Master the Science of Spine Healing - Advanced Yoga Certification
with Sumit Manav

Advanced Yoga Certification in Spine & Functional Strength

A 20-hour Yoga Alliance-accredited specialty course for yoga teachers and wellness professionals who want to teach safer, smarter, spine-centred classes with confidence.

10 - 11 October 2026 | Manav Yoga Studio, Crawley | £300

Understand the Spine. Transform Your Teaching.

If you have ever had a student with a herniated disc, chronic lower back pain, scoliosis, spinal stenosis or a postural condition — and wondered whether a particular pose, adjustment or sequence was truly appropriate — this course is designed for you.

Foundational yoga teacher training teaches you how to teach yoga. But the students who walk into your classes often bring complex movement patterns, injuries and chronic conditions that require a deeper understanding of the spine.

Spine & Functional Strength Yoga bridges that gap.

You’ll develop a deeper understanding of spinal anatomy, biomechanics, functional strength, movement science and nervous system regulation, giving you the knowledge and practical tools to adapt your teaching intelligently and confidently.

The goal is simple: to help you create spine-conscious classes that support strength, mobility, resilience and long-term wellbeing.

What You Will Master

• Safe, Evidence-Informed Spinal Sequencing: Understand how different postures and movements load, decompress, rotate and stabilise the spine — and learn how to adapt sequencing for common spinal conditions, including disc herniations, scoliosis, stenosis and hypermobility.

• Spinal Anatomy & Biomechanics: Move beyond foundational 200-hour anatomy into a more practical understanding of the spine, including discs, segmental movement, spinal stability and the posterior chain — so you can better observe and respond to how your students move.

• Functional Strength Within Yoga: Learn how resistance, progressive loading and functional strength principles can be integrated into yoga practice to build greater spinal strength, stability and resilience.

• Fascia, Core Stability & Breathwork: Explore the relationship between the fascial network, core stability, breathing and spinal function, including techniques that complement traditional asana.

• Postural Assessment & Intelligent Adaptation: Develop a more refined eye for movement and compensation patterns, enabling you to modify poses, sequencing and teaching approaches according to the individual in front of you.

• Nervous System Regulation & Pain Management: Explore the relationship between chronic pain, stress and the nervous system. Learn breathwork, meditation and Yoga Nidra techniques that can support relaxation, pain management and nervous system regulation.

Course Details 

This is a 20-hour specialty certification combining practical, in-person learning with online study.

• 15 hours in person at Manav Yoga Studio, Crawley

• 5 hours online learning

• Course fee: £300

Day 1 — Awakening the Intelligent Spine

Session 1 — The Art & Science of the Spine

• Guided movement and exploration
• Spinal articulation and segmental awareness
• Core stability through breath

Session 2 — Yoga Therapy for the Spine

• Approaches for common spinal conditions
• Safe modifications and adjustments
• Effective use of props, ropes and walls
• Exploring the energetic spine through chakras and pranic flow

Session 3 — Functional Strength Integration

• Moving from traditional asana towards strength-based flows
• Posterior-chain activation
• Mobility and stability drills

Session 4 — Meditation & Nervous System Reset

• The spine–breath–mind connection
• Yoga Nidra for relaxation and spinal awareness

Day 2 — Building Functional Strength & Longevity

Session 1 — Functional Flow Workshop

• Dynamic vinyasa integrated with mobility and resistance work
• Teaching methodology, cueing and sequencing
• Observation and intelligent adaptation

Session 2 — Breathwork & Nervous System Regulation

• Diaphragmatic and accessory breathing
• Breath and spinal decompression techniques
• Pranayama for strength, regulation and calm

Session 3 — The Science of Wellness & Mind–Body Integration

• Stress, hormones and the spine
• Inflammation and recovery
• The role of sleep, nutrition and lifestyle in spinal health

Session 4 — Teaching Practicum & Assessment

• Teach short, spine-focused sequences
• Peer review and instructor feedback
• Certification ceremony

Online Learning 

Complete the online modules before or after the in-person weekend.

• Module 1 — Foundations of Spinal Health: Build your foundational understanding of spinal anatomy, movement and health.

• Module 2 — Functional Strength & Mobility Science: Explore the principles of strength, mobility, loading and movement as they relate to yoga and spinal longevity.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed for:

• Practising yoga teachers
• Yoga therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Personal trainers
• Movement professionals
• Wellness practitioners

A foundational yoga qualification is recommended, ideally a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) or equivalent.

Movement professionals without a yoga background are also welcome. Familiarity with basic yoga postures is helpful but not essential.

If you are completely new to teaching yoga, we recommend completing a foundational YTT before undertaking this specialty course.

Take the Next Step in Your Teaching

Move beyond simply knowing the poses. Understand the spine, understand movement, and learn to teach with greater intelligence, confidence and care. 

Limited places are available to preserve the small-group, hands-on nature of the training. 

ENROL NOW BY PURCHASING YOUR PASS HERE