Purpose-driven yoga & leadership Education for children & their adults

#stayrootedyall

About

Working with children is a responsibility that extends beyond any single practice or program. It requires attention to context, culture, and the relationships that shape how children experience learning, safety, and belonging.This work takes place in classrooms, community spaces, and the systems that support children. We partner with educators and organizations to support learning grounded in right relationship, cultural awareness, and ethical responsibility—foundations essential for the next generation of globally aware and socially engaged leaders.In this context, yoga is offered not as an isolated practice, but as one way of supporting how children learn to be in relationship with themselves, others, and the world around them. When integrated thoughtfully, embodied practices can cultivate awareness, regulation, empathy, and respect—capacities that support both individual well-being and collective responsibility.

Our work is grounded in whole child development, trauma-aware and healing-centered principles, and reflective teaching practices. We prioritize consent, agency, and adaptability, recognizing that each child—and each setting—requires thoughtful attention. We also recognize that the way practices are held, adapted, and modeled by the adults who guide them shapes how children receive and integrate them.We approach this work in close collaboration with educators and care professionals, honoring the realities of their environments and the expertise they already hold. Sustainable impact emerges not from isolated interventions, but from trust, continuity, and shared commitment over time.These principles inform not only how we work, but how we design and hold our trainings, partnerships, and educational offerings.

Partnerships & Collaborations

Partnerships with schools, organizations, and community programs are available when values align with the spirit and scope of this work.Partnership formats may include:

  • professional development offerings

  • classes, workshops, or special events

  • longer-term partnerships or on-going collaborations

If you’re interested in exploring a potential partnership, please reach out with a brief overview of your organization and context for your partnership or collaboration proposal/request.

Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Rooted Youth Yoga Education is a fully registered Yoga Alliance training school offering accredited yoga continuing education and teacher training programs.

Rooted & Rising: 200-hour Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training for Teens & Young Adults

Fill out this form to receive important information and updates about 2026/2027 teen & young adult cohorts. You will receive a separate email with an interest/application form.

Embodied Early On: 95-hour Children's Yoga Teacher Training

Enrollment is now OPEN for Fall Cohort in New Orleans, La
September - December 2026

The 95-hour training is our foundational program for adults who want to deepen their capacity to support children’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and developmental well-being through embodied, trauma-aware, and relationship-centered practices.Embodied Early On emphasizes how to understand children from birth through adolescence within the context of their environments, relationships, and lived experiences—and how to thoughtfully integrate yoga, mindfulness, and regulation practices in ways that are developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive.

Who This Training Is For

This training is designed for people who have and/or work with children—and care deeply about how they show up in that role.Embodied Early On is for:

  • Parents, guardians, and caregivers seeking grounded, practical tools to support children’s development

  • Educators and school-based professionals working in classrooms, early learning, or youth programs

  • Mental health, healthcare, and community practitioners supporting children and families

  • Coaches, mentors, and facilitators working with youth in group or one-on-one settings

  • Adult yoga teachers who want to skillfully translate their practice to serve children and families

  • Graduate or higher-education students preparing to work with children professionally

No prior yoga certification is required.
A sincere commitment to children’s well-being, self-reflection, and embodied learning is required.

What This Training Supports

Rather than adding more to your plate, this program helps you rebuild from the inside out—so your interactions with children become more sustainable, embodied, and aligned. This is both personal and professional development.Through this training, participants develop:

  • Confidence and grounded leadership in their role with children

  • Practical tools for regulation, co-regulation, and emotional literacy

  • A deeper understanding of child development across ages and stages

  • The ability to integrate yoga and mindfulness in developmentally appropriate ways while honoring the roots of the practice

  • Language and frameworks that support ethical, culturally responsive practice

  • A renewed sense of purpose, creativity, and connection to their work

  • "At the same time I was studying Lynell's training, I was initiating a yoga + grief support group for my local middle school. Learning how we can be sensitive to adolescent adversity allowed me to hold this group and support them where they are. [...] What surprised me was learning how easy it can be for children to get through really challenging times when they get the support they need in real time." - Shyla

Why People Are Drawn to This Work

People are often drawn to this training because they are deeply invested, not because they are unskilled.They work with children in environments that require constant presence, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Over time, the weight of that responsibility can create distance—from one’s body, from creativity, and from the values that first shaped the work.Many arrive with a strong understanding of what children need—connection, safety, regulation, belonging—yet feel the tension of meeting those needs within real-world constraints. The pace of modern systems, institutional expectations, and layered responsibilities can make even meaningful work feel reactive rather than relational.This training speaks to those who want to return to intentional presence in their work with children. To respond rather than rush. To remain grounded while navigating complexity. To support children’s growth without sacrificing their own sustainability.

  • "I have relaxed my expectations and tried to engage my creativity more. Allowing the class to flow rather than making sure things were done 'correctly' or how I had expected it to go. (I am still working on this!) My eyes were also opened to how some poses may be triggers for traumatized children, and just to be aware of those situations [...] Love grows brains!" - Danielle

Program Format

The training is intentionally paced to support learning, practice, and integration over time. Rather than compressing material into a short immersion, the structure mirrors how children learn best: through repetition, reflection, and embodied experience.

  • 7 live weekend intensives

  • 13 learning hours per weekend

  • Teaching, observation, guided practice, and reflection

  • Built-in breaks to support regulation and sustainability

  • Optional make-up weekend offered as needed

Enrollment is capped at 15 participants to preserve the quality of instruction, mentorship, and community care.Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all spots have been confirmed. Click APPLY NOW to fill out the form.

  • "I came into this with the vision of children's yoga as a young-ing down of adult yoga, but I am walking away with such a clearer perspective of how to teach things from a true child beginner level and then scaffold or build upon those things over time for more complex concepts." - Brianne

  • "A '12' on a scale of 1 to 10. The training has far exceeded my expectations with depth and breadth." - Bea

Training Dates

Each weekend, we meet: Fridays 6:00-8:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, and Sundays 9:00 AM-3:30 PM. Breaks are built into the schedule.

  • September 11–13

  • September 25–27

  • October 9–11

  • October 23–25

  • November 6–8

  • November 20–22

  • December 4-6

  • Optional make-up weekend offered as needed

Learning Rhythm

Each intensive follows a consistent, supportive flow so participants can nestle into the learning process. The rhythm is intended to support skill development and nervous system care.

  • Fridays: orientation, theory, and foundational concepts

  • Saturdays: applied learning, practice, observation, and cultural inquiry

  • Sundays: sequencing, teaching practice, reflection, and integration

Curriculum Progression Overview

The curriculum is layered developmentally, moving from foundations into applied teaching across childhood stages (birth through adolescence). In a brief overview, you will explore:

1. Foundations

  • Children’s yoga principles and ethics

  • Eight Limbs of Yoga applied to children

  • Cultural competency and consent-based practice

  • Foundational asana and observation skills

2. Early Childhood (0-4 years)

  • Embodied learning, mindfulness, mantra, and breath

  • Classroom management and lesson planning

  • Family yoga and ethical relationships

3. Regulation & Skill Building

  • Body systems and nervous system awareness

  • Positive discipline and sequencing

  • Partner work, cueing, and meditation practices

4. Middle Childhood (5-11 years)

  • Teaching methodologies and group dynamics

  • Diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility

  • Practice teaching and feedback

5. Energetic Anatomy & Inclusion

  • Chakras, koshas, and energetic foundations

  • Props, modifications, and exceptionalities

  • Inclusive, adaptive lesson planning

6. Adolescence (12-20 years) & Integration

  • Teaching yoga and meditation for adolescents

  • Law, ethics, and business basics

  • Final practice teaching and integration

  • Graduation Celebration

  • "I feel that the program addressed a wonderful variety of temperments, learning styles, exceptionalities, delivery systems, and other tools to successfully navigate the world of teaching children's yoga" - T.

  • "Watching the practicums and creating lesson plans felt like a lightbulb went off and I had the tools I needed to share yoga with kids at any age." - M.

Certification & Accreditation

Rooted Youth Yoga Education is a Yoga Alliance (YA) accredited training school, offering education that meets professional standards while remaining rooted in relational, ethical practice.Upon successful completion of Embodied Early On, participants receive a 95-Hour Children’s Yoga Teacher Training Certificate.Eligible graduates may apply for Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) status upon completion of YA requirements.This training also qualifies for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education hours.No prior yoga training or certification is required to enroll in the program. It is recommended to have a personal yoga practice.

Have more questions?

Check out our FAQ below to learn more details about the program.

Who is this training designed for?

This training is designed for educators, facilitators, caregivers, and practitioners who feel called to work with children in relational, embodied, and culturally responsive ways. Participants often come from education, yoga, somatics, healthcare, or community-based roles, though no specific background is required.

Do I need prior yoga teacher training?

No. A prior yoga certification is not required. This program is designed to meet participants where they are, with an emphasis on presence, reflection, and ethical engagement over technical mastery.

Is attendance required for certification?

Yes. Full attendance is required to receive the 95-hour RCYT endorsement. Each weekend builds on the previous, and the training is designed as a continuous learning container. If a session is missed, make-up options may be available at an additional cost.

What is your refund policy?

All payments are non-refundable. Enrollment may be transferred to a future cohort, subject to availability and approval. This policy supports the integrity and planning of each training cycle.

What does certification allow me to do?

Certification reflects completion of the full training and readiness to apply the material within your professional, educational, or community context. It supports trauma-aware, consent-centered, and culturally responsive approaches to working with children.

  • "Honestly this was a pretty impressive program with the wealth of knowledge, information from different sources, trauma info, resource list, games, incorporating music. Props to you :)" - H. Sametz

Investment

Total Investment: $2,000
Pay in Full: $1,750
$500 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your participation.
Payment plans are available.Your tuition investment includes:

  • Full participation in the 95-hour training program

  • All live weekend intensives and facilitated learning sessions

  • Access to course materials, recordings, and guided practices

  • Mentorship, peer learning, and feedback throughout the training

  • Eligibility for Yoga Alliance Children’s Yoga recognition, where applicable (application to YA requires a separate fee)

**Childcare Add-on (on-site): $1,400/training (or $222/weekend)
Sibling discounts are available.

Work Trade & Scholarships

We are committed to expanding access while maintaining the integrity of the training experience.A limited number of work-trade and scholarship opportunities are available for each cohort via an application process.Read below to learn more & apply.

1 - Work Trade (100% tuition discount in exchange for an ethical and clearly defined Social Media & Marketing support role before and during the program)

2 - Assistanceships (33-44% tuition discount in exchange for an ethical and clearly defined On-Site Support role during the weekend intesinves)3 - Partial Scholarships (44% tuition discount) are available for an eligible BIPOC, single-parent, GNO native (#iykyk), immigrant (no documentation required), and/or LGBTQIA+ community member to increase access to our program.

Meet the Lead Teacher

This training is led by Lynell, an international educator with roots extending from Louisiana out into the world. She approaches education as a relational, living practice—one that asks for attentiveness, humility, and care. Her work is rooted in a deep respect for children, the adults who support them, and the environments in which learning unfolds.With 15 years of international experience working across classrooms, community spaces, and professional training environments worldwide, Lynell brings an integrative perspective that bridges embodied practice, child development, and ethical engagement. Her work centers on creating learning spaces that are responsive, inclusive, and grounded in cultural awareness and respect.At the center of her work is a commitment to integrity in practice: honoring lineage, lived experience, and the responsibility that comes with working with children. Participants are supported within a learning environment that values dialogue, reflection, and accountability—where growth is understood as both personal and collective.Lynell is committed to supporting educators and caregivers not only in what they offer children, but in how they hold themselves within the work—recognizing that the quality of adult presence shapes every learning environment.

  • "Lynell - Oh! The many smiles I have had while learning from you! I adore that you are always moving! It was validating for me to watch you share. I am naturally silly and move, wiggle, dance, shake, sing to outlet my energy. It is often misunderstood by others and I have spent years being 'ashamed'of my natural tendencies to self regulate. Thank you for sharing and being your Authentic Self!" -Tiffanie

Ready to guide the next generation of Rooted Youth?

If you feel called to deepen your work with children through embodied, ethical, & culturally responsive practice, we invite you to apply for the fall 2026 Embodied Early On Children's Yoga Teacher Trainer cohort.

Public Workshops & Events

Check here for upcoming children's yoga workshops, public classes, and community offerings.

Upcoming Workshops

Upcoming Camps

Yoga & Leadership Summer Camp

Indianapolis, Indiana @ University High
Monday, June 15, 2026 - Friday, June 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM // Kindergarten - 2nd grade

Yoga & Leadership Summer Camp

Indianapolis, Indiana @ University High
Monday, June 15, 2026 - Friday, June 19, 2026
12:30 PM - 3:30 PM // 6th - 8th grade

Contact

If you have a question that isn’t addressed above, you’re welcome to reach out. Please note that due to the volume of inquiries, responses may take a few days.

Rooted U Yoga, LLC
Louisiana, USA
[email protected]
#stayrootedyall