Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Foundational Yoga Studies 200-Hour In-Person Intensive program!
On July 11, 2025, seventeen students completed Mount Madonna’s month-long in-person yoga teacher training intensive, spending 30 days and 29 nights immersed in the study and practice of Classical Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed path) on the Mount Madonna campus.
Guided by a dedicated faculty, this cohort explored foundational practices and techniques primarily within the Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga (path of balance) systems—including shat karma (purification methods), mudra (symbolic gestures), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation, and asana (postures). These methods were supported by study in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Samkhya Philosophy, Ayurveda, subtle body theory, anatomy, physiology, and teaching methodology—woven throughout the training as a foundation for both personal practice and teaching.
Instructor Anand Darcie, BA, E-RYT 500, shared this message of celebration and encouragement:
“Congratulations to all 17 of you sweet, sparkling, sincere new yoga teachers. After seeing you thrive on the mountain for 30 days this summer, I’m convinced that you are what the world needs right now: empathetic, kind knowledge sharers committed to self-inquiry and practice. Wishing you peace and prosperity as you go forward and ‘teach to learn.’”
Mount Madonna is honored to celebrate the dedication, curiosity, and heart each graduate brought to this journey. May your practice continue to unfold—and may these teachings continue to nourish you on your path and shine through in the ways you choose to live, serve, and share.
Photo courtesy of Nicola Percy.