NeuroSoma Yoga — Teacher Training
Bring the brain and nervous system into every class you teach.
A digestible, evidence-based training on the brain / nervous system / body connection — and how to use it for greater mobility, less pain, and lasting brain health. Co-created and co-led by Niamh Daly and Diana May.
Yoga and movement have long been known to support the brain and nervous system — but the gap between the research and how we actually apply it can be wide. In this groundbreaking training, NeuroSoma Yoga changes that. We pair practice with current science in neuroanatomy, pain and somatics so you can offer your students something genuinely new.
About the training
Supporting brain through body — and body through brain.
Join us to discover our human systems like never before, and to learn novel ways you can leverage the brain, nervous system and body to support each other. This 25-hour, trauma-informed, evidence-based training is brought to you by two highly experienced experts.
For all of us, at every life stage, the central nervous system — which includes the brain — is central to our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. In return, the body is a highly effective route for supporting our brain and emotional health.
As women reach perimenopause and later life, brain health becomes a number-one concern — studies show that Alzheimer's dementia is the most feared disease of old age.
To meet the needs of the brain and nervous system, Diana and Niamh have curated a series of adjustments and additions that sit naturally within a yoga framework, and can be added to any movement professional's toolkit.
Together they're in awe of the human system — physical, mental, neurological and emotional — and of the potential of yoga. They also know we benefit from connection and community, and that yoga is enhanced when met with other perspectives and modalities.
Who it's for
Built for movement professionals of every kind.
If your work touches how people move, breathe, or recover, these tools belong in your toolkit.
Certification is granted to yoga teachers and other movement professionals. Curious non-professionals are welcome case by case, after a short call or email.
What you'll learn
A full-system approach that changes what movement can do.
How chronic pain and mobility limitations can be addressed through brain-stimulus techniques like those in this program.
How the tools you'll add to your teaching can help protect the brain against cognitive decline.
How a felt sense of safety in the nervous system becomes a catalyst for mobility, ease, and movement.
How to leverage specific, novel tools that support whole-system function and long-term health.
How to stand out as a movement professional, delivering transformational results to your students and clients.
The curriculum
Eight modules, brain to body.
A guided pathway — from how the brain works, through the nervous system, to teaching it in your own classes and one-to-one.
Understanding the Brain
Anatomy of the brain, the brain across the lifespan, and what it truly needs to thrive.
Understanding the Nervous System
How movement shapes the nervous system — and how the nervous system shapes us in return.
Pain Science & Cranial Nerves
A modern, workable model of pain, how to actually work with people who have chronic pain & injury, and how the cranial nerves are an underutilized tool for support.
Brain-Food & Health in Movement
How to fuel the brain through daily neurological inputs. Also includes a nutrition section.
Working with Cranial Nerves
Practical neuro-tools you can apply directly for pain and mobility.
Pranayama, Meditation & Philosophy
Refining key yoga practices and principles through a brain-first lens.
Teaching Integration
Weaving the learning into your actual classes, students, and caseload.
Teaching 1:1
How to apply these techniques in a private, one-to-one setting.
Live Practical Exam
Week 9 — teach it back and demonstrate your integration in a live final exam.
No textbooks to buy
You'll receive a colourful, easy-to-read PDF manual with everything you need, plus homework links and access to all pre-recorded content.
A community forum
Connect with your fellow participants and graduates in a group forum — during the course and long after it ends.
Everything we cover
The full syllabus, at a glance.
- Anatomy of the brain
- The brain through the lifespan
- When things go wrong
- Protecting the brain
- Building cognitive reserve
- Body-to-brain activation tools
- Anatomy of the nervous system
- How movement shapes the nervous system
- The brain's influence on the body
- The body's influence on the brain
- Trauma & memory in the nervous system
- Asana from a polyvagal perspective
- Understanding & leveraging research
- Neuro-protection tools built into asana
- Neuro-tools for pain
- Neuro-tools for mobility
Dates & times · Next live round
Autumn 2026 schedule.
Nine live sessions on Zoom, with times designed to suit Europe, Canada, the USA and South America. Can't make the live dates? Study the full course on demand instead, with 12 months' access.
In other time zones, check your local times and dates here.
- Recognised by Yoga Alliance and the Canadian Yoga Alliance (25 CEC/CPD credits).
- 25 hours total — 18 hours live with Diana & Niamh, plus 7 hours pre-recorded — run over two months.
- Live sessions are recorded if you can't attend, except the final practicum.
- Between sessions, you're expected to study the recorded content before the practicum.
Note: because clocks change on different dates either side of the Atlantic in late October, the last two sessions shift by an hour — we'll keep you informed on exactly how that affects you.
The last training sold out — please book early to secure your place.
Book your place →Choose your path
Three ways in.
From self-guided study to an eight-month mentorship — pick the depth that fits your practice.
- 25 hours of pre-recorded modules
- 8+ ready-to-teach sequences
- Learn entirely at your own pace
- 1 year of access to the material
- No live calls or Q&A
- No live practical exam
- 18 live hours + 7 pre-recorded, over 9 weeks
- Live teaching, Q&A and feedback
- 8+ ready-to-teach sequences
- Live final practical exam
- Certificate for movement professionals
- Direct access to Niamh & Diana
- The full Crash Course · months 1–2
- Twice-monthly live mentoring · months 3–6
- Deep-dive topics & advanced integration
- Guided final project · months 7–8
- Further embed the work in your own classes & caseload
- Certificate for movement professionals
Already completed the Crash Course? Returning graduates take $500 off the Mentorship — ask us for your alumni code before you enroll. Reduced rates also apply if you've trained in Yoga for Menopause or Yoga for Bone Health.
Every participant also receives
- 12 months' access to study the entire course again
- Reduced cost on Niamh's Yoga for Menopause and Beyond and Yoga for Bone Health trainings
- Reduced cost on Diana's other trainings
- Alumni meet-up webinars
Your teachers
Learn from the people who built it.
Niamh Daly
Founder, Yinstinct Yoga
Niamh Daly is the author and creator of Yoga for Menopause and Beyond (Guiding Teachers and Students Through Change), Brain-Body Yoga (coming 2027) and Yoga for Bone Health. Teaching yoga since 2004, she has been training hundreds of teachers, psychotherapists and movement professionals worldwide since 2020. She is passionate about helping women (and men) maintain mental brightness, and protecting our brains as we age. Niamh is also trained in Pilates, Neuroanatomy in Movement, and is a Somatic Education Coach.
Diana May
Founder, Diana May Yoga
A yoga teacher, trainer, and somatic practitioner, Diana May specializes in applied neurology for pain management and movement. She holds degrees in environmental studies and urban planning for community development and has been a lifelong environmental activist. She uses her deep knowledge of ecology and natural systems to enhance her understanding of the human experience and weave together her teachings on anatomy, yogic philosophy, the nervous system and the brain.
Testimonials
In their words.
Movement professionals who've trained with us — and clients who've felt the work firsthand.
It is a fascinating and highly complex topic and you both delivered the information with humour and kindness — your expertise and love of the topic was obvious. I have learned so much and will be integrating for a while AND you've given me accessible tools to start integrating into my classes and 1:1 clients straight away!
I have Functional Neurological Disorder, and suffer from tremors, seizures, and chronic pain, especially in my head, neck, shoulders, and eyes. I came to Diana feeling discouraged about my pain and worried that I wouldn't be able to perform the exercises since I have limited mobility. [Diana] took the time to learn about my disorder and discuss my experience in depth… She was incredibly communicative and her knowledge and passion for the work shone through and created a sense of ease for me. After my first session with Diana, I immediately noticed reduced pain and increased mobility. She taught me neuro-somatic techniques… Diana is well attuned to my needs and I've enjoyed her kind and encouraging demeanor as she guides me through these new techniques… my once-crippling eye pain has almost entirely subsided…
I have covered brain health in other trainings, but this was another level of learning — a deeper dive. Experienced and knowledgeable tutors who care passionately about their work. This course is a must for me on a personal level, for learning about keeping the brain healthy, but to be able to teach others about this subject is a real gift.
I loved being part of the training without showing up in the live sessions — I am really grateful for this opportunity. The possibility to watch the videos again will help me learn more, because the stuff is so intense, although you both make learning easy. I think it's great that I can immediately put what I've learned into practice.
As a Psychology teacher and Licenced Professional Counselor, the information given on neuroscience was very accurate and up to date as far as research goes… your passion for the content is so evident, and this understanding is so important for those teaching yoga and movement. I have taken a lot of workshops for yoga teachers and this one really stood out… you both were so organized and knowledgeable, with practical skills that all of us will incorporate for years to come.
In July 2021, as a result of an autoimmune crisis, I was unable to walk smoothly, run, or walk down stairs or hills, and my coordination and balance were off. I contacted Diana to ask if she could help me start to move again… three years later, I consider Diana's private [& group] lessons an essential element to my almost full recovery and a catalyst for important life changes. Not a day goes by without me giving thanks to [Diana] for getting me back on my feet.
WOWWWWWWW! Where do I start? I literally want to shout from the rooftops about how I can now support my peer group and support their journey through this life. I wish I had learnt this years ago. Niamh and Diana are so personable, knowledgeable and open in their teaching style. Everything kneaded together so well: the booklet, the wealth of information online and then the live sessions. I can't wait for their book! It is a jam packed course and I am looking forward to referring back to the material over the next few months and incorporating the suggestions into my classes as well as being inspired by these to create my own.
This course was exciting to show up to. The community and space created by Niamh and Diana were thoughtful, informed, and inclusive. I was so pleasantly surprised by the biopsychosocial approach of all the information shared. There was a complexity to the discussion that created space for elements of life that are frequently difficult to discuss (access, race, gender, finance, etc.). What I liked best was the emphasis on allowing there to be mistakes, bravery, and imperfection in order to grow. The neuroscience is baked into their approach to teaching and learning, just brilliant.
The Neuro-Somatic Yoga Training has made a profound impact in my life, transforming a subject that felt so intimidating into a series of approachable practices. As someone who has traditionally struggled with learning and retaining information, the teaching style and how the curriculum was structured created a safe space where I felt truly capable of mastering the material. Supported by an incredible, grounded cohort, I didn't just learn the theory; I gained a practical toolkit that has sharpened my mental focus and fundamentally increased my confidence in my own cognitive abilities. Integrating these drills into my daily routine has recalibrated my nervous system, providing a sense of clarity and resilience that has changed the way I show up in the world.
This training will change the way I approach teaching yoga for the rest of my career. I already feel empowered to apply some of the lessons to my own teaching, and my students are loving it! I have learned so much content, more than I expected and more than I thought I could comfortably take in! Both Niamh and Diana were clear, thorough and very clearly care about this material. Their kindness and approachability made asking questions and receiving feedback feel really comfortable. I can't say enough good things about my experience!
Believe it or not, I do feel like this was the first truly inclusive and trauma-informed training I have ever been involved in. Especially when studying anatomy, I appreciated naming how this work can get a little binary, and how Niamh and Diana encouraged using more inclusive language. I also appreciated how detailed and passionately the course was put together, yet it was shared with lightness, care, and an overall fun-loving approach. Ultimately, I felt that Niamh and Diana led by example, an embodied practice of the material, by showing up with compassion each week. They felt so present from start to finish. I wish I had encountered this work a long time ago; either way, I'm beyond grateful to have it now!
Questions
Good to know.
Who is this training for?
Movement professionals of all kinds — yoga teachers, Pilates instructors, physiotherapists, dance teachers, personal trainers, somatic practitioners, and psychotherapists or counsellors. Curious non-professionals are welcome case by case, after a short email exchange.
I'm currently a yoga teacher trainee — can I still study the certificate?
Yes, you can. The content suits anyone trained as a yoga teacher, in training, or working in another movement profession. Please note that it does not, on its own, qualify you to teach yoga.
I'm not a yoga teacher, but I'd like to support myself. Can I attend?
We welcome non-professionals on a case-by-case basis, after a brief email exchange. Please be aware that the certificate is only granted to yoga teachers and other movement professionals, and that the course is delivered with teaching skills in mind. You won't need to attend the practicum or submit any coursework.
What happens once I register?
For the live training, Niamh will be in touch by email within 24 hours of your payment being received, with everything you need for the next steps. Niamh and Diana can't wait to welcome you.
How is the training delivered?
The live training is delivered online via Zoom, with further hours to study in your own time.
How many hours does the certification include?
25 hours in total — 18 hours live, plus 7 hours of homework via instruction videos, sequence classes, the manual, a nutrition talk and more.
Will I be learning specific asana or sequences?
Yes. You'll learn specific ways to add to many yoga asana to activate the brain and nervous system — supporting brain health, reducing pain and improving mobility. You'll also learn a number of short sequences in Brain-Food in Movement.
Do I receive a certificate, and what's involved?
Yes — the certificate is granted to yoga teachers and other movement professionals. To graduate successfully, you'll complete three components: attendance and participation across all content, the teaching practicum, and the course quizzes.
Is the course recognised, and will I receive CEC / CPD points?
Yes. The course counts toward your continuing education credits with Yoga Alliance and the Canadian Yoga Alliance — you'll receive 25 credits.
I'm in a different time zone — do I have to attend everything live?
If your time zone doesn't line up with Ireland, PST or EST, you can choose to receive the recordings and submit your practicum as a recording instead. (If you miss the live practicum, a small assessment and admin fee of €20 / $20 applies for the Crash Course and Mentorship.)
What's the difference between the Crash Course and the Mentorship?
The Crash Course is the complete 25-hour foundation over 9 weeks (8 weeks of content plus a live exam in week 9). The Mentorship contains that same Crash Course and then continues for six more months — deeper topics, twice-monthly live mentoring, and a guided final project to deepen your mastery and further embed the work in your own teaching.
Is the self-paced option right for me?
Choose self-paced if you want the full curriculum on your own schedule and don't need live calls or the practical exam. It's the same material, delivered as pre-recorded modules with a full year of access.
I've already taken the Crash Course — can I join the Mentorship?
Absolutely, and returning graduates take $500 off. Ask us for your alumni code before you enroll so it's applied at checkout.
Do you provide support after the training?
Teachers love how approachable Niamh and Diana are, and Niamh warmly welcomes emails with quick questions. Bigger questions can be explored in a mentoring session with Niamh or Diana. They're also happy to share your events on social media — just tag @yinstinctyoga and @dianamayyoga.
What if I need 1:1 support for myself after the program?
We're here for you. You can work 1:1 with Niamh through her personal resources — group or private classes, retreats, and online membership — and with Diana through her private sessions.
I have other questions — can you help?
Of course. Reach out any time — email Niamh at [email protected] or Diana at [email protected] and ask away.
Choose the path that fits your practice.
Not sure which tier is right? Email [email protected] or [email protected] — we'll help you decide.
Choose your path →