher’s scope of practice.
Business Skills	Describe the professional and legal responsibilities of a yoga teacher by addressing liability insurance, waivers, contracts, recordkeeping, payment practices, business structures, and scope of practice. Create a professional yoga-teaching identity by developing a teaching philosophy, biography, credentials, class descriptions, sample offerings, and areas of specialization. Apply ethical marketing and communication practices by promoting yoga offerings clearly and authentically without cultural misrepresentation, exaggerated promises, or unsupported health claims. Develop a sustainable yoga offering by establishing appropriate pricing, budgeting, scheduling, policies, compensation, and workload expectations. Cultivate an ethical and sustainable yoga career by respecting intellectual property and pursuing mentorship, continuing education, accreditation, collaboration, community building, and professional referrals.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Apply yogic ethics to personal and professional life by using the yamas, niyamas, self-study, and ethical discernment to guide teaching, communication, relationships, and decision-making. Establish safe and ethical teacher-student relationships by maintaining boundaries, confidentiality, informed consent, professional communication, and awareness of power dynamics. Demonstrate cultural humility and reverence for sacred traditions by honoring yoga’s roots and engaging sanskrit, mantra, mudra, ritual, philosophy, and cross-cultural wisdom with context, respect, and attribution. Apply foundational ayurvedic lifestyle principles by using the elements, doshas, gunas, agni, constitution, daily rhythms, and seasonal wisdom to support personal well-being within an appropriate educational scope. Create inclusive and trauma-aware learning environments by supporting choice, consent, agency, accessibility, nervous-system safety, and respect for diverse identities, bodies, backgrounds, and experiences.
Practice Skills	Demonstrate foundational practices from vinyasa, yin, restorative, yoga nidra, kundalini, and tantra-informed yoga by applying the distinct intention, structure, pacing, alignment, and energetic qualities of each approach. Practice foundational pranayama and meditation techniques by using appropriate posture, preparation, pacing, breath ratios, concentration, mindfulness, visualization, and safety considerations. Apply mantra, mudra, drishti, bandha, sacred sound, and subtle-body awareness by demonstrating their purpose, context, technique, energetic intention, and appropriate use. Demonstrate selected kundalini kriyas and yoga nidra practices by accurately applying their movements, breath patterns, mantras, mudras, timing, stages, contraindications, and periods of integration. Develop an integrated and sustainable personal sadhana by combining movement, breath, meditation, philosophy, self-study, rest, reflection, and adaptation to individual and seasonal needs.
Teaching Skills	Design safe, intentional, and cohesive yoga classes by creating purposeful sequences with preparation, progression, transitions, culmination, integration, and closure. Teach vinyasa, yin, restorative, yoga nidra, kundalini, meditation, and pranayama by providing clear demonstrations, accurate cues, appropriate pacing, philosophical context, and safety information. Observe students during yoga practice by recognizing breath, movement, stability, effort, accessibility needs, and signs of distress without diagnosing or making assumptions. Adapt yoga practices for diverse students and circumstances by offering props, variations, invitational language, consent-based assistance, and multiple accessible pathways into the practice. Lead a complete and inclusive yoga experience by managing time, space, group dynamics, emotional experiences, class themes, professional boundaries, and feedback with grounded presence.
Yoga History & Theory	Describe the origins and historical development of yoga by identifying significant traditions, periods, teachers, texts, lineages, and modern influences. Explain foundational yogic philosophy by interpreting essential teachings from samkhya, the yoga sutras, bhagavad gita, upanishads, vedanta, bhakti, hatha yoga, and the eight limbs. Explain tantra, kundalini, and subtle-body theory by describing prana, nadis, chakras, vayus, koshas, granthis, mantra, ritual, embodiment, and their traditional roles in spiritual practice. Discuss the relationship between yoga, ayurveda, astrology, and sacred philosophies across cultures by respecting the distinct origins, purposes, languages, histories, and contexts of each system studied. Integrate sacred philosophy into contemporary yoga teaching by presenting traditional teachings accurately, accessibly, respectfully, and in connection with personal practice, ethical inquiry, and modern life.

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

Written Exam
Oral Exam
Written Submission
Solo Project Or Presentation
Other
Graded Demonstration
Graded Skill Demonstration
Direct Observation

Evaluation Summary

Student learning is evaluated through written assignments, reflective journaling, personal practice logs, class observations, sequence development, peer and supervised teaching, faculty feedback, a final teaching practicum, a multiple-choice examination, and a final long-form reflection.

Evaluation extends beyond memorization. Students must demonstrate their ability to understand, embody, communicate, and safely apply the program’s teachings. Competency is assessed across Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics; Practice Skills; Teaching Skills; Yoga History and Theory; Lifestyle and Ethics; and Business Skills.

The final teaching practicum evaluates each student’s ability to plan, sequence, and facilitate a safe, cohesive, inclusive, accessible, and intentional yoga experience. Students are assessed on preparation, sequencing, safety, cueing, observation, adaptability, accessibility, consent, scope of practice, philosophical integration, cultural context, professional conduct, and teacher presence.

Students must receive a minimum score of 80% on the final teaching practicum. Additional practice, feedback, or reassessment is required when a student has not yet demonstrated competency, regardless of coursework completed.

View the Final Teaching Practicum Evaluation Rubric

Supporting evaluation documents include the program competency framework, teaching-practicum rubric, assignment guidelines, observation and practice logs, written examination, answer key, and graduation requirements.

Testing Requirements and Approach

Students must complete both portions of the School of Sacred Wisdom final written assessment.

Multiple-Choice Written Examination

The open-note examination includes 30 questions covering the six primary competency areas:

Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics
Business Skills
Lifestyle and Ethics
Practice Skills
Teaching Skills
Yoga History and Theory

Students must receive a score of 80% or higher to pass. They may retake the examination as many times as needed and are encouraged to revisit the relevant course materials before each additional attempt.

View the Multiple-Choice Written Examination

Final Long-Form Reflection

Students must also complete a final written reflection examining the full arc of their training. The response invites students to articulate what they have learned, embodied, questioned, released, reclaimed, and begun to understand differently, as well as how they intend to carry the teachings into their practice, teaching, leadership, service, and daily lives.

The reflection is evaluated for thoughtful engagement, self-awareness, integration, and completion rather than against one predetermined correct response.

View the Final Long-Form Reflection

Successful completion of the written assessments is one component of graduation. Students must also complete all required coursework, assignments, practice and observation logs, practice-teaching submissions, and the final teaching practicum while demonstrating ethical and professional conduct throughout the program.