The Spirit of Seva: Meet our 2013 Gift of Yoga Scholarship Recipients

Published: January 23, 2014

Yoga Alliance is excited to announce the recipients for our 2013 Gift of Yoga Scholarship. This need-based scholarship, funded by our founding sponsor and endorsed partner, prAna, provides teacher-training tuition assistance for Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®s) who teach to underserved communities. The scholarship combines both Yoga Alliance’s and prAna’s goals of financially supporting the continuing education of yoga teachers who would like to attend a RYS 300.

Scholarships of $2,225 each were awarded to two RYT 200s seeking to upgrade to RYT 500, to subsidize teacher-training tuition at a RYS 300. Evaluated in a blind review by a team of YA staff, members, and peers, the recipients were selected based on financial need, experience teaching to underserved communities and plans to serve these communities in the future, commitment to continual growth and refinement as a yoga teacher, longevity as a YA member, and leadership in the yoga community.

It was inspiring to hear about our recipients' deep dedication to seva and their eagerness to continue learning and refining their skills as yoga teachers so that they could better serve others. We are pleased to provide scholarships to:

Chelsea Curtin, RYT 200 from Santa Cruz, CA

Chelsea completed her RYT 200 training in 2010. She volunteers as an adaptive teaching assistant in yoga classes for the disabled and offers physical and verbal adjustments to deepen the students’ experience. She teaches at a family-focused yoga center where she leads classes for children and teens. The director remarks that Chelsea has “a curious mind that continually wants to know how to teach in a way that inspires her students” and describes Chelsea’s classes as “dynamic, creative and engaging.” Committed to providing her students the best experience possible, Chelsea has attended adaptive and children’s teacher-training programs.

As a RYT 200, Chelsea wants to blend her work with children and teens and her work in adaptive yoga to teach youth with special needs. The advanced training skills will equip her to take on the challenge of teaching physically or mentally handicapped children or youth suffering behavioral issues.

Update: We caught up with Chelsea, RYT 500, to see how things went since completing her RYS 500 training and upgrading to the RYT 500 designation. Click here to read our interview with her.

Congratulations to Chelsea on their well-deserved awards!

We will offer more scholarship opportunities in the future, so check our Scholarships page for the most up-to-date information.

If you or your business is interested in contributing to this fund, please contact memberservices@yogaalliance.org for more information.