Train with Optimal State

I feel so lucky to have found such an amazing teacher who is so brilliant in the healing art of yoga therapy. Not only is she amazing in her skills of healing others but the way she relates her knowledge to her students is phenomenal. She is patient and kind in relating the vast wealth of knowledge she has of this 5000-year old practice in such a way that I can comprehend the material, which has been a challenge for me in the past. I have enjoyed Every class I have ever taken with her and always come away from her classes wiser for the experience. I'm so fortunate to be able to call her my teacher!

Studying with The Optimal State Yoga Therapy Program has been transformative for me both personally and professionally. I came to the Optimal State completely burned out from being a public school educator and longing for a way to contribute to the healing of my community and also nurture my own healing. After a three-year journey in the Optimal State Yoga Therapy program that included a deep study of yogic philosophy, personalized daily practice, one-on-one mentorship and deep connection and belonging in the O.S. community, I can confidently say that I have learned to regulate my nervous system, I have a daily practice that can hold me and teaches me discernment in difficult times, and I can show up fully for others as a Yoga Therapist. Through the support of the business course, I have secured a position as a Clinical Yoga Therapist at an Intensive Outpatient Program working with adolescents and young adults going through a mental health crisis. I have also started my own private practice that I am continuing to grow. I fully support myself financially as a Yoga Therapist and have a work-life balance that allows me to stay regulated and prioritize self-care. If you are looking for a program that supports you in your own healing journey and in showing up in the world regulated and in your purpose, I highly recommend studying with Amy Wheeler and The Optimal State Yoga Therapy Program.

I am so happy to have taken the Optimal State Yoga Therapy School Training. It was a long and life changing journey. I went through several relationships where my growth was challenged. I managed to survive and be steady during Covid Times. I have been able to crack open deep past traumas and face them. I am blessed with your teachings and my Optimal State Mentor's guidance. It has felt at times like going backwards, but truly it has been the strength, courage, and FAITH in this system that has allowed me to dig deep. I know that all the self work I am doing and have done will translate into me being a compassionate, intuitive, and powerful yoga therapist. I already feel so confident working with clients as a new graduate. I cannot thank the Optimal State Team enough for growing with me over 2 years.

The Optimal State Yoga Therapy program is life changing. The strength of the program is how all 865+ hours of lectures, practices, assessments, etc come together over the course of the training. The sheer amount of information and resources provided is immensely valuable. And the Optimal State staff is of the highest quality I have encountered in my 18 years of studying Yoga. After completing this program, I feel like I could meet any person with any condition and have a completely organized system in place from which to reference. I went from being unsure and unqualified to completely confident in my ability as a Yoga Therapist.

This (Optimal State Yoga Therapy) school has changed my life. This is my purpose and I know it. When I graduate I want to give back and be a mentor. I want to give back anyway can. If you need me to share Optimal State anywhere, I will do it. This is more than gold, this is so precious to me. What you are doing with this program is innovative. I still feel like I'm dreaming everyday. I can't believe, that I am with so many amazing people.

I had no intention of pursuing a certification in Yoga Therapy but the sudden death of my brother-in-law brought an invitation from Amy Wheeler to take the foundation course of the Optimal State Yoga Therapy Program to help with my own grief and to help me be there for my sister whose grief was profound and paralyzing. The curriculum and the practices of this first year were life-changing for me. Optimal State Yoga Therapy practices in the Krishnamacarya tradition. I had never felt so immersed in practices that worked with breath so intentionally; slow dynamic movement with breath. My previous training was in the Iyengar and Anusara traditions. This tradition was very different and confusing for me and I kept rebelling, asking for practices that were more challenging. But I couldn’t deny that my whole body and mind were experiencing something good. At the end of the year I had a decision to make; this was sufficient and a wonderful gift in my life or sign on for the 865 hour program. With the support of family, teachers and mentor I signed on. Almost 4 years later (I’m slow) I graduated and am a certified IAYT. The scope and depth of the course of study is beyond anything I imagined. Optimal State provides resources for every phase of the program that include manuals, videos, downloads of tons of material that have resulted in a library that will be a support for me going forward. The most important thing for me is the community that has been created and the opportunity to keep coming back no matter how many times. Mentoring is key. The teachers are available to the students and they model the ongoing journey that the practice of yoga is. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are the foundation for everything we do as Yoga Therapists. Staying connected to the community, daily practice, and commitment to continued learning in this tradition will give me all the tools I need to serve where I am called at this stage of my life. I am forever grateful.