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Our next course will be offered in the fall of 2023

As a leader in bringing yoga to those impacted by mental health challenges, Kuka for Karma will offer its flagship advanced training course in the fall of 2023.

For over 15  years, Kula for Karma has been the pioneer in offering yoga and meditation to those affected by trauma and addiction. Our training curriculum and design combine our practical experience serving these populations and the latest insights from the intersection of yogic philosophy, somatic experiencing TM, and addiction science. As a participant, you’ll benefit from Kula’s deep understanding of what it’s like to teach in treatment centers, schools, hospitals, and other crisis centers. 

This training is offered via Zoom and is appropriate for yoga teachers, behavioral and medical specialists, or anyone interested in immersive training on this subject. We are pleased to have Sara Kossove, LCSW, and Somatic Experience expert, as our facilitator. Sara brings an important perspective on trauma and shares how best to implement and integrate somatic practices into the healing process.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of those challenged with trauma and addiction, Kula for Karma’s Advanced Training for Mental Health: Trauma and Addiction can help you prepare.

Check back for updates

How You'll Benefit

  • Kula for Karma's Expertise

    Learn from a leader in the field of trauma-informed yoga. After you complete the training, we welcome you to apply for teaching positions within the communities (at-risk youth, substance use disorders, and first responders) Kula for Karma serves. Since our very first training in yoga for mental health in 2012, we've held 44 different trainings and trained over 500 teachers.

  • Therapeutic Teaching Approach

    This training is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional who ensures a safe learning environment for all. Trainees will receive a certificate of completion and walk away with: a deeper awareness of the effects of trauma and addiction on mental health, tools to customize traditional yoga and meditation practices with these challenges in mind, and practical suggestions for how to work with triggers in real-life scenarios. Yoga teachers are eligible for 19 Yoga Alliance CE hours.

  • Rich Learning Content

    Participants will benefit from a range of learning methods, both on-demand and live, including the opportunity to observe a trauma-informed Kula yoga or meditation class. In addition to the Zoom sessions, additional 4 hours of online training consisting of an orientation, videos, yoga classes, and readings will be offered. This training can be completed whenever is convenient, however, we recommend viewing the orientation and taking the yoga classes before October 15th.

Course Facilitator

Sara Kossove, RYT (200), LCSW, LCADC, SEP, ACSW

Director, Trauma and Addiction Training

Sara Kossove, RYT (200), LCSW, LCADC, SEP, ACSW

Sara Kossove is a dually licensed psychotherapist in New Jersey and New York. Sara is also a Licensed Clinical Alcohol And Drug Counselor, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and a Registered Yoga Teacher. Sara has an integrative somatic healing and psychotherapy practice where she specializes in healing trauma as well as: anxiety, addiction, breathing challenges, chronic pain, depression, guilt, hypervigilance, physical symptoms unexplained by a medical diagnosis, shame, medical/surgical procedures, migraines, and unwanted memories. Helping people recognize their innate healing capacity and resilience is Sara’s goal. This often leads to awareness of more strength, freedom and life force. Sara has always been called to teach and is passionate about it. Sara educates professionals on how the body keeps the score and brings awareness to the body's automatic (autonomic nervous system) response to stress. In Sara’s spare time, she loves to travel, practice yoga, cook, and assist for the Somatic Experiencing International Institute.

Bonus material

  • Resources on Demand

    In addition to the live training, through our custom-designed online training platform, you’ll have access to pre-recorded yoga classes for trauma and addiction as well as videos/readings/resources about yoga for mental health, polyvagal theory, and somatic experiencing™ offered by thought leaders in the field.

  • Feedback

    Your practicum and class plan will be reviewed by a panel of experts and you'll receive customized feedback. You also receive feedback from training participants and facilitators on your practice teaching session during the second day of the training.

  • Digital Training Manual

    You'll receive access to download a 125 page manual that is packed with sample practices, poems, scripts and other resources for teaching a trauma-informed class.

FAQ

  • What makes this training different from other trauma informed yoga trainings?

    Kula for Karma has been providing yoga to those affected by trauma, addiction and other mental health challenges for 15 years. We've worked with thousands of students at hundreds of facilities throughout the United States. Our training curriculum and design combine our practical hands-on experience serving these populations with the latest insights from yogic philosophy, somatic experiencing, and addiction science. As a participant, you’ll benefit from Kula’s deep understanding of what it’s like to teach in treatment centers, schools, hospitals, and other crisis centers. This training also explores the relationship between trauma and addiction and provides tools and techniques to address both.

  • Do I need to have yoga teacher certification to participate?

    You do not need to be a yoga teacher to participate -- the program is accessible and open to any interested individual. Our intention is to help cultivate more sensitivity and inclusivity and share these skills with a widespread community.

  • Are continuing education credits available?

    Yes, those who successfully complete the practicum will be eligible to receive 19 Yoga Alliance training hours.

  • What does the practicum require?

    A three-hour practicum assignment is also required in order to receive a certificate of completion and 19 Yoga Alliance CEUs. The practicum will involve experiencing a few trauma-informed practices and designing a yoga class for trauma and/or addiction. Participants will have the opportunity to observe yoga classes at Kula for Karma programs.

  • Do I need to attend both sessions live? Will a recording be available?

    We strongly recommend that you be able to attend both sessions so that you can receive the full benefit of an immersive experience. Participants will be able to have questions addressed during the training and will be able to receive feedback on practice teaching sessions on the second day of the training. If you have a special circumstance or an emergency and have to miss part of the live training, a recording will be provided.

What participants are saying

Training participant

This was a fascinating, informative and engaging training

Training participant

I have worked with crime victims for 20 years and have had the benefit of a great deal of training on trauma and vicarious trauma. Kula for Karma's Advanced Training for Mental Health: Trauma and Addiction ranks among the best trainings I have received on these topics. I would recommend the training to anyone who has an interest in learning about trauma and substance abuse & how effective yoga can be when working with individuals who have experienced either or both of these. This was fascinating, informative and engaging training and totally appropriate even if you are not a mental health professional.
Devon

Beyond expectations

Devon

This training was beyond what I had expected or imagined. I loved the group that I had the pleasure to train with and everyone was able to be so open and vulnerable. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Training participant

Helpful and knowledgeable

Training participant

The advanced training for trauma and addiction was so helpful. I just started teaching yoga a wellness center where many clients are recovering from addiction or eating disorders. The tools I gained from this training are allowing me to assist in their healing journey and it's apparent in their posture and expression before and after class. Sara and Anastasia were so helpful and knowledgeable.
Jen Collard Forms

Amazing training and experience

Jen Collard Forms

This was an amazing training and experience. I learned not only a lot about Trauma and Addiction but also a lot about myself. This information is immediately useful in teaching ANY yoga class and especially when planning a class w participants who have experienced Trauma or Addiction. It has also been helpful in my own yoga practice and in my work as a Physical Therapist.
Training participant

So much valuable content

Training participant

This course was incredibly informative and exceeded any of my expectations. So much valuable, complex content, broken down into easy-to-understand/easy-to-teach explanations. I'm so thankful to have had this experience as I know it will be helpful in both my practice as an RYT as well as LSW
Training participant

This was a fascinating, informative and engaging training

Training participant

I have worked with crime victims for 20 years and have had the benefit of a great deal of training on trauma and vicarious trauma. Kula for Karma's Advanced Training for Mental Health: Trauma and Addiction ranks among the best trainings I have received on these topics. I would recommend the training to anyone who has an interest in learning about trauma and substance abuse & how effective yoga can be when working with individuals who have experienced either or both of these. This was fascinating, informative and engaging training and totally appropriate even if you are not a mental health professional.
Devon

Beyond expectations

Devon

This training was beyond what I had expected or imagined. I loved the group that I had the pleasure to train with and everyone was able to be so open and vulnerable. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
Training participant

Helpful and knowledgeable

Training participant

The advanced training for trauma and addiction was so helpful. I just started teaching yoga a wellness center where many clients are recovering from addiction or eating disorders. The tools I gained from this training are allowing me to assist in their healing journey and it's apparent in their posture and expression before and after class. Sara and Anastasia were so helpful and knowledgeable.
Jen Collard Forms

Amazing training and experience

Jen Collard Forms

This was an amazing training and experience. I learned not only a lot about Trauma and Addiction but also a lot about myself. This information is immediately useful in teaching ANY yoga class and especially when planning a class w participants who have experienced Trauma or Addiction. It has also been helpful in my own yoga practice and in my work as a Physical Therapist.
Training participant

So much valuable content

Training participant

This course was incredibly informative and exceeded any of my expectations. So much valuable, complex content, broken down into easy-to-understand/easy-to-teach explanations. I'm so thankful to have had this experience as I know it will be helpful in both my practice as an RYT as well as LSW
Training participant

This was a fascinating, informative and engaging training

Training participant

I have worked with crime victims for 20 years and have had the benefit of a great deal of training on trauma and vicarious trauma. Kula for Karma's Advanced Training for Mental Health: Trauma and Addiction ranks among the best trainings I have received on these topics. I would recommend the training to anyone who has an interest in learning about trauma and substance abuse & how effective yoga can be when working with individuals who have experienced either or both of these. This was fascinating, informative and engaging training and totally appropriate even if you are not a mental health professional.

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