Rather than paving a clear path for others, teaching yoga is more like helping a tree grow deep roots—so that it can later thrive and flourish on its own.

In 2025 Doug Keller will be offering a 200 hour training for Space Academy that is unlike any other.

Drawing upon his 20+ years of teaching hatha yoga professionally, and nearly 40 years of practicing yoga - including 14 years in an ashram in India and America - and study of philosophy which includes a Master’s Degree in philosophy, Doug will be offering a training that touches upon all aspects of yoga, yoga practice, and the experience of yoga.

The main emphasis will be upon the skills and knowledge to be an effective teacher. This is not a beginner’s training, but instead will be most beneficial to people who have been teaching for a while. And it will certainly be a very rich experience for people with a deep interest in and enthusiasm for yoga who don’t intend to teach!

Asana

Main topics for excelling in asana practice and teaching:

• Asana: a wide range of asanas — their forms, function, and connection will be taught
• Principles for effective teaching and sequencing of asanas, which are based on the myofascial anatomy of the body that is the basis of healthy movement.
• Joints: pain problems in our joints are a main reason why people come to yoga, and the main area of injury suffered by people doing yoga too forcefully. We’ll study the joints and their central role in asana practice, and how to teach safely to improve the health of our joints.

Wellness: the Therapeutic Wisdom of Yoga

• ● Therapeutic assessment: how to assess posture and movement, recognizing patterns of movement even in group classes that are the causes of limitations and pain problems, and principles for adjusting, recommending alternatives and variations, and how to assess and work with students individually who are dealing with pain problems.
• ● Therapeutic Sequencing: how to sequence a class to focus on specific areas of the body to increase wellness and function, while still maintaining a well-rounded class. This includes how to develop themes for practices based on therapeutic understanding combined with principles of asana and sequencing.
• ● Scoliosis and other common structural problems: principles for working clearly and effectively with structural and movement limitations, with special emphasis on scoliosis.

Breath

Breath is key to yoga — in asana as well as pranayama and meditation practice, as well as for dealing with chronic pain and stress. Main topics include:

• ● Breath and the Nervous System: all aspects of our health and function are guided by our nervous system, which yogis described in terms of ‘Prana’ and the ‘Vayus.’ Modern health problems, especially chronic health problems, are intimately tied to the nervous system. We will study these aspects of the nervous system, both in contemporary and ‘yogic’ language, and the connection between breath/pranayama practices, and the healthy functioning of the nervous system.
• ● The practices of pranayama and refinements in practice: the power of pranayama does not lie in perfecting techniques of practice, but instead in deepening our experience of the breath and its influence over our inner states. We will learn the practices in terms of their traditional purpose and description, as well as modern innovations and their purposes.
• ● The physical anatomy of breath: modern yoga has added an awareness of the physical anatomy of how we breathe, and how we can breathe more efficiently through practice for greater health. Knowing the anatomy is key to teaching effectively.
• ● The Breath and the ‘Subtle Body:’ traditional yogis emphasized the subtle pathways of the Prana called ‘nadis.’ Their approach to the breath was experiential rather than anatomical, and ideas such as the chakras were key to deepening that experience, to make it powerful and transformational We will learn and practice from that perspective.
• ● Mantra: mantra is the power of the breath in the form of sound, transforming body, heart, and mind, as well as being the key to the deeper practices of yoga. We will explore mantra in connection with the breath and meditation, grounding our understanding in yogic philosophy as well as modern understanding.

Philosophy

Yoga philosophy has always evolved to meet the needs and concerns of the time. Our study of yoga philosophy — as connected with the goals of the practices — will both foster understanding of how the ideas developed originally, and how we can incorporate and understand them in a way that makes them relevant to the lives we live now.

The study includes:

• ● The meaning of ‘yoga’ and how it has evolved and changed to become more and more inclusive of a greater range of practices, personal, and collective concerns.
• ● Ethics in yoga as principles for personal wellness and empowerment. Yogic texts brought up moral concerns that need to be contemplated for our own well-being, and should inspire contemplation of our needs and concerns in today’s world.
• ● Ideas of spirituality and spiritual growth: yoga philosophy contains many perspectives on what the spiritual life is. Contemplation of these different perspectives, and understanding the historical and cultural contexts in which they arose, helps us to come to our own understanding of spirituality in today’s world.
• ● Connection to practice: we truly appreciate and experience the power behind our practices when we understand the deeper purpose that shapes them, in ways that are both very practical and very profound. This includes ideas such as the chakras, which are for the sake of guiding practice. We will make direct connections between philosophy and experiential practice.
  
  

Meditation and Yoga Nidra

There are many possibilities for meditation and many paths to Yoga Nidra as a deep, nourishing form of meditation. While our discussion of philosophy provides the context for understanding these practices, we will also explore experientially these different paths of practice, and how to guide students along these paths.

Suitable for

This teacher training is designed for students who already have some experience in yoga studies. It is perfferable to have at least 1 year regular practice of yoga. It’s also for seasoned and experienced teachers or practitioners who want to take their personal practice to a new level or deepen their understanding of yoga, regardless of affiliation.

Certification  

Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Teacher Training Certification

(This training is consisting of 188.5 contact hours, and 8 non-contact hours.)

Dates (33 days)

● Part 1: 2025/11/15-11/30    (11/21 off)

● Part 2: 2026/4/3-4/17       (4/10 off)

● Online session: 2025/12/30 (Tue.)、2026/1/21 (Wed.)、2026/2/11 (Wed.)、2026/3/4 (Wed.)

Daily Schedule

● 08:00 - 09:30  Asana & Mediattion

● 10:00 - 12:00     Morning session

● 12:00 -13:30     Lunch break

● 13:30 -16:30     Afternoon session

● Online session 19:00-21:00

* Any changes will be notified well in advance.