Unnata Aerial Yoga Teacher Training

Established 2009

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Unnata Yoga

425 N Mary St, Lancaster, PA 17603, USA

Lancaster, PA

Program Instances

Hybrid

Jul 16 – Aug 30, 2026

46 days • 65 hours • $ 1560+

Quakertown, PA, US

Led by

Michelle Dortignac

CYT-L3

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Purpose

As a result of this course, you will be ready to teach fun, safe, and innovative Unnata Aerial Yoga classes to diverse populations. And you will assimilate the ah-ha’s you learn in the hammock into how you teach traditional Yoga, too.

What to expect

You will learn to:

Teach and practice over 100 aerial asanas, many which are unique to the Unnata method

Safely guide students in and out of positions

Assist students of all body types and abilities

Sequence full and balanced class plans that seamlessly transition from floor and aerial asanas, poses and counter-poses, for a well-rounded Yoga practice

Incorporate the use of the hammock into the understanding of Yoga that you have already practiced and honed over the years

Apply the Yoga hammock to bring more awareness of subtle energetic aspects of Yoga, including bandhas, koshas, and more

Understand basic safety requirements for secure rigging & hanging your own Aerial Yoga hammock

In addition:

125+ page textbook included in the course tuition

Style/Lineage

The Unnata Aerial Yoga Teacher Training is a deep immersion into a unique method of Yoga that uses the support of the hammock to explore, refine and advance traditional asana, both in the air and on the ground.

The Unnata method is rooted in Yoga, which means everything we discover in the hammock can be studied and applied to a traditional floor practice, too.

We also use the hammock to highlight subtle distinctions that can only be discovered from an aerial perspective – then we apply these lessons to a traditional floor Yoga practice. With Unnata Yoga you can guide your students into asanas they may never have dared to dream possible – true inversions, and deeper, supported backbends. Then your students can work these same mechanics to achieve similar results from their usual Yoga practice, too.

You don’t need to start from scratch learning a new technique! The Unnata method of aerial yoga teaches you how to interweave the hammock into your existing yoga classes, to honor and evolve your yoga journey even as you add a little play to your purpose.

Additional Information

The Unnata Teacher Training is a rigorous 65 hour, mostly in-person training. Program sizes are usually between 3-7 people. Small group sizes insure each student gets the necessary guidance to become an amazing aerial yoga teacher.

Because the entire Unnata community of teachers has built such a good reputation for ourselves over the years, we’ve established and uphold international trademarks for our name, which you will be allowed to use if you wish.

Upon graduation from the course, in addition to the Unnata trademark license, you are given a membership to a continuing education & resources website just for Unnata teachers. Your initial membership never expires.

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE: Attendees to the course need to already be certified to teach traditional yoga from an accredited yoga school, although it can be any lineage.

Some prior experience with the aerial yoga hammock is recommended, but not required.

Core competencies

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

Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Describe three common spinal misalignments by explaining where each misalignment occurs in the body and identifying what it may look like from a teacher’s perspective when a student assumes what they believe to be a neutral spinal position Explain how chronic tension shapes posture and stature by describing its effects on alignment, movement patterns, and embodied habits.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Discuss the yoga sutras of patañjali by describing lessons learned from a specific sutra, or group of sutras, and how those lessons inform daily living
Yoga History & Theory	Describe koshas by explaining each kosha's characteristics, how the koshas relate to each other, and how they can be used by teachers to guide students through a yoga class
Practice Skills	Practice aerial yoga positions from the curriculum by correctly positioning the hammock and body on the mat, demonstrating attention to safety cues and spinal alignment principles. Adapt the hammock and/or use additional props (such as a blanket) by demonstrating attention to comfort and inner focus Apply alignment insights from aerial asanas by demonstrating or describing their use in floor counterparts, including different ways to activate muscles Demonstrate and explain the use of counter-poses and counter-actions, identifying appropriate timing and purpose within class sequencing. Demonstrate how the use of the yoga hammock can activate uddiyana, mula & jalandhara bandhas by describing internal and external signs of accurate muscle usage
Teaching Skills	Demonstrate aerial asanas from the curriculum while highlighting key steps for entry and exit from the position Guide a complete aerial asana class by observing students in real time and adapting hammock setup, props, positioning, and assistance to support safety, clarity, and individual needs Cue aerial asanas by consistently using safety-oriented language that maintains secure hammock contact and emphasizes essential alignment cues Create aerial yoga class sequences which follows the unnata method for sequencing, and includes a warm up and closing activity for the mind, at least 2 fundamental and 2 supplemental unnata positions, options/substitutes for the more challenging positions, and integrates use of the hammock with the floor throughout Maintain aerial class safety by actively monitoring student stability and spacing and intervening as needed to prevent injury
Other	Describe the safety and quality standards of yoga hammock components, including minimum load-bearing and setup requirements necessary to avoid equipment failure Describe maintenance and care for all parts of the yoga hammock including how and when to clean, how often and how to inspect the various parts, and when to retire a part Describe hammock installation safety by identifying acceptable installation conditions and explaining red flag signs that require discontinuing or avoiding aerial setup Demonstrate the ability to tie hammock material into correct, load-appropriate knots that maintain safety and stability during use

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

Certain themes are referred to frequently during the training, as their understanding is integral to learning the Unnata method of aerial yoga. Competency for those themes are assessed throughout the training by observation of trainees when they discuss, practice, sequence and teach. Most, if not all of this teacher training course is done in person, in small group sizes, so every trainee can be easily observed. Trainees complete an open textbook written exam just before they teach their final class, to help them gel all that they have learned, and to mentally prepare for teaching to the general public. The course leader reviews each trainee's written tests with them privately (one trainee at a time) after all the final classes are done. Trainees participate in most, if not all the final classes either as the teacher, a student, or an observer. Although the final classes are treated like practices, not tests, with time after each class to take a closer look at specific parts of the class, to assist specific students, to re-teach an item or section, and discussion of impressions and observations, they can help the course leader evaluate individual trainee's strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the course, each trainee has a private hour with the course leader when the written test is reviewed, and the trainee is asked to teach specific aerial asanas. If there is any residual confusion or misunderstanding, many times it can be clarified at this time. If a trainee needs more time to gain competency in a particular area, a plan of action is agreed upon, and a revisit is done online, once the trainee feels they are ready.

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Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

Michelle Dortignac

Michelle teaches yoga focused on structural alignment, and alignment found and reinforced through healthy breathing patterns. Out of her home studio, classes are personalized to individual students, either in vinyasa/Dharma yoga, or hammock-assisted yoga.

unnatayoga.com/

Lancaster, PA, US