Yoga for Health Education

YHEMA

 

Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy (YHEMA) is a specialty yoga teacher-training program for serious students of yoga that want to be a yoga instructor.  The program is modeled after the European style “out of walls” educational approach.

 

The program evolved in 2002 when Lead Teacher/Mentor, Libby Robold, co-director of Yoga for Health Education, LLC, graduated her first student term, mentoring style training.  Students who had completed teacher-training programs elsewhere in the state frequently approached Libby. Many felt they did not really know “how to teach.”

 

Having a master’s degree in teaching and having been a teacher in regular public education, an art/yoga therapist for all ages in special education, and teaching yoga and other topics at the college level, Libby was up for the challenge.  Libby trained teachers and classroom aids in public education and had a strong background in planning curriculum,  which gave birth to YHEMA. 

 

Students apply to the academy and once approved,  begin a two to three year program, completing modules of coursework involving covered material, class discussion, projects and designing coursework and classes.  Regular seminars, classes with homework, peer teaching and specific workshops are required, along observations, and a lengthy internship. This study program is equivalent to a college level experience in the 200 Hour Plus program, and a college graduate level in the 300 Plus Hour Advanced Teacher Training.  Both programs are registered with Yoga Alliance, a yoga school registry.

 

Since the programs are lengthy and the style is a mentoring approach, the program is limited to eight or less students.  No new students are admitted to YHEMA until the current groups complete their programs.  

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​After the re-opening from COVID, the Village at Grand Traverse Commons experienced a freak flood, with YHE getting the brunt of the damage. After 3 more additional months of being closed, and a campaign to restore the 3,000 square feet of lost flooring due to the storm, YHE opened again. Great Thanks to our student body for contributing to the fundraiser. That is why YHE moves on!

In 2024, the Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy re-opened and is currently actively involved in a new session for a new 200 HOUR Plus group of “eager to be” yoga teachers, or those on the path of enrichment or self-exploration. We welcome the 2025 class now in progress.