In Person in Nashville
Join the January–November 2027 cohort for hands-on learning at Cosmic Connections in Nashville, Tennessee, along with scheduled Zoom instruction and independent coursework.
200-Hour Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training
Gentle, inclusive yoga and sacred movement for every body. Become a compassionate, confident yoga teacher—or deepen your personal and spiritual practice—in a school where your age, size, mobility, and lived experience are welcomed.
January 2027: In Person or Hybrid
After January: Self-Paced
Teaching & Personal Practice Paths
Payment Plans Available
Start with the January–November 2027 cohort in person in Nashville or through the hybrid option. Joining after January? Study through the self-paced online classroom, while completing the requirements for your chosen pathway.
Your Training, Your Path, Your Pace
You do not have to put your life on hold to study yoga. Choose the learning format that supports your schedule and circumstances while still honoring the depth and responsibility of the practice.
Hybrid Learning
Follow the 2027 cohort through online course materials and Zoom learning when attending in person is not possible. Scheduled Zoom gatherings are available, and recordings are placed in the online classroom.
Self-Paced Online
Beginning after January, work through the lessons, recorded materials, reading, reflection, and assignments at your own pace. Teaching-path students also complete the applicable practice-teaching and evaluation requirements.
Important: Self-paced refers to how you move through the course materials. Students pursuing the teaching certificate must still fulfill all required training, practice, and assessment standards. Bertena can help you understand which pathway and format fit your goals.
Two Meaningful Pathways Through Yoga
Whether you wish to share yoga professionally or study it for your own growth, you are welcome. You may also begin with questions and explore your direction during a consultation.
The Yoga Teacher Path
For students who want to plan and guide safe, accessible, welcoming yoga classes. Explore class design, teaching skills, anatomy, ethical practice, compassionate communication, and ways to adapt yoga to different bodies and abilities.
Goal: Complete the academic, practice, teaching, and other required components for the 200-hour teacher training certificate.
The Personal & Spiritual Path
For students who want the wisdom and transformational experience of yoga teacher training without the intention of teaching professionally. Deepen your practice through yoga philosophy, meditation, breathwork, self-study, spiritual inquiry, and embodied awareness.
Goal: Cultivate a sustainable personal practice and a deeper connection to yourself.
This Training May Be for You If…
You do not need to be young, thin, flexible, athletic, or experienced in advanced poses. Willingness to learn, practice, reflect, and grow is what matters.
- You have dreamed of teaching yoga but wondered whether you were “enough.”
- You want to make yoga more inclusive for different ages, bodies, and abilities.
- You feel drawn to gentle, chair, restorative, Yin, or somatic yoga.
- You want to deepen your own practice, with or without teaching.
- You want to understand yoga beyond physical postures.
- You appreciate consent-centered, trauma-aware language and the freedom to rest.
- You are navigating a different level of energy or mobility and want respectful options.
- You value yoga as a path of awareness, mindfulness, and spiritual growth.
My belief is simple: Yoga belongs to every body. You do not have to change your body to be worthy of learning, practicing, or sharing yoga. — Bertena
A Complete, Inclusive 200-Hour Curriculum
Our approach blends foundational study with accessible movement, self-reflection, spiritual exploration, and practical teaching skills. The emphasis is not on the “perfect pose,” but on learning to meet people where they are.
- Yoga history, philosophy, ethics, and the Eight Limbs of Yoga
- The Yamas and Niyamas and living yoga off the mat
- Functional anatomy, physiology, and safer movement
- Teaching methodology, sequencing, and class planning
- Inclusive instruction and accessible teaching choices
- Trauma-aware and consent-centered communication
- Pranayama, breath awareness, and meditation
- Mindfulness, Yoga Nidra, and inner practice
- Gentle Hatha yoga and therapeutic adaptations
- Chair, wall-supported, and bed-accessible yoga
- Yin, restorative, and somatic yoga approaches
- Aqua yoga foundations
- Props, modifications, and movement variations
- Professional ethics, boundaries, and scope of practice
- Creating sacred, supportive, and welcoming spaces
- Divine Feminine spirituality and subtle-body traditions
- Observation, practice teaching, reflection, and feedback
- Developing your own authentic voice and confidence
How the Training Works
- 1
Learn
Study the complete curriculum through teaching materials, course manuals, readings, videos, and class resources.
- 2
Practice
Explore guided movement, breathwork, meditation, mindful reflection, and inclusive variations suited to your own body.
- 3
Integrate
Complete assignments, observation and reflection, and—for teacher-path students—practice teaching and evaluation.
What You Receive
- Rose Temple Yoga School training manuals and course resources
- Guided yoga, meditation, and somatic practices
- Accessible pose options, planning worksheets, and templates
- Recorded lessons and online course materials
- Opportunities for feedback, observation, and reflection
- Graduation recognition after successful completion of applicable requirements
Accreditation & Completion
The Rose Temple Yoga School training page lists accreditation through the American Yoga Council and Yoga Alliance.
Students on the teaching pathway who complete all required academic, attendance, practice, and teaching components receive a 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate. Requirements are explained as part of enrollment.
Students choosing the personal and spiritual pathway study for personal growth rather than a professional teaching credential.
Hear the Heart Behind This Training
Discover why inclusive yoga matters to me, and why I created the kind of yoga teacher training that I wish had been available when I first began my journey.
Watch Bertena share yoga reflections and explore more teachings on the Spiritual Sanctuary YouTube channel.
Watch Bertena on YouTubeTuition & Payment Options
Early Enrollment Tuition
$2,500
Reserve your place before the early enrollment period ends.
Standard Tuition
$3,000
Tuition for enrollments after the early enrollment deadline.
Payment plans are available. A $250 nonrefundable deposit reserves your place and is applied toward tuition. Contact Bertena to discuss your training format and payment options.
Books, personal yoga props, supplies, travel, lodging, and other individual expenses are not included. A required materials list will be shared before training.
Yoga Teacher Training FAQs
Do I need to be flexible or experienced?
No. Advanced yoga experience and flexibility are not prerequisites. You will learn to honor your own body and explore accessible options.
Do I have to want to become a yoga teacher?
No. Choose the personal and spiritual pathway if you want to deepen your practice without becoming a professional instructor.
Can I start in January through Zoom?
Yes. The January–November 2027 cohort offers an in-person option in Nashville and a hybrid option with online materials and Zoom learning. Recordings are made available in the classroom.
What if I enroll after January 2027?
You can use the self-paced classroom to work through coursework and recorded materials on your own schedule. If you choose the teaching pathway, all applicable practice, assessment, and completion requirements still apply.
Is the training only for women?
The learning environment is designed with particular care for women, including women over 40 and those who have felt excluded from conventional yoga settings. Anyone interested is welcome to inquire about whether the program is a good fit.
Are books and yoga props included?
No. Required books, personal props and supplies, travel, and lodging are separate from tuition. You will receive a materials list.
What if I cannot finish with my original cohort?
Tuition and deposits are nonrefundable after training begins. If a significant circumstance prevents you from completing your training, you may request to join a future cohort, subject to school policies and availability.
You Are Not Too Old, Too Inflexible, or Too Late
There is room in yoga for your body, your experience, your wisdom, and your voice. Whether you feel called to teach or want to discover more about yourself through yoga, I would love to help you explore the path that feels right for you.
Questions? Email [email protected] or call 859-437-0082.
Rose Temple Yoga School: My Story and Why Inclusive Yoga Matters
Because yoga is meant for every body. I created this school so that students can discover yoga without feeling they must change their bodies, meet impossible expectations, or prove that they belong.
I Did Not Begin Yoga as a Young, Flexible, Confident Person
I discovered yoga in my forties, while I was living with multiple health challenges. I felt self-conscious and unsure whether my body belonged in a yoga studio. I saw poses I could not do, compared myself with other students, and sometimes felt ashamed of my limitations.
But I kept coming back. Through gentle movement, chair yoga, yin, meditation, and spiritual study, I began to find something much more valuable than flexibility: the ability to breathe, settle, listen to my body, and reconnect with myself. I learned that yoga was not about copying a perfect pose. It was about being present in the body I have.
When One Door Closed, Another Opened
After four years of practicing at a yoga studio, I found the courage to apply for its teacher-training program. I understood that I could not perform every posture, but I loved yoga's spiritual teachings and wanted to share practices that were gentle, inclusive, and meaningful to me.
I was denied admission. I was told I was too sick to be a yoga teacher. I went home and cried. For a few painful hours, I wondered whether teacher training really was reserved for people who were younger, stronger, healthier, or more flexible.
Then I started searching for another opportunity. That search led me to White Crow Yoga in Nashville and its owner, Mary Irby. Mary introduced me to Thirumoolar's Ashtanga Therapeutic Yoga, a lineage in which yoga is adapted to the person, rather than forcing the person to fit the posture. It embraces breath, meditation, self-understanding, compassionate teaching, and the physical and spiritual dimensions of yoga.
I enrolled in an intensive in-person training. I was a college instructor working nine-hour days and, during the training period, making the two-hour drive to Nashville and two-hour drive home. I used my summer break to take on one of the most challenging educational experiences of my life. I cried often that summer. It challenged me physically, emotionally, spiritually, and academically—but it was also profoundly meaningful.
I began with the fear that I would never be a "real" teacher because I could not do headstands or move like the younger people around me. I finished with a different understanding: the world does not need every yoga teacher to look, move, or teach alike.
What I learned: Students need teachers who know what it feels like to enter a studio with uncertainty. They need teachers who can offer a chair, wall, bed, prop, pause, or another way to practice. They need someone willing to tell them, "You belong here." That belief became the beginning of Rose Temple Yoga School.
Why Rose Temple Yoga School Is Different
Rose Temple Yoga School was created especially for people who have not always seen themselves reflected in traditional yoga classes or teacher training. We welcome older adults, beginners, people in larger bodies, people with disabilities or limited mobility, and those living with chronic health concerns. You do not need to be thin, young, strong, flexible, or experienced in advanced postures to begin.
Here you are encouraged to understand your own body and its changing needs, appreciate your strengths, recognize what support works for you, and create a practice that meets you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The school is guided by presence, compassion, accessibility, wisdom, and inclusion—not perfection or performance.
We teach yoga as a complete practice. Gentle Hatha, chair and bed-accessible movement, restorative yoga, yin, somatic awareness, Yoga Nidra, meditation, breathwork, anatomy, philosophy, ethical living, and spiritual reflection all have a place here. Our focus includes yoga's Eight Limbs and the deeper personal journey that unfolds through practice.
A School That Honors the Whole Person
We explore yoga as movement, breath, self-awareness, meditation, spiritual inquiry, and compassionate connection. Rest and modifications are part of learning, not something to apologize for.
A School Where You Have a Voice
Questions are welcome. So are different needs, life experiences, physical abilities, and ways of learning. We aim for a supportive setting where you can build confidence without having to compare yourself with others.
You Do Not Have to Become a Yoga Teacher
Some students hope to lead classes, teach in their communities, or make yoga more available to others. Some simply want to study yoga more deeply and develop a personal spiritual practice. Both intentions are welcome.
Yoga Teacher Training Path
This path develops knowledge and practical skills to plan and guide supportive classes for diverse people. The studies include philosophy, professional ethics, functional anatomy, inclusive posture variations, breathwork, class planning, teaching methods, communication, and practice teaching. The goal is to become a prepared, thoughtful, compassionate teacher—not the most advanced person in the room.
Spiritual Yoga Studies Path
This path is for those who want the knowledge and transformation of studying yoga without the intention of teaching professionally. Explore yoga philosophy, meditation, pranayama, personal practice, self-study, sacred movement, subtle energy, and spiritual connection. The physical postures are one part of a larger tradition that also includes concentration, devotion, ethical living, and reflection.
If you are unsure where you belong, there is no need to decide everything before you begin. We can talk together about your intentions and the possibilities.
Rose Temple Yoga School Photos and Accreditation
These are the original photographs, school graphics, and recognition images from the Rose Temple Yoga School page. They are included here so your combined page reflects the school as visitors have seen it on your website.
Accreditation and registration requirements are governed by their respective organizations. For the latest training and credential details, please contact Bertena or consult the official program information.
You Are Not Too Old, Too Sick, Too Inflexible, or Too Different
I know what it feels like to believe that your body has disqualified you from something you long to do. I also know how much difference one welcoming teacher can make. I created Rose Temple Yoga School to offer the kind of training I needed when I began: a place where rest is respected, modifications are normal, curiosity is encouraged, and spiritual depth matters just as much as physical movement.
Whether you hope to teach or simply want to build a deeper relationship with yoga, you are welcome. You do not have to do a headstand to be a real yogi. You do not have to master complicated postures to offer meaningful guidance. You do not have to wait for your body to change.
Your experience matters. Your wisdom matters. Your presence matters. There is a place for you at Rose Temple Yoga School.
Yoga and Meditation That Meet You Where You Are
You do not have to be flexible, experienced, or able to move a certain way to belong here. Whether you are looking for gentle movement, quiet rest, personal attention, or a supportive group, we can explore a practice that feels right for you.
From chair yoga and somatic movement to restorative yoga and guided meditation, my sessions are offered with curiosity, compassion, and choices rather than pressure or comparison.
Find the Private Practice That Feels Right for You
Are you longing for more movement, deeper rest, or simply a peaceful moment to breathe? Each private experience offers personal attention, gentle choices, and space to honor your own comfort level.
Private Somatic Yoga
Reconnect with your body without pushing it. Explore small, mindful movements, body awareness, and moments of stillness as you notice what feels supportive.
Book This SessionPrivate Restorative Yoga
Give yourself permission to rest. Settle into comfortable, supported positions with unhurried guidance and space to unwind.
Book This SessionPrivate Yoga Nidra
Experience deep rest without having to move through yoga poses. This mostly still, guided practice invites relaxation and body awareness.
Book This SessionDistant Guided Meditation
Enjoy a peaceful pause wherever you are. Explore breathing, guided imagery, meditation, and reflection, with no prior experience needed.
Book This SessionPrivate Chair Yoga
Practice gentle stretches, mindful movement, and breathing from a chair, with variations for your own range of motion and no need to get on the floor.
Book This SessionPrivate Gentle Yoga
Move at your own pace with a personalized combination of gentle postures, breath awareness, and rest. An inviting option when typical classes feel too fast.
Book This SessionNew to yoga? You are welcome here. No special flexibility or previous experience is needed. Please share accessibility needs or movement preferences when booking so we can discuss comfortable options.
Prefer to Practice With a Group?
Sometimes a welcoming group and a regular rhythm can help a practice become part of everyday life. Explore these online gatherings and choose the one that calls to you.
Inclusive Yoga for Healing & Spiritual Growth
Tuesdays • 7 PM Central • Zoom • $10
Gentle, adaptable movement for people who want yoga to be more accessible and less intimidating.
View RegistrationMeditation to Meet the Divine Feminine
First Thursday • 7 PM Central • Zoom • Free
Slow down, reflect, and explore Divine Feminine wisdom through supportive guided meditation.
View RegistrationDevelop Your Intuition With the Divine Feminine
Third Thursday • 7 PM Central • Zoom • $25
Build intuitive awareness through thoughtful exercises, gentle exploration, and supportive discussion.
View RegistrationCurrent class availability and registration are shown on the linked events page.
Come As You Are. Begin Where You Are.
Whether you want to feel more at home in your body, find moments of quiet, or deepen your spiritual connection, there is a place to begin. I would be glad to share that space with you.