Three Pines 200-hr Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training

Established 2026

View program website

Three Pines Yoga Academy

Program Instances

Hybrid

Dates: TBD

200 hours • TBD

Lime Springs, IA, US

Led by

Laura Ollendick

CYT-L3

Inquire

See up-front pricing

Purpose

You will leave this training with the confident ability to create and guide a yoga class, understanding of teaching through a trauma informed lens, as well as learning many things that apply to living your yoga (far beyond the poses).

What to expect

What to Expect

You can expect to feel inspired, overwhelmed, proud, scared, nervous, empowered, strong, weak, tired, rejuvenated, and the other million feelings and emotions that exist. Please walk into this knowing that we will go deep, we will connect with each other, we will share and be vulnerable as we work through what we know, don't know, thought we knew, and realize how much there is to learn! But, to summarize... you will get out of it what you put into it and can count on at least these things: The ability to safely and confidently sequence and guide a yoga class. Understanding of Yoga history, our lineage, and Yoga philosophy.* Pranayama (breathwork) and meditation, whether to guide or for your own practice.* Teaching methodology, ethics, basics, and techniques to be inclusive to all bodies and abilities.* Basic Anatomy and Physiology to knowledgably guide students safely in their body to their ability.* How to look at the world, and teach, through a trauma informed lens, understanding that we all have triggers and that it's important to recognize them in ourself and others so that we can all work to be better and more compassionate humans.* A general understanding of our Nervous System and how to find balance through Breathwork and Movement.* Understanding of our energy bodies through study of the Chakras. Mantras & Mudras Yoga and Sound Healing* And you'll learn things about YOU that feel brand new and maybe a little exciting or scary, but guess what? You'll be held and in a safe space through it all.

Style/Lineage

The Roots

You'll be learning Hatha/Vinyasa style yoga from the Akhanda lineage; taught to me by Adi Shakti and to her by Yogrishi Vishvketu (whom I was also fortunate to study with in India). Why is lineage important?? We'll learn a lot more about this, but in short, lineage provides unity between a disciple of yoga and the historical origin of the practice. It is the foundation of yoga's heritage - humble, subtle and free from the pitfalls of individual ego.

Additional Information

Core competencies

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

Teaching Skills	Design an original class that integrates grounding, breath, chant, movement, and rest into a coherent arc, adapting intensity to the intended theme of the class. Develop a series of themed classes drawn from yogic philosophy, aligning each theme with complementary poses, breath practices, and closing reflections. Demonstrate instruction for Asana that combines visual demonstration, clear verbal cueing, and felt-sense invitation, reaching every learning style in the room. Apply safe, consent-based hands-on and verbal adjustments that improve alignment or comfort, respecting each student's boundaries throughout. Demonstrate clear, sequential cueing for foundational asanas, offering modifications that address common precautions while preserving the intent of each pose. Critique common yoga cues and hands-on practices from a trauma-informed perspective, justifying revisions that reduce the risk of retraumatization.
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Apply chakra theory to select poses, breath, or chant that support a particular energy center, linking each choice to the chakra's qualities. Describe the relationship between ida, pingala, and sushumna and the movement of kundalini energy, explaining the symbolism of lunar and solar energies. Apply the kosha model to guide students' attention from the physical body toward subtler layers, sequencing cues so each transition feels natural. Explain how the doshas govern physical and mental functions, describing signs of balance and imbalance in each constitution. Examine how different breathing techniques affect the respiratory and nervous systems, comparing their calming and energizing effects. Use practices such as slow breathing, restorative poses, and meditation to encourage parasympathetic activity, guiding students toward calm with clear cues. Explain how muscle contraction, leg elevation, and breathing practices support circulation and venous return, describing yoga's potential effect on blood pressure. Explain how the endocrine system regulates mood, metabolism, sleep, and stress response, describing its relationship to traditional chakra locations. Apply practices that help students return to their window of tolerance, choosing grounding or activating techniques according to their state.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Apply an understanding of privilege to reflect on one's own social position, noting how it influences perception and access. Practice aligning daily conduct with the values one teaches, noting where actions and words support or contradict those values. Apply ethical reasoning to resolve a realistic teaching dilemma, choosing an action that protects students and professional integrity. Practice a chosen yama or niyama intentionally in daily life, reflecting on its effects on thought, speech, and action over time.
Practice Skills	Analyze one's own strengths and limitations across pose families, distinguishing areas that need mobility from those that need stability. Practice each pranayama technique with correct form and pacing, sustaining a steady rhythm without strain. Explain the meaning and intention behind traditional chants, describing the role of sound and vibration in yoga practice. Compare the effects of orienting, grounding, and centering on one's own state, analyzing which resources work best under different conditions.
Yoga History & Theory	Apply knowledge of yoga's lineage to describe how a Hatha-based style relates to the broader paths of yoga, explaining how yoga evolved across historical periods, and describing the contributions of influential modern teachers to its spread in the West. Explain how the limbs build upon one another from ethical foundations toward meditative absorption, describing the purpose of each stage. Apply Gita concepts such as dharma and the gunas to interpret everyday situations, using the terminology accurately. Evaluate when Sanskrit enhances or hinders student understanding, justifying a balanced approach to terminology in class. Evaluate how broader definitions of trauma shape trauma-informed practice, justifying an inclusive yet precise understanding.

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

Students will be evaluated through a combination of written/oral submissions, solo projects, direct observation, and skills demonstration.

Did you graduate from this program?

Verify your credential

Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

Laura Ollendick

I found my path to self-love under the three guardian pine trees in some desperate moments when I was struggling, not loving myself the way I so deserve. Many struggles of my own showed me that I needed to be more forgiving of myself. The less I allowed others to define me and...

Policies

AYC Policies

Progam Code of Conduct

Refund Policy