Coaching Skills for Yoga and Caring Professionals
Listen deeply. Ask with care. Hold space so your clients can find their own way.
This module gives you a practical framework for integrating coaching skills into your work with clients—and we'd love to have you join us. You'll learn how to listen, ask questions that open doors, and hold space in a way that honours your client's wisdom and autonomy. These skills will shift how you work with clients, whether you are a yoga teacher, therapist, or helper.
Grounded in the International Coaching Federation Core Competencies and a client-centred approach, this module reframes coaching as a relational practice—not a set of techniques. Together, we’ll explore the foundations of coaching, including the Life of Wellness Institute Coaching Model, strategic communication, and co-created relationships. You’ll learn how to listen at all three levels, ask powerful questions, and support clients in designing actions that align with their values and goals. You’ll also explore how to build trust, co-create working agreements, and navigate scope of practice with integrity. This is not about having the answers—it is about being with your clients so they can find their own.
What you'll learn
We’ll begin with a question: What does it mean to truly listen—not just to respond, but to understand?
Then, we’ll explore how coaching skills help you show up for your clients in a way that is client-centred, not prescriptive. You’ll learn how to listen beyond words—to hear what is being said, and what is not. You’ll discover how to ask questions that open doors rather than close them. And you’ll practice holding space in a way that honours your client’s wisdom, autonomy, and capacity for change.
We’ll also explore how these skills support your own growth as a professional. You’ll learn how to build trust, navigate scope of practice, and sustain yourself in this work.
This matters because coaching and teaching is not about having the answers. It is about being present with your clients so they can find their own.
What Makes This Module Different
Most coaching trainings teach you a model. This one teaches you a way of being—client-centred, relational, and grounded in the ICF Core Competencies.
You are not learning a script for asking questions. You are learning how to listen, how to hold space, and how to support your clients in a way that honours their capacity for change.
This is not about becoming a different kind of professional. It is about deepening the way you show up in the work you are already doing.
The Be K.I.N.D. Embodied Wisdom Methodology
We’ll apply the Be K.I.N.D. Embodied Wisdom Methodology through the lens of coaching. Keen Observation helps you see what your clients need and what is arising in the coaching relationship. Interoceptive Awareness builds your capacity to sense what is happening in your own body and mind. Nurturing Action supports compassionate, client-centred communication. And Developing Embodied Practices gives you the tools to sustain yourself as a coach.
Throughout the module, we’ll learn together. This is a live, cohort-based module, so you are not just learning from me—we are all learning from each other.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you will:
Understand the International Coaching Federation Core Competencies and the Life of Wellness Institute Coaching Model
Listen at all three levels—to yourself, your client, and the environment
Ask questions that open doors and support client discovery
Build trust and co-create working agreements with clients
Support clients through the stages of change
Navigate scope of practice and sustain yourself in this work
You will leave with comprehensive training materials and reference guides, as well as ready-to-use tools for your own practice or as a coach and teacher.
By the End of This Module, You’ll Have:
A clear framework for integrating coaching into your professional practice
The confidence to listen deeply, ask with care, and hold space with intention
Practical tools for building trust and supporting client-centred goals
A deeper understanding of your scope of practice and how to sustain yourself in this work
Who This Is For
This module is for:
Yoga teachers who want to integrate coaching skills into their work
Clinicians, therapists, and helpers who want to learn how to coach clients in a client-centred way
Practitioner who wants to hold space with more skill and presence
Anyone considering the full 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training certification and wanting to start with one module
You don’t need to want to be a coach to take this module. You just need to be ready to show up authentically and ethically for the people you serve.
Quick Details
Format: Live Virtual on Zoom
Length: 17 sessions / 3 hours each
Upcoming Dates:
March 10, 2027 to May 12, 2027. Mondays and Wednesdays, from 5-8 pm Calgary time/MT (4–7 PT, 6–9 CT, 7–10 ET). No class on March 17 or March 29.
Tuition: $999 CDN (early bird rate of $899 available until February 17, 2027)
CE Credits: 51 hours CE
Or this module can count toward our 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training.
Prerequisites: None
Ready to Add Coaching Skills to your Teacher Toolbox? Enroll now or schedule a free discovery call to learn more.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY
“I would recommend this course to EVERYONE!! Even if they don’t want to teach yoga or know anything about yoga. The knowledge and support you will gain from Mel will change your life!!
I am filled with more confidence, and my flame has been reignited! I believe I can change my life and my career and help support others in their own healing.” -Cori Williams.
“This training was detailed, trauma-informed, and person-centered. Melanie holds space for her students and encourages them to find answers within themselves. Her warm energy and nonjudgmental approach gave me the tools to care for myself—which in turn helps me care for others. I feel ready to teach and provide a safe environment for all.” -Alex Pattinson
“Trauma-informed yoga gets to the heart of what yoga is meant to be. I wanted training that aligned with my values—from our first call, I knew this was it. Melanie facilitates a beautiful online space where I never felt like I was missing out, no matter where in the world I was.” -Mary Whiteside
“I feel equipped to support clients with intention, compassion, and clarity—not just as a teacher, but in my own healing. This training clarified my dharma: how to serve others while honoring my wellness. The community we built is lifelong. Learning from Mel has been an honor I’ll carry forever.” -Alyssa G
Hi, I'm Melanie
For over thirty years, I’ve been where you are—passionate about yoga’s healing potential but disillusioned by trainings that prioritize perfect poses over people. That’s why I founded the Life of Wellness Institute: to create a different kind of teacher training. Your lived experience matters more than handstands here. Nervous system science trumps rigid alignment cues. Ultimately, you’ll learn to build a career that sustains both your students and yourself.
My approach—honed through three decades as a yoga therapist and trauma educator—is what I call sacred pragmatism. No spiritual bypassing. No toxic positivity. Instead, just proven tools: breathwork adapted for real trauma recovery, movement that respects anatomical diversity, and business strategies that let you teach from integrity instead of burnout.
Over the years, hundreds of teachers have used this framework to carve their own paths—in hospitals, nonprofits, and private practices where their work actually changes lives. Now, I’m sharing every lesson I’ve learned so you can skip years of trial and error and step confidently into your calling.
This philosophy isn’t academic for me. It’s the lens I’ve used for over thirty years to understand people, trauma, and what it means to heal. That’s what I’m sharing with you.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about teaching yoga. It’s about creating spaces where healing happens—and making a living while you do it.
No pressure, just clarity!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Right For Me?
Absolutely. Our training meets you where you are. Many students join to build nervous system regulation tools for anxiety or stress, deepen their understanding of trauma-sensitive practices, and create sustainable self-care routines. You’re welcome to take any module that supports your goals—you would simply skip the teaching-specific modules like The Art & Science of Teaching Yoga or the certification modules. If you change your mind, you can always add those on later.
We combine 100% live Viniyoga training with trauma-informed neuroscience and Ayurveda. Unlike pre-recorded programs, you’ll get real-time learning and feedback from our founder Melanie Taylor and learn from your peers in an intimate cohort.
Our Yoga Teacher Trainings are also fully modular—you can take individual modules for continuing education, or complete the full training at your own pace within 18 months, with the option to upgrade along the way.
Eligibility & Accessibility
While a 6-month practice is recommended, it’s not required. We begin gently with restorative yoga and progressively build skills at your pace.
Yes. We adapt for chronic pain, hypermobility, mobility aids, and neurodivergent needs like sensory-friendly pacing. Note: Acute injuries may require doctor’s clearance.
Absolutely. Our Community Agreements are designed to cultivate an emergent space for everyone.
We use gender-neutral language, honor pronouns.
Modules & Certification
You’re welcome to take any module on its own. Each module counts toward your continuing education, and you’ll receive a CE certificate upon completion. If you decide later to complete the full training, your modules will apply toward certification. However, we ask that you complete the full program within 18 months of starting your first module. If more time is needed, just reach out to Melanie—we’re happy to discuss extensions.
Sometimes a single module is all it takes to realize you want the full experience. If you complete your first or second module and decide to pursue the full certification, simply let Melanie know within two weeks of the module’s end. We’ll then apply your module tuition toward the full training cost—so you pay the same total price as if you had enrolled in the full program from the beginning.
Absolutely. We do ask that you complete your certification within 18 months of starting your first module. If more than 18 months have passed, we may request a brief skills refresher or competency check to ensure you’re set up for success. Just let Melanie know, and she’ll help you navigate the process. If more time is needed, however, just reach out to Melanie—we’re happy to discuss extensions.
About Our Curriculum and Courses
Our foundation is Viniyoga—a trauma-sensitive approach emphasizing breath-centered movement, adaptive sequencing for diverse bodies, and neuroscience-backed nervous system regulation.
You’ll learn about trauma, how to recognize and support trauma responses, use activation-aware cueing (e.g., no “push through pain”), and apply frameworks from the Life Of Wellness institute Trauma-Informed Framework.
Yes. We’re a Registered Yoga School (RYS®) at 200-hour and 300-hour levels, and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider® (YACEP). Yoga Alliance registration is optional for teaching.
Yes. Our individual modules are YACEP-approved and can be taken on their own, as part of a full teacher training, or as a refresher. We also offer additional CE trainings, including Integrating Yoga in Mental Health Recovery and Prevention, among others. You can find upcoming CE offerings under Courses > Continuing Education in our menu.
Payment & Logistics
Our modules are offered on a rolling basis, so you can start when it works for you. Each module has its own schedule. View upcoming dates and register for individual modules or the full program on our Courses page. If you’re unsure which path fits best, schedule a free discovery call with Melanie.
Live sessions are held during daytime hours (Calgary time/MT) and are designed to fit the schedules of working professionals and caregivers. Each module has its own schedule, so you can choose the timing that works best for you. View upcoming module dates on our Courses page or reach out with questions—we’re here to help. If you’re unsure, schedule ae a free discovery call with Melanie.
We offer flexible payment options to fit your needs. Pay in full, use our interest-free payment plan, or purchase individual modules as you go. All payments are processed securely in Canadian currency. GST is applicable for Canadian students and waived for international students upon request. Contact us before your invoice is issued and we’ll remove it. If GST is charged through online registration, you would need to apply for a rebate through the Canadian government.
You’ll have access to all course materials for the duration of your module, and we keep them open for one week after completion to give you time to download everything. All materials are downloadable, so you’ll have your own copy to keep. We’ll also send a reminder with your completion materials.