Soul School is a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary teacher training program designed for committed yoga students who wish to deepen their connection to yoga and spirituality, aspiring yoga teachers, as well as current teachers who are seeking to bring more depth to their practice through continued study. Soul School creates an opportunity for trainees to deepen their spiritual path through self-exploration and build a strong foundation for teaching yoga in a soulful, imaginative, and integrative way. We will explore the connections between yoga, art, mythology, poetry, music, philosophy, and the world's spiritual traditions with a strong emphasis on Bhakti, Tantra, and Vinyasa yoga.

The first half of the training is called "Ignite Your Soul" and includes 100+ hours of spiritual practice, self-exploration, meditation; pranayama; mantra and chanting; harmonium; play; dance; mythology; poetry; yoga's history: Veda, Buddhism, Bhakti, and Tantra; anatomy and kinesiology; and study in the alignment and forms of over 60 asanas. The second half of the training is called "Share Your Passion" and includes 100 + hours of practice and study in: Teaching Skills, Art of Teaching, Language, Constructing and Sequencing Classes, Adjustments, Sanskrit for Yoga Teachers, and more.

Graduates who fulfill all requirements of the program will receive a certificate and be eligible to register at the 200 hour level as a yoga teacher with The Yoga Alliance, the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States.

All sessions will be held at Wild Lotus Yoga Downtown in The New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave at St Roch.

Enrollment in a minimum of 2-3 yoga classes a week, completion of 6-12 hours of homework each week, and 100% attendance at all sessions is required to receive certificate.

Investment: $3000 for 2011-2012 training includes all weekend training sessions, teacher training manual, and unlimited classes at Wild Lotus Yoga over the duration of the training. Cash, check, and credit cards accepted.

Sean Johnson

Sean's unique yoga education began with intensive, experiential, interdisciplinary study of yoga and related spiritual traditions in college and in graduate school. He received a Master's Degree in Creation Spirituality from The Naropa Institute where he apprenticed with South Indian teacher and yogi-musician Russill Paul. Sean is also gratefully inspired by his friendships and study with many heart-centered yoga teachers including his college mentor and first yoga teacher Doranne Crable; Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi founders of Laughing Lotus Yoga; holistic yoga teacher Saul David Raye; kirtan singer Jai Uttal; and Soul School co-facilitator Mitchel Bleier. Sean has taught at conferences and centers worldwide including Yoga Journal, The German Yoga Conference, Bhakti Fest, Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health, The Telluride Yoga Festival, Midwest Yoga Conference, Art of Vinyasa Conference, The International Ojai Yoga Crib, and many more.  

Mitchel Bleier

Mitchel Bleier is known for his immense knowledge on all yoga topics, especially asana, philosophy, therapeutics, and adjustments. He teaches with passion and offers a kind, generous, humorous, easy, and sophisticated approach. Mitchel’s classes are an inspiring vinyasa flow incorporating clear alignment direction, deep breathing, and a playful narrative of Indian philosophy and myth. 

Mitchel integrates years of his studies and experiences into his classes. He began yoga with Jonny Kest, and quickly deepened his study of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Tim Miller and Richard Freeman. At 23, Mitchel lived in India studying asana with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Sanskrit with teachers from the Sanskrit University in Mysore. Mitchel left India to study with John Friend and his newly formed Anusara Yoga®. He was one of two students with the privilege to travel with John as his apprentice and assistant for 3 years. In addition, Mitchel lived in Rochester, NY for 4 years studying closely with Douglas Brooks both at the University of Rochester and privately with him. For the last 11 years, Mitchel has traveled the world teaching workshops, trainings, and retreats. He is known as a teacher’s teacher and has taught at the Yoga Journal, Midwest, and Southeast conferences as well as annual teacher trainings nationally and internationally in the United States, Central America, Europe, and Canada.

For more info, visit www.mbyoga.com and/or view a gallery of sample videos from Mitchel's yoga DVD collection.