Testimonials

The value of the Yoga Kula Teacher Training Program is beyond measure! I am in total awe of the vast knowledge being contributed to me as a new Yoga Teacher. The stellar contributors and presenters provide a wealth of incredible knowledge! The contributors are some of the most influential yogis over the past 30+ years from the U.S and have so much to share due to their countless years of experience and passion for Yoga.  I have so much gratitude for this program, it is a treasure to say the least! Thank you! - Cheyenne

I’m so grateful life brought me to Berkeley and placed in my path the Yoga teacher training at YogaKula. This has been such a wonderful journey. I feel I'm finally understanding the true nature of practicing yoga, not just getting on the mat and putting on cool poses, but really diving into the true nature of the self. The instructors are knowledgeable, kind, and inspiring. This path has been one of love and gratitude, recommended for anyone who wants to connect with your true self. - Constanza

In 2019, I found myself at the doorstep of Yoga Kula in Berkeley, CA in the 200-hour Anusara Teacher Training program, guided by Saraswati Clere, an extraordinary film-maker, pod-caster, teacher,  studio owner, and human. Through our extensive training I was lucky enough to learn from such yoga and meditation luminaries as Carlos Pomeda, teacher of yoga philosophy and history, using Tantric Shaivism and texts such as the Bhagavad Gita to apply to modern living. Other esteemed teachers in the program were Deane Johan on physical anatomy, Darren Rhodes on the art of teaching yoga postures, and Anodea Judith on the Chakra system. I have continued on in the Yoga Kula 300 hour training and it is as exceptional as the first training in terms of master teachers and courses offered. Yoga Kula creates a welcoming place for all bodies, spirits, levels, and students which has allowed me to flourish on my yogic journey. I highly recommend their classes and most certainly the Immersion and Teacher Training offerings. -  Amy

I can’t stress enough how important the Teacher Trainings at Yogakula have been to my journey as a teacher, and also as a person committed to deepening my personal practice. The three things that led me to start practicing yoga in the first place-stress, anxiety, and back pain-are just a small part of what inspired me to sign up for the teacher training. My first 200 hr training was challenging, supportive, and healing. The most recent training occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, and somehow Saraswati made the experience both comforting and educational. As a Black woman, I was encouraged to share my experiences, good and bad, as a practitioner and a teacher. Saraswati is extremely skilled at holding space for the unique experiences of all who seek to learn and to be heard, while at the same time, acknowledging that as a community, we can embrace diversity, and honor yoga traditions simultaneously. That validation has led me to be a more confident teacher. Also, the caliber of instructors that we had was amazing! My favorite was Carlos Pomeda, but all of them were very knowledgeable and patient. The trainings on anatomy (particularly the psoas training) were comprehensive, and have completely informed the way that I work with my clients with chronic pain and injuries. The Anusara principles of alignment is the foundation that I lean on as a teacher, and I’m happy to have that knowledge as my teaching style continues to evolve. The best thing I can say about my training at Yogakula is that I’m always excited to learn more! This experience has definitely turned me into a lifelong student of not only yoga asana, but also of yoga philosophy, meditation, and breath work. - Kenya

Saraswati offers an in-depth teacher training for those who desire to deepen and strengthen their yoga practice.  I have been a student at Yogakula for many years and taken several Teacher trainings over the years at Yogakula. In this past Teacher Training taught by Saraswati she created a wonderful supportive atmosphere with our training group which became such an immense support for all of us during our program. Our program continued seamlessly online during the pandemic and I felt so inspired and uplifted by Saraswati and her team of expert teachers. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this training. It was deeply transformational for me. During the program I was offered a class to teach at my local studio and its been great to grow as a teacher.
The program focuses of deepening our understanding of the physical, mental and spiritual understanding of yoga through our study of the yoga traditions, asana practice, essentials of breath work and meditation practice.- Paula

It was great to experience world class teachers. Despite being online for the majority of the training we, as students were able to practice virtual teaching to help to gain experience. We developed a nice sense of community among each other even though most all of the training was virtual. The training offered us exposure to many different styles of yoga, philosophy, and anatomy - Lisa

I am deeply grateful for the teachings I received in Yoga Kula's 200 hour teacher training. The lectures of Yoga scholar, Carlos Pomeda, and the workshop with Pranayama expert, Richard Rosen, were literally life-changing. This teacher training both deepened my knowledge and understanding of the philosophies of Yoga, and also gave me a streamlined and effective method of articulating safe and strong alignment of the body in any pose. Saraswati's community-minded approach fostered a beautiful camaraderie within our cohort, and I find myself emerging from this training with my heart nourished by both friendship and wisdom, and with a deep-rooted confidence to teach Yoga with both respect for its history and an openness to further discovery. - Rae

When I moved to Berkeley, I was looking for an 'authentic' yoga studio, and ever since my first visit to Yogakula, it felt true to yogic principles and tradition. On a whim, I signed up for the 100-hr yoga immersion program, to deepen my practice and knowledge of the philosophy. It's been a very enriching journey. Being in the space and this wonderful community month over month has helped me tide over circumstances with lesser stress and greater acceptance & adaptability, than what was possible for me before. I've felt an inner shift over the past many months, thanks to this program. I have thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and demonstrations on various aspects of yoga, health and Indian philosophy. Having grown up in India, I've especially appreciated the scholarly & practitioner's approach to the originating philosophy. Saraswati is a very effective and loving teacher, and in her, many of us have found a mentor and guide. - Shruti

This training is fabulous in it’s holistic approach, for it weaves together all the aspects of ancient yoga tradition and helps students to apply and integrate them into their own asana practice and their teaching. Integrating why we teach yoga into teaching and also integrated the sacred texts, sutras, mantras, chanting so it’s the whole study of yoga, rather than only focusing on asana practice. Saraswati was a very supportive teacher. - Catherine 

The yoga training gives me a lot of knowledge to learn and teach yoga.  It makes my practice much deeper and encourages me to share my knowledge with others.  I would recommend the training for how serious the teachers are and how much care I have received during the training. - Sharon

 On the first day I just knew I was in the right place, at the right time in my life.  Saraswati is a very experienced, graceful and warm teacher.  This program brought together all the elements of a mind body and soul connection for me.  I feel very grateful and fortunate for all the amazing speakers.  I am even more hungry to learn more and take these tools into my life. - Magdalina

Saraswati has been an elegant and fearless leader with so much knowledge and wisdom and with to share with us.  It helps to feel that we can all become the teachers in our own unique way and I’ve felt that in the space all along. I’ve learned so much about alignment and foundation, about my own yoga body and path, the wisdom and philosophy we studied helped me go deeper into my 18-20 year path of total Yoga.  Very empowering for life regardless of becoming a teacher. - Jewel

I’m so appreciate of the Anusara principles for providing a structure for learning/teaching asana.  Saraswati is a wonderful teacher, sharing her wisdom and personal insights with a kind and generous spirit. - Am

I love the balance between practice and lecture.  Enjoyed guest speakers and topics, Ayurveda and anatomy.  I love that this has been so much more than the poses.  I feel that this has been taught in a spirit and grace – not just one “right” way to do things.  I’ve felt cared for as an individual.   - Tara

We started teaching other immediately and got used to trying out our skills very early in the training – teaching us a teacher’s point of view.  Visiting experts are always interesting and a constant review of the Anusara principles.  Good mixture of movement and learning.  Partner work and group very helpful to learn and practice and support each other.  Anusara is a system that is so right for me in every way and finally meets the other practices I’ve done for many years, to join the asana and compliment all my other practices and life style.  My body has changed and mind and attitude.  It’s been such a deep, amazing, challenging and beyond journey. It’s been a total life support for it all.  - Sarah

I have learned quite a lot about how to describe poses and alignment completely verbally, so that I can watch students while instructing them.  We teach much better when we are seeing what’s going on in students’ bodies.  I’m grateful for all the suggestions of language to use to get students into poses in a way they will understand. - David

The Anusara method is key!  All information about how to refine a pose and make it “feel good” by using muscle/organic energy, spirals, etc., is going to eventually make me a great teacher. - Heather

It has been great!  The thoroughness of the training has been awesome and I love the Anusara system.  This training has empowered me to “know what I already know”.  I like the variety of the training. - Leah

 I am so grateful to have found this training at YogaKula with Saraswati. I have enjoyed rich, comprehensive training by seasoned teacher trainers; changed my own personal yoga practice for the better; gained exposure to high quality yoga-related/healing practices and topics (Ayurveda, TRE, koshas). - Jerri

I think it is an awesome training with a supportive community that’s not too judgmental.  I like how there are a lot of different topics, alignment, anatomy, philosophy, and pranayama. - Tiffany

 The immersion was great.  I cannot wait for the second part (teacher training) to learn to teach what we’re practicing/ playing with for the past three months.  - Susan

Lovely group, great teachers, amazing energy, can’t wait for the teacher training. I had a wonderful immersion experience.  Saraswati and all the teachers are excellent and I’ll be back for yoga teacher training.  I’m now integrating yoga into my clinical therapy practice.  The immersion did educate me and deepen my yoga practice significantly.  Yoga Kula is a lovely, lovely community that I feel honored to be welcomed into.  Thank you. - Claudia

 The immersion was an intense overview of yoga- the practice from all aspects: philosophy, breathwork, anatomy, asana, etc.  The studio is beautiful, and I loved how clean and organized it feels, and how we had lots of great guest teachers. - David

 Thank you for a lovely experience! I loved this so much that I am doing it again!. This was such a fun experience.  I feel like I learned so much, and learned that there’s a lot more to learn, and made friends, and had fun doing it. It was a great experience. It really changed my point of view of yoga.  I’m very into yoga, and I want to study it more.  - Patricia

This environment is ideal for yoga.  The teachers are wonderful.  I wish that I could write that many, many more times. Saraswati is an excellent teacher and I really felt supported during the program. - Sonya