Immerse yourself in the world of Traditional Tantric Yoga and follow the path of the Masters of the Himalayan Tradition. Set out on the journey which will eventually yield life's greatest rewards : freedom, fulfillment, and remembrance of who you truly are.

200-Hour Traditional Tantric Yoga Teacher Training

Natalie Backman | Lead Teacher
Debby Fletcher | Assistant Teacher

Intention​

What Makes this Training Unique?

The best teachers begin as the most sincere students and dedicated practitioners.

Rooted in the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters, Śakti Sādhanā draws from ancient wisdom to create a holistic approach to modern practice and life. It is designed to first develop your personal practice, then prepare you to embrace your role as an ethical, impactful teacher with the capacity to carry the light of a living Tradition.

Śakti Sādhanā introduces the philosophies and methodologies of this Tradition and teaches the fundamental systems for sharing them in a deeply meaningful way.

Every module in the training 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.

Your Guides

Natalie Backman | Lead Teacher

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, mostly steady, and grateful to be alive. My relationship with Yoga and Tantra spans twenty plus years and I've been devoted to sharing the teachings of this Tradition for the last twelve. In that time, my experience of Yoga 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. As such, I am 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 the Himalayan Masters. I share a modern approach to Traditional Tantric Yoga interweaving āsana, prānāyāma, deep relaxation, 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 remembrance of your most sacred Self.​

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.  

All I do is an offering to the Divine Mother. Jai Mā!

Debby Fletcher | Assistant Teacher

My relationship with yoga has deepened through the seasons of my life. 

As a mother, a teacher and a student, I have learned that practice does not ask me to step away from everyday life. It asks me to meet it with greater awareness, courage and compassion.

Studying with Natalie Backman in the Himalayan Tradition has given me a way to explore yoga beyond the physical practice. The teachings invite me to look honestly at myself, to notice the patterns that shape my choices and to remember that I can begin again. Mantra, meditation and personal practice have become places I return to, especially when life feels demanding.

I know that joining a teacher training can feel both exciting and daunting. I have studied while raising my children and working, often finding that the most meaningful moments of practice happen in the middle of ordinary life. You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.

As an assistant on this training, I hope to offer the kind of support that has meant so much to me: a warm presence, space for honest questions and encouragement to keep returning to your practice. It will be a privilege to learn alongside you as you make these teachings your own.

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The Contents​​​​​

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 question, 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.

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Module Two | The Beauty & Methodology of Tantra

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.

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Module Three | Wise Progression—Sequencing for Practice & Life

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.

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Module Four | Anatomy & The Six Categories of Āsana

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.

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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 kośas (layers of the Self), the nadis (energy channels), cakras (energy centers), our prāṇic field, and more. We will also play with effective ways to weave subtle body techniques into the complete practice.​

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Module Six | Prāṇaśakti & Prāṇāyāma

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 Prāṇaśakti.

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​Module Seven | Playing with Prāṇa

What is the nature of the life force known as Prāna? 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 Eight | Living Your Dharma

Live In Person in Tuscany

Dharma is one of our soul's four primary desires. It is the desire to fulfill your unique purpose in this lifetime. 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, rooted in the wisdom of the Vedas, has the potential to be truly life changing.​​

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Module Nine | Āyurveda & Your Personal Practice

Āyurveda is the sister science of Yoga. Where Yoga is primarily oriented toward spiritual endeavors, Āyurveda 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 complement 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.

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Module Ten | Mantra & Bhakti

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, Īśvara Pranidhāna, trustful surrender. We will also enjoy the bliss inducing practice of bhakti, and the swiftest path to samadhi (enlightenment), Mantra sādhanā.

The Commitment

We gather one weekend per month—not including integration months—for 12 months total.

In addition to the live gatherings you will have access to lecture content and self-guided assignments which you can navigate at your own pace between our gatherings.

We will practice together—live via Zoom—every week as a community. 

You'll have a one-on-one mentorship session with me every month of the training.​

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2026 - 2027

23 - 25 October | What is Yoga?

13 - 15 November | The Beauty & Methodology of Tantra​

December | Integration — No Live Weekend Gathering​

8 - 10 January | Wise Progression - Sequencing for Practice & for Life​

5 - 7 February | Anatomy & The Six Categories of Āsana

5 - 7 March | Your Subtle Body 

2 - 4 April | Prāṇaśakti & Prāṇāyāma

7 - 9 May | Playing with Prāṇa​​

15 - 20 June | Living Your Dharma In Person in Tuscany​

July | Integration — No Live Weekend Gathering

20 - 22 August | Āyurveda & Developing Your Personal Practice

24 - 26 September | Mantra & Bhakti

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Gathering Times

Fridays

9-11:00 PT / 12-14:00 ET / 17-19:00 GMT / 18-20:00 CET

Saturdays & Sundays

4-11:00 PT / 7-14:00 ET / 12-19:00 GMT / 13-20:00 CET

Community Practice Every Sunday

9-10:30 GMT / 10-11:30 CET

Community Practice Every Wednesday

9-10:30 PT / 12-13:30 ET / 17-18:30 GMT/ 18-19:30 CET

Yoga Sūtra Satsanga Every Thursday

9-10:00 PT / 12-13:00 ET / 17-18:00 GMT/ 18-19:00 CET

In-Person Portion in Tuscany​​​​

Investment​

€3,000

In Person Portion in Tuscany is an additional €1,000
Payment can be made in full or in monthly installments

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Payment Plan
A deposit of €500 will confirm your commitment.
Monthly payments commence at €210.00 euro for twelve months.

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Cancellation

Deposits are non-refundable, but are transferrable to another training if requested within 30-days of the start of training. Once the training has commenced, all payment plans must be honored, until the training is paid in full. No reimbursements will be made if—for any reason—you are unable to complete the training.