Traditional Tantric Haṭha Yoga Teacher Trainings
Śakti sādhanā
200-hour foundational training
Next cohort begins September 2026
Embodied Śakti
300-hour Advanced training
Next cohort begins Autumn 2027
Join the Interest List
Immerse yourself in the world of Traditional Tantric Yoga and follow the path of the Masters of the Himalayan Tradition.
Set out on a journey which will eventually yield life's greatest reward—freedom, fulfillment, and remembrance of who you truly are.
INTENTION
The intention for both of these trainings is to share the philosophies and practices of the Himalayan Tradition of Tantric Yoga in a way which touches your heart, transforms your life, and empowers you to effectively carry the light of a living tradition.
Tantra, Yoga, and Sankhya philosophy are the sources of wisdom and techniques at the heart of Śakti Sādhanā and Embodied Śakti. These ancient spiritual systems are as practical as they are profound. Their collective purpose is to guide you, grant you access to the inherent sacredness of life, and elevate your relationship to your Self and reality. The combined wisdom of Tantra, Yoga, and Sankhya sheds light on everything from the most practical and worldly, to the most subtle and sublime. In order to fully understand and experience the scope and ultimate promise of Yoga, we draw from the wisdom of Sankhya and the beauty of Tantra - one of the most life affirming and all inclusive spiritual systems ever developed, and the light of a living Tradition.
Śakti sādhanā (200-hour) is a deep exploration of your Self through the lens of the ancient wisdom bodies of Yoga, Tantra, and Sankhya. This 12-month 200-hour training will introduce you to their vast and glorious world view and grant you a transformative experience through the teachings and techniques of this Tradition. It will also impart a highly effective teaching methodology which will empower you to guide truly impactful and transformative yoga experiences for your future students. Though only 200 hours, Śakti sādhanā is an indepth training and is appropriate not only for practitioners transitioning into the role of teacher for the first time, but also experienced teachers seeking a thorough introduction to this Tantric Tradition.
Embodied Śakti (300-hour) is an advanced course of study for experienced teachers and practitioners of the Tantric Tradition. We will build on your foundational understanding of Yoga and Tantra by further developing the subtly profound nuances accessible in both individual paths, and the magic that emerges as the two are woven together with finessed expertise. Embodied Śakti is best suited for teachers with at least a foundational understanding and experience of Tantric Yoga, and ideally a few years experience of teaching. This training will be heavily oriented toward practice and self reflection, improving the likelihood of genuine embodiment of the Tradition through direct experience, and increasing your capacity for transmission in your teaching.
*If you are an experienced Yoga Teacher, but new to Tantra, yet have a strong desire to study and incorporate the wisdom of this Tradition, Embodied Śakti may still be the appropriate training for you. I will be offering bridging courses prior to the start of the training, which will provide the foundational understanding necessary. If accepted into Embodied Śakti, the cost of these bridging courses will be subsumed into the tuition for the complete training.
What makes these trainings unique?
Rooted in the Tradition passed down by the Himalayan Masters, both Śakti Sādhanā and Embodied Śakti draw from ancient wisdom to create a holistic approach to modern practice and life. They are designed to both develop your personal practice and prepare you to embrace your role as an ethical, empowered, impactful teacher fully capable of carrying and passing on the light of a living Tradition.
Śakti Sādhanā introduces the philosophies of this Tradition and teaches the fundamental practices and systems for sharing the Tradition in an authentic and meaningful way.
Embodied Śakti deepens your understanding of Tantra and Yoga, and how to share them in a way which blends traditional methodology with embodied intuition. The structure of the training provides the opportunity to empower and engage with your practice to develop an authentic voice in your teaching that is uniquely your own, yet still authentically represents the Tradition. This can only be done by embodying the teachings through dedicated direct experience guided and supported by an embodied teacher.
Every module in each of the trainings is mindfully crafted for an immersive experience combined with practical, effective teaching methodology. The modules are woven together in a wise progression to deliver knowledge, appreciation, and direct experience of the teachings and techniques of the Tradition.
Your Guide
Natalie Backman
lead teacher for both trainings
Tantric Yoga has given me an entirely new lease on life.
I was once anxiety-riddled, validation-seeking, victim-identifying and doubtful of my worth. After more than a decade of highly dedicated practice and study I now experience life as beautiful and meaningful, and myself as joyful, peaceful, steady (most of the time), and grateful to be alive.
My relationship with Yoga and Tantra spans twenty plus years and I've been devoted to sharing the teachings of this Tradition for the last twelve. In that time, my experience of Yoga has evolved from physical exercise to a holistic reintegration with my soul. The teaching of Tantric Yoga is integral to my life's purpose and has become my personal spiritual path.
I am a lifelong student of the Himalayan Tradition, profoundly grateful to receive the ongoing guidance of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait along with the other senior teachers at the Himalayan Institute, and the support of the unbroken lineage of the Himalayan Masters.
I share a modern approach to Traditional Tantric Yoga interweaving āsana, prānāyāma, deep relaxation, mantra, meditation, and more. Also certified in Yoga Nidra and Vishoka Meditation®, I endeavor to provide a means for true and thorough transformation. I teach only what I have embodied through direct experience, and guide with the intention to facilitate remembrance of your most sacred Self.
All I do is an offering to the Divine Mother.
It would be an honor to guide you through this journey of healing and help you lay claim to yoga's promises: ultimate freedom and lasting fulfillment.
Jai Maa.
