2023 WildYoga Training Weekends
Explore Our Individual WildYoga Training Weekends
How It Works
Choose a weekend you want to attend by exploring the dates below
Learn more + register for your in-person training weekend via the individual program pages
Get ready to deepen your practice & become an even better yoga teacher this year!
All weekends will be held at either The Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort or a Yosemite National Park Campground. You will have access to online learning platform for the whole year, which is the container for all the training curriculum and resources.
February 3-5
Embarking on the Journey
Yoga & The Five Elements
March 3-5
Earth Element
Setting the Foundations of Our Practice
March 31- April 2
Water Element
Breathing into the Flow
May 5-7
Fire Element
Igniting the Core
June 2-4
Air Element
Opening the Heart
July 7-9
Space Element
Stepping into Sacred Sound
August 4-6
Adjusting, Assisting & Practice Teaching
Integrating the Journey
WildYoga Teacher Training Will Offer You:
BALANCING PRACTICES
Yoga Asana
Pranayama
Meditation
Mantra
Reflective Journaling
Routine & Lifestyle Change
ALIGNMENT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD
Ayurveda
5-Elements Philosophy
Seasonal Awareness
Outdoor Exploration
How Practices Correspond to Nature
Spiritual Ecology
INTEGRATION
Sequencing a Class
Teaching Thematically
Alignment & Adjustments
Inclusion & Accessibility
Communication
Ethics
COMMUNITY
Small Cohort of Students
One on One Support
Accessible Down-to-Earth Instructors
Inclusive Space to Share Authentically
Clarifying Your Values
Make Life-Long Connections
What People Are Saying About Our WildYoga Teacher Training Program…
“Balanced Rock's WildYoga teacher training program exceeded my expectations. I started their immersion program unsure of whether or not I wanted to teach, but with the hope of deepening my own personal practice. The instructors Dennis, Paula, Heather, Jana, and Eliza, were extremely knowledgeable about anatomy, safe practice, special considerations, and Ayurveda. They each brought their own special gifts which were extremely diverse - both in yoga style and knowledge base. Now I have my certification, a desire to share the knowledge they've given to me, and a community of friends who believe passionately in the interconnectedness of all beings and our bond with the Earth and environment.”
— Sirin Petch
“I chose the Balanced Rock WildYoga program because of their integration of the natural world into their teaching and practice, as well as their skilled instructors from various backgrounds. I also enjoyed that Balanced Rock pushed me to discover what MY own personal Yoga was. Balanced Rock focuses on teachings from several different styles, synthesizing their own unique blend of "Wild" Yoga--yoga that can be defined by the practitioner and calls upon the energy of the natural world for support, inspiration, and connection. Balanced Rock also brings in a healthy background of traditional outdoor education techniques that help the learners to learn from experience. I would recommend this program to anyone, from the beginning yogi to the more practiced, as their use of the outdoor classroom will add challenge and perspective to any level of practitioner.”
— Mindy Wiper
“As a recent graduate, I highly recommend Balanced Rock's WildYoga Teacher Training, to anyone that is looking to deepen their yoga practice or looking to begin their teaching journey. I had a deeply connected experience to the yoga philosophy and wonderful people that joined me on this online journey. Paula has a beautifully authentic and inclusive style of teaching. It is a refreshing shift from “right-wrong” yoga that can be found in many other schools of yoga. The expert guest teachers that helped to weave the 5-elements into our practice brought their own rich experiences from decades of practice. This is truly one of the best gifts you could ever give yourself.”
— Netty Degarlais
Our Instructor Team
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Paula Wild
PROGRAM DIRECTOR & LEAD TRAINER
Paula’s teaching blends alignment based, heart-centered, therapeutic yoga with her love and knowledge of ecology and natural history. Since 1999 Paula has been exploring the overlap between yoga and sustainable living, and her greatest intention is to support people in connecting to the wild world within, and around us.
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Heather Sullivan
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEAD TRAINER
Yosemite’s steep granite walls, seasonal changing river song and community of animals and humans have shaped Heather’s being, world-view, and are fundamental blocks of her yoga and teaching practice. Her adventurous spirit and classes inspire inward and outward exploration. She’s Co-Founder, Executive Director, and Lead Wilderness Guide for Balanced Rock.
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Dennis Eagan
FOUNDER OF WILDYOGA & LEAD TRAINER
Dennis began practicing yoga in 1989 and has been teaching since 1998. As founder of Wild Yoga, he weaves nearly four decades of wilderness guiding and study into teacher training courses, workshops, and wilderness yoga retreats throughout the west from Baja to Alaska.
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Eliza Kerr
INSTRUCTOR & CLINICAL AYURVEDIC SPECIALIST
Eliza is passionate about supporting people on their journey towards well-being by sharing the tools of yoga and Ayurveda in the natural world. Co-founder of Balanced Rock, Eliza has been teaching yoga in Yosemite, and practicing as a certified Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist (CAS) for over 20 years. She has studied a variety of styles including Iyengar, Bikram, and Ashtanga. She currently specializes in treating chronic pain.
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Jana Kilgore
LEAD TRAINER
Jana’s passion for holistic medicine and respect for Nature inform all areas of her life. She has been teaching Yoga since 2000 and integrates her study in Iyengar, Ashtanga and Restorative Yoga. A long time Chef, Jana is also a Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Ayurveda Practitioner, Bodyworker and Reiki Master.
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Dr Breezy Jackson
LEAD TRAINER
Breezy’s teaching style is vigorous and playful while drawing on a foundation of proprioception and breath awareness. She enjoys spontaneous self-discovery and contemplation enhanced by wilderness travel and simplified living in a stunning landscape. In addition to studying myriad yoga forms since 2000, Breezy holds a PhD in Ecology.
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Jiling Lin
INSTRUCTOR
Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher in Ventura, CA. She helps athletes, artists and adventurers thrive with gentle yet powerful acupuncture & herbal treatments– and innovative classes & retreats. Jiling has taught a dynamic Hatha and Vinyasa based yoga asana flow since 2012. Her integrative medical practice, holistic teachings, and Earth-centered writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world.
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Nat Kendall
INSTRUCTOR
San Francisco based yoga teacher, world music recording artist and devoted student of yoga, Nat Kendall shares his wisdom of the teachings in a heartfelt and grounded way that will easily awaken beginners and re-inspire long time practitioners. Instantly accessible and relevant to our modern times, the grace of Nat’s teachings pour through in tangible practices, tools, techniques and insights that are sure to enlighten your spiritual path and yogic journey.
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Meaghan Olsen
REMOTE OPERATIONS MANAGER
Originally coming to Yosemite from the Midwest in 2019, Meg fell in love with the Sierras and the magic of the surrounding landscape. A lover of the outdoors, athletic pursuits, and the arts — her passions range from hiking/backpacking, rock climbing, dance, and Brazilian jiu jitsu to appreciating natural beauty through drawing, painting, and photography. Meg is also a 200-HR RYT & YACEP through Yoga Alliance, and enjoys teaching yoga in San Diego and Yosemite — splitting her time between her Ocean Beach community and her beloved Sierra Nevada mountains!
