Emotional Regulation Nervous System Regulation Relationship Skills Trauma-Informed Practices

My Vinyasa Practice: Cultivating Intimacy

Cultivating Intimacy is a self-paced continuing education course from My Vinyasa Practice that blends yogic philosophy, trauma-informed care, and modern psychology. It explores how emotional safety, vulnerability, self-compassion, and embodied awareness build deeper connection — with yourself and others. Yoga Alliance approved.

Duration: 10h
Certification: CE credits
Format: self-paced
Skill level: beginner, intermediate
Career pathway: advanced training

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Course program

Cultivating Intimacy is a self-paced online continuing education course from My Vinyasa Practice. It blends yogic philosophy, trauma-informed care, and modern psychology to explore how meaningful connection is built — through emotional safety, vulnerability, self-awareness, and embodied presence. The training is Yoga Alliance approved and counts toward 10 continuing education units (CEUs).

No prior credential is required to enroll. The course is designed for yoga teachers and wellness professionals who want to bring a more relational, trauma-aware lens into their work, as well as individuals seeking to deepen self-awareness and the quality of their personal relationships. It is most relevant to existing yoga teachers using the 10 CEUs toward Yoga Alliance continuing education.

The curriculum frames intimacy as something built through emotional safety, energetic presence, and embodied awareness. Students study self-awareness as the foundation of connection, and explore vulnerability and emotional intelligence as practices rather than abstract qualities. Modules introduce the PIES model (physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual) and look at how trauma shapes the way we approach closeness, along with the dynamics of indirect association.

Effective communication is treated as a skill, with attention to how we listen, how we name our experience, and how we hold difficult conversations. Self-compassion is taught as a daily practice, not a concept. The course closes with applied work — tools and strategies for bringing compassion into ongoing relationships, and reflective exercises for noticing where intimacy is welcomed and where it is blocked. Students also receive asana practices led by Michelle Young that pair with the philosophical material.

The program is led by Michelle Young, C-IAYT, a certified yoga therapist whose work spans cardiac care, cancer rehabilitation, eating recovery, and behavioral health. Michelle is supported by Tara Cleven, E-RYT 500 / C-IAYT. My Vinyasa Practice has been a Yoga Alliance accredited school since 2016 and serves a community of more than 60,000 international students.

The course is delivered fully online and self-paced, so students register at any time and progress at their own rhythm. Content includes pre-recorded video lectures, asana practices with Michelle Young, written material, and downloadable PDFs. Students receive lifetime access along with ongoing community support and live weekly calls during business hours. The minimum suggested completion time is two weeks. The only material needed is a composition notebook for journaling.

Upon completion, students earn 10 continuing education units (CEUs) through Yoga Alliance. The training is Yoga Alliance approved, so the hours can be applied directly to maintaining a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) credential and continuing education requirements.

Meet your teacher

Michelle Young

A certified Yoga Therapist specializing in Cardiac, Cancer, Eating Recovery, & Behavioral Health.

Host reviews 4.9

Mira H.

This Viniyoga training exceeded every expectation I had. I loved how each lesson emphasized personalization and adapting yoga to the individual. I now feel confident offering sequences that truly meet my students where they are.
Nico D.

As someone who wanted a more therapeutic approach to yoga, this training was exactly what I needed. The instruction is clear, compassionate, and deeply informed by the Viniyoga tradition. I gained practical tools for working with different bodies and abilities, learned mindful pacing.
Camille O.

This program helped me reconnect with the heart of yoga. The integration of philosophy, functional movement, and breathwork created a learning experience that felt both personal and transformative. I've grown not only as a teacher but also as a practitioner.