300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training & Mexico Immersion
The Breath of Life · Spring/Summer 2027
Welcome to the fifth year of our 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training & Spiritual Immersion at Karma Yoga Center. This is more than an asana-focused training. It is an invitation to deepen your spiritual awareness and practice, embracing all aspects of yoga as taught in the great system of Vedic knowledge: that the whole universe is One Self, and that the key to cosmic knowledge lies within our own minds and hearts.
The training opens with a 10-Day Breath of Life Immersion in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, on the Mayan Riviera, followed by five weekend modules at Karma Yoga Center in Denver. Karma Yoga Center is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 300), and the training is limited to nine students.
प्राणो ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात्
Prāṇo brahmeti vyajānāt
“He realized that the Breath of Life is Brahman.”
Taittirīya Upanishad 3.3
About the Training
As a student, you are front and center of this program. Our hope is to give you everything you need to feel knowledgeable, confident, and inspired about your own life path, and to teach others how to find theirs.
Katrina, Michael, and Lisa have curated an integral and dynamic curriculum that addresses our entire nature, including life as a spiritual being. It prepares you to thrive not only in physical, mental, and emotional health, but also nurtures spiritual prowess. The depth and breadth of the material goes well beyond the requirements for Yoga Alliance certification.
Over six modules from April to August, we delve into the deeper teachings of Self-Realization, Self-Healing, and Consciousness: philosophy, sacred geometry, anatomy and the subtle body, Ayurveda, the Upanishads, cosmology and astrology, mantra, mudra, alchemy, and self-care.
“Yoga is one of the most extraordinary spiritual sciences that mankind has ever discovered. It is like a gem of great proportions, containing many facets whose light can illumine the whole of our lives with great meaning. Going back over five thousand years, it is one of the few spiritual traditions that has maintained an unbroken development throughout history. Comprehending all aspects of the human being and the world of nature, it can unfold all the higher powers that are accessible to us both internally and externally.”
Dr. David Frawley
Module 1: The Breath of Life Immersion in Mexico
April 9–18, 2027 · Puerto Morelos, Mexico · Fly into Cancún
Under the tropical blue skies of the Mayan Riviera, we gather for ten days at a private garden villa by the sea to open our 300-hour studies and establish a daily rhythm of practice. We begin with Philosophy, Sacred Geometry, Anatomy, Ayurveda, the Upanishads, and Practicum sessions. Each day starts with a morning sadhana on the beach (breathwork, mantra, and meditation), followed by Ayurvedic teas and discussion. Classes are held in the private yoga palapa in the gardens, by the salt-water pool, and on the beach. Breakfast is included every day, along with some group lunches and dinners.
We’ll Help You Plan Your Journey
You won’t be navigating this trip alone. Once you register, we help you plan your travel: recommending flights into Cancún and the best arrival and departure times, coordinating airport pick-up and logistics, and sharing packing lists and travel tips.
From the moment you book until you’re back home, we’re here to support your journey.
The Private Garden Villa
Each student has a private, single-occupancy apartment with a fully equipped kitchenette, living area, and sitting porch. The villa has a salt-water pool, free bicycles, walking gardens, ponds and fountains, hammocks, and beach chairs and umbrellas. It is one block from the white sands of the Mexican Caribbean and four blocks from the town of Puerto Morelos.
The Town of Puerto Morelos
Just 25 minutes south of the Cancún airport, Puerto Morelos is a cultural and ecological gem, surrounded by protected mangroves and two biological reserves, and still deeply connected to its Mayan heritage. You’ll find local artisans, a farmers market, well-stocked grocery stores, and wonderful restaurants serving every diet, from seafood to vegetarian and vegan.
Pyramids, Temples & Cenotes
We take a day trip to ancient Mayan temples and pyramids and to the breathtaking sacred cenotes. Both the Mayans and the Yogis speak of a universal connection of consciousness. Katrina and Michael have been coming here for over a decade, and Michael, who has studied with his Mayan teachers throughout the region, leads a private tour sharing the cosmic connection between the Mayans, the Yogis, and other sacred wisdom traditions.
Personal Expenses
Students are responsible for their own flights to Cancún. We arrange airport pick-up and help coordinate travel plans. Meals beyond breakfast and the group meals are on your own, using your kitchenette or the many local restaurants.
Modules 2–6: Your Training Home at Karma Yoga Center
After the Mexico immersion, Modules 2–6 are held at our 5,000 square-foot studio at 1760 S. Broadway in Denver. Lectures, discussion, and study take place in the YTT Room, and asana, practicum, and practice teaching happen in the Main Studio.
Throughout your training you are part of the whole Karma Yoga Center community, with a community room to gather between sessions, a meditation space, the Soma Spa, and heArt & Soul art classes. Just outside, South Broadway is a vibrant local neighborhood with coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance for lunch breaks.
General Schedule
The Breath of Life training includes six modules with direct contact with your teaching faculty. Module 1 is the immersion in Puerto Morelos, Mexico; Modules 2–6 are weekends at Karma Yoga Center in Denver.
- Module 1Apr 9–18, 2027The Breath of Life Immersion · Puerto Morelos, Mexico
- Module 2May 14–16, 2027The Anatomy & Energetics of Movement
- Module 3Jun 11–13, 2027The Sacred Soul: Cosmology, Ceremony & the Upanishads
- Module 4July 9–11, 2027Mantras, Malas & Mudras
- Module 5Aug 6–8, 2027The Alchemy of Truth: Divine Love & Self-Care
- Module 6Aug 27–29, 2027Final Showcase: Graduation Presentations
The Modules
The Anatomy & Energetics of Movement
Whether you are a yoga teacher, a practitioner, or simply curious about the magnificence of the human body through a yoga lens, this book study is for you. Our textbook is Yoga of the Subtle Body by Tias Little, a book Anne loved even before it was published, having helped Tias with proofreading and editing along the long road to publication.
Enjoy Anne’s spin (parivritta) on Tias’s gorgeous book as we go chapter by chapter “From the Ground Up,” through the pelvis, sacrum, belly, diaphragm, lungs and lotus heart, and throat, all the way to “The Crown Jewel.” Beautiful images, metaphor, and humor, with a bit more basic anatomy sprinkled in, all presented in a lightHARTed way.
The Sacred Soul: Cosmology, Ceremony & the Upanishads
Our souls are the sacred path of our karma and dharma. Within each of us dwells an eternal heart the yogis call the Hridayam, and our deepest intuition always reflects its secrets. Cosmology helps you remember your personal self in relation to your Soul or Cosmic Self. You’ll study the soul through your own astrology chart, karma and dharma, personal evolution, and the great cycles of time such as the Yugas. Each student receives a printout of their chart and guidance on interpreting its soul messages.
Paired with this, we explore selections from the Upanishads, the great cosmic yogic texts that describe the nature of the soul and its relationship to the universe in story form. Upanishad means “to sit at the feet of the teacher,” and you’ll take part in the sacred art of storytelling that evokes the soul through feeling and journey.
Held near the Summer Solstice season, the weekend includes creating traditional rangolis from seeds, spices, flower petals, and beans while learning the sacred geometry of the heart chakra; connecting to the light of the Sun through the Gayatri ceremony; and exploring altar creation, magic, and the art of puja in relation to karma and dharma. We close with a cacao ceremony and a shamanic journey with drum circle to connect with your spirit guides.
Mantras, Malas & Mudras
At our essence we are vibration. This module helps awaken the dormant spiritual energy within through mantras, malas, and mudras. You’ll practice listening to the celestial music within, known as nada, the inner power behind mantra, and explore how that deep attunement shapes body and mind to create a stronger union with Spirit. Mudras, the energetic seals of the hands, face, and body, complete the circuitry of energy within, enhancing the resonance of any thought, word, or sound.
The Alchemy of Truth: Divine Love & Self-Care
Yoga is the spiritual science of Self-Healing and Self-Realization, and yoga is alchemy: the universal practice of self-transformation. We study the symbols, stories, and stages of resurrecting conscious light from the ego and personal self, along with the 7 Hermetic Principles, sacred geometry, sacred spaces, and how the mystical teachings of alchemy have appeared throughout the ages.
Complementary self-care practices give you tools to nurture your physical, mental, and spiritual self and support your Shakti, your personal magic. Through ancient wisdom, sacred geometry, sound healing, and reflection, we explore how mental and spiritual health are essential to fulfilling your dharma and your soul’s purpose.
Final Showcase: Graduation Presentations
Throughout the training you’ll develop a two-hour workshop of your own choosing. It can span any of the topics from the training and bridge into modalities that call to you. This weekend you’ll give condensed presentations to the faculty and your training group; full workshops are offered later to the public at Karma Yoga Center.
Tuition & Payment
Mexico Immersion only (Module 1): $2,970 ($1,962 remaining after the deposit). Credit card payments include an additional 3% processing fee ($175 on the full tuition). There are no fees for Venmo, cash, or check; call or email us to pay by these methods. Manuals, books, and drawing supplies are not included in tuition and run about $132.
Monthly Payment Plans
Monthly payment plans are available throughout the training and are flexible and tailored to your needs. Installments paid before the start of the training total $5,470; after the start they total $5,830. All payment plans are paid in full by the end of the training. Contact Katrina at 303-709-0535 or love@karmayogacenter.com with the subject “YTT Payment Plan.”
Cancellation Policy Summary
Your $1,008 deposit is non-refundable. The Mexico module payment ($1,962 after your deposit) is due in full by March 9, 2027, and is non-refundable after that date. Cancel before March 9, 2027, for a refund minus the deposit (and credit card processing fees, if any); no refunds after March 9, 2027. See the full cancellation policy below. We strongly recommend travel insurance for the Mexico Immersion.
Included With Your Training
- 5-month Unlimited Yoga Membership, in-studio and online classes ($540 value)
- 10% off all merchandise
- 10% off all workshops
- 20% off spiritual counseling, energy, and healing sessions
- 20% off astrology readings (relationship and birth)
Questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to Katrina about payment plans, travel, or whether the training is right for you.
Certification Requirements
To earn your 300-Hour Yoga Alliance certification, you’ll complete these requirements outside the immersion and weekends. They don’t have to be finished by the end of the training and can be done in your own time.
- Teach 10 classes at any location
- Observe 10 classes at Karma Yoga Center
- Take 15 classes at Karma Yoga Center
- Teach a 2-hour workshop at Karma Yoga Center
- Soul Portrait
- Overview presentation of your final workshop
Graduation Workshop
Create and facilitate a two-hour workshop at Karma Yoga Center, open to the public, sometime after graduation weekend. As seva, all proceeds are donated to a charity or cause of your choice. Students also complete all contact and non-contact hours (Module 1, Modules 2–6, and the additional requirements) and follow the Code of Conduct Manual.
Required Reading
We have chosen specific editions and translations for this training, so please use this list only. We also recommend waiting to read each text until it is presented, as much more depth will be found then.
- Yoga of the Subtle Body · Tias Little
- Yoga and Ayurveda · Dr. David Frawley
- The Upanishads · Eknath Easwaran
- Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound · Dr. David Frawley
- The Kybalion: Centenary Edition · The Three Initiates
Cancellation Policy & Travel Insurance
We strongly encourage every student to purchase travel insurance for the Mexico Immersion. Karma Yoga Center is not responsible for travel interruptions due to personal changes or weather. When you shop for a policy, ask about “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage, which typically must be purchased shortly after your first trip payment.
Full Cancellation Policy
We understand that life circumstances can change unexpectedly. We’ve invested significant time and resources in preparing for your journey, and we want to be as flexible as possible within the constraints of a small, intimate program. This policy balances fairness for all students with the sustainability of our training.
- Deposit: $1,008, non-refundable.
- Mexico module payment: $2,970 minus your deposit ($1,962), due in full by March 9, 2027, to secure your spot.
- Cancel before March 9, 2027: refund minus the $1,008 deposit and any credit card processing fees.
- Cancel after March 9, 2027: no refund.
- After Module 1 (Mexico): no refund for Modules 2–6.
- Payment plans: you’re responsible for any payments already due before you cancel.
All cancellations must be made in writing by email. Medical emergencies are reviewed case by case with documentation. We’re here to support you through any challenges that arise; please reach out as soon as possible if you have concerns about attending.
Your Faculty
Katrina Marie Gustafson
The mermaid of the mountains, Katrina Marie seeks the heights of the peaks and the depths of the oceans in her practice. Through the wisdom of the heart, her purpose is to help guide others to open their own. She has studied in the temples of India, the pyramids of Mexico, and in the crucible of modern life. She finds the sacred in the rhythm of the seasons, the stars, and every second of life.
As the owner and founder of Karma Yoga Center in Denver, she brings the Bhakti from all wisdom traditions to her yoga classes: singing, chanting, dancing, and journeys into the heart. Katrina fills every yoga session with love. She weaves in the teachings of her yoga mentor Saul David Raye and the cosmic knowings from the lineage of Evolutionary Astrology. She shares her life journey with her half-side husband Michael Shankara and her two boys, Max and Bo.
Lisa Theis
Lisa’s journey with yoga began 18 years ago in a Bikram studio in San Francisco. What began as a physical and mental challenge to simply stay in the room quickly became a deep and healing connection for her body, mind, and spirit, and eventually a life’s passion and calling.
Though she has had many influential teachers, she is a dedicated student of Yogarupa Rod Stryker and follows the lineage of Para Yoga and Sri Vidya. Her classes provide space for each person to explore the effect of yoga in their own way and, while rooted in the methodologies of Para Yoga, are an amalgamation of all her teachers’ influences. Each class includes pranayama, the energetics of asana, mantra, visualization and intentional focus, and meditation.
Michael Shankara
Michael Shankara is a yoga teacher, Mayan shaman and priest, astrologer, and sacred geometer with over thirteen years of active teaching and community leadership. He is the author of I Am the Snake ~ In Lak’Ech (iamthesnake.com). He apprenticed with Dr. Don Miguel Angel Vergara, a revered Mayan Elder, Wisdom Keeper, Mayan Priest, and former cultural director of the sacred Chichén Itzá Pyramids, studying intensively in Mexico since 2013 at sacred sites, pyramids, cenotes, caves, jungle initiations, and remote indigenous villages.
Integrating shamanic and yogic training across multiple lineages, Michael offers transformative experiences through sacred geometry, sound healing, crystal healing, energy work, and astrology. With over a decade of study in Western, Mayan, Greek, Vedic, Native American, and Chinese astrology, he brings a rare depth of cross-traditional knowledge to his teaching. Together with his partner Katrina Gustafson, Michael co-owns and operates Karma Yoga Center in Denver, now in its new 5,000 square-foot home at 1760 S. Broadway, offering classes, workshops, 200 and 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings, healing services, and annual sacred site retreats.
Anne Hart
Anne is an experienced yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and seasoned yoga therapist (C-IAYT) who has logged over 1,500 hours working with students individually since 2001, and well over 3,000 hours teaching classes for all levels, including special populations such as cancer patients. Known as “ANNE-atomy,” she teaches anatomy in several Denver YTT programs, inspiring students with images that correlate the human body to animals, art, and architecture, followed by an asana practice exploring those same structures experientially.
She has made 25+ field trips to cadaver labs, assisted Thomas Myers (“Anatomy Trains”) and Todd Garcia in a 5-day Fascial Dissection Course, and helped edit “Yoga of the Subtle Body” by Tias Little and “Yoga + Cancer” by Lorien Neargarder. Her intention is to ignite a passion in her students for the beauty and complexity of the body.
Begin The Breath of Life
Join us in Mexico and at Karma Yoga Center for a deeper immersion into the ancient teachings of yoga and spirit. Questions or payment plans? Contact Katrina at 303-709-0535 or love@karmayogacenter.com.
Register for the 300-Hour
Limited to 9 students · Open House date to be announced