embodied leadership
+ Yoga Teaching Certification

200 / 300 hour comprehensive learning Pathways
A collaboration with
Jess LeBlanc and Sydney Starko

Welcome to the University of YOU —
the education you’ve always wished for.

Yoga has a way of putting us back together.
This training elevates every domain of your life — relationships, health, self-leadership —
because it sees you as a whole human, not a collection of separate parts.

2026 APPLICATIONS OPEN

Apply now

All parts of you are welcome here.
Whoever you are and wherever you’ve come from,
we care deeply about who you are now
and who you are becoming.

This program is for:

• future yoga / Movement teachers
• clinicians + caregivers
• leaders seeking embodied tools
• humans wanting meaningful personal transformatioN

True Health Care + Leadership Starts Within

The most important skills today go beyond expertise—they’re about how we show up, lead, and connect with others. The ability to navigate difficult conversations with honesty and compassion, adapt with resilience in the face of uncertainty, and lead with authenticity and empathy will set leaders apart.

Embodied living is the foundation for cultivating these essential skills. By aligning mind, body, and spirit, we create a lasting foundation for health, well-being, and leadership. Through self-awareness, we gain the clarity needed to lead with intention, build resilience, and stay grounded in even the most challenging situations.

At the heart of true leadership is living with integrity, love, and kindness. These values create emotional resilience and deepen connections, empowering you to build authentic relationships and lead with compassion. It’s not just about individual success; it’s about cultivating communities where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow.

Our Yoga + Leadership Training is designed to help you embody these powerful qualities. Through a blend of eastern + western philosophy, science + spirit, you’ll cultivate inner strength, emotional regulation, and practical leadership tools that will empower you both personally and professionally. This training will deepen your connection to your purpose, enhance your leadership abilities, and create lasting growth.

Want to explore if this training is a fit for your goals?

GET IN TOUCH TO BOOK A CALL

We have seen first hand how learning and living yoga has to power to elevate your life. You’ll spend less time worrying + stressing and more time doing the things you love with presence and true connection.

  • Multiple brown hand-drawn circles overlapping on a light beige background.

    Our mission is to seamlessly integrate Yoga into every facet of existence, from our homes to our relationships and workplaces. This journey is designed to integrate your mind-body awareness, increase harmony and promote fluidity, connection, belonging, and genuine purpose.

  • Black and white drawing of a tree ring pattern with the initials 'M' and 'E' at the bottom right.

    You will graduate feeling confident to:
    • teach a balanced, safe class
    • support diverse bodies
    • regulate your own nervous system
    • lead groups and conversations
    • integrate yoga into daily life

  • Simple abstract illustration of overlapping brown circles on a light background.

    Our program is a life changing and transformative adventure. It is the opportunity you’ve been wanting where you can finally embrace all parts of your being are welcome and accepted. You will cultivate the resources and tools to help you thrive and live a life that is fully aligned with your deepest truth and self expression.

Through a trauma-informed lens, we start with the foundations—creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore who you are and how you connect with the world around you.

This journey is about you. It’s a deep dive into personal empowerment, the nervous system, psychology, the anatomy of the body, breathwork, meditation, and the rich history and philosophy of yoga—all approached through experiential and embodied education.

Think of it as "education of self" and a practice in becoming more of who you truly are. This training isn’t just about learning—it’s about feeling alive. It’s the kind of glimmer (the opposite of a trigger!) that brings you back to joy, safety, and alignment.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, here it is.
Trust yourself.
Take the leap and step into this exciting new chapter of growth + self-discovery.

start living your yoga

our teachings

List of curriculum and experience track details, with curriculum on the left and experience on the right, including items like online community learning, coastal immersion, anatomy, yoga, meditation, group conversation, and ongoing mentorship.

We fill you up to the brim in the best of ways with fascinating knowledge and content through detailed videos, readings, workbooks, handouts, resources and lectures.

  • Black and white illustration of a mushroom cap viewed from above, showing gills radiating from the central stem with dotted details in the center.

    ASANA

    Learn and understand Yoga posture foundations and alignment principles to keep yourself and others safe + embodied

  • A circle with a black outer ring and a central pattern of small white dots arranged in a spiral on a light background.

    methodology

    Intelligent wholistic sequencing and effective cueing, demonstration, observation, assisting and feedback. A wide variety of breath, meditation and yogic styles.

  • Close-up of a black triangle shape on a light background.

    Leadership

    Personal growth + development tools to help you in all areas of your life and teaching - communication, vision and goals, boundaries, clear limiting beliefs and unprocessed trauma + much more.

  • A black circle with numerous small, irregular white dots scattered throughout, creating a pattern.

    anatomy

    FINALLY learn about your whole body in a way that makes sense and can be applied in real situations. Gain a deeper understanding of the human body / internal landscape + our favourite friend the Nervous System

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    HISTORY

    Explore a smorgasbord of ancient yogic traditions, timelines of challenges and changes and modern day approaches

  • Line drawing of concentric irregular circles on a white background.

    PHILOSOPHY

    Profound teachings of Yoga and sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, we share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire.

schedule + flow

module 1

ONLINE MODULE: 50 HOURS
Feb 3 - March 4, 2026

• 30 hours Anatomy - prerecorded work at your own pace video collection + live review / Q+A session

• 1.5 hour weekly x 5  - Yoga Class + weekly check in / community reflection

• 1.5 hour x 5 - Pranayama + Various Meditation styles  - Tuesdays 7:30 - 9pm Mountain Time

• 1.5 hour weekly x 5  - Group discussion / connection call  - Wednesdays 7:30 - 9pm Mountain Time


ALL ONLINE SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED for your repeated watch or catch up should you miss!

A group of people sitting on logs in a forest clearing, listening to a woman speaking to them.

module 2

Four women sitting on benches outdoors, laughing and enjoying a sunny day with autumn trees in the background.

ONLINE MODULE: 50 HOURS
March 10 - April 8, 2026

•15 hours Philosophy lectures - prerecorded work at your pace video collection

•1.5 hour weekly x 4  - Yoga Class + weekly check-in / community reflection

• 1.5 hour x 5 - Methodology + Applied Knowledge  - Tuesdays 7:30 - 9pm Mountain Time

• 1.5 hour weekly x 5  - Group discussion / connection call  - Wednesdays 7:30 - 9pm Mountain Time

• 4 hour personal reflection + class preparation

•10 hours Embodied Purpose Self Leadership course (75min session x 7 weeks) - *WILL BEGIN POST IMMERSION

ALL ONLINE SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED for your repeated watch or catch-up should you miss!

module 3

100 HOUR
EXPERIENTIAL coastal IMMERSION
APRIL 12 - 21, 2026

Tranformational learning + experiential education.
We come together for 10 days in Ucluelet, British Columbia in the Pacific rainforest for surfing, hiking, community connection, self-study + practice.

Please plan your travel days accordingly + note that the immersion includes all classroom time, and learning opportunities but does not include food, transportation, or accommodation.

300 hour extentend learning module

LOOKING TO ADVANCE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOGIc PRINCIPLES + embody the PRACTICES?

Man with beard and mustache in green rain jacket and beige pants standing in a forest, leaning against a large tree with dense green foliage in the background.

ONLINE MODULE: 100 HOURS
(must complete our 200 hour training)
2026 dates TBD

• 13 hours Prerecorded Guest Educator lecture series

• 2 hour weekly x 5  - Group discussion / Connection virtual live call - Tuesdays 7:00 - 9pm Mountain time

• 2 hour weekly x 5  - Methodology + Integrated Knowledge virtual live call - Wednesdays 7:00 - 9pm Mountain Time

• 14 hours ‘Purpose into Practice’ Advanced Self Leadership course - 1.5 hour bi weekly call - dates TBD

• 15 hours Small Group Practice Teaching + Feedback Implementation (Group directed times + dates)

• 30 SVADHYAYA Project - Spiritual study (own time) + Presentations in January weekend

• 8 hour Personal Practice + Reflection

ALL ONLINE SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED for your repeated watch or catch up should you miss!

MEET YOUR EDUCATORS

Why Train With Us?
• 2,000+ hours of certified training
• 15+ years of embodied teaching
• trauma-informed + science-based
• intimate group learning (max 20)
• integration support + alumni community

A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a dark gray tank top, smiling, touching her hair with one hand, against a plain light gray background.

Jess LeBlanc, M.Ed., is the founder and creator of Embodied Living, established in 2013. A somatic practitioner, yoga teacher, trauma-informed coach, and leadership facilitator, Jess works with both individuals and corporations to foster personal growth, resilience, and transformative leadership. With over 1,000 hours of yoga training and certifications, alongside a master’s in experiential education, she is celebrated for her authenticity, innovative approach to wellness, and being named one of Canada’s top fitness instructors.

Through Embodied Living, Jess empowers people to break free from societal molds and embrace their fullest potential. She blends spirituality and science seamlessly, offering sustainable practices that honor each person’s innate wisdom and lived experience. Whether leading movement sessions, facilitating leadership workshops, or consulting with organizations, her goal is to leave people feeling lighter, more connected, and deeply empowered to thrive.

A young woman sitting in a grassy field, smiling, holding a large anatomically detailed model of a pelvis with bones and internal organs visible, during sunset.

Sydney Starko is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), yogi, and lifelong explorer of the human experience. With over a decade of hands-on practice, she combines her deep knowledge of bio-psycho-social anatomy with a passion for fostering connection between the mind and body.

Sydney is known for crafting space—both literally, through her expert bodywork and movement practices, and metaphorically, by guiding others toward greater self-awareness and personal growth. Rooted in scientific inquiry yet open to the mysteries that transcend it, her work blends traditional wisdom with modern wellness philosophies from across the globe.

Through her thoughtful, integrative approach, she empowers individuals to uncover new dimensions of balance and vitality in their lives.

I'll have what she had - sign me up

APPLY NOW

APPLY NOW

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OUR CLASSROOM IS INTIMATE AND WE HOST A MAX OF 20 STUDENTS

200 Hour Education
— $4100 + GST

additional module for 300-Hour Education
— $1800 + GST

PAYMENT PLAN:
$4,100 investment
→ $500 deposit
→ 5 monthly payments of $720

Your application is not a commitment to enroll. It simply helps us get to know you to ensure the program is the right fit.

KIND WORDS FROM PAST STUDENTS

  • A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt with red text, smiling and holding a smartphone in a cozy kitchen setting.

    'Truly lifechanging in all ways. I was blown away by this course!'

    - ROCHELLE

  • Smiling man with curly hair on the beach at sunset, wearing a black Quiksilver wetsuit.

    Absolute genuine support, to the point that it has set a life standard + raised the bar on what friendship and connection can be.

    - FOREST

  • Woman with long dark hair smiling and winking outdoors.

    'An amazing team of kind hearted, fun and authentic educators'

    - ANGIE

Frequently asked questions

  • It’s been years of zoom and too much of it isn’t healthy for anyone. With this in mind we have balanced our course to have both prerecorded content that you are able to watch at your own pace and we have minimal (3-5 hours) weekly live sessions.

  • YES! We get that things come up. We will be recording all online zoom sessions so that you can review or catch up should you have to miss.

  • There are certain assignments / planning / reading /personal study that is required outside of course scheduling however, this is your experience and you will get out of it what you put in. With the exception of practical teaching methodology we will not be reviewing your homework or grading — it is your learning experience to be accountable for.

  • Tapas - in yoga it means inner fire or zeal. In Spain, bitesize appetizer or snack! Our yoga education program is about sharing the variety of styles and methods of teaching yoga so that you can understand what best suits you as teacher.

    You will NOT learn a scripted, canned yoga sequence or become a replica of another teacher. You will be empowered to embrace your unique gifts, style, offerings and voice. To show up authentically as yourself, because that is what the world needs. MORE YOU! By the end of the training you will feel confident to share and understand HOW to create using the teaching techniques and foundational methodology we provide.

  • We think everyone who is interested in living life to it’s fullest and gaining the freedom to discover their purpose and passions. Some of our graduates are Students, Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Engineers, Parents, Nurses, Doctors, Accountants, Athletes, Weekend warriors, Health Care workers, EMTs, Human Resources, Tech Developers, Retirees, and even a former AirPlane mechanic! Anyone who is yoga Curious… or just plain curious is going to benefit from studying with us. description

  • A certificate from Yoga Alliance is not essential for teaching yoga. While it may be common and heavily marketed, possessing an RYT certificate does not inherently guarantee knowledge, reliability, or trustworthiness, nor does it guarantee the quality of the training. Yoga Alliance registration can be beneficial in some aspects however, it does not currently any compliance check in with its registered programs to ensure they’re teaching what they say they teach nor does it provide you with liability insurance (which we will help you navigate in our business module)

  • Instagram and other social media often present the idea that yoga teachers are mostly women in their 20s however, this training is truly inclusive and designed for anyone of any race, gender, age or season of life. If you are interested in growing as a human being and exploring the transformational power of the practice, we encourage you to join regardless of who you are, where you have been or what you’re currently up to. You belong.

  • What does a good / perfect / advanced yogi even mean? We want YOU to join us as you are.

    Of course there are no rules about how long you should practice yoga before becoming a yoga teacher.

    A lot of people say “I’d love to do a yoga teacher training but I’m not flexible or strong enough”. As you learn in your training, while asana (posture) is key to yoga, meditation, breath and philosophy is also yoga. As long as you have a desire to learn, explore and progress in your practice, it does not matter that you’re feeling currently ‘limited’ in some asanas. All bodies are different, and this is highly respected in your training.

    Get excited and be open to exploring the ways in which your yoga will deepen, change and evolve.

  • We have a comprehensive list of books that you COULD purchase or download should you want to supplement the information we provide you in our course. These are all optional and suggested. Buy them all, some or none.

  • We want to honour where you are at financially by working WITH you to develop a payment structure that is best suited to everyone’s needs. Please be in touch with us upon securing your space with a deposit to discuss options.

  • Not even a bit. Yoga teacher training is the only course you might ever take that asks you about you. What are your hopes, dreams, goals, ethics, and plans? How do you want to live your life? Yoga offers a framework to help you ask some big questions about the world you live in. It offers tools and skills to help you show up in a more confident, responsive and peaceful way in your life.

    Our students call it life changing + we couldn’t agree more.

  • Excellent question and one quite dear to our hearts. While we at Embodied Living have the utmost respect for Yoga Alliance and its intention to create a standard of education for the yoga teacher profession, we do not currently believe their standards meet our own standards of teaching. Adherence to YA standards would mean our program would not be able to adapt and include relevant information and skills that we believe are crucial to your education as Yoga Teachers.

    Ultimately, our stance reflects a commitment to authenticity, creativity, and independence in providing a holistic and enriching yoga education experience for our students.

Contact us.

Have questions before applying for the training? We're here to help! Don't hesitate to reach out to us for any clarifications or details you need to make an informed decision. Whether you’re curious about the program structure, what to expect, or how it aligns with your goals, we’re happy to assist.