We feel confident that you'll find this course to be one of the best investments you've ever made in your personal practice, your teaching and even your life outside of the yoga asana practice. But don't just take our word for it… check out these testimonials from some of the many current and former students of the ASFYT course. We included a few video testimonials at the beginning, followed by some written ones.
Video Testimonials
"You and ASFYT prepared me soooooo well for Acupuncture school!!! I actually ended up tutoring most of my anatomy class. It has also greatly affected both my teaching and my personal practice. Really grateful for the knowledge you have shared and for how it has influenced me -- I now have this passion for anatomy that I never knew I had, and I have you to thank for that!"
Stephen McFarland
Current Home-Study Student
“Jason -- a word of thanks and congratulations on your home study anatomy program. I had a lot of anatomy training as a student [Occupational Therapy] many years ago. Since graduation, most of my continuing education has been specific to my field of practice - not specifically anatomy. So it was great to be part of such a well organized and structured program. I found the video and audio downloads helpful, and the lecture notes were well written, easy to follow, well organized and will certainly become part of my reference library for anatomy as applied to yoga asana. The program gives so much insight into patterns of movement on and off the yoga mat. I highly recommend this home-study program to any yoga teacher or serious student of yoga interested to deepen their knowledge of anatomy. Congratulations again on a well designed program. I am a big fan!!"
- Marinda Stofporth, OTR/L, CYT500
2012 Home-Study Graduate
“If you want to have a greater respect for yourself as a Movement Professional, Jason Brown's Anatomy Studies is a must! Jason’s course gave me a greater understanding of the anatomical structure and engagement of the body than any course I have ever taken. I have been a Pilates instructor for 10 years and a student of pilates for 20 years. Most of my day is spent focusing on the engagement and alignment of the physical body of my clients in order to create core strength, flexibility, and joyful longevity in physical form. The knowledge and wisdom one gains from Jason's course, will put any body movement professional leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. Anyone who has chosen the path of helping others in the field of physical movement will honor one's self and clients tremendously by committing to this course.”
Jeff Elsass
2011 Graduate
"If you're ready to take your teach and/or practice to the next big level, whether you're a yoga, pilates, dance or other movement professional, ASFYT is exactly what you're looking for. The course had been recommended very highly by several excellent yoga teachers, but there's no way anyone could've conveyed to me what turned out to be one of the best training courses I've ever attended. I loved it, and I learned more than I could have ever imagined. While the course of study is extensive and comprehensive, Jason has put it together and presents it in such a way as to make the material very accessible, inspiring and fun. I'm also excited that he offers the opportunity for previous graduates to attend Part III of the course again as a means to continue deepening your understanding of the material. I intend to take it again every time it's offered!"
Freddie Wyndham
2011 Graduate
“After having completed the course I feel a strong sense of accomplishment and pride. This is an indispensable and valuable course that I highly recommend to any movement professional. In fact this should be a requirement! First we studied the bones and joints, then the muscles and their roles. The final component was a week-long intensive where we analyzed poses from an anatomical perspective to figure out where strength or flexibility is needed and how to facilitate that in the poses. We also discussed the potential benefits from a musculo-skeletal perspective, skillful alignment, as well as alignment issues that might arise and how to approach those challenges in class. The last week brought everything together and I feel like my understanding has shifted from black and white 2D to 3D HD. Instead of just regurgitating poses as I was taught to - I can now confidently analyze what is going on in the body for each pose and use that understanding to build a sequence that makes sense.”
Ariana Rabinovitch
2011 Graduate
“I believe Jason's anatomy course is completely worth the time commitment for any type of movement profession, especially for teaching yoga, providing you with the tools to become a more skillful and safe yoga teacher. The knowledge and insight you gain is super exciting and makes you want to come back for more - continuously. I found it invaluable.”
Janel DuRoss
2011 Graduate
“I would like to take the time to first thank Jason for developing, organizing and administering this incredible Anatomy Studies course. Coming from a reputable school, having my 500-hour certification, and having attended countless workshops, I have learned more, even in a homestudy, that all of my trainings combined. Every single piece of information reviewed, studied and reviewed again is invaluable and necessary for yoga/pilates instructors to mindfully deliver their classes. I had the opportunity to take this course as a homestudy student; the material, course work, reviews and tests were all the same as if I would have taken it at the studio. The availability of Jason is what made this course worthwhile. As many questions as I had, he always gave a clear, concise answer. Also, for future homestudiers...the audio and video bites for each lecture are posted, which was perfect! I am truly grateful to have found a teacher in Jason, and hopefully my students will reap the benefits.”
- Mary Kay Diehl
2011 Home-Study Graduate
“I LOVED the ASFYT course. I found the information mind blowing and extremely valuable. As a yoga teacher who lives and works on an island in the Caribbean, I was thrilled to come across the Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers home study program. It allowed me to access all of the material online, including lecture notes, presentation slides, and audio/video presentations of the classes taking place in NYC thousands of miles away. The material was presented in a comprehensive, logical and easy to follow manner, Jason was always available for questions and the format allowed for plenty of flexibility to complete quizzes and exams even with my unpredictable work schedule. I was up to speed and perfectly prepared to join the week long intensive at the end of the course. Jason is one of the most knowledgeable, friendly, down to earth and patient teachers I’ve ever studied with, full of fresh ideas and challenges that help you to become a better teacher and practitioner. It was truly a gift to find him and participate in the program.”
Andrea Scarborough
2011 Home-Study Graduate
“I have taught Yoga and Pilates for 13 years and have taken many anatomy classes. While anatomy can be incredibly confusing and difficult to memorize, Jason’s approach was the most thoughtful and straight forward I have ever experienced in a class room setting. He presented the material in a clear, organized fashion without drowning us in anatomical jargan. The technical knowledge was conveyed in a way that I could use it as a tool for diagnosis and treatment with my students. Aside from the basic anatomy, we digested a ton of new information about injury prevention and how Yoga poses can be SO incredibly different from one body to the next. I suppose the real reason I liked the class so much was because it wasn’t only text books and tests, it was a conversation.
Jason has a deep appreciation for the human body and a clear well organized understanding of how it works. He takes time to look at the body and to treat it with respect. If you are curious in any way about this topic, then this class is for you.”
Jessie Zalla
2011 Graduate
“The moment I sat down to listen to Jason's ASFYT Open House presentation, I knew that I had to sign-up for this course. The instant that he started talking about the mechanics of a joint and how to accurately describe movement, I was hooked. While I am not a yoga teacher, I am a lifelong dancer and I practice yoga, meditation, and Pilates. Fascinated by the moving body, I always felt like my anatomy education was not as substantial as I wanted it to be. At the end of Jason's 36-week series though, I can proudly say that I have a strong understanding of not only the skeletal and muscular systems, but also how to critically analyze anatomical movement. Jason has created an outstanding class that explains complex ideas and systems in a clear and simple way. Whether you teach or not, everyone who wants to live more fully embodied in their day-to-day lives would strongly benefit from taking this course.”
- Brendan Ranson-Walsh
2011 Graduate
“This course raises the standard of excellence for yoga and movement educators! From start to completion the information was presented in a logical and layered fashion. I have never before taken a class where the instructor had invested so much of himself in our continued success. Jason R. Brown is a model of integrity and professionalism and his influence pours into his students, which establishes a strong community of highly educated and compassionate instructors. It was so good I would take it again!”
- Chris Loebsack
2011 Graduate
“ASFYT is a course that all movement professionals should consider. Prior to taking the course, I had a general sense of anatomy, but I had no idea which specific muscles were the culprits for strength or flexibility limitations in various poses. It's invaluable to target specific muscles and know exactly how to access them! Also learning that there are some structural limitations that no amount of stretching or strengthening can change has given me permission to back off and cultivate ease for myself and my clients. From a young age, I was always asking why, why why. As a yoga teacher, that question persisted for me regarding MANY yoga asanas. I finally found some answers through Jason who teaches in a grounded, unbiased manner that is black and white, based on anatomy, rather than tradition or belief.”
- Dana Melillo
2011 Graduate
“Jason does a fabulous job showing his students the real world applications of what he teaches. I took anatomy in college and found myself not caring about what I was learning since it was just boring memorization, but Jason shows you the applications of anatomy, and using the strong foundation you will achieve in parts I and II how to use your new knowledge both with your clients and in your own practice. I would highly recommend this course to any movement professional who is interested in setting themselves apart from the average teacher by going beyond rote parroting of catch phrases to a place where you understand the science and anatomy behind the what you are saying and doing in the classroom.”
- Emily Allison
2011 Graduate
“I cannot recommended ASFYT highly enough! No matter how much anatomy you have studied already, there is much to be learned here. The material is presented in such a clear, organized, systematic way, it gives space to connect dots you wouldn't otherwise. My favorite part by far was the studying the skeletal system. Having such a confident and solid understanding of the structure that supports the rest of body has helped all my previous anatomy studies integrate.”
- Francesca Cervero
2011 Graduate
“I loved this course, and am so glad that I took it. The course is invaluable and inspiring for any movement professional, and a great source of information for anyone who possesses a body they want to keep healthy and injury-free. It gave me a dramatically strengthened foundation for teaching yoga, as well as violin! Thank you!”
- Kathe Hannauer
2011 Graduate
“I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in furthering their understanding of what is happening in the body during asana. The information is incredibly valuable, especially if you are working with clients privately, and students with injuries. Jason was fantastic!
- Libby Tonorezos
2011 Graduate
“It is so helpful to have a thorough understanding of the beauty and complexity of anatomy through a yogic lens. The layers of knowledge are palpable and liberating when analyzing the asanas and the student-- really helpful. Jason is such an enthusiastic teacher that he easily conveys a wealth of knowledge and his passion is contagious. We had so much fun even though it was very demanding. It was very worthwhile.”
- Ruthie Lawyer
2011 Graduate
“I believe that the Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers course provides essential information for any yoga teacher, but especially for those working with private clients -- who tend to come with specific problems of tension, pain or asana. Jason's course has helped me in eliminating a lot of the guesswork when trying to help clients with these problems. Also his concern for muscles that yoga doesn't typically address really helps create classes that provide a complete therapeutic approach.”
- Teri Casamassine
2011 Graduate
“I teach ashtanga vinyasa. But I always hear that I’m extremely soft for being an ashtanga teacher… and I can really feel how I’m just becoming softer and softer within this course -- towards myself and my students. I can’t wait to share it with other people. It’s been very valuable in so many ways. Because I’m not and never was an anatomy freak -- I’ve always been very afraid of it. I’ve always been drawn more to philosophy and chanting, because yoga for me is more bhakti. But now I’m like, wow, there’s bhakti in the muscles! There’s an energetic, spiritual feeling, you know, just to have the awareness, and to really understand what’s going on in the body.”
- Antonina Armini
2010 Home-Study Graduate
“I'm a Pilates and MELT instructor who works with a lot of private clients, many of which are "special cases". I had a desire to learn more about why I'm teaching what I'm teaching and to be able to back up my instinctual insight with a technical confidence. I also wanted to be more articulate and precise when speaking with other movement and medical professionals. I found the ASFYT class on Jason's website and went to a Zenyasa class to explore the possibility of taking his anatomy studies class. I found him to be clear and articulate in his direction with an excellent sense of movement and anatomy. He was able to translate the dense information of the anatomy studies class into useful information using the same sense of humor and zeal he has in the Zenyasa class. I found that he was able to present the material in a way that was easy to understand and useful when working with clients. In fact, many of my clients wanted to know what I had learned the week before in class and were interested in the practical applications I was able to bring to them. I found that although I was learning through the framework of yoga, I was able to apply the information in my Pilates and MELT practice with more attention and focus on each of my client's special needs. I would highly recommend Jason’s course for ALL movement professionals!”
- Julia Purtill
2010 Graduate
"Jason's excellent anatomy/kinesiology course is extremely well organized for max exploration. We studied the skeleton and endless skeletal muscles segmented via fine-tuned learning modules), engaged in fascinating debate with each other and Jason whose curiosity on the subject is insatiable, and now retain all this tremendous knowledge thanks to thorough testing. Yoga instructors and movement professionals alike will discover this to be the "ulna" anatomy course they need to take right now.”
- Susan Gluck
2010 Graduate
“My biggest 'aha' moment during this course happened to me when Jason showed me how to create more freedom and space in my triangle pose. For many years I had been struggling with unnecessary tension and strain in my lower back while attempting to "perfect" my triangle pose. I never understood why. All it took was changing my approach from doing what I thought was the "right way" to understand what the unique benefits of this pose are and then applying my knowledge of anatomy/kinesiology to it. My triangle pose has never felt so open and my lower back no longer hurts when I do it. The most important thing I have learned from a teaching perspective is to ask not only the "how to's" of asana practice, but more importantly the "why's". I highly recommend this course to any yoga teacher and/or student who is passionate and serious about furthering the study and growth of this art and science we know of as yoga.”
- Ilaria Cutolo
2010 Graduate
“This course takes a lot of work, commitment and determination, but if you are a serious and passionate Yoga teacher who wants to become more skillful at teaching Yoga, this course is for you! Because of this course, I can now look at a pose and almost immediately assess what muscles or groups of muscles are working and which ones are relaxing. I am also becoming more skillful at more quickly assessing what muscles may be tight or weak in a student as s/he is in a pose or trying to get into a pose, thus allowing me to offer them effective variations. Also, the language that I use now to teach students how to get into and out of a pose is more precise, and my students are able to more easily feel the areas that are being worked and why. My private students are now benefiting from my increased level of skill at planning a series of exercises or Yoga poses that can help them strengthen weak muscles and/or increase the flexibility of tight muscles. I am also more skillful at figuring out what props will help my students get into poses more easily and safely. I am a more confident, more clear and more compassionate teacher than before taking the course. I am at a position to be of better service to my students. I have now tools to design sequences that make more sense for the body.”
- Marisa Galisteo
2010 Graduate
“I first heard about Jason's anatomy studies course when he announced it in one of his yoga classes and knew immediately that I wanted to sign up. Jason is such a thorough and wonderful yoga teacher, I knew he would put the same attention and care in teaching his anatomy class. The class was such a rewarding experience. Being in a room with like-minded teachers and learning about anatomy and kinesiology as it relates to yoga has completely changed my teaching and my own practice for the better. I had so many 'ah ha' moments and enjoyed taking what I learned in each class and applying it to my teaching or my own practice. The class has also helped me create a safer space in which to teach and practice as well as making me a more confident teacher. I highly, highly recommend this class to any movement professional; yoga teachers, trainers, pilates instructors, dance teachers - absolutely everyone can benefit from this class as it raises the bar on the movement / fitness industry in terms of education. In fact, every teacher I come into contact with, it's one of the first things I tell them they must do!”
- Kendra Coppey
2009 Graduate
“Jason Brown's anatomy course was really quite wonderful. I found out about it from a mailing that was done through Levitate Yoga, and it piqued my interest as I was looking to further my limited knowledge of anatomy. After speaking with Jason, I knew this was the course for me, and I was right. It had the perfect blend of lecture and hands-on work to help me really grasp the material. While it was hard work and lots and lots of studying, Jason's knowledge, experience, patience and clear instruction helped guide me toward a deeper understanding of the musculo-skeletal systems. He also helped me to see that this was material to keep exploring and growing with for a lifetime not just for a few months. I have found that through this course, I have gained more confidence working with students with injuries, my yoga classes have taken on a different tone as I'm more thoughtful about what muscles I'm working or trying to open and why, and that when in doubt I now have a huge resource in my fellow classmates and Jason to turn to for guidance. Jason's enthusiasm has inspired me to become more curious about the therapeutic aspect of the practice - I'm so looking forward to future courses with him.”
- Beth Tascione
2009 Graduate
“The thoroughness of Jason's teachings match the thoroughness of his knowledge. He always prepared well for class with relevant slides to match his lecture notes. For me the most critical benefit of attending Jason's anatomy course was learning how to prevent and treat injuries. His course also gave me the confidence to throw around anatomy terms in my classes. Another memorable point of the anatomy course was breaking up seated lectures with analysis of muscles used in asanas. His course is a good setting for yoga teachers looking to deeper their knowledge of the muscular skeletal system.”
- Varsha Nanavati
2009 Graduate
"I am a yoga instructor at Pure Yoga and was ecstatic when Jason annouced that he was teaching an anatomy course. I have always been fascinated with the human body and wanted to learn how this extraordinary machine works. As an instructor, I feel it is important to have a deeper understanding of the skeletal and muscular structure and how and why bodies differ from person to person. No two bodies are alike in terms of movement, flexibility, strength, range of motion, and injury. This course is very challenging and a major time commitment, but the knowledge I gained has proven invaluable. I apply my knowledge in my classes and with private clients and am able to explain anatomical structure and movement in more depth. I see the human body in whole new light. I highly recommend it."
- Loren Bassett
2009 Graduate
“After taking one of Jason's class and enjoying the alignment-focus that was geared towards actual muscles and bones, rather than using vague, ambiguous terms about movements of the body, I joined Jason's mailing list and was pleasantly surprised to find out about his anatomy series. Completion of the course has given me more confidence and more clarity on how to instruct my private clients, who have a variety of issues including post-surgery recovery and living with scoliosis. I would recommend the course to all yoga intstructors, from beginners to seasoned. It provides a strong foundation in the understanding of the human body from a more scientific perspective, while incorporating it into the asanas and how to help your students who have different injuries, levels of flexibility, strength and tightness.”
- Jennifer Pesce
2009 Graduate
“Taking Jason's Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers training has made us so much more confident, both as yoga teachers and practitioners. We both work with nontraditional populations (older practitioners, hospital patients, incarcerated youth, injured practitioners), so it is imperative that we avoid aggravating pre-existing conditions or creating new ones. Jason used clear, down-to-earth language and creative presentations to make anatomy study come alive. He challenged us to deepen our own individual understanding of anatomy in a congenial setting, without stress! The course was incredibly supportive and enjoyable. We highly recommend it for anyone working with the human form.”
- Stephan Kolbert & Ingrid Marcroft
2009 Graduate
“I loved all of the get on your feet work we did. To me, it was the most helpful. I really enjoyed taking apart postures because it helped me remember the muscles so much better. The muscles of the thigh were really stuck in my brain from all time we spent determining their role in yoga postures as movers, antagonists, stabilizers, neutralizers and support. I also loved the muscle fiber day with the licorice and getting on our feet to become actin and myosin. Brilliant. As a beginning yoga teacher, I feel empowered after taking ASFYT. I will begin my teaching career with a firm foundation in musculoskeletal anatomy from which I will be a more specific, accurate, and responsible teacher. I’m already applying my knowledge in the teaching I do with private clients. I am able to help them overcome specific weaknesses because I know the specific muscles that create, inhibit, or stabilize the movement they struggle with. I also now speak the language of anatomy, which has allowed me to read and fully comprehend all yoga related anatomy texts. ASFYT has taught me invaluable skills as a yoga teacher, but most importantly, it has given me the tools to educate myself.”
- Laurel Beversdorf
2008 Graduate
“I really enjoyed Jason's anatomy program, it was well worth the time and money. It was definitely a lot of outside work, studying and preparing for class and exams and all, but I learned a lot and appreciated the direct connection to asana. All in all, it gives you a lot to think about and puts you on firmer ground when you are dealing with students' injuries, healing processes and their movement capabilities. It also helps you understand why students can or cannot access a pose, and how to teach them really clearly what can be done, what to let go of and how to appreciate their bodies as amazing, capable vessels.
It's a LOT of information, all of which takes time to sink in, but it is information that you will return to again and again throughout your teaching career. The more you learn, the better you can experience your own practice and the better you can teach your students to feel theirs. Also, the texts he uses are just great....I still refer to them!”
- Paula (Lynch) Liberis
2008 Graduate
“As my teaching progresses more towards therapeutics, I thought it essential that I take an in depth anatomy/kinesology course. I really liked learning the bones and having hands on with the skeleton. I also liked the level of the class material and the crescendo of difficulty. I am very thankful to Jason for coming up with the curriculum and keeping us on track with the tests, as the knowledge that I left with was well worth the effort.”
- Kim Stetz
2008 Graduate