·      What is it? 

The Grateful Yoga School offers a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification program recognized and accredited by Yoga Alliance, and qualifies graduates to teach yoga anywhere in the world. The training emphasizes Meditation, Breathwork, Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yang & Yin Yoga. In addition,  in-depth studies, practices, and utilization of ancient yogic techniques, philosophies, principles, and texts, as well as contemporary works making this dynamic pursuit of yoga accessible for yogis and yoginis of all experience levels. Whether you’re interested in deepening your yoga understanding and practice, being certified to teach yoga and easily find work outside of your degree, making a career of yoga, or just learning more and getting to know yourself better, this training is not only meant for you, but the most authentic, versatile, and enriching program on the market.

·      Why this program, and why it makes sense?

The most comprehensive and accredited Yoga Teacher Training program out there, offering a higher level of connection, impact, and integration within and beyond the greater yoga community. The key to teaching is perpetual studentship, so this training has been created to dig deeper beneath the surface of what yoga really means, and how to effectively share it from a place of confidence through competency, authenticity, and intentional grace. This 200 hour training will open up our hearts and minds in a way that is sure to shift our everyday experience, as well as develop the art within each of us to masterfully share the Yoga as empowered teachers and leaders. How we do anything is how we do everything. So understanding yoga, practicing, living, and sharing yoga are all done the same way. This is a truly special opportunity to get in the best and healthiest place physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

·      Who am I?

Jesse believes in love, compassion, community, and perpetual growth. Having worked with children and adults on the spectrum, survivors of various traumas, and a vast landscape of beautiful students of all genders, races, ethnicities, and creeds ranging from 4 to 90 years old for more than 20 years, Jesse teaches an all-inclusive, all-levels practice of mindfulness, from the home, the studio, the workplace, and retreat destinations around the world. 

His understanding of mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, and yoga comes from his endless pursuit of literary studies and his ongoing perpetual studentship, having graduated from dozens of teacher training programs and apprenticeships spanning 3 decades. Though he has tremendous respect for and is proud of his cultural heritage, many of his studies and teachings are grounded in traditional Yogic and Zen Buddhist belief systems, and honors teachers Jonny Kest, Swami Satchidananda, David Williams, amongst many others.

As the founder of The Grateful Yoga School, he is not only an experienced leader of dynamic movement, having been voted “DC’s Best Yoga Teacher” multiple times, and graduating hundreds of students from his yoga teacher training programs since 2011, he continues to share heartfelt classes, workshops, retreats, and trainings that not just explore a full range of motion, but evoke a full range of emotion as well. 

With sincerity, he shares that though physical practice is an integral piece of the mindfulness puzzle. His lectures, workshops, trainings, dharma talks, and public works prove that there is far more to yoga than what happens on a yoga mat.

Jesse may be assisted by some of his masterful and esteemed graduates from his Yoga Teacher Training and Leadership program.

Yoga Center of Danville

2000 Westover Drive 

Danville, Virginia 24541

6 Weekends

3/14-3/16 (Friday 5-7:30pm, Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

3/29-3/30 (Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

4/25-4/27 (Friday 5-7:30pm, Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

5/2-5/4 (Friday 5-7:30pm, Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

5/17-5/18 (Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

6/6-6/8 (Friday 5-7:30pm, Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-6pm)

Book List

• World Peace Diet | Will Tuttle - (Read before training)

• Power Yoga | Beryl Birch Bender

• Light on Yoga | B.K.S. Iyengar - (Read intro, and use rest as reference)

• Man’s Search for Meaning | Viktor E. Frankl

• Breath | James Nestor

• The Heart of Yoga | T.K.V. Desikachar

• The Alchemist | Paolo Coelho

• The Four Agreements | Don Miguel Ruiz