Whether you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher, taking additional yoga courses to gain a higher level of certification, or you simply want to deepen your yoga practice and expand your knowledge, AACC, in partnership with Yoga4Life, offers comprehensive programs to strengthen your understanding of the art and science of yoga.
The yoga instructor programs are not scheduled this term. Contact us at mstakolosa@aacc.edu for information on future availability.
The 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher training consists of three noncredit courses. Students will learn to teach beginner and some intermediate yoga poses, as well as discuss the business aspects of teaching yoga.
Note: the above courses are co-requisites. You will need to register for all three courses.
A graduate of the University of Virginia, Matthews’ personal experience of yoga’s transformative, healing powers started her on a journey impacting the lives of others with this gift. Matthews has been teaching since 2000 and educating yoga teachers since 2006. She has more than 4,500 hours of training and 8,000 hours of teaching experience. She developed creative, comprehensive, 200-hour and 300-hour college-level yoga teacher training programs that she directs and teaches locally and nationally. She partners with AACC to offer a professional certificate from the college as well as RYT200 and 500-hour status from Yoga Alliance. Matthews brings compassion and humor to her teaching, enriching students' experiences by weaving breathwork, meditation, alignment and chanting into her classes. Her intention is to improve the quality of her students' lives, physically, mentally and spiritually. Matthews holds both a Masters in instruction system development (ISD) and a Masters certificate in instructional technologies. She is a Level 2 Certified ParaYoga teacher, a Certified Amrit Yoga Nidra Facilitator, and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP).
Sue Schmitt is the creator and previous owner of the Annapolis-based Shakti Studio LLC, which offers a variety of yoga, tai chi, meditation and Ayurvedic classes and retreats. Schmitt is E-RYT certified through Yoga Alliance and a NAMA-certified Ayurveda Health Counselor and has been in the health and wellness field for more than 25 years. Schmitt is enrolled in the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy program. She previously co-owned Annapolis Body Care, a successful in-home personal training and massage business. She was also an adjunct faculty member for AACC’s Women’s Institute for many years teaching a variety of classes to enhance the health and lives of women.
An initiate of the Himalayan tradition, Philip Bender is a senior student of ParaYoga founder, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, and of Rolf Sovik, Spiritual Director of the Himalayan Institute. Certified by YogaAlliance at E-RYT 200 and RYT 500, he leads workshops and retreats in the area as well as weekly hatha yoga and meditation classes at Willow Street Yoga, the Freer Gallery of Art and Anne Arundel Community College, where he is adjunct faculty in the yoga teacher training program through Yoga 4 Life, LLC. Drawing from his personal practice and experience teaching, Bender places breath, asana, and meditation at the core of his practice.
Upon successful completion, students will be prepared to become a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance.
Student must be at least 16. Two years of yoga practice recommended but not required.
The courses on this page are noncredit, meaning you won’t earn college credit toward a degree. You don’t need to apply. Just choose a program or course that interests you, and check the noncredit schedule for a class that fits your schedule.
For help, email or call the Instructional Support Center at 410-777-2325.
