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The Divine Woman
Embodied Yoga for Women
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350 HR Women's Yoga Training
A trauma informed, holistic and integrated approach to women's health and wellbeing.
An in depth look at Yoga through the lens of women. Our 350hr Women's Yoga Training offers a trauma informed, embodied, experiential experience across six key areas of study. This training will equip participants with the relevant skills & knowledge to support women in the community, working 1:1 and in small therapeutic groups.
Expressions of Interest open for 2024

A well rounded training specific to the needs of Women
This 350 HR course runs over 1 year, with a 200HR pathway Teacher Training Certificate in yoga specific to the needs of women completed in the first 6 months. Students will then enter an immersive training & mentorship, completing the remaining 150HRS with more in depth teachings into a range of women's health & wellness practices.
You will be guided for the entire journey by Kate Payne (Higher States of Yoga) and Andrea Broadbear (Yoga with Andy), both Yoga Therapists and Women's Health Specialists with more than 2 decades of embodied practice and experience. Guest facilitators and mentors also join throughout.
The Embodied Yoga For Women immersive training provides a comprehensive, interactive and explorative look at how we can approach women's health today using yoga in a therapeutic manner.

Who is this training for?
This training is open to all women who want to dive deeper into their practice.
This training is unique in that it is designed as an immersive experience, navigating the material in an exploratory way, meaning, it is suitable for those who intend on teaching yoga as well as those who would simply like to journey into the feminine over the space of a year.
Numbers are capped to ensure each woman receives the time and attention they require.
This training may not be right for you if you are not able to travel for in person sessions. If this is you we have a 200hr Women's Yoga Training which runs online that may interest you.
Student Reflections...
The 350 hour Women’s Teacher Training with Kate Payne has been an incredibly transformative and life-exalting experience.
The training offered such a beautiful and in-depth exploration of Yoga as a way of life, with the focus on women’s wellness across the lifespan. The training was holistic in its approach, weaving in teachings of Ayurveda and TCM. A deep embrace and reverence of the feminine was imbued throughout.
From a personal perspective, this training was far beyond the Asanas. It allowed contemplation and exploration of my own experiences and responses to the practices offered, and to Life.
From a professional perspective, this training has been so supportive in my current work with pregnant and postpartum mothers, giving me greater depths and ways of working with mothers through their transitions.
I am grateful to Kate for her embodied wisdom, knowledge and guidance. Her humility and integrity as a teacher is profound.
The other joy of this training was the deeply nourishing connections created between the students. Lifelong friendships have definitely been forged.
I highly recommend this training if you are desiring to journey deeper into oneself and to harness the supportive potency that yoga can offer women across the lifespan.
(Tanya Heinrich, Student 2022 & Postpartum Doula)
https://nourishedbeginnings.com.au/

Our training approach
1. Svadhaya - a practice of Self study and embodied learning
2. Sadhana - personal and collective practice, sharing of resources and experiences
3. Embodiment & Somatics - experiential journey of practice
4. Facilitation - creation of spaces that support whole body health & healing through connection and trust

Our training modules
Each modules offers an integrated approach to learning through experiential embodied practice, reflection & sharing.
Opening ceremony
Module 1 - Foundations
Module 2 - Yin Yoga for Women
Module 3 - Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum support
Module 4 - Ayurveda for Women
Module 5 - The Subtle Body
Module 6 - Yoga Therapy for Women
Additional areas of study include, Yoga Ethics, Yoga for Business and Applied Anatomy
Closing immersion
Areas of study (Modules)
Module 1 (Foundations)
Hatha Flow & Womb Yoga
Learn the foundational teachings of hatha, tantra & womb yoga to become a fully qualified yoga teacher with a speciality in women. Includes functional and energetic anatomy, analysis of each asana as it applies to women, alignment, cues and adjustments.
Foundational yoga asana – alignment, benefits, contraindications, modifications, injury support & prevention.
Sequencing – intelligent and emotional sequencing. Learn how to tailor a class to each individual student.
Embodied Anatomy – functional anatomy of the human body, including skeletal structure & tissues, habitual patterns and different elements that affect movement for different bodies. A focus on female anatomy, in particular pelvic health.
Art of Assisting – learn the art of assisting by seeing each body as unique and gaining understanding of how to observe bodies both physically and energetically to tailor your approach to assisting and adjustments.
Meditation – become a fully qualified meditation teacher through initiation into yoga nidra and vedic mantra meditation practice.
Pranayama – gain an understanding of how the breath moves in the body through powerful breath work and embodied practice.
Prana Vayus, Bandhas & Mudras – experience how prana moves in the body and how practice can be enhanced through physical locks and energetic seals.
Sadhana – developing and teaching personal self practice.
Yogic Wisdom – connect to the ancient tradition and teachings of yoga through the lens of Hatha and Tantra.
Sacred Texts – explore aspects of the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, both ancient yogic texts from which many of the teachings flow from.
Ayurveda – introduction to Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, and it’s foundational philosophies and language.
Module 2 (Yin)
Learn the foundational postures and teachings of yin yoga to become a fully qualified yin yoga teacher with speciality in women. Includes functional and energetic anatomy, analysis of asana as it applies to women, alignment, cues, prop support and adjustments.
LEVEL 1
- Yin yoga theory and principles of yin
- Applied anatomy as it relates to yin yoga – the study of fascia
- Energetic anatomy including the study of the meridian lines & koshas
- Yin yoga postures & sequencing in relation to both the Myofascial and Meridian lines
- Adjustments & use of props in a yin yoga practice
- Myofascial release techniques using equipment including MFR for pregnancy
LEVEL 2
Further exploration into Yin Yoga and Myofascial Release. Building on the foundations learnt in Level 2, we will explore in greater detail:
- Applied anatomy as it relates to yin yoga – the study of fascia
- QI and the Meridians
- Additional yin yoga postures including upper body and those suitable for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum
- Intelligent sequencing and workshop planning
- Myofascial release techniques for pregnancy and postpartum
Module 3 (Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum)
Learn the foundations of fertility, pregnancy & postnatal yoga. Includes women’s functional and energetic anatomy, foundational asana, cues and prop support as it applies to each stage of the journey.
LEVEL 1
- Exploring the 3 trimesters, plus 4th trimester, physically, emotionally, intellectually & spiritually.
- Understanding the anatomy & physiology of the female pelvis & uterus
- Taking a holistic approach to yoga for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum & beyond
- Learning to teach a safe and therapeutic prenatal yoga class
- Explore therapeutic practices to support the pre & post pregnancy journey
LEVEL 2
Dive deeper into therapeutic practices to support the woman during pregnancy & postpartum and supporting the fertility journey.
- Ayurveda for fertility, pregnancy & postpartum – diet & lifestyle practices
- Myofascial release in pregnancy
- Therapeutic Pelvic Floor Support – including pelvic mapping and self-release technique
- Restorative practices during each stage in the fertility to postpartum journey
- Supporting mental health & trauma
Module 4 (Ayurveda for Women)
Explore women’s health from an ayurvedic perspective, learning by observation by immersing yourself in the study of your own health.
- Women’s hormones, cycles and transitions
- Breathing practices
- Women’s medicine
- Approaching trauma
Module 5 (The Subtle Body)
Deep dive into the subtle body through the study of the:
Koshas – the study of the five layers of being
Chakras – the study of the 7 major chakras within the body
Vayus – the study of the rhythm of the flow of prana
Elements – the study of the five elements as they relate to yoga
Nadis – the study of the three major nadis as they relate to yoga
Gunas – the study of the Gunas and their impact on the mind and body
Module 6 (Yoga Therapy for Women)
Learn the foundations of working with women therapeutically. This module focuses on:
- Working with specific groups of women
- Working in a 1:1 setting
- Practices that focus on a yoga therapy style approach
*This module and training does not qualify you to practice as a Yoga Therapist, however it does provide you with the foundations to go on and further study or specialise in this area.
Additional study areas
- Applied Anatomy & Pelvic Health
- Yoga Ethics
- Yoga for Business
Women’s Mentorship
Teaching – taking your seat as a teacher. Discovering your voice, developing your presence and authentic teaching style. Learn how to create an optimal environment for transformation of your students including how to create tailored workshops and events.
Sadhana – learn to develop a daily sadhana practice so that you always teach from a place of embodied practice and experience.
Business & Marketing – learn how to market yourself as a dedicated and qualified teacher, living the yogic path. Gain an understanding of and begin to implement what’s required to establish your yoga teaching brand, source work and develop specialised areas of teaching.
Prerequisites
- A minimum of 12 months yoga practice (does not have to be asana based)
- A willingness to dedicate the time and energy to complete the full training to the best of your ability.
- An open heart & commitment to participating and reflecting on your experience in connection with the other students in the training.
Attendance & Certification
As all of our training is immersive and explorative, we require 80% live attendance and the completion of all course work to receive certification. If you are unable to join a session live you may access the recording via our online portal.
Accreditation of this training is through Yoga Australia.
Registration Process
- Complete the express of interest form [available here]
- Receive a copy of the information booklet.
- Complete application form.
- Pay deposit & course fees or select payment plan upon acceptance.
- You will receive email confirmation of your registration.
- 7-days prior to the course commencement you will receive an email with your online portal course access details.
Pricing & Payment
$4,800 (Early Bird)
Payment Plan 12 x monthly payments $400 (Total $4,800)
$5,500 (Full Payment)
Payment Plan 12 x monthly payments $460 (Total $5,500)
- $500 deposit required to secure your spot on the training.
- All prices are listed in Australian Dollars (AUD)
- If you have previously completed training with us you are eligible for a 10% discount. Please email us at training@higherstatesofyoga.com

Expressions of Interest
Our expressions of interest are now open for 2024.
Dates: 2024 TBC
Location: TBC. There is a blend of in person and online learning.
Upon receiving your expression of interest we will forward you via email our full information booklet.
Contained within you will find detailed course information including dates.

Try a Free Women's Yoga Class
Sometimes it can be great to get a feel for what it might be like to practice / train with us.
This free intro to Women's Yoga class offers you a snippet of the experience.
During this first immersive week, Kate, Andrea and Taryn didn’t throw us in the deep end, rather they waded us in gently until before we knew it, we were floating in wondrous ancient yogic teachings and deeply connected internally and externally. I am blessed for having this opportunity to not learn or re-learn, but completely absorb what yoga is, and importantly what yoga is not. Instead of concerning us with fancy asanas and creative choreography, the first week of practice was devoted to the true intentions and foundations of yoga scriptures and practice. There were no rights or wrongs, but rather experiences, reflections and a ground-breaking rediscovery of my own intuition. Before this, I never had much faith in my own ability and only a meagre comprehension of where I was in the world at large. Now I feel deeply committed to a lifetime of going deeper on a personal level and passionate about being able to share this wisdom to the broader community as a whole. And it’s only been one week!
Evy – Graduate 2021
Our week one immersion was such a beautiful way to meet everyone in person. A group of like minded women coming together from all walks of life to learn, practice together, talk, nurture and support each other as only women can do for each other. I found the week inspiring on so many levels and I am so excited for the year to unfold to discover what lies ahead for us all.
Coral – Graduate 2021
A feminine approach to yoga has really resonated with me and the teachings so far have left me feeling elevated, accepted, supported, at home, more deeply connected to my body and feminine self, high on life, and excited for the remainder of the course and beyond.
Haylee – Graduate 2021