Lotus Yoga School

Established 2019

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Lotus Yoga School

288 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02144, USA

Somerville, MA

Program Instances

In person

Sep 4 – Jun 6, 2027

276 days • 200 hours • $ 3400+

Somerville, MA, US

Led by

Lauren Farenga-Kosmidis

CYT-L3

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See up-front pricing

Purpose

This training will enhance your existing yoga practice physically, spiritually and mentally as you gain an in-depth understanding of yoga history & philosophy, yoga poses and alignment, trauma informed teaching approach, breathing and meditation, chakras system + more!

What to expect

Meeting once a month, plus in studio workshops and online content, you will learn to teach vinyasa flow classes in a trauma informed way that is still unique to your style and approach to yoga. You will learn how to live your yoga practices and impart wisdom and healing to your students in the way that aligns with your truth.

Style/Lineage

Trauma informed vinyasa style of teaching that emphasizes individualizing your yoga experience for optimal healing and personal growth.

Yoga teacher training is about personal growth, finding your true passion and learning how to share that with others. This training is unique, emphasizing a trauma informed teaching approach, individuality and mind-body healing while giving students a well rounded yoga education through exposure to a variety of yoga styles. Led by Lead Trainer Ren Farenga-Kosmidis, E-RYT500, MSW and joined by our faculty of wonderful and experienced instructors, you will embark on a journey of self exploration and discovery.

You will learn how to be a great yoga practitioner, an inspiring teacher and a powerful force of good.

Additional Information

Prerequisites: At least 1 year of yoga practice, at least 1 All Levels Flow class with lead trainer.

Investment: $3000 for the Training, and includes an Unlimited All Access Membership for the duration of training. Monthly Payment Plan available. Make the $400 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot. (Deposit is not included in the tuition. Total investment $3400)

One (1) Seva Scholarship is awarded each year to a student who shows promise in the practice but needs financial assistance to complete this training. Current Seva scholarship is 50% tuition.

Core competencies

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

Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Explain the influence of yoga on the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems including how movement, breath, and rest practices support stress regulation, recovery, and overall physiological balance Identify individual anatomical variation and select appropriate props or modifications that support accessibility and injury prevention. Identify the biomechanical demands of advanced postures and apply preparatory actions to reduce risk and build sustainable strength Describe basic skeletal and muscular structures relevant to common yoga postures by identifying key bones, joints, and muscle groups and explaining their primary roles in stability, mobility, and safe movement during practice.
Practice Skills	Differentiate between the intention of a posture and its external shape by prioritizing functional alignment, safety, and purpose over depth, range, or aesthetic appearance in both personal practice and teaching contexts. Demonstrate intermediate yoga postures—including arm balances, backbends, inversions, and standing balances— with controlled transitions, coordinated breath, and safe joint mechanics, reflecting functional alignment, stability, and mindful load management Demonstrate foundational yoga postures with safe, functional alignment using the baseball framework maintaining an appropriate balance between sukha (ease) and sthira (effort) to support stability, comfort, and sustainable practice Practice breath, drishti, bandhas, and clear intention to foundational postures to support stability, embodied awareness, and functional range of motion demonstrating integrated use of these tools to enhance safety, presence, and effectiveness in practice Practice common mudras and mantras to support meditation, energetic awareness, and intentional focus demonstrating appropriate selection, application, and understanding of their purpose and effects within contemplative practice
Teaching Skills	Explain how breath, posture, and intention influence energetic awareness by describing their effects on attention, sensation, and subjective experience, using non-medical, non-metaphysical language and maintaining clear professional scope of practice Plan a well-balanced yoga sequence that integrates a purposeful warm-up, peak-pose preparation, and post-peak integration, aligning posture selection, pacing, and transitions with clear intention and the specific needs of the students Apply principles of breath-led movement, progressive load, and intelligent transitions when sequencing vinyasa classes demonstrating the ability to build intensity gradually, support joint safety, and maintain continuity, clarity, and embodied flow Demonstrate clear, concise verbal cueing that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and embodied learning, using purposeful language that supports comprehension, choice, and effective participation across diverse student needs Explain the principles of trauma-informed teaching by describing how consent, choice, and student autonomy are integrated into language, sequencing, assisting practices, and class structure to support psychological safety and self-agency Differentiate between supportive cueing, verbal assists, and physical adjustments by selecting the most appropriate method based on student consent, context, and observed needs, prioritizing safety, autonomy, and effective learning Plan and teach a complete one-hour yoga class that intentionally integrates sequencing, clear cueing, breath coordination, and teaching presence demonstrating the ability to create a coherent, accessible, and engaging learning experience aligned with student needs and class intention Identify common contraindications and physiological considerations during pregnancy by recognizing key anatomical, hormonal, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal changes, and using this awareness to inform safe practice choices, modifications, and appropriate referral within a yoga teaching context Apply trauma-informed and inclusive language when teaching prenatal populations by using consent-based cues, offering choice and autonomy, avoiding assumptions or directive language, and prioritizing emotional safety, dignity, and accessibility for all students
Lifestyle & Ethics	Apply ethical decision-making and scope-of-practice awareness when assisting students by recognizing professional boundaries, prioritizing safety and consent, and choosing when to assist, modify, refrain, or refer in order to support student well-being and autonomy.
Business Skills	Demonstrate professional ethics aligned with the program’s code of conduct including maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and integrity in all teaching, learning, and professional interactions Demonstrate awareness of scope of practice when working with pregnant students by recognizing professional limits, prioritizing safety, and making appropriate referrals to qualified healthcare or prenatal specialists when needs fall outside the role of a yoga teacher
Yoga History & Theory	Describe the eight-limbed path of yoga (yamas, niyamas, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi) and differentiate the purpose and application of each limb within contemporary life and modern yoga practice, demonstrating an understanding of yoga as an integrated, holistic system rather than a posture-only discipline Describe the chakra system by outlining the commonly referenced chakras and their associated physical regions, emotional themes, and energetic qualities, using neutral, inclusive, and non-dogmatic language that respects diverse beliefs and maintains appropriate professional scope

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

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

The program assesses graduate competency through a culminating final project in which each participant designs and teaches a one-hour yoga class. This assessment evaluates the graduate’s ability to demonstrate effective verbal cueing, intelligent sequencing, appropriate modifications for diverse bodies and needs, integrated breathwork, and skillful teaching methodology. Graduates are also assessed on their capacity to meaningfully incorporate yoga philosophy into the class experience in a way that is accessible, relevant, and embodied in practice

AYC Evaluations

AYC also requires the following experience for Level 2 Yoga Teacher badges:

4+ years teaching experience
sessions taught per year

More about AYC levels

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Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

Lauren Farenga-Kosmidis

aka Ren

Ren Farenga-Kosmidis is a LGBTQ+ trauma informed vinyasa yoga teacher, workshop leader, teacher trainer and reiki master based in Boston MA with over 15 years of teaching experience. She is also a clinical social worker with over a decade of experience as a therapist.

lotus-yoga-studios.com

Arlington, MA, US