Mindful Grieving 200 Hour:
A Yoga Therapy Teacher Training Program
The Center for Somatic Grieving (CSG) offers a unique 200-hour grief-focused Yoga Therapy Teacher Training Program that is designed for certified yoga teachers and yoga therapists who are interested in supporting people through loss and seeking greater depth and connection than what is possible in an ongoing, drop-in class.
In this training, you will learn how to facilitate CSG’s proven mindfulness-based, grief-focused curriculum, which supports you to foster deep and meaningful relationships with your students as you hold a safe and empowering space for them to become more of who they truly are. With the perspective that grief is a powerful catalyst for personal growth and change, this training will offer you the opportunity to dig deep within yourself, heal your wounds and gain greater insight into your personal experience of loss as you learn new tools and skills for supporting others.
Through this process, you will receive a greater understanding of your personal relationship to grief so that you can authentically integrate your experience into your teaching and your life and have a method for supporting others to do the same!
This training is currently offered VIRTUALLY via Zoom.
Prerequisites: Certification from a 200+ yoga teacher training program. A minimum of 25 hours of personal growth work, which can include workshops, private therapy sessions, retreats, or professional training.
Investment: $3,499
Payment plans + scholarship are available upon request.
** To graduate from this program and receive certification, out of classroom reading / writing assignments, reflection papers, daily meditation / yoga practices, journaling, peer mentorship and a six week practicum are required in order to receive a certificate. Certification is for the facilitation of Community Circles, Mindful Grieving 6 Week Programs, Mindful Grieving 6 Month Programs, and Mindful Grieving 9 Month Programs.
CSG is a community of changemakers, which creates a ripple of love and support across the globe.
We are inspired to spread our Mindful Grieving curriculum and teaching practices throughout the world because of the profound impact our yoga therapy programs have had on people over the past 10 years! This work is changing lives and offering safe, accepting spaces for people from diverse backgrounds through all kinds of grief and loss to show up as they are. We teach participants that it is ok and even welcome to show up messy! We support our teachers to do their own deep inner work so that they become intimate with their own personal history of trauma to know their triggers and work them out so that they can hold the space for grievers at all stages of loss to be held and supported through the hardest moments of their lives. CSG’s curriculum offers a structured, proven pathway to helping people to not only get through their loss but to heal, grow and come to know the great source of love that is inherent in loss.
With over 50 certified Mindful Grieving facilitators, the CSG teacher community is rapidly expanding. Over the past 3 years, we have certified facilitators in countless states throughout the US and in several countries throughout the world! Our global community of teachers offers a rich, diverse learning community in which we can explore our cultural backgrounds and beliefs on living and dying and create a healthier, communal, and inclusive relationship to grief and loss.
CSG holds a vision to support local communities to global communities with our community-based, somatic approach to grieving, and each of you is a part of this vision! As we are growing our Mindful Grieving Facilitator community, we are creating more inroads to bring support into communities that would otherwise be without the resources to have access to these programs. The reasons for becoming a certified facilitator range greatly depending on your background, personal experience of loss, and desire to help others, which is why our program offers a framework that honors your unique gifts and expertise that is adaptable for how you want to serve.
Please feel free to reach out to schedule a zoom to learn more about this training. We are here to connect!
How our Mindful Grieving Facilitators are Serving their Communities
“Support my grieving process so I can support others”
“Serve my Hispanic community”
“Create a space for BIPOC communities to grieve”
CSG's proprietary curriculum is rooted in personal stories of loss, over 10 years of experience in grief mentorship and facilitation, over a hundred circles led, thousands of lives touched and we are just getting started! If you feel called to join this movement of change, to be part of the solution to taking grief out of isolation and into the community, then we welcome you with open arms to join us!
Schedule and Curriculum
Virtual classes will be held via Zoom: Fridays from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM MST, Saturdays & Sundays from 10 AM – 6 PM MST
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, 2023
Module One
Introduction to CSG’s Yoga Therapy Program:
Focus on Personal Process &
Mindfulness-based Grief Education
Philosophy & Guiding Principles of Community-Based Somatic Grief Work
Evolutionary Themes of Mindful Grieving
Format of CSG’s Signature Yoga Therapy Programs
Introduction to Group Facilitation - Group Dynamics & Sharing Guidelines for Yoga Therapy Programs
Body Scan Technique
Introduction to Shadow Work
Shifting the Culture of Grief
Dying: A Conscious Exploration with Willow Meili
December 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2023
Module Two
Break down of Primary Skills:
Focus on Guiding Key Components &
Exploration of Grief Through Shadow Work
Grief as a Teacher & Exploration of the Four Bodies How to Facilitate Key Components of CSG’s Signature Yoga Therapy Programs including:
Dharma Talk
Centering Meditation
Group Facilitation
4 Phase Asana
Integration Meditation
Advanced Group Facilitation & Guidelines
Learning your Triggers Embodying your Emotions Through Asana
Creating a Bridge Between your Practice and your Life
Module Three
January 6th, 7th, 2024
Grief in the Body: Focus on Asana & Dual Process Language from the CSG Perspective
Evolution of Identity Through Loss + Grief as a Catalyst for Change
How to Guide Dual Process Language
Creating Closure
Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Trauma in the Body + Physiology of Trauma
with Dr. Arielle Schwartz
Module Four
February 3rd, 4th, 2024
Working with Teens + Specialty Populations + Practice Teaching Sessions & Feedback
Working with Specialty Populations
Mindful Connections Yoga Therapy Program for Teens with Nancy Gruskay
Personal Strengths & Learning Edges
Practicum Preparation & Teaching
Practice Teaching Session & Feedback
Module Five
March 9th, 10th, 2024
Business of Mindful Grieving + Seva, Inclusiveness & Social Equity + Practice Sessions & Feedback
Practicum Teaching
Marketing & Business Practices with Sarah Brown
Facilitating Community Circles
Module Six
April 13th, 2024
Graduation Ceremony &
Closing Circle
Q&A
Community Gathering
Graduation Ritual & Closing Circle
FACULTY
Wendy Stern
Lead Faculty
Nancy Gruskay
Cohort Lead
Laura Cummings
Cohort Lead
Sarah Brown
Training Assistant + Guest Faculty
Willow Meili
Guest Faculty
Dr. Arielle Schwartz
Guest Faculty