Modular Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training in Oslo with Ilias Kousis and Charlie Speller, Forrest Yoga Guardians, Nov. 8-18, 2024 – Mar. 18-29, 2025 in Oslo, Norway
Nov
8
to Mar 29

Modular Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training in Oslo with Ilias Kousis and Charlie Speller, Forrest Yoga Guardians, Nov. 8-18, 2024 – Mar. 18-29, 2025 in Oslo, Norway

MODULAR FORREST YOGA FOUNDATION TEACHER TRAINING 

The Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training is an opportunity to build vitality, discernment, and the capacity to heal. You will break through lies and facades into your authentic self, learn to speak with breath, confidence and wisdom, and develop professional ethics grounded in honesty and integrity. Every day supports your personal evolution. This deep dive into Spirit and Ceremony is a 27-day yoga teacher training that encompasses 22 days of intensives (group practices) and extensive teaching practicum, a 3-day Anatomy Course taught by Brian Campbell and a 1-day Business Course taught by Charlie Speller. It is a comprehensive program for aspiring teachers, experienced teachers, and yoga students who want to work deeper within themselves. You will leave equipped and ready to teach, after 200-hrs of contact teaching time and with a comprehensive manual.

Become an Extraordinary Teacher

Taught by Forrest Yoga Guardians Charlie Speller and Ilias Kousis, this comprehensive program teaches you how to become an extraordinary teacher, leader, and human being. You will develop your unique gifts as a powerful, authentic and passionate teacher and learn how to use them with skill and grace to support your students, yourself and your newly growing community. You will leave this training feeling inspired and confident in your knowledge, methodology, and unique teaching voice as a Forrest Yoga teacher. You then start your life afresh, with a renewed sense of hope and the tools required to begin living in a way that makes you most proud of yourself.

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Yoga as a healing path

Learn the tools to take control of your life and rid your cells of unwanted pain, suffering, and trauma. Then you can bring the same healing to your students.

Walking the path of your Spirit

Find your Spirit, connect to your Spirit, and take the actions that strengthen that connection. This awareness guides you to teach from the truths you discover rather than from a dogma.

Teaching through discovery

You will participate in a tightly woven circle of teaching modalities including lecture, videotaping, group processes, practice teaching and partner work that provide a path for learning and self-discovery

Functional Anatomy & Physiology

An integral component of the training is the Functional Anatomy for Yoga Teachers course, taught by Forrest Yoga Guardian, Bodyworker and Anatomist, Brian Campbell. The anatomy course is offered online as a recording, which you can watch at your own convenience. It will be available to you right after the completion of the first module. It is required that you complete watching it before the start of the second module.

Forrest Yoga Business Course

Taught by Forrest Yoga Guardian Charlie Speller with a background in the business side of yoga, this 1-day module will teach you the skills to envision your personal mission, define your niche, find teaching jobs and organize yourself clearly in the business arena of your life.

Group virtual meet-ups

There will be bonus online meetings between the two modules in order to stay connected together as a group.

Daily Schedule:

  • 9:00-12:00 (3 hours) Morning Intensive practice: Asanas, Chanting, Ceremony

  • 12:00-13:30 (1,5 hour) Break

  • 13:30-18:00 (4,5 hours) Afternoon session: Group Teaching, Hands-on assists, Exercises for emotional processing, Meditation, Ceremony and Vision Quests, etc

Certification

This teacher training meets the 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Program requirements and is the first step to becoming a Forrest Yoga Certified Teacher. You will receive a Level 1 certificate upon 100% completion of the course. With that certificate, you will be able to enroll into the Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program and are eligible to register as an RYT-200 with the Yoga Alliance.

Who Is This Training For?

Yoga students who yearn to contribute to healing our planet & people. Whether one is new or an experienced teacher, we welcome those who desire to move deeply within themselves & into the Great Mystery. People anywhere on the yoga spectrum will enjoy the transformative benefits of this training. We expect you to have the willingness, health and strength to commit to 100% of this teacher training.

This training:

  • Grows your relationship with your authentic self, as a teacher, healer and evolving human.

  • Gives you new tools beyond the mat; in daily life including:
    1. Breaking through lies and facades into your authentic self.
    2. Learning to speak with breath, confidence and wisdom.
    3. Developing professional ethics grounded in honesty, integrity and in support of your personal evolution.
    4. Nutritional Strategy & ecological contribution.

You will:

  • Learn to practice – and teach – in a way that builds vitality, discernment, healing & fascination with the process.

  • Make quantum leaps in your personal yoga practice.

  • Immerse yourself in Ceremony that nourishes your Spirit through music, dance, prayer, and asana.

  • Become an effective and compelling teacher: Learn how to heal injuries, work through trauma, problem-solve, sequence safe and exhilarating classes.

  • Leave equipped and ready to teach, with 200 hrs of contact teaching time, anatomy training, a business course and a comprehensive manual.

  • Learn to design your life in a way that makes you proud of yourself.

About your teachers: 

Charlie Speller

Charlie Speller is a Forrest Yoga Guardian, authorised teacher of the Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training and the 3-Day and 5-day (40 hour) Poppy Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training. Charlie is a bodyworker, bodycoach, Medicine Person and pelvic health expert. Charlie’s trainings and workshops, combine her skill and interest in biomechanics and biochemistry with her innate desire to help people track and feel sensation in the body. Charlie teaches across the globe and for the past 10 years has also worked closely with Ana Forrest & Jose Calarco in various capacities — both as part of the Forrest Yoga business and as a teaching assistant. Charlie has a deep understanding of all aspects of Forrest Yoga and its healing qualities on and off the yoga mat. Her personal mission is to help people understand their body better, so that they can get out of pain, trust themselves and thrive.  Charlie infuses her teaching with her sense of fun, curiosity, compassion, empathy and truth. For more info about Charlie visit: http://www.lumaia.life/about.html

Ilias Kousis

Ilias is a very passionate Forrest Yoga Guardian, who quit his academic career as a Geologist to immerse into teaching yoga full-time. He is currently based in Oslo, Norway, where he teaches group classes, privates, workshops, teacher trainings and yoga for companies. His rich educational background in yoga includes Vinyasa/Hatha/Yin Yoga, but Forrest Yoga is the one that captivated him the most. He works as Content Manager for Ana Forrest and Jose Calarco and contributes in the evolution of Forrest Yoga heritage so that it continues to accommodate the needs of today’s people. Ilias is also an Energy Medicine graduate from Light Body School from Four Winds Society, and practices Energy Medicine in individual and group levels. Ilias’s goal is to broadly share his unique blend of the healing tools of Forrest Yoga combined with his own expertise that has been developed over years of dedicated self-practice and working with people of various backgrounds. As a consequence, his good command of physical and energetic anatomy of the human body greatly enhances his sequencing skills to create harmonious, healing sequences that help his students’ bodies unwinding and free up from physical and emotional backlog. He is adept at seeing energy in his students’ bodies, which enables him to assist them in a precise and effective way. His hands-on assists are mindful, gentle and aim to induce healing and space in the joints. Ilias’s background as scientist makes him be robust, direct and succinct, and has helped him to weave spirituality with cutting-edge science and more importantly, share this in a comprehensive way to his students. He loves guiding his students how to open up new doors of possibilities by connecting to their Spirit instead of living on autopilot and making decisions based on fear and past trauma. More info: www.iliaskousis.com 

TUITION

Your spot in the training is held only upon receipt of your deposit of 12,000 NOK and is guaranteed upon receipt of your full payment. If you really want to take this training and your financial situation is currently difficult, or you need a payment plan talk to us: Reach Ilias at: ilias@forrestyoga.com or Charlie charlotte@forrestyoga.com. The total tuition for this training is dependent on your financial situation. There are three categories, fully explained below.
 
TIER 1: COMMUNITY PRICE — 35,000 NOK
If you answer yes to some or all of these questions, you are invited to pay the Community price:

~ I struggle with meeting my basic needs like food, housing, transportation.
~ I don't have access to savings or financial assistance from a family member or partner.
~ I am unemployed or underemployed.
~ I can't take time off of work without burden.
~ I don't own or lease a car.

TIER 2: SUSTAINER PRICE — 37,500 NOK
If you answer yes to some or all of these questions, you are invited to pay the Sustainer price:

~ I may stress about basic needs like food, housing, and transportation, but I still meet them.
~ I'm able to access financial assistance from a family member or partner to cover expenses such as bills, debts, or health care.
~ I'm employed.
~ I'm able to buy things like a cup of coffee, a book, a T.V. show or movie, or apps for my phone.
~ I'm able to sometimes buy new items and donate others.
~ I own or lease a car.

TIER 3: SUPPORTER PRICE — 39,000 NOK
If you answer yes to some or all of these questions, you are invited to pay the Supporter price:

~ Although I may have debt, I'm comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs like food, housing, and transportation.
~ I'm employed or don't need to work.
~ I'm able to go on vacation with little to no financial stress.
~ I'm able to live in a higher end property.
~ I can own or lease a car with little to no financial stress.
~ I'm able to pay for healthcare coverage.

TERMS

This yoga teacher training require physical attendance. If during the period we will have a tightening in terms of infection control due to Covid-19, the gatherings will be carried out as planned on digital platforms.

***All payments are non-refundable***

***Full payment must be made a month prior to the start of the training***

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Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program with Ilias Kousis, September 2025-2026 at Vale de Moses, Portugal
Sep
8
to Sep 13

Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program with Ilias Kousis, September 2025-2026 at Vale de Moses, Portugal

I am thrilled to announce my Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program taking place at beautiful Vale de Moses, Portugal

This 1-year long program is ideal for certified yoga teachers (of all styles) who wish to further develop personally as well as refine their teaching skills. The program includes:

  • 6-Day in-person training, September 8-13, 2025

  • 6-Day in-person training, September 7-12, 2026

  • In-person training schedule 9:00-11:30 (2,5 hr) & 13:30-18:00 (4,5 hr)

  • Four bridge online group meetings between the in-person trainings

  • Homework in addition to the online meetings

  • One individual online session per trainee

This program aspires to help you:

  • Overcome stagnation and plateaus in your teaching career

  • Overcome burn-out, pain and injuries due to teaching or practicing unsustainably

  • Overcome dysfunctional patterns of behaviour on and off the mat

  • Transition from part-time to full-time teaching

  • Facilitate further development of your teaching skills and self-growth

  • Create an intimate group community of teachers based on the ideals of cooperation and lifting each other up

This Mentorship program will offer you advanced and highly applicable education on:

  • Breath and correct applications of breathing techniques (Pranayama)

  • Therapeutic Hands-on assists

  • Teaching skills, discovering and utilising your authentic voice and unique gifts

  • Sequencing for all categories of students, from beginner/injured to advanced

  • Practicing sustainably: maintain your passion and physical health while teaching full-time

  • Seeing energy and empathise your students

  • Ceremony and how to apply it in your daily life and teachings

About me:

Hi, I am Ilias, a Forrest Yoga Guardian (Level 5 - handpicked by Ana Forrest & Jose Calarco), Energy Medicine Practitioner (Four Winds) and Certified Breath Coach (YogaBody & Dan Brulé). I am formally educated as Geologist and Climate Scientist (MSc), which has been a result of my early passion to study Earth and Life in general to satisfy my own thirst for knowledge as well as to serve humanity. After realising what my life’s purpose is, I decided to make a radical change: I quit my PhD 90% before completion and dedicated myself to transitioning in teaching yoga full-time. I never looked back since then and my life is full of blessings one coming after the other. I know what it feels to be scared of standing up for yourself, disobeying your fear, stepping into your own power and daring to chase after your dreams. I did it for myself, still do it and will continue doing it until I die. I can help you find the courage to dream your life into being; you know, that “life” that YOU authentically desire living, not the ones others expect you to live. Learn more about me by navigating my website and IG profile.

Your investment:

  • From 2,250 to 2,650 €

This price includes:

  • Food and accommodation for 12 days (for both in-person trainings) including breakfast, lunch, dinner and access to fruits, tea and coffee all-day, at one of the most prestigious retreat centres in Europe: Vale de Moses (featured in Forbes, Yoga Journal, The Guardian, The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveler, OmYoga)

  • 8x in-person Forrest Yoga morning intensives (2,5 hr)

  • 2x in-person Forrest Yoga evening practices (1,5 hr)

  • 4x online 60 min sessions*

  • 1x online or in-person if possible individual coaching session*

  • 25% discount for unlimited access to my online channel, featuring yoga and breathwork practices of various durations*

  • 70-hr Yoga Alliance Certification part of 300 hr certification

  • Coaching and support for your level 2 Forrest Yoga Homework for certification

*During the Mentorship program period

What’s not included:

  • Transport to and from Oleiros (Vale de Moses staff will give you a free 15-min ride to the retreat center)

  • Individual feedback and approval for your Forrest Yoga Level 2 - Homework Thesis. That will cost an extra of 250 €.

Why Vale de Moses and how to get there?

  • Located approximately equally far from both Lisbon and Porto and accessible by car (2.5 hrs) and public bus transport (3.5 hrs), Vale de Moses is situated deep in the Portuguese forest and relatively high elevated (~790 m a.s.l.) and serves as an excellent location for connection to nature, self-reflection and deep cleansing physically and energetically. It offers a unique blend between freshness of mountain air and cooler temperatures in the morning and evening and more elevated warm temperatures during midday. The water you will be drinking comes from local wells (properly tested to be safe), the air you breathe will be clean and straight from the exhalations of the plants surrounding you, the land will welcome you and support your healing journey, and your body will enjoy reduced radiation exposure time, which will mend your energy field.

  • Usually, Forrest Yoga Teacher Trainings are held in urban environments for practical reasons, but I deliberately choose a pure location that will boost the deep, rewarding work you will be putting and help you distance yourself from urban lifestyle distractions.

  • You can get to Vale de Moses either by renting a car from Lisbon or Porto (2,5 hr) or if you travel by public transport, it is recommended to travel via Lisbon with regular Rede Expressos bus services to the local town of Oleiros, where Vale de Moses staff will pick you up for the short drive to the retreat without additional cost.

  • Read more about the unique beauty of Vale de Moses here.

Questions?

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Forrest Yoga Mentorship program with Charlie Speller and Ilias Kousis, Forrest Yoga Guardians, April 26th - May 3rd, 2024, France
Apr
26
to May 3

Forrest Yoga Mentorship program with Charlie Speller and Ilias Kousis, Forrest Yoga Guardians, April 26th - May 3rd, 2024, France

This Forrest Yoga Mentorship Programme spans 12 months and is designed to support yoga teachers improve their teaching skills as well as make a sustainable yoga career without burning out. You will learn how to use your voice, hands and unique, personal gifts to assist your students on a deep, healing journey. The program is open to graduates of any 200-hr yoga teacher training (not just Forrest Yoga graduates) and is suitable for both new teachers and experienced teachers.

This 1-year program comprises of in-person and online parts:

  • 8-day retreat at the “domaine de la Licorne” (Licorne means Unicorn) centre in France. A place of calm, beauty and nature, April 26 - May 3, 2024.

  • Monthly online calls for 12 months, with last call on April 26th, 2025.

We will focus on developing you as a teacher — honing your skills, uniqueness and voice, as well as building your confidence in working with injuries and hands-on assists. AND because we're on retreat, we will have extra time to share our knowledge in bodywork, energetics, anatomy, ceremony etc with you in Q&A sessions. You also get to discover your relationship with Ceremony on this training and define your version of Ceremony. 

What to expect in the mentorship program:

  • Plenty of opportunities to ask questions both in-person and online.

  • Teaching practicum and teaching feedback and coaching.

  • Learn a plethora of healing hands-on assists to bring healing touch to your students.

  • Learn how to touch your students in a safe and effective way that brings long-lasting change in their bodies.

  • Discover in a practical way what is the anatomical principles behind Forrest Yoga hands-on assists and why are they so healing and effective.

  • Discover your unique, authentic voice. Further develop it and learn how to use it as a healing tool for your students.

  • Discover your unique and beautiful personality traits that make you a unique, non-reproducible teacher and a blessing to this world.

  • Learn how to listen to your pain as a call for help from your body and how to bring healing to yourself.

  • Learn how to go deepen your own practice and unravel the emotional backlog that is linked to your physical pain as well as stress and reactive behaviours.

  • Learn to identify how your dysfunctional patterns and fears may be withholding you from living your life to the fullest.

Your Teachers:

Charlie Speller

Charlie Speller is a Forrest Yoga Guardian, authorised teacher of the Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training and the 3-Day and 5-day (40 hour) Poppy Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training. Charlie is a bodyworker, bodycoach, Medicine Person and pelvic health expert. Charlie’s trainings and workshops, combine her skill and interest in biomechanics and biochemistry with her innate desire to help people track and feel sensation in the body. Charlie teaches across the globe and for the past 10 years has also worked closely with Ana Forrest & Jose Calarco in various capacities — both as part of the Forrest Yoga business and as a teaching assistant. Charlie has a deep understanding of all aspects of Forrest Yoga and its healing qualities on and off the yoga mat. Her personal mission is to help people understand their body better, so that they can get out of pain, trust themselves and thrive.  Charlie infuses her teaching with her sense of fun, curiosity, compassion, empathy and truth. For more info about Charlie visit: http://www.lumaia.life/about.html

Ilias Kousis

Ilias is a very passionate Forrest Yoga Guardian, who quit his academic career as a Geologist to immerse into teaching yoga full-time. He is currently based in Oslo, Norway, where he teaches group classes, privates, workshops, teacher trainings and yoga for companies. His rich educational background in yoga includes Vinyasa/Hatha/Yin Yoga, but Forrest Yoga is the one that captivated him the most. He works as Content Manager for Ana Forrest and Jose Calarco and contributes in the evolution of Forrest Yoga heritage so that it continues to accommodate the needs of today’s people. Ilias is also an Energy Medicine graduate from Light Body School from Four Winds Society, and practices Energy Medicine in individual and group levels. Ilias’s goal is to broadly share his unique blend of the healing tools of Forrest Yoga combined with his own expertise that has been developed over years of dedicated self-practice and working with people of various backgrounds. As a consequence, his good command of physical and energetic anatomy of the human body greatly enhances his sequencing skills to create harmonious, healing sequences that help his students’ bodies unwinding and free up from physical and emotional backlog. He is adept at seeing energy in his students’ bodies, which enables him to assist them in a precise and effective way. His hands-on assists are mindful, gentle and aim to induce healing and space in the joints. Ilias’s background as scientist makes him be robust, direct and succinct, and has helped him to weave spirituality with cutting-edge science and more importantly, share this in a comprehensive way to his students. He loves guiding his students how to open up new doors of possibilities by connecting to their Spirit instead of living on autopilot and making decisions based on fear and past trauma. More info: www.iliaskousis.com 

Schedule: 

Friday, April 26th:

  • 16:00-19:00 (3 hr): Opening Ceremony, Yoga practice and Talking Circle

Saturday, April 27th – Thursday, May 2nd:

  • 8:00-9:00 (1 hr): Breakfast and immersion into the calmness of the retreat center.

  • 9:30-12:30 (3 hr): Ceremony and deeply nourishing Forrest Yoga practice.

  • 12:30-14:30 (1,5 hr): Lunch and free time. Opportunity to soak up the goodness from the morning intensive practice.

  • 14:30-18:00 (3,5 hrs): Afternoon session with Q&A, teaching practicum, sequencing, learning hands on assists, written emotional processing exercises, guided vision quests through meditation and ceremony. 

  • 18:00-19:00 (1 hr): Free time

  • 19:00-20:00 (1 hr): Dinner

Friday, May 3rd:

  • 8:00-10:00 (2 hr): Open Morning Practice

  • 10:30: Check-out

Online meet-ups:

We will meet with you once per month until April 2025. You'll be given fun assignments and receive support and assistance on any challenges regarding teaching and life and how to overcome them. There will also be ample time for Q&A.

Prices:

  • Deposit 600€

  • Full price ranges from 2176€ to 2378€ depending on accommodation options (info on the link below)

  • The retreat part of the Mentorship including only the morning practices (optional to take part in the afternoons as well) is open for non-teachers as well at a reduced price. Contact us for info!

Register by clicking the link below or by bank transfer (contact us here: charlie@lumaia.life or ikousis90@gmail.com). Payment plans also available!

***All payments are non-refundable***

Included in the price:

  • 8 days of in-person teacher training at a calm retreat setting in France.

  • Yoga Alliance continuing education hours.

  • Monthly group online sessions until April, 2025.

  • 8x Ceremony, meditation and Forrest Yoga asana practices lead by Forrest Yoga Guardians Ilias & Charlie.

  • All food including breakfast, lunch, dinner. Food allergies are catered for.

  • Accommodation. For accommodation types check the link below.

  • Email support from Ilias & Charlie whenever you need it for 1 year.

  • During the mentorship and for the year after, Charlie and Ilias offer you 25% off their regular rates for private mentorship sessions, plus discounts on other events, products and initiatives.

  • By completing the mentorship the doors open for you to assist Ana Forrest & Jose Calarco, Ilias and Charlie at Forrest Yoga workshops, retreats and teacher trainings.

    ***Please note that the schedule can be subject to small changes***

You MUST bring your own:

  • Yoga mat

  • Block

  • Strap

  • Large bath towel to roll as a yoga prop

Travel:

Travel isn't included in the price, the nearest airports are Bergerac or Bordeaux and we'll be happy to help you figure out your journey to the retreat centre. 

Got any questions? Email us at charlie@lumaia.life or ikousis90@gmail.com.

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