

Śakti sādhanā
200-hour Tantric Yoga Immersion & Teacher Training
June 2023 - April 2024
Immerse yourself in the world of Traditional Tantric Hatha Yoga and follow the path of the Masters of the Himalayan Tradition.
Set out on the journey which will eventually yield
life's greatest reward...
a remembrance of who you truly are.
INTENTION
Our intention is to share the teachings and practices of the
Śakta Tradition of Tantric Yoga in a way which
touches your heart and transforms your life.
Tantra, Yoga and Sankhya philosophy are the sources of wisdom and techniques at the heart of Śakti sādhanā. They are as practical as they are profound. The general intent is to ensure that you are forever connected to the inherent sacredness of life and to elevate your relationship to your life and your Self. 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 Tantra - perhaps the most life-affirming and all-inclusive spiritual system ever developed, and the light of a living tradition.
Śakti sādhanā is a deep exploration of your Self through the lens of the ancient wisdom bodies of Yoga, Tantra and Sankhya. This 10-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.
Rooted in the Śakta Tradition, as passed down by the Himalayan Masters, Śakti sādhanā draws from ancient wisdom to create a holistic approach to modern practice and life. It is designed as both a means for developing your personal practice and as a training to foster ethical, empowered, impactful yoga teachers.
WHAT MAKES Śakti sādhanā UNIQUE?
Every module of Śakti sādhanā 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, the techniques and the Tradition.
The Training
MODULE ONE : WHAT IS YOGA?
Let's explore the historical context of yoga through the Vedas and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. What is yoga, precisely? How does it look in theory and in practice? How can we embrace it as a lifestyle, rather than merely exercise on a mat? In this module you will also be introduce to the Himalayan Tradition and what it means to study under the guidance and support of a living lineage.
MODULE TWO : WISE PROGRESSION
How can we maximize the various components of a complete Tantric Yoga practice (postures, breath, relaxation, meditation + more) for the most impactful practice? In this module we will learn more about each of these various components and discover wise ways to select and sequence them in order to create a truly transformative experience for our students and ourselves.
MODULE THREE : YOUR SUBTLE BODY
We are more than flesh and bone. Tantric Yoga gives us tools for understanding, uncovering, and utilizing our subtle nature to help us maximize our practice, and our experience of being human. In this module we will explore the koshas (layers of the self), the nadis (energy channels), chakras (energy centers), our pranic field, and more. We will also play with effective ways to weave subtle body techniques into the complete practice.
MODULE FOUR : HARNESSING PRANA
What is the nature of the life force known as Prana? How do we develop sensitivity to it, Increase our access to it, and work with it to expand capacity for growth and evolution? One of my favorite modules, this is where the magic begins, taking the practice from one of a purely physical experience to one in which we can sense that we are not, and never have been, alone.
MODULE FIVE : TANTRIC MEDITATION
Meditation is the pinnacle of the complete Tantric Yoga practice. Why? How can we develop a meaningful meditation experience which nurtures and nourishes us and makes us eager to come back for more?
MODULE SIX : UNDERSTANDING ANATOMY
This module is an examination of the major bones, muscles + joints involved in the asana practice, as well as an understanding of the nervous system and how we can access it through the body, the breath, and our mind's power of concentration. We will discuss the difference between the form and the function of the various categories of yoga postures, how to optimize safety by offering modifications appropriate for a wide range of students.
MODULE SEVEN : AYURVEDA + SELF CARE
Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga. Where Yoga is primarily oriented toward spiritual endeavors, Ayurveda is oriented toward health through balance of the various bodies. In this module we will explore a selection of approaches to maintaining this balance such as diet, self-care, prescriptive approaches to asana, pranayama and meditation, and more.
MODULE EIGHT : THE BEAUTY OF TANTRA
Tantra is an ancient body of wisdom, a worldview, and a system of techniques which help us to maximize our experience of being human. Embracing the truth that all of creation is sacred, Tantra is that which moves us toward an embodied experience of this truth by helping us manage our energy, accelerating our progress, touching our hearts, and protecting us along every step of the path.
MODULE NINE : LIVING DHARMA
Dharma is one of our soul's four primary desires. It is the desire to fulfill your unique desire. In this module we will begin to discover what this purpose is, what may be standing in your way of fulfilling it, and how to overcome those obstacles. This Tantric approach to self-discovery has the potential to be truly life changing.
MODULE TEN : BHAKTI & MANTRA
As we discovered in Module One, Yoga is so much more than a physical practice. It is a spiritual path. In this module we will entertain one of the most elusive elements of Yoga, Ishvara Pranidhana - trustful surrender. We will also enjoy the bliss inducing practice of Bhakti, and the swiftest path to samadhi (enlightenment), Mantra Sadhana.

The Commitment
Śakti sādhanā meets live for one weekend each month, in addition to pre-recorded practice and lecture content and self-guided assignments you can navigate at your own pace between our formal gatherings. We begin in March and conclude the following January. Our weekends together are twelve hours : two hours Friday, five hours Saturday and five hours Sunday, leaving eight hours of content for you to progress through on your own each month.
2023 - 2024 SCHEDULE
JUNE 23rd, 24th & 25th What is Yoga?
JULY 28th, 29th & 30th Wise Progression
SEPTEMBER 1st, 2nd & 3rd Your Subtle Body
SEPTEMBER 22nd, 23rd & 24th Prana
OCTOBER 27th, 28th & 29th Meditation
NOVEMBER 24th, 25th & 26th Understanding Anatomy
JANUARY 5th, 6th & 7th Ayurveda & Self Care
FEBRUARY 2nd, 3rd & 4th The Beauty of Tantra
MARCH 1st, 2nd & 3rd Living Dharma
APRIL 5th, 6th & 7th Bhakti & Mantra
Gathering Times
FRIDAYS
9-11am Pacific / 12-2pm Eastern / 5-7pm UK / 6-8pm Europe
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS
5am-12pm Pacific / 8am-3pm Eastern /1pm-8pm in the UK / 2pm-9pm in Europe
*times will adjust with daylight savings in Europe on October 29th, 2023
Your Guides...
Natalie Backman, Chrissie Chung,
India Amara Nicholls & Léa-Claude Blache-Pichette

Yoga has given me an entirely new lease on life. I was once anxiety-riddled, validation-seeking, victim-identifying and doubtful of my worth.
I am now joyful, peaceful, mentally and emotionally stable (most days...) and grateful to be alive.
My relationship with yoga spans twenty years and I've been devoted to sharing the teachings for nine. In that time, yoga has grown from a purely physical experience to a holistic reintegration with my soul. It is my life's purpose and my spiritual path.
A 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, and teacher of teachers, I remain a lifelong student of the Himalayan Tradition. I am profoundly grateful to enjoy the guidance of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and the support of the unbroken lineage of Himalayan Masters, reaching back several thousand years.
I share a modern approach to traditional tantric yoga interweaving asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, mantra, meditation, and more. All I offer is in honor of the Divine Mother and I teach only what I have embodied through direct experience. I guide with the intention to facilitate sacred remembrance of Self.
A certified Yoga Nidra and Vishoka Meditation Teacher, I endeavor to provide a means for true and thorough transformation. It would be an honor to guide you through a journey of healing and help you lay claim to yoga's promises: ultimate freedom and lasting fulfillment. Jai Maa.

It started in India with a 200-hour training in Ashtanga Vinyasa, and I haven’t looked back since. This was just the scratch on the surface of something vast & beautiful, and I’ve continued to train and study, understanding & unpacking what Yoga truly means for me.
The last five years have seen me traveling around the world, teaching on numerous Yoga Teacher Trainings in India, in studios from UK to Bali, and retreats in South Africa & Europe.
My heart is now firmly rooted in sharing the incredible and far-reaching potential of practice, using its various tools as a means to serve the individual in finding their own unique way to live wholeheartedly, playfully & with joy.
Learn to embrace your practice as a spiritual science. Move with purpose, breathe with wisdom and start the journey of turning your attention in, returning to a state of Being that is inherently whole. Expect deep practices intertwined with philosophy, intelligent manipulation of the breath, self study, contemplation, and the greatest gift, meditation.

Apply
If you are interested in joining us for this intimate teacher training, please complete the application at your earliest convenience. And if you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out directly via NatalieBackmanYoga@gmail.com.
We look forward to learning about you and supporting you on your path! Chrissie and I will be in touch to schedule a consultation once we receive your application.
Jai Maa!
xx Natalie, Chrissie, India & Léa-Claude
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
$3,108
Payment can be made in full or in monthly installments.
For monthly installments, we require an initial deposit of $608, followed by ten monthly installments of $250 each.
Deposits are non-refundable, but are transferrable to another training within two years.
Payment Plans & Scholarships Available.
Please specify your financial support needs in the application. No scholarship request will be denied.