Discovering Yoga Faith at 57 facilitated a 180 degree turn from my view of Yoga a year ago. My previous Yoga view had been limited by several factors: little education on meditation practices, an exploratory session with a Hindi Yoga Master in Nepal (unknown language chanting in the surrounds), and secular Senior Center Yoga sessions in Maryland (that included worthwhile affirmation statements with Vinyasa styled physical practices). The beginning of my 180 degree turn started with the book "The Body Keeps The Score" in finding the significant data-driven physical and phycological benefits yoga can provide, especially to those who have endured trauma. My late 20's choice to follow the teachings of Jesus (and accept the Christian walk) reinforced in my late 50's newly seeing the intent of a Yoga practice as an important factor in each person's yoga journey... a 90/180 degrees opening for me to view Yoga practices differently. The next 60 degrees for 150/180 switch was facilitated by 2019 research into Holy Yoga and Yoga Faith. The remaining 30 degrees to complete and solidify my 180 degree turn was facilitated when I selected to conduct additional research into Yoga Faith practices and offerings. I subsequently selected a training path, experienced a well-founded, well-backed, and well-executed 200 Hour Yoga Faith training program (I had previously earned a Biology degree, a Master's Degree in Education, several Zumba Fitness licensings, and experienced numerous Revelation Wellness fitness-based experiences). Through YogaFaith Immersion training, I additionally met several dozen experienced Yoga Faith practitioners, teachers, and leaders who all reinforced the tremendous faithful practicing of the many redeemed aspects of traditional Yoga. Without hesitation, and with varied relevant experiences, I am submitting this 5-Star review. In contrast, I hope and pray that those who have ignorantly condemned what they have NOT taken time to accurately research, will remove their anti group-inspired 1-star attacks. read more

I've been a fitness Instructor for about 12 years, starting my journey by becoming a Pilates Instructor, Booty Barre Instructor, and then became a Yoga Instructor back in 2015 through a well known Faith-based YTT. I also have my own Yoga & Pilates studio. I have alot of Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Pathology under my belt as a Certified Medical Massage Therapist as well, and I know how important having knowledge of the human body is when working with individual people. As a Christian it was very important to find a Yoga Teacher Training program that aligned with my faith but didn't water down the Yoga. I look at what I do as opportunity to share Jesus with each person I work with, but also my career and a place to inspire Nutrition, Health, and how Movement is Medicine. My first round of Yoga Teacher Training did not meet up to what I expected or to my standards. That's when I found Yoga Faith. Not only did Michelle take time to talk with me personally in detail about what YF is, but I realized that the education, curriculum, and faith aspect were profoundly different and way more in depth than my previous experience. I also had the opportunity to have a lengthy talk with Derek, Michelle's husband, and realized this was a unique and amazing Teacher Training but also beautiful and authentic community to be a part of. I'm now half way through the 200hr YF Teacher Training and I'm absolutely loving the in depth knowledge and education in "Stretch Your Faith" but also in the Modules. What also sets YF apart is that they are Yoga Alliance affiliated along with being strong in their Faith. They don't compromise on anything. I'm truly blessed to have found YF and very proud to say I'm a part of their community! Aloha Stefanee Kai Bowler Owner ~ Aloha Kai Life | Pilates + Yoga + Nutrition read more

I don't even know where to begin with how amazing my training with Yoga Faith was. I was 500hr trained originally through a different christian yoga school, but had to separate from that school after discovering issues with their theology, ethics, moral conduct, and twisting of scripture. I found Yoga Faith and took their 200hr training and was amazed!! The majority of the content was new and very detailed! Their immersion was a true time of revival and fellowship, awe inspiring, and thorough. Yoga Faith is solid in their Biblical teaching and radiate Jesus!! They are also solid in their teaching of the Yoga skills needed to teach extraordinary classes. My yoga teaching has propelled to new heights since complicating their program! I am amazed at the support they provide their instructors as well...it is a loving family, for sure! I would recommend their trainings to anyone and everyone! They truly reflect God's light! You not only receive solid training skills, but also are immersed in Biblical truth. They are also a Leadership school, teaching how to lead like Jesus from the very beginning. I have taken some of their specialty trainings as well, which are also top notch!! When you finish their training, you have all the skills needed to teach in the finest studios or provide outreach! The sky is the limit! So blessed to have been trained through Yoga Faith!! read more

I began my practice of yoga at a neighborhood shop practicing alignment based hatha. I still practice there with mutual respect to differences in spiritual beliefs. I soon found that one or more of the instructors goes to India yearly for at least two weeks to learn from the yogis there. The knowledge these instructors have regarding the origins of yoga and Hindu religion is phenomenal. As I understand Jesus died for these people to give the eternal life the original yogis were seeking, I have come to understand it was God's love that helped them discover this wonderful practice. The fact that they give credit to a different entity does not mean it didn't come from God as all things were created by Him and all knowledge is His. All! YogaFaith takes what Satan has stolen and gives the credit to the proper entity...Jesus. I chose to earn my 200 hour teaching certification through YogaFaith because of the great yet humble faith shown in the way the founder/s conduct themselves and their business. Lord willing, I will continue to grow in support of this organization. Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. (Psalm 112:4). read more

I attended the Chicago Immersion training in 2018 and was so impressed with Michelle Thielen and her excellent team of trainers. She was the most generous, humble and loving teacher I have ever practiced under. Not only that, but she and YogaFaith are deeply rooted in scriptural truth and do not compromise the message of Christ in any way. In fact, they bring it to LIFE in a way I could never imagine. As a result, I've been able to bring that same life changing practice and message to others of ALL faiths with amazing results. To those who reject the organization due to the fact that it is not Hindu, I think you would be very surprised to learn how much time and teaching is actually dedicated to understanding the origins of yoga philosophy and practice, and giving proper honor and respect to our brothers and sisters in the east who have blessed the world with advancing this gift. Be careful all of you who judge from afar, you will miss the beautiful bridge that Michelle and Yoga Faith have fostered between east and west. read more

I first found YogaFaith after taking advice from my doctors to try yoga for Fibromyalgia. Since I am a Christian, I did not want to go to a traditional yoga class, and was THRILLED to find YogaFaith. To combine Jesus centered worship with movements and connect those to breath was life changing! Since, I've attended both their 200hr Yoga Teacher Training as well as their Trauma Sensitive Yoga Teacher Training. Michelle and Derek have made sure the classes and courses are respectful to traditional yoga and it's origins. The amount of knowledge they teach is incredible, as well as linking it to Jesus- the Creator of all things. I believe Jesus can redeem any and everything. And since He is the Creator of all things, I choose to believe that He was before all things. YogaFaith has enriched my life exponentially. I'm incredibly thankful that I can now take what I've learned, and share it with my brothers and sisters in Christ so that they can benefit from the movements of yoga. read more

I LOVE YogaFaith! I attended the 200 hour immersion in San Diego. It was a fantastic week with amazing women who love Jesus and yoga. We learned so much about how to teach yoga to others, how to meditate on God's Word, and how to be a leader. I appreciate also learning about the human anatomy and all the intricate pieces that make up Yoga. The leaders were awesome! Not only was the in-person immersion AMAZING, but the online modules have so much to offer. I am so grateful that I can access those modules as I refer to the information regularly when planning my classes. One final note, I know that some Christians and others have issues combining the God of the Bible with yoga. Believe me, I did at first, too. However, God calls us to meditate on His Word, to praise His Name, and to stay in constant communion with Him. I believe the time I take for yoga has allowed me to be still before Him, meditate, praise, and pray. God is using yoga to connect people to Him. read more

This review is from someone who took the YogaFaith courses unlike some people leaving reviews who never did. The courses are VERY complete. I would say you need to be a self motivated person to do this program as there is a good chunk of online courses. There is a TON of information that gets covered so honestly a person could spend a lifetime learning it all. You WILL learn all the things you need to learn to teach a yoga class. Some of the negative reviews talk about the philosophy of yoga and roots. YogaFaith does go over all of that unlike some of the negative reviews state. I would not hesitate to take these courses again. I also would not hesitate to take courses outside a Christian perspective of yoga. I personally like having a well rounded understanding of people and culture. For the Hindu I say there is nothing to fear with Christians teaching yoga from a Christian perspective. Nothing is lost from the Hindu who practices yoga. read more

The meaning of "yoga" is "union." Upon completion of my Immersion in March 2019, I had a more complete understanding of the union of pranayama (breath) and asana (posture), as well as clearer knowledge of the union of body, mind, and spirit. We were well versed in the history of yoga and the sutras, pranayama, asanas, chakras, alignment, the various styles of practice, and far more. Because of my training, I've been able to lead others, who thought they weren't "that flexible," or "couldn't bend like that," to discover that yoga IS accessible to them, and they've found union in a new community. Leaders were diverse, providing thorough instruction. Upon receipt of my R-YFT 200, and subsequent R-AYF, I felt well qualified to lead any type of classes (and yes, I teach several, of various types). I recommend YogaFaith without reservation. It has been well worth my investment--both of time and finances. I am forever grateful! read more

I completed my 200hr training with YogaFaith last fall. The experience was great, specifically because the people involved are amazing. Unlike most yoga schools, YogaFaith stays connected with their graduates and seeks to support and help them as they become instructors. It really is like a family. I am really sad to see all these hate based reviews. I think they have severely misunderstood what YogaFaith teaches. I was never taught that yoga originated in Christianity. Similarities in ways to worship in different religions was emphasized. People in many religions choose to worship on their knees, people in many religions worship through dance. From many different sources, not just YogaFaith, even BKS Iyengar, it has been emphasized that people of all religions can practice yoga. People take yoga and make it personal to them and their faith, and this what YogaFaith teaches as well. read more

Sadly, many people who believe YogaFaith is not based in Christianity have not taken part in their training. It is a wonderful organization, who not only provides excellent yoga training for anyone (Christian or not), but also glorifies Christ as God and Savior. The founders are caring, giving and educated in all things yoga. I highly recommend any of their trainings. I was certified in a secular setting for my 200 hours, but got certified in YogaFaith's Trauma Sensitive Yoga training. Such a world of difference and extremely thorough. Christ shows up at each training/event. God made all things good. It is what mankind does with it that spoils so many things. Our intentions need to be Christ-focused and that is exactly where YogaFaith steers those who participate in their trainings. All to glorify God. read more

I have received multiple certifications through this school and have been consistently overwhelmed with the quality of both the trainings and the individual trainers. Michelle Thielen, the owner and author of the book Stretching Your Faith, is not only incredibly skilled and knowledgeable in yoga, but has a heart of gold and a deep love for God. This is a place you can get comprehensive yoga training while simultaneously deepening your Christian faith. Yes, the two can go together. You can learn how to worship God on your mat. Traditionally, yogis have always sought to draw closer to the divine through their poses; Christian yogis seek and worship only the one God of the Bible. If you are looking for ways to mesh your faith and your love of yoga, this is the ONLY place I would consider. read more

Do not recommend this place because this organization is falsely advertising that the origin of yoga is from Christianity. Yoga originated from Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism (google it). This is a white washed version of yoga and would recommend going to a place that knows the origins and the proper techniques of yoga. They do not understand what yoga is about and going here and learning false yoga can be harmful. if you go to a poorly trained and educated place such as this you can harm your body bc they won't know the proper forms for doing yoga. Horrible place. read more

Everything yoga was intended to be through mind, body, breath, and stretch, but directed toward the the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Yoga Faith leaves nothing out in its comprehensive immersion training with regards to the Hindu roots while centering the practice and training on the Creator God and His Son Jesus Christ. Yoga is a beautiful practice of mindfulness and since all truth is God's truth we direct our mind and postures of prayer to the One who created mind and body. That is the amazing ministry of YogaFaith. read more

There are not enough positive words to cover the work that YogaFaith is bringing to the world. The knowledge of yoga's roots, and history by the entire team is immense. Their program is designed to bring body, mind and soul together through prayerful postures and intense yet accessible instructor training. If you are interested in yoga training, applying prayerful postures to your spiritual life, and/or helping others maximize their health and well being please look no further than YogaFaith. You will not be sorry. read more

This is both a great yoga training school and a supportive community. The format of independent study modules paired with in person immersion enables students to move at their pace, all while creating relationships and deep understanding of the material. Yoga is a deep spiritual practice, like prayer, meditation, and fasting. YogaFaith respects the history and traditions of yoga, while infusing Biblical truth so that Christians can worship with their whole selves: heart, soul, mind, and strength. read more

Absolutely amazing Christian Yoga School! I completed my 200 hr program this year- it was a life changing experience. Exceptionally bright Instructors taught us all aspects of yoga from its origins, to adjustments. I am so thankful to have trained with this school. I am super thankful for the community I am now a part of- I am able to reach my fellow yogis through many different platforms YogaFaith offers. I look forward to my continuing education with the company! read more

I attended the San Diego Immersion and have to say it was incredible. The depth and breadth of yoga knowledge was amazing. There are no words to describe the healing God does there. Michelle and the team of instructors were all amazing, inspiring women of God and I feel truly blessed to have been a part of their training! Thank you all for making YogaFaith a reality and supporting all of us who are new to this ministry. -Gina H read more

I've completed three trainings with YogaFaith, including my RYT200 in the fall of 2017. They've equipped me to be a confident and successful yoga teacher and to incorporate my faith in Christ as the central part of my practice and teaching. They've also surrounded me with a family of faithful, encouraging brothers and sisters who support me on my journey. I highly recommend this yoga school to anyone who loves Jesus! read more