Experience Authentic Yoga in our RYS 200 & RYS 300 Professional Trainings

Ananda Yoga Teacher Training is a comprehensive program that expands your understanding of yoga poses, yoga philosophy (Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita), anatomy, and the subtle body (chakras and nadis). You will deepen your asana practice through the use of affirmations, dynamic relaxation, and awakening your vital energy (prana).

Ananda Yoga was developed by Swami Kriyananda, based on the teachings he received from his guru (spiritual teacher) Paramhansa Yogananda. In this program, you will learn how to practice, modify, deepen, teach, and use props for 38 yoga poses. You will also learn powerful techniques that go beyond poses: pranayama (breathing techniques), mudras, bandhas, Yogananda’s Energization Exercises (a unique system for developing health and vitality), practices for stimulating the chakras, and meditation. The program is offered both in-person at the Ananda Blue Lotus Temple near Seattle (in Bothell), and online via Zoom.

Next Session Begins: January 22, 2026

An Authentic Tradition

Discover the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda, founder of Ananda Yoga based on the thousand-year-old science of hatha yoga.

A Yogic Environment

Immerse yourself in a place of peace and spiritual depth supported by a community of yogis.

A Professional Training

The School is certified with Yoga Alliance® RYS™ 350 hours and RYS™ 500 hours. We offer you high quality, safe, accessible teaching.

If you have yet to experience Ananda Yoga and would like to take a class, or, if you have any questions about your personal practice or how this program can serve you, please contact the registrar of Yoga Teacher Training, Christina at 425-806-3700 or christina@anandawashington.org.

Meet the Instructors

Murali Venkatrao PhD

PhD, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Director of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training and Lightbearer of Ananda. Murali has been teaching yoga teacher since 2002, and is an active researcher studying Yoga’s impact on diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and other metabolic disorders. He is currently the Director of yoga teacher programs at the Ananda Institute of Living Yoga in Bothell, WA, and a Professor of Yogic Physiology at Vivekananda Yoga University in Norwalk, CA. 

Murali also serves as a Minister at Ananda Washington where he teaches various courses on Vedanta, Hatha Yoga, Yoga philosophy, yoga therapy, beginner and advanced teacher trainings, and more.

Murali earned his PhD in Yoga from S-VYASA Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University in Bangalore, India where his research focused on diabetes risk reduction and glycemic control through yoga techniques. 

Lynne Steele

E-RYT 500, YACEP, Co-Director of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training. Lynne’s energetic, enthusiastic and caring approach helps beginning and experienced yoga students find their own personal expressions of joy, harmony and balance in body, mind and spirit. She has taught Ananda Yoga for more than 10 years, is co-director of the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training program, and is a certified Ananda meditation teacher. 

Christina Riegel

E-RYT 200 | RYT-500 | YACEP. Christina discovered yoga a couple of years after moving to Seattle in 1998. After almost 16 years of trying different yoga styles, and always feeling like something was missing, she finally found her yogic home at Ananda. The yoga community at Ananda a living example of what yoga is all about. Christina finds inspiration through Ananda Yoga’s firm roots in the ancient art and science of yoga. Now a certified Ananda Yoga teacher, Christina is honored to guide students to experience for themselves the amazing benefits of yoga for the body, mind, and spirit.

In addition to teaching yoga, Christina is a member of the temple staff, taking charge of many departments. 

Debra Clark​

 Debra, E-RYT 200 | RYT 500, has been practicing yoga for 30+ years. She’s taught Ananda yoga and meditation for more than 10 years. She’s a lead teacher in the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training program. Debra is a certified health & wellness coach who uses holistic tools including aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and ayurveda to help clients set, achieve, and exceed their personal and career goals. Debra earned E-RYT 200 and RYT-500 certifications from Yoga Alliance with over 1,000 hours of teaching.

Lorie Gail

C-IAYT | RYT 200. Lorie had been practicing yoga for many years on her own until she found her true “Yoga Home” at the Ananda Lynnwood Community in the late 90s. She became a graduate of the 200 level Ananda Yoga Teacher training in 2011. She has since continued on with her studies becoming certified as a specialist in each of the following fields – restorative, yoga nidra, meditation, adaptive yoga teacher, yoga for cancer and a yoga therapy. One her greatest joys is helping others find the peace and joy she feels by creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels acknowledged, supported, with a sense of well-being and awareness of the inner radiance that exists within all of us.

Nancy Callan

Nancy Callan is a Meditation and Yoga Teacher, E-RYT 200, YACEP. She   discovered hatha yoga through pre-natal yoga classes in 2002. Later, after experiencing the joy and benefits of Ananda Yoga, she went on to complete her teacher training through the Ananda Institute of Living Yoga, and has been teaching at Ananda Bothell since 2014. She is inspired to help others use the practice of asana (yoga poses) to support not only physical health and wellness, but also an awareness of the connection between the body and the breath to inner qualities such as peace, calmness and joy.

Kevin Hart

 RYT 200

Level 1 - RYT 200

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RYT300 - YTT Level Two

Ananda Yoga®