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Costa Yoga School: Yoga for Neurogenesis

A short self-paced online course on yoga and neurogenesis — the brain's ability to grow new cells. Mandy Lawson explores six lifestyle factors that support brain health through yoga practices, recipes, and mindset shifts, with optional Yoga Alliance Continuing Education hours for registered teachers.

Duration: 8h
Certification: CE credits, certificate of completion
Format: self-paced
Skill level: beginner, intermediate
Career pathway: interest

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Course program

Yoga for Neurogenesis is a short self-paced course from Costa Yoga School that brings together yoga, philosophy, and brain science. Led by founder Mandy Lawson, the program explores neurogenesis — the brain’s capacity to grow new cells in adulthood — and translates the science into practical yoga-based habits that support mental health and well-being.

No prior credential or experience is required. The course is open to anyone curious about the overlap between yoga and brain science, whether you practice casually or teach professionally. Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teachers will find it useful as a Continuing Education option that adds 8 YACEP hours to their existing credential.

The course is built around six factors that support neurogenesis — the brain’s ability to grow new cells in adulthood. Through self-paced lessons, you’ll explore what neurogenesis is, how it works, and how to apply that knowledge to support mental health and emotional well-being. Mandy Lawson weaves together yogic philosophy and modern brain science, showing where the two traditions overlap and how each lens informs the other. The material includes ideas, practices, and recipes you can integrate into daily life to make the small lifestyle changes that support a healthier brain. Rather than presenting yoga as movement alone, the course frames it as a complete approach to living well — covering breath, posture, mindset, and the philosophical principles behind practice. Because the program is short and lifestyle-focused, the emphasis is on practical takeaways you can begin using immediately rather than mastering a specific yogic style.

The course is led by Mandy Lawson, founder of Costa Yoga School and the school’s only instructor. Mandy holds E-RYT 500, RYCT, and YACEP designations through Yoga Alliance and has more than two decades of experience in health and fitness, including over nine years of yoga teaching. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is a certified Hypnotherapist.

The course is delivered as a fully self-paced online program through Costa Yoga School’s Teachable site. You receive lifetime access to all lessons and can move through the material on your own schedule, returning whenever you like. This standalone version does not include the live six-week Zoom cohort that Mandy occasionally runs separately — it is the pre-recorded, work-at-your-own-pace track.

Meet your teacher

Mandy Lawson

Mandy Lawson is the founder of Costa Yoga School. Canadian-born and based in Costa Rica for nearly a decade, she holds E-RYT 500, RYCT, and YACEP credentials and has taught yoga for over nine years. Her focus is making yoga accessible to all bodies.

Host reviews

Rebecca Vanech

Verified user

Mandy has a warm and welcoming personality and made herself accessible throughout the training, but the best part was how well she was able to break down the material so anyone could understand it. I loved the balance between yogic philosophy and asana styles while hitting home the importance of anatomy. Thanks to Mandy I feel confident I can design yoga classes around my students' needs. Whether you're just starting your yoga journey or looking to refresh your skills, I highly recommend training with Mandy.
Erin Stevenson

Verified user

In a moment of time and life that was the most challenging of all, I was fortunate enough to be able to take Costa Yoga's 300-hour online training. During the pandemic I dove into this deeper study of yoga philosophy and way of life that I never really knew existed. I had always thought of yoga just as movement and stretching, but have come to realize just how much more it is. This training is not only worth the time and the financial investment, but it truly helps bring awareness to how full circle a yoga practice is to the meaning and quality of life.