Giving Tree Yoga Level 1 Teacher Training Program

Established 2026

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Giving Tree Yoga

1295 W Spring St suite 200, Smyrna, GA 30080, USA

Smyrna, GA

Program Instances

Hybrid

Dates: TBD

200 hours • TBD

Smyrna, GA, US

Led by

Karina Carmichael

CYT-L3

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Purpose

Through this training, you will further develop your toolbox of all aspects of yoga; including postures (asana), breath work (pranayama), meditation, anatomy, sequencing, philosophy, history, adjustments, and the business of yoga. The goal is that you will feel fully confident teaching when you graduate. But, just as importantly, you’ll go deeper: discovering who you are. What makes you unique in this world. How to be comfortable with all of the layers that make up who you are. You’ll find and develop your own voice. You’ll learn to be fully present in a yoga class, knowing that it is what will touch and inspire your students. Yogic concepts combined with authenticity, honesty, and presence will help you become the best teacher you can be. You will begin to develop the heart of a teacher. This training is for those who wish to become yoga teachers or those who simply desire the transformative experience the program offers.

What to expect

Are you ready to take your practice to the next level?

For the first time Giving Tree Yoga is offering a residential training in the beautiful Costa Rica for the first two weeks in May 2027.

If you would like to become a 200-hour certified yoga teacher through Giving Tree Yoga's training, then we start this coming JUNE 2026 preparing and mentoring you. You will deepen your knowledge and gain confidence while connecting with the amazing Giving Tree community here in Smyrna GA before embarking on the residential training.

The training covers -

Yoga history and philosophy including The 8 Limbs, Yoga Sutras, Chakras, 3 Gunas, Karma, 5 Koshas, lessons from The Bhagavad Gita 25+ hrs
How to sequence a yoga class of various styles 20+ hrs
Finding your voice and confidence as a yoga teacher 10+ hrs
Anatomy / physiology / Alignment / adjustments 30+ hrs
Pranayamas Bandhas and Kriyas 15+ hrs
Meditation, Mudras and Mantra 25+ hrs
The business of yoga 5hrs
Prenatal yoga 10hrs (To gain knowledge if you have a pregnant student in your class)
In person and Online classes 60+ hrs

We will look at many lineages from Sivananda, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Jivamukti, Bhakti, Yin, Restorative and more. You will be supported by Karina Carmichael (Tanmayi Radha Devi) and Abbey Brewer who both have over 25 years teaching experience and knowledge, between them you will have the support to cultivate your strengths and move forward with growing confidence and a deep passion for all things Yoga related.

Style/Lineage

Giving Tree Yoga invites you to step into your next chapter and become an exceptional leader in service to others. Come be inspired to deepen your personal practice. Deepen your knowledge and skills of teaching yoga to others. Program leader Karina Carmichael, ERYT-500, and owner of Giving Tree Yoga, has over 25 years experience of teaching yoga, and she has the expertise and skill to guide you through this inspiring and transformative course.

Additional Information

Core competencies

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

Teaching Skills	Apply sequencing principles to build a class arc for a chosen style, arranging peak postures with appropriate preparation and integration. Practice delivering cues aloud for a sequence, using language that is clear and easy to follow throughout. Explain how spatial awareness and communication shift between in-person and online settings, describing adaptations needed for each format. Demonstrate a hands-on adjustment for a common posture, applying clear consent language and stable body mechanics.
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Describe the function of each subtle body layer, explaining how it relates to the whole person. Explain the relationship between the energy centers and the directional airs, describing how each supports physical and energetic balance. Demonstrate correct alignment in a set of foundational postures, applying joint-safe positioning throughout each shape. Explain why certain postures and movements require modification during pregnancy, describing the physiological reasoning behind each change.
Business Skills	Describe the steps involved in establishing a teaching practice, explaining how each step contributes to long-term sustainability. Practice writing a class description for a specific offering, using language that clearly conveys its focus and audience. Describe common pricing and scheduling approaches used by independent teachers, explaining the trade-offs of each approach.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Apply a chosen restraint to a personal reflection exercise, using it to examine a recent decision or interaction. Apply a chosen observance to a daily routine, using it to structure a specific personal habit. Apply the framework to a personal daily-life scenario, using it to guide a specific decision or interaction.
Practice Skills	Practice a set of breath regulation techniques with attention to ratio and rhythm, sustaining a steady pattern throughout each round. Explain the purpose of engaging each energetic lock, describing its intended effect on breath and energy. Explain the intended physical and energetic effects of a given cleansing technique, describing what it is meant to clear or purify. Practice a chosen meditation technique for a sustained period, maintaining steady attention throughout the session. Explain the intended energetic purpose of a given hand gesture, describing the effect it is meant to support. Practice chanting a chosen mantra with attention to pronunciation and rhythm, sustaining a steady vocal pattern throughout.
Yoga History & Theory	Explain the progression from external to internal limbs, describing how each limb builds toward the next. Explain the core aim described in the opening sutras, describing what this scripture identifies as the purpose of practice. Explain how each quality tends to manifest in behavior and mood, describing recognizable signs of each. Explain the core teaching on selfless action presented in this scripture, describing what it asks of the practitioner.

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
Graded Skill Demonstration
Direct Observation

Students will be evaluated through a combination of oral/written submissions, solo projects, skills demonstrations, and direct observations

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Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

Karina Carmichael

I began teaching traditional Hatha Yoga in 2000 and now also teach Bhakti, Sivananda inspired, Yin, Vinyasa, Restorative, Jivamukti Spiritual Warrior, Trauma Informed, Transformational Breathwork and Tantra Mantra