Cands is a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health. She leads a successful private practice in Johannesburg, South Africa and has also successfully built a renowned global, training practice for yoga teachers, somatic practitioners and mental health professionals. She has been featured on a number of local and international podcasts, professional bodies and training organisations.

She has furthermore just completed her Masters thesis on trauma-sensitive yoga in the South African context. This means that you are not only receiving training direct from Cands, based on many hours of personal and professional experience and training, but training that is also based on current world-class academic research in this field.

Cands is a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health. She leads a successful private practice in Johannesburg, South Africa and has also successfully built a renowned global, training practice for yoga teachers, somatic practitioners and mental health professionals. She has been featured on a number of local and international podcasts, professional bodies and training organisations.

She has furthermore just completed her Masters thesis on trauma-sensitive yoga in the South African context. This means that you are not only receiving training direct from Cands, based on many hours of personal and professional experience and training, but training that is also based on current world-class academic research in this field.

Who should attend this flagship certification program?

• Yoga Teachers and Somatic Practitioners: Enhance your ability to guide students through practices that support mental and emotional well-being no matter where they are at on their healing journey.
• Mental Health Professionals: Incorporate yoga as a therapeutic modality to complement traditional mental health approaches.
• Health and Wellness Coaches: Expand your expertise in holistic approaches to supporting mental health.
• Beginners and the simply curious are so welcome too! 

As a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health, with a strong public health background, it’s important to me that this yoga for mental health facilitator training is evidence-based, experiential, accessible and rooted in local context.

Evidence-based

This training program is and will continue to be informed by current and world-class academic research in mental health, somatic approaches to supporting mental health and integrating the ancient practice of yoga in mental health and wellness settings. Not all yoga is helpful to those on a healing journey, it’s important to study those methods proven in research and clinical trials to be safe and effective for the populations we may be working with. We ensure we do no harm in this way.

Experiential

It is hard, if not impossible, to facilitate from a place of little lived experience. It is for this reason that this training program also has a strong component of self-reflection, and practical hours training (personal and facilitation practice). This is a training program that will teach you about yourself too, and promote your own personal growth. From this foundation, you are able to start facilitating highly effective, evidence-based yoga for mental health. 

Accessible

We appreciate the difficulty some students may face in traveling to and attending training, both in terms of cost and personal care responsibilities. For this reason our training is conducted entirely online and is self-paced. We have ensured the quality and integrity of the training while simultaneously keeping it at a level of financial and time investment that is accessible. You have 5 months to complete the program. Payment plans are available, and scholarships are also available periodically. Please ensure you are following us on Instagram and are on our mailing list to be notified of scholarship opportunities. 

Rooted in local context

It would be remiss to facilitate yoga for mental health in a way that is not sensitive to the local context we work in. Mental health and mental health challenges do not occur in a vacuum, they cannot be separated from the contexts in which they are born and continue to occur. It is for this reason that effective yoga for mental health is deeply rooted in local context. We will learn to take international, world-class research and understand it through a local lens. This ensures effectiveness in our individual contexts, for our participants. 

As a licensed counselor and yoga therapist that specialises in trauma and mental health, with a strong public health background, it’s important to me that this yoga for mental health facilitator training is evidence-based, experiential, accessible and rooted in local context.

Evidence-based

This training program is and will continue to be informed by current and world-class academic research in mental health, somatic approaches to supporting mental health and integrating the ancient practice of yoga in mental health and wellness settings. Not all yoga is helpful to those on a healing journey, it’s important to study those methods proven in research and clinical trials to be safe and effective for the populations we may be working with. We ensure we do no harm in this way.

Experiential

It is hard, if not impossible, to facilitate from a place of little lived experience. It is for this reason that this training program also has a strong component of self-reflection, and practical hours training (personal and facilitation practice). This is a training program that will teach you about yourself too, and promote your own personal growth. From this foundation, you are able to start facilitating highly effective, evidence-based yoga for mental health. 

Accessible

We appreciate the difficulty some students may face in traveling to and attending training, both in terms of cost and personal care responsibilities. For this reason our training is conducted entirely online and is self-paced. We have ensured the quality and integrity of the training while simultaneously keeping it at a level of financial and time investment that is accessible. You have 5 months to complete the program. Payment plans are available, and scholarships are also available periodically. Please ensure you are following us on Instagram and are on our mailing list to be notified of scholarship opportunities. 

Rooted in local context

It would be remiss to facilitate yoga for mental health in a way that is not sensitive to the local context we work in. Mental health and mental health challenges do not occur in a vacuum, they cannot be separated from the contexts in which they are born and continue to occur. It is for this reason that effective yoga for mental health is deeply rooted in local context. We will learn to take international, world-class research and understand it through a local lens. This ensures effectiveness in our individual contexts, for our participants. 

• Enrolment: Upon enrolling and completing payment, you will receive a personal details form and liability waiver.
• Prep week: Once this has been completed, you will receive your first manual insert. This contains all your preparatory material and your reading for week 1.
• Week 1 – 6: The first Friday thereafter you will receive access to your first module to watch, related homework to complete and your next set of reading material. Each Friday for 6 weeks you will receive the same as the above (module to watch, homework to complete and next set of reading material).
• Week 7 – 8: Once the homework related to the above 6 weeks has been completed, you will receive the details of your final homework assignment.
• You will have 5 months to complete all of the above, from the date of your enrolment / payment.
• Consulting with Cands: The third Thursday of each month at 2pm – 3:30pm SAST is a consulting session with Cands. You can attend this to discuss any of the training material in-depth should you wish, it is not compulsory. To ensure you extract the most value from this, booking in advance with your questions you’d like to discuss is required to attend. 
• The 30 hours are made up as follows: 12 hours theory training (video modules are accessible for full duration of 5 months), 10 hours of homework training (1 – 2 hours of homework per/week for the first 6 weeks), 5 hours practical training, 3 hours final assignment (final written and practical homework assignment, you will receive feedback within 6 weeks of submission).
• All components need to be completed within 5 months of enrolment / payment for you to graduate successfully.

Program Features:

• Interactive Sessions: Participate in hands-on consulting sessions that demonstrate how to apply the principles learned in real-world scenarios.
• Case Studies: Analyse case studies to better understand the application of yoga in different mental health contexts.
• Expert Instruction: Learn directly from Cands, an experienced licensed counselor and yoga therapist who specializes in integrative approaches to mental health.
• Community and Support: Join a network of like-minded professionals committed to making a positive impact on mental health through yoga.

Duration:

The course is spread over 5 months, with a mix of live group consulting sessions and self-paced learning modules. Each module focuses on a different aspect of mental health and yoga, allowing for a deep and comprehensive exploration of the topics. 

Certification:

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Yoga for Mental Health Facilitator certification, which acknowledges their expertise in using yoga as a tool for mental health support.

Empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to support those in need. Whether you are a wellness coach or yoga teacher looking to expand your practice and offerings, or a mental health professional seeking holistic tools, this program offers a unique opportunity to enhance your ability to facilitate healing and well-being.

Training Program Structure

• Enrolment: Upon enrolling and completing payment, you will receive a personal details form and liability waiver.
• Prep week: Once this has been completed, you will receive your first manual insert. This contains all your preparatory material and your reading for week 1.
• Week 1 – 6: The first Friday thereafter you will receive access to your first module to watch, related homework to complete and your next set of reading material. Each Friday for 6 weeks you will receive the same as the above (module to watch, homework to complete and next set of reading material).
• Week 7 – 8: Once the homework related to the above 6 weeks has been completed, you will receive the details of your final homework assignment.
• You will have 5 months to complete all of the above, from the date of your enrolment / payment.
• Consulting with Cands: The third Thursday of each month at 2pm – 3:30pm SAST is a consulting session with Cands. You can attend this to discuss any of the training material in-depth should you wish, it is not compulsory. To ensure you extract the most value from this, booking in advance with your questions you’d like to discuss is required to attend. 
• The 30 hours are made up as follows: 12 hours theory training (video modules are accessible for full duration of 5 months), 10 hours of homework training (1 – 2 hours of homework per/week for the first 6 weeks), 5 hours practical training, 3 hours final assignment (final written and practical homework assignment, you will receive feedback within 6 weeks of submission).
• All components need to be completed within 5 months of enrolment / payment for you to graduate successfully.

Program Features:

• Interactive Sessions: Participate in hands-on consulting sessions that demonstrate how to apply the principles learned in real-world scenarios.
• Case Studies: Analyse case studies to better understand the application of yoga in different mental health contexts.
• Expert Instruction: Learn directly from Cands, an experienced licensed counselor and yoga therapist who specializes in integrative approaches to mental health.
• Community and Support: Join a network of like-minded professionals committed to making a positive impact on mental health through yoga.

Duration:

This course is spread over 5 months, with a mix of live group consulting sessions and self-paced learning modules. Each module focuses on a different aspect of mental health and yoga, allowing for a deep and comprehensive exploration of the topics. 

Certification:

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Yoga for Mental Health Facilitator certification, which acknowledges their expertise in using yoga as a tool for mental health support.

Empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to support those in need. Whether you are a wellness coach or yoga teacher looking to expand your practice and offerings, or a mental health professional seeking holistic tools, this program offers a unique opportunity to enhance your ability to facilitate healing and well-being.