top of page
  • YouTube
  • Facebook Social Icon
  • Instagram Social Icon
  • Yelp Social Icon
Yoginis in community
Stone copy.jpg

 

Traditional Tantric Yoga Teacher Trainings

Śakti sādhanā

200 - hour

Next cohort begins January, 2026

Immerse yourself in the world of Traditional Tantric Yoga and follow the path of the Masters of the Himalayan Tradition.

Set out on a journey which will eventually yield life's greatest reward - freedom, fulfillment, and remembrance of who you truly are.

 

INTENTION

The intention for this training is to share the philosophies and practices of the Himalayan Tradition of Tantric Yoga in a way which touches your heart, transforms your life, and empowers you to effectively carry the light of a living tradition.

 

Tantra, Yoga and Sankhya philosophy are the sources of wisdom and techniques at the heart of Śakti Sādhanā .  These ancient spiritual systems are as practical as they are profound. Their collective purpose is to guide you, grant you access to the inherent sacredness of life, and elevate your relationship to yourSelf and reality. The combined wisdom of Tantra, Yoga and Sankhya sheds light on everything - from the most practical and worldly, to the most subtle and sublime. In order to fully understand and experience the scope and ultimate promise of Yoga, we draw from the wisdom of Sankhya and the beauty of Tantra - one the most life-affirming and all-inclusive spiritual systems ever developed - and the light of a living tradition.

Śakti sādhanā (200-hours) is a deep exploration of your Self through the lens of the ancient wisdom bodies of

yoga, tantra and Sankhya. This 12-month 200-hour training will introduce you to their vast and glorious

world view and grant you a transformative experience through the teachings and techniques of this tradition. It will also impart a highly effective teaching methodology which will empower you to guide truly impactful and transformative yoga experiences for your future students. Though only 200-hours, Śakti sādhanā is still quite an advanced training and is appropriate not only for practitioners transitioning into the role of teacher for the first time - but also experienced teachers seeking a thorough introduction to the Tantric tradition.

WHAT MAKES this trainings UNIQUE?

 

Rooted in the tradition passed down by the Himalayan Masters, both Śakti Sādhanā draws from ancient wisdom to create a holistic approach to modern practice and life. They are designed to both develop your personal practice and prepare you to embrace your role as an ethical, empowered, impactful teacher fully capable of carrying and passing on the light of a living tradition.

 

Śakti Sādhanā introduces the philosophies of this Tradition and teaches the fundamental practices and systems for sharing the tradition in an authentic and meaningful way. 

Every module in each of the trainings is mindfully crafted for an immersive experience combined with practical, effective teaching methodology. The modules are woven together in a wise progression to deliver knowledge, appreciation, and direct experience of the teachings and techniques of the Tradition.

Contents of Śakti Sādhanā

Module One : What is Yoga? 

Explore the historical context of yoga from the Vedas to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to begin to answer the quetion, what is yoga, precisely? How does it look in theory and in practice? How can we embrace it as a lifestyle, rather than merely exercise on a mat? In this module you will also be introduced to the Himalayan Tradition and what it means to study under the guidance and support of a living lineage.

Module Two : TANTRic philosophy & methodology

Tantra is an ancient body of wisdom, a worldview, and a system of techniques which help us to maximize our experience of being human. Embracing the truth that all of creation is sacred, Tantra is that which moves us toward an embodied experience of this truth by helping us manage our energy, accelerating our progress, touching our hearts, and protecting us along every step of the path.

Module Three : Anatomy & The Six Categories of Asana

This module is an examination of the major bones, muscles + joints involved in the asana practice, as well as an understanding of the nervous system and how we can access it through the body, the breath, and our mind's power of concentration. We will discuss the difference between the form and the function of the various categories of yoga postures, how to optimize safety by offering modifications appropriate for a wide range of students.

Module Four: Wise Progression Retreat in Tuscany

How can we maximize the various components of a complete Tantric Yoga practice (postures, breath, relaxation, meditation + more) for the most impactful practice? In this module we will learn more about each of these various components and discover wise ways to select and sequence them in order to create a truly transformative experience for our students and ourselves.

Module Five : Your Subtle Body

We are more than flesh and bone. Tantric Yoga gives us tools for understanding, uncovering, and utilizing our subtle nature to help us maximize our practice, and our experience of being human. In this module we will explore the koshas (layers of the self), the nadis (energy channels), chakras (energy centers), our pranic field, and more. We will also play with effective ways to weave subtle body techniques into the complete practice.

Module Six : Playing with Prana

What is the nature of the life force known as Prana? How do we develop sensitivity to it, increase our access to it, and work with it to expand our capacity for growth and evolution? This is where the magic begins, taking the practice from one of a purely physical experience to one in which we can sense that we are not, and never truly have been, alone.

Module Seven : Pranaśakti and Pranayama in Meditation

Meditation is the pinnacle of the complete Tantric Yoga practice. Why? How can we develop a meaningful meditation experience which nurtures and nourishes us and makes us eager to come back for more? First, by developing a meaningful relationship with the divine in Her form as Pranaśakti.

 

Module Eight : Ayurveda & Developing Your Personal Practice

Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga. Where Yoga is primarily oriented toward spiritual endeavors, Ayurveda is oriented toward health through balance of the various bodies. In this module we will explore a selection of approaches to maintaining this balance such as diet, self-care, prescriptive approaches to asana, pranayama and meditation, and more. In this module we will discover how you can customize your personal practice to compliment your ritual of self care, heal and nourish yourself in highly specific ways, and commit to a dedicated practice that evolves with you and accelerates your progress on the path.

Module Nine : Tantric Meditation & Mantra

As we discovered in Module One, yoga is so much more than a physical practice. It is a spiritual path. In this module we will entertain one of the most elusive elements of yoga, Ishvara Pranidhana - trustful surrender. We will also enjoy the bliss inducing practice of Bhakti, and the swiftest path to samadhi (enlightenment), Mantra Sadhana.

Module Ten : Living Your Dharma

Dharma is one of our soul's four primary desires. It is the desire to fulfill your unique desire. In this module we will begin to discover what this purpose is, what may be standing in your way of fulfilling it, and how to overcome those obstacles. This Tantric approach to self-discovery has the potential to be truly life changing.

Sukhasana copy.jpg
Harmonium copy_edited.jpg

The Commitment

 

Śakti sādhanā meets live one weekend each month - not including the integration months - for 12 months. In addition to the live gatherings you will have access to pre-recorded practice and lecture content and self-guided assignments you can navigate at your own pace between our formal gatherings. We will also practice together once a week as a complete community, and each individual training will also have access to 'office hours' for additional face time with the teachers. 

 

Here you will find the dates for both trainings. Both trainings gather Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Times are also listed below. 

Śakti sādhanā

2026 SCHEDULE

 

January : What is Yoga?

February : Tantric Philosophy & Methodology

 

March : Anatomy & The Six Categories of Asana

 

April :  Vinyasa Krama Retreat in Tuscany 25-30 April, 2026

 

May : Integration - No Live Weekend Gathering

 

June : Your Subtle Body 

 

July : Playing with Prana - Energetics, Vayus & Pranayama in Asana

 

August : Pranaśakti & Pranayama in Meditation

 

September : Ayurveda & Developing Your Personal Practice


October : Integration - No Live Weekend Gathering 

 

November : Tantric Meditation & Mantra

 

December : Living Your Dharma

Gathering Times

Fridays

9-11am Pacific / 12-2pm Eastern / 5-7pm UK / 6-8pm Europe

 

Saturdays & Sundays

5am -12pm Pacific / 8am - 3pm Eastern /1pm - 8pm in the UK / 2pm - 9pm in Europe

 

Retreat in Tuscany

25 - 30 April 2026 at Ebbio in Monteriggioni, Tuscany

In the province of Siena lies a 13th century farmhouse, surrounded by seventeen acres of countryside, which has been transformed into a yoga retreat center known as EbbioNestled inside an evergreen forest, Ebbio sits on an extinct volcano that was sacred to the ancient Etruscans, just steps from the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni.

We will gather as a blended community - Śakti Sādhanā and Embodied Śakti to enjoy our in-person retreat at Ebbio.  Embraced by the nourishing nature and culture of Tuscany, immersed in the Himalayan Tradition’s sacred practices and philosophies, our time together will establish a beautiful foundation for the remainder of our time together.

Learn More about Ebbio Tuscany

Studio small.jpeg

Your Guides

Natalie Backman

lead teacher for both trainings
Léa-Claude Blache-Pichette

assistant for Śakti Sādhanā

Eagle Arms_edited.png
Lea-Claude.png

Tantric Yoga has given me an entirely new lease on life. I was once anxiety-riddled, validation-seeking, victim-identifying and doubtful of my worth. After more than a decade of highly dedicated practice and study I now experience life as beautiful and meaningful, and myself as joyful peaceful, steady (most of the time), and grateful to be alive.

 

My relationship with yoga and spans twenty years and I've been devoted to sharing the teachings of this tradition for the last ten.  In that time, my experience has evolved from physical exercise to a holistic reintegration with my soul. The teaching of Tantric Yoga is integral to my life's purpose and has become my personal spiritual path.  

 

A 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, I remain a lifelong student of the Himalayan Tradition, profoundly grateful to receive the ongoing guidance of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and the support of the unbroken lineage of Himalayan Tradition.

 

I share a modern approach to Traditional Tantric Yoga interweaving asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, mantra, meditation, and more. Also certified in Yoga Nidra and Vishoka Meditation, I endeavor to provide a means for true and thorough transformation. I teach only what I have embodied through direct experience, and guide with the intention to facilitate sacred remembrance of Self.​

All I do is an offering to the Divine Mother. It would be an honor to guide you through this journey of healing and help you lay claim to yoga's promises: ultimate freedom and lasting fulfillment.  Jai Maa.

Yoga came into my life without me really asking for it and I am extremely grateful that it did. I was called by this practice more than 15 years ago and it has followed me, near or far, through the different stages of my life (and it’s not over, I know). 

 

Yoga allows me to question myself and to find the truth, the essential in me. It guides me to a better version of myself every day and reminds me that it’s okay to be who I am, that I have a unique place in this world.

 

This practice has also been an outstanding tool in a path strewn with anxiety, loss of control or feeling that I’m not able to follow the hectic pace of the society in which I live. It brings me a much needed softness. It allows me to find my center and from that center, engage with the world with ever more love and compassion.

 

I have accumulated hundreds of training hours simply because the study of yoga in all its forms (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual...) fascinates me. I don’t give much importance to the number of hours I spend studying, but rather I make sure that the practice lives in me and that it accompanies me in nature, in the city, outside or inside. Yoga is, for me, a way of living and I wish to transmit it to anyone who feels called by it. My wish is that everyone finds the unique formula, balance and practice which best serves them. I look forward to sharing with you!

We RISE copy_edited.jpg

Apply

If you are interested in joining this intimate teacher training, please complete the application at your earliest convenience. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out directly via NatalieBackmanYoga@gmail.com.

We look forward to learning about you and supporting you on your path. I will be in touch to schedule your interview once I have received and reviewed your application.

 

Apply for Śakti sādhanā

Tuition

Śakti Sādhanā 200-hour Training $4,000

 

Payment Plans & Scholarships Available.

 

Payment can be made in full or in monthly installments.

For monthly installments, we require an initial deposit of $500 to reserve your space in the training. Another $1000 is due one month prior to the start of the training (for a total of $1,500). The balance can be paid in monthly installments of $250 until it is paid in full.

 

Reimbursements and Cancellations

 

Deposits are non-refundable, but are transferrable to another training within two years. Additional payments made can be reimbursed up to the beginning of the training. Once the training has commenced, I ask that all payment plans continue to be honored, and no reimbursements will be made if - for any reason - you are unable to complete the training. Payment can be transferred to a future training, with a transfer fee of 10% of the cost of the training.

 

 

Questions?

 

Schedule a complimentary consultation with Natalie to explore which, if any, of these trainings is right for you.

 

Schedule a Consultation

bottom of page