YSK’s Core Curriculum ensures a robust and comprehensive learning experience, raising the bar for teacher training by covering essential topics such as anatomy, biomechanics, philosophy, and sequencing.

Our Core Curriculum is a foundational component of both the 200-hour and 300-hour programs at Yoga San Kalpa. If a trainee has already completed YSK's 200-hour training, they are not required to retake the core curriculum in the 300-hour program, unless they feel it’s beneficial.

For Studio Partners, the Core Curriculum modules can be offered ad-hoc as Continuing Education for staff or enhancement to their own 200-hour program, or Studio Partners can opt to host YSK’s full 200-hour program.

Opening Weekend

YSK’s Opening Weekend module provides the essential foundation for your Yoga Teacher Training journey, offering a deep dive into the history and evolution of yoga. Trainees will explore the timeline of yoga's development, including the key teachings of Krishnamacharya, the grandfather of modern yoga, and the core sequencing elements derived from his approach.

This module also emphasizes teaching techniques that adapt yoga for all bodies with skill and sensitivity. Understanding prana—our life force energy—becomes central, as we explore the original energetic system of the 5 pranas, as detailed in the Vedas. In addition, you'll gain clarity on your personal San Kalpa (purpose), setting the stage for a transformative journey in both teaching and life. This opening module prepares you to teach with intention, confidence, and a deep connection to yoga’s profound wisdom.

Anatomy & Biomechnics

YSK’s Anatomy & Biomechanics modules are carefully designed by Lora Ksieniewicz, a Kinesiologist, ensuring that the program not only provides foundational knowledge, but also emphasizes practical application for yoga. This training has been taken by medical professionals including doctors, surgeons, and nurses, because it bridges the gap between medical anatomy and applied anatomy-in-motion. While traditional anatomy knowledge is essential, it doesn't always translate into an understanding of how the body moves in space, especially in the context of yoga asana. This program focuses on the biomechanics of safe and purposeful movement.

In Anatomy & Biomechanics 1, you’ll study the bones, muscles, fascia, and systems of the body, laying the groundwork for understanding how each part contributes to movement. You'll gain a deep understanding of how these structures interact and how to work with them effectively, whether in a healing or strengthening context.

In Anatomy & Biomechanics 2, we take this knowledge further by exploring functional movement and its application to yoga asana. Here, we focus on muscle activations, joint considerations, and sequencing for safe and effective practice. You’ll learn how to move bodies powerfully while protecting the integrity of the musculoskeletal system, understanding where to focus engagement, how to adapt poses for injury or mobility concerns, and how to create sustainable, functional movement that carries over into life off the mat.

This in-depth study equips you to teach with confidence, ensuring your students not only practice yoga safely but develop strength and alignment that supports their overall well-being.

History & Philosophy

YSK’s History and Philosophy modules offer a deep and nuanced exploration of the origins of yoga, tracing its evolution from the Vedic period to modern times. In History & Philosophy 1, we study the true origins of yoga, examining a timeline often mythologized in popular culture. This module explores the historical and socio-political forces that shaped the rise of the Vedic traditions in the Indian subcontinent. We delve into the Rg Veda and the teachings of Om and the Five Pranas, considering how these elements laid the foundation for what we recognize as modern yoga. We also explore the "renunciate revolution" that emerged in later Vedic Hinduism, which profoundly changed the tradition and led to the approaches elaborated in the Bhagavad Gita—practices still evident in contemporary yoga today.

In History & Philosophy 2, we shift to study the influence of Tantra, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and the Hatha Pradipika. We examine how colonialism impacted the development of yoga and explore the rise of Krishnamacharya, who is often regarded as the grandfather of modern yoga. His students, including Iyengar, Jois, and Desikachar, carried his teachings forward, creating the lineages we recognize today. This module also tackles modern-day conflicts in the yoga community, addressing questions of accessibility, appropriation, and appreciation.