The Path of Service
REGISTRATION IS FULL | WAITLIST ONLY
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80 Hour Shri Yoga Outreach Teacher Training
2026 Schedule
Two Weekends + Self-Paced Training
LOCATION: 390 Pine Street, Pawtucket + Online
> 4 days (8 am - 4 pm) in person across 2 weekends in March and April
> 4 nights (Fridays 5:30 - 8:00 pm) online & not recorded (bookends the in-person weekends)
> Followed By: Shri’s Self-Paced Practicum (apprenticeship, self-study & practice)
MARCH WEEKEND: MARCH 13 (online), 14 (in person), 15 (in person), 20 (online)
APRIL WEEKEND: APRIL 10 (online), 11 (in person), 12 (in person), 17 (online)
Deadline For Completion: September 30, 2026
Over the course of two weekends and self-paced practice, Shri Founder, Alison Bologna, trains anyone interested in being of service to practice and deliver yoga outreach programs through Shri's methodology.
In this training, trainees learn how to do what we do at Shri in improving community health in schools, shelters, hospitals, senior centers, veterans centers and more! This training is practical and built upon more than a decade of "real world" experience.
Because Shri is rooted in accessibility, trainees do not need to be pre-certified yoga teachers to attend this training. There are, however, pre-requisites listed below.
Part 1: Hands-On Training
These Two Weekends are Online and In-Person
Friday Nights are online only (not recorded) from 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Saturdays and Sundays are in person ONLY from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Weekend One:
An Overview of Service through Shri Yoga Outreach
Shri's Adaptive and School Projects
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The philosophy of karma yoga and service-based outreach programs
Shri's core values, mission and methodology
The building blocks of the Shri Curriculum: components & class structure elements
The importance and ability to create safe space and sound ethics in yoga outreach
Best practices in outreach, as supported through current research and experience
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Teaching adults with disabilities in partnership with social service agencies, and teaching children in: shelters, schools and hospitals
The "nuts and bolts" of the Shri Adaptive Project and the Shri School Project Curriculums, K-12
Sample Adaptive Project class (Saturday) led by Alison
Sample School Project class (Sunday) led by Denise
Community Building Activity Demos (Sunday afternoon) led by Robin and Denise
What You’ll Learn Includes:
🎯 Techniques on how to develop classes that create rhythm while relieving stress and increasing focus
🎯 Instruction of in-depth activities in community building and group mindfulness exercises developed for adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
🎯 Troubleshooting “real world” scenarios in yoga outreach
Weekend Two:
An Overview of Service through Shri Yoga Outreach
Shri's Seniors, Recovery and Military Projects
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How social enterprise models build and sustain inclusive communities
How funding models support Shri’s mission
How Shri delivers and measures specific impacts + outcomes through a trauma-sensitive approach and alignment with karma yoga principles
An overview of Mental Health First Aid and Self-Care modalities and practice
The basics of trauma, and how yoga can help to reduce stress and improve quality of life
Mindfulness activities, with an emphasis on Yoga Nidra
The ethics of touch (or no touch), and sensitivity to language
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Fundamentals of teaching Chair Yoga for adults through the Shri methodology
The "nuts and bolts" of the Shri Curriculum serving these populations:
Sample Hospital Project class (Saturday) led by Crystal (mat class)
Sample Seniors Project class (Sunday morning) led by Kate (chair class)
Sample Alzheimer’s Project class (Sunday afternoon) led by Alison (chair class)
What You’ll Learn Includes:
🎯 Techniques on how to develop classes that create rhythm while relieving stress + increasing focus
🎯 Testimonials to date including impact and outcome reporting
Part 2: Self-Paced Training
This part of the Training can only be Completed after Full Attendance in Both Weekends
The deadline for this part of the training is September 30, 2026 for the Class of 2026
Trainees accepted into this program will have access to our private training portal
There are 4 parts in the portal to complete the rest of the training for certification
ATTEND + ASSIST | REFLECT + REPORT - observe and assist in 8 Shri outreach classes + compose 8 reflection reports
SELF STUDY - a 10-15 page paper based upon training prompts and a "call to action"
SELF PRACTICE - complete 4 hours / classes of self practice in current Shri classes
MENTOR - “Service in Action" mentorship, 1 hour private zoom or in-person session with Alison
MEET YOUR TRAINER
Alison Bologna
In 2010, Alison Bologna, an award-winning journalist and E-RYT yoga teacher, founded Shri with a vision of creating a space where people from all walks of life could come together to practice yoga, foster healthier and more compassionate communities, and revitalize an area that had been economically struggling since the Industrial Revolution.
Since opening its doors in downtown Pawtucket, Shri has become a cornerstone of the district, drawing hundreds of students to its classes for special events and outreach programs. Inspired by the overwhelming response, Alison launched Shri Service Corps, a nonprofit arm of the organization, in 2012. Today, under Alison's leadership, Shri serves over 8,500 students both in its studios and remotely in schools, shelters, hospitals, recovery centers, and youth clubs. Every Shri program is guided by a curriculum developed by Alison to support students both on and off the yoga mat.
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All three levels of Little Flower Yoga Kids Teacher Training with Kate Reil, hosted at Shri
Frontiers of Trauma Treatment Training with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Dana Moor
Harmonium Sound Training with Daniel Tucker
Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson
Mindful Schools' Mindfulness Training
Masters Degree, Harvard University (English | Thesis focusing on Karma Yoga)
More than 2,000 hours of teaching experience
Certified in Mental Health First Aid
8-week MBSR training with Shara Plynton at Shri
OTHER VISITING FACULTY INCLUDES:
Kate Hawley, Robin Sousa, Denise Barry and Crystal Vernava
Shri students and partners also visit during some Q and A panels and discussions
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Step 1: Email a cover letter to: alison@shriyoga.org stating your background, how you heard about Shri, and why you want to take this training. Please include your vision of how communities can benefit from yoga outreach, and why you want to join the Shri movement!
Step 2: Make a $50 nonrefundable application fee here
Step 3: Upon receipt of the above, Alison will schedule a 10-minute phone interview!
General Pre-Requisites:
1. Solid time management skills.
2. The commitment to all the dates and hours.
3. At least two years of a consistent yoga practice.
4. An open mind.
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$1,260.00 for non-certified yoga teachers | PAY HERE (cc fees apply)
$1,200.00 for 200/500-hour certified yoga instructors with proof of certification | PAY HERE (cc fees apply)
If you’d like to avoid credit card (cc) fees, please review your registration form with our policies emailed to you after your phone interview for more potential payment options.
Refund Policy: Stated on the official application sent after your phone interview.
WORK STUDY POSITION | Shri Service Corps will offer one trainee for this training a work study position to help with day-to-day operations during the training. This trainee must be dedicated to service in our local community and also demonstrate a commitment after the training to volunteer with Shri in outreach-related activities | to be considered for this position, email a detailed letter of intent to alison@shriyoga.org (use "work study letter of intent" in the subject line of your email | this work study position cannot be combined with other scholarships / free classes)
Training Collaborations: Shri's Yoga Outreach Teacher Training program is not designed to cover material taught in a traditional 200-hour or 300-hour yoga teacher training. While we spend some time during weekend one covering yoga philosophy in terms of Shri's roots in karma yoga, Shri's training does not cover anatomy (outside of safe alignment in outreach-specific populations), subtle anatomy, sequencing for classes offered in commercial yoga studios, Sanskrit terminology and so on. This also means that while you do not need to be a registered yoga teacher (RYT) to be accepted into this outreach training, more than half of our trainees are RYTs seeking specific training for serving at-risk populations safely and effectively either with Shri or on their own.
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Enrollment in all weekends is required because practices learned in one weekend will apply to populations covered in the weekend before and / or after. During training, you will practice everyday to experience the Shri Curriculum in action based upon the population covered. Knowledge and versatility are the keys to success in outreach, and the full weekends properly prepare you to serve the community if you decide to teach after training.
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2018 Dates | October 13 + 14, November 10 + 11, December 8 + 9
2019 Dates | October 12 & 13, November 9 & 10, December 7 & 8
2020 + 2021 Dates | COVID-19 + Pine Street Design
2022 Dates | February 18, 19, 20 + March 11, 12, 13
2023 | Pine Street Construction
2024 Dates | February 9, 10, 11 + March 8, 9, 10
2025 Dates: February 14, 15 + March 14, 15, 16 + April 5 (make up weather date) + Graduation Party 25
Two Other Tuition Payment Options
1) Those accepted and registered by December 15, 2025 are eligible to receive an “early-bird” $50 discount on the full tuition when paid upfront by either check or Venmo; arrangements made during the application process.
2) A private payment plan can also be arranged on a case by case basis (with administrative fees) for the service. The deadline to sign up for a personalized plan is January 31, 2026.