200HR Vinyasa
Yoga Teacher Training,
in Ottawa
October 18, 2025 – April 19, 2026
with Michael Dynie, Allison Tomotsugo, Janice DeFilippi
+ Special Guest Teachers to Cover:
Neuroscience of Yoga • Business of Yoga • Yoga and Social Justice
• Gender Diversity and Inclusion • Trauma Informed Yoga • Cultural Appropriation
This course offers a rare opportunity to transform your own personal yoga practice, get grounded in the philosophical roots of the yoga tradition, and discover your own unique approach to teaching others.
Our Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) is designed to take you deep into the heart of yoga.
We want to empower you with the tools required to skillfully teach yoga to the unique needs of your students – be it gentle, strong, or somewhere in the middle.
Your growth will be supported by in-depth studies of yoga philosophy, the anatomy of movement, teaching yoga postures to different levels of ability, creative and purposeful class sequencing, the energetics of yoga, breathing techniques (pranayama), lifestyle and ethics discussions.
Develop your Personal Practice
Our aim is to help you to take your own practice to a much deeper level, so you can confidently transmit your own understanding of yoga to others from a place of personal experience.
STYLES OF PRACTICE YOU’LL STUDY
Hatha Yoga, Flow, Vinyasa, Power, Gentle, Ashtanga, Chair Yoga — you’ll be able to teach them all.
Program Overview
Philosophy – As an inspiration for living! Study the most influential source texts: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Safety and Injury Prevention – Modern perspectives on asana (posture) and alignment in motion.
Anatomy of Yoga – Functional anatomy of yoga and the physiology of meditative states.
Self-Guided Practice in a Group – Yoga at your own pace with AYO’s Mysore program.
Meditation – Various practical approaches will be explored drawing from Patanjali’s Yoga and Buddhism.
Breathing Techniques (Pranayama) – practices that can focus the mind, and calm or stimulate the nervous system to experience deep states of tranquility.
Teaching skills – Adjustment techniques, holding space, language skills, sequencing for specific purposes, wrapping content around a theme, and modifying yoga to suit individual needs.
Language skills: balance the flow with the form; humility and strength: mental focus and acceptance; tools for putting yourself and your students at ease. Grounding and holding the seat of the teacher.
Cultural Appreciation vs Appropriation, and Social Justice — How can we honour Yoga’s vast roots as a Southeast Asian tradition? We will begin to untangle the colonial gaze with which yoga has developed, and cultivate an approach to social justice that aligns with the yoga principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (pursuit of the truth).
Diversity and Inclusivity in Yoga Spaces — Examine the intersection of yoga, race and gender. Learn to use language in a way that honours and embraces the diversity of human experiences and gender identities.
Teaching through a Trauma-Informed Lens — Gain an understanding of the basic impact trauma can have on the brain and body, and cultivate compassion.
Our goal is to set you up on the path of deep study, to fuel your explorations into who you are, and what kind of teacher you want to become.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
10 Weekends
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
9 AM – 5 PM
OCT 18-19 • NOV 1-2, 22-23
DEC 13-14 • JAN 3-4, 24-25
FEB 14-15 • MARCH 7-8, 28-29
APRIL 18-19
6 WEDNESDAYS ONLINE (ZOOM)
7 PM-8:30 PM
NOV 12, DEC 3, JAN 14, FEB 4, FEB 25, APRIL 8
YOUR INVESTMENT
FULL TUITION $3,500 (+hst)
- Register and pay $500 deposit (non-refundable) by Sept 10th, 2025
- Tuition must be paid in full by Feb 28, 2026
- Monthly Payment plans are available! Contact Janice by email, [email protected]
FULL STUDIO MEMBERSHIP
INCLUDED WITH TUITION
From the moment you sign up, through the duration of the training, inspire your practice and teaching with a combination of in person and videos you can practice anywhere!
- Attend daily classes in studio with Astanga Yoga Ottawa
- Access videos on demand classes with Michael Dynie Yoga
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
PHILOSOPHY & MINDFULNESS
Study the most influential source texts to inspire a fresh perspective on life, yoga and relationships: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra / Bhagavad Gita / Hatha Yoga Pradipika / and other philosophies
POSTURE WORKSHOPS (ASANA) + HANDS-ON ADJUSTMENTS
Safety and injury prevention, modern perspectives and alignment in motion.
ANATOMY OF YOGA
Functional anatomy of yoga and the physiology of meditative states.
CREATIVE & THEMATIC SEQUENCING
Sequence classes with purpose. Learn to integrate themes (movement families, philosophy, etc); adapt yoga to diverse needs.
MEDITATION
Various practical approaches will be explored drawing from Patanjali’s Yoga and Buddhism.
BREATHING TECHNIQUES (PRANAYAMA, BANDHA)
Practices that can focus the mind, and calm or stimulate the nervous system to experience deep states of tranquility and awareness. These pranayama exercises are drawn from traditional texts, while modern day breathing science also offers us additional tools to practice ourselves and teach.
TEACHING SKILLS
Language skills to balance the flow with the form; humility and strength: mental focus and acceptance; tools for putting yourself and your students at ease. Grounding and holding the seat of the teacher.
CULTURAL APPRECIATION VS APPROPRIATION
How can we honour Yoga’s vast roots as a Southeast Asian tradition? We will begin to untangle the colonial gaze with which yoga has developed, and cultivate an approach to social justice that aligns with the yoga principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (pursuit of the truth).
TEACHING THROUGH A TRAUMA INFORMED LENS
Gain an understanding of the basic impact trauma can have on the brain and body, and cultivate compassion.
Your YTT Facilitators:
MICHAEL DYNIE
Michael has been a student of Yoga since 1998, seeking relief from back pain related to scoliosis, and something like enlightenment. His 15 years of teaching blends anatomy studies with Hatha Yoga, and has been heavily influenced by Richard Freeman. He invites you to compassionately explore your boundaries in search of the middle-path between meditative awareness and postural stability.
JANICE DEFILIPPI
Janice is a long-time practitioner of Astanga who made many trips to Mysore, India to study at a time when the practice existed in relative obscurity and class sizes were below a dozen. Janice holds Richard Freeman’s advanced teaching certificate. She continues to honour one of her first teachers, John Scott.
ALLISON TOMOTSUGU
Allison became a lifetime student of Ashtanga Yoga in 2001. Staying committed to her practice as a busy mom of 2 has been her greatest teacher. Her teachings are a blend of her ever evolving self practice combined with a deep understanding of Biomechanics and Physiology. Her approach to teaching invites you to thoughtfully rewire the way we think about moving and breathing, and how interconnected it is to everything we do.
APPLY FOR TEACHER TRAINING
Please tell us a little about yourself:
1 – Why do you practice yoga?
2 – What do you hope to gain from this course?
AYO’s Teacher Training is registered with the Yoga Alliance (RYS).
Upon graduation, students who fulfill all the course requirements will receive a 200-hour certificate of yoga teacher training which is recognized by the Yoga Alliance and studios around the world.
Testimonials:
“Signing up for this YTT with Janice and Mike has literally forever changed my life. Having just completed their 200HR Hatha Vinyasa YTT, I can say with 111% truth, I’m floored with the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological benefits I have received from going within and committing to the practice and study of yoga (Ashtanga), 8 limbs, mindfulness, meditation, and so much more…”
— Jessica Clifford,
Life Coach (Earth Woman)
“For anyone considering doing the 200-hr yoga teacher’s training (YTT), I would highly recommend it as it has far exceeded my expectations. Whether one plans on teaching yoga or not, the YTT course will not disappoint and will advance one’s practice! The course has been life-changing for me. I am forever grateful to all the teachers at AYO….”
— Jason F
“I adored my teacher training experience at AYO. Michael Dynie and Janice DeFilippi are extremely knowledgeable, experienced teachers and excellent course facilitators. The training was intimate, extensive and well-catered to our individual needs as practitioners and future educators. I was able to deepen my own practice enormously through the guidance of these wonderful teachers. The training inspired me to explore the philosophy of yoga more deeply and gave me the confidence to begin to share the knowledge I received and my own passion for the practice in a respectful and accessible way with my own students…”
— Alison Gowan
Yoga Teacher, Studio owner