About The Georgia Yoga Teacher Training Collective
Our Mission
Sarah and Hannah both have a passion to continue their education. Between the two of them they have both completed an additional 4000 hours of education since they received their 500hr in 2018. Not only do they enjoy learning, they also see the need that there is for higher education within the yoga teacher community. Both women discovered that their communities benefited greatly after each training they completed. They would have monthly catch up meetings over the years sharing how business was going for them and what they were learning in their own studies, as well as what they were learning within their teaching, and business ownership, roles. They realized that there was a great need for the yoga teacher community to further advance their knowledge on accessible and revolutionized yoga while still keeping true to the roots of where it all began 5000 years ago. In this discussion an idea brewed, or perhaps it was delirium, why don't we start a collective for a 300hr level program. Hannah has led a 300hr yoga teacher training before and knew the huge undertaking. Having been a part of one herself, Sarah also understood this. Both women also have ran, combined, 12 200hr yoga teacher training programs, they knew the importance of a great program. Plus, a well rounded program would have a collective of teachers who are really good, and educated, on their topic of study. So they have slowly been building this program in hopes to bring more yoga to yoga teachers, and their communities, with the Georgia Yoga Teacher Training Collective.
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Sarah DeFoor: MBA, E-RYT 500, & YACEP
Sarah decided to deepen her knowledge of yoga and become an instructor once she experienced how yoga helped her recover from a knee injury. She had already seen the transforming effects of yoga on her back pain. Before starting yoga, Sarah experienced back pain almost all the time. Several months into her yoga practice she realized the pain was lessened and at some point, it went away entirely. She has taken more than 300 hours of yoga for back care.
Sarah completed her 500-hour teacher training with Susan Hopkins E-RYT 500 and I-AYT. She is certified by Judith Hanson Lasater E-RYT- 500, PT, and PHD as a level 2 Relax and Renew Restorative teacher. Sarah has studied Yin with both Bernie Clark & Sarah Powers for a total of 110 hours. She is certified in Yoga for Osteoporosis & Yoga for Back Pain by Dr. Loren Fishman MD who continues to do clinical trials on yoga as medicine and wrote the book "Yoga for Osteoporosis". Sarah enhanced her knowledge of Yoga for back care and the "Happy Pelvis" by training with Lillah Schwartz E-RYT 500 and I-AYT who authored the book, “Healing Our Backs with Yoga”. Sarah brings this knowledge and experience to help her community in Calhoun and the surrounding area.
Sarah teaches alignment based yoga, yoga for back care, yin yoga, supported chair yoga, active chair yoga and restorative yoga. Sarah’s goal is to have her students walk away from class feeling better than when they came in the door. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). Sarah is also the training director for the Yovana Yoga Teacher training program.
Sarah is originally from Calhoun, but has lived all over the country and the world. Chasing her career around the world she lived overseas for nine years in Australia, Italy and England. Sarah has a BS from the University of Tennessee and an MBA in Global Management that she received while living in Australia. She is now settled back in Gordon County. She lives in a 120 year old house in Ranger.
Hannah Hutcheson: MA, E-RYT 500hr, RPYT, RCYT, & YACEP
Hannah Hutcheson's journey in life truly began laying in savasana after a hot and sweaty vinyasa class. She knew I was home at the age of 17. From there, she began the exploration of herSelf. Over the years, her practice has transformed from a purely physical practice to a healing and spiritual dedication to her body and mind. She lives by the philosophy that one must be the change they wish to see in the world- and it all starts with her own soul and her own actions.
Hannah is an E-RYT 500hr & RPYT & RCYT Yoga Teacher, trained at be yoga in Downtown Marietta March 2015 with her 200hr. Through this certification, she concentrated on energetic yoga (chakras, bandhas, pranayama). She then obtained her 300hr Yoga Teacher Training Certification at Etowah Valley Yoga in Cartersville under Sue Hopkins January of 2018, to ultimately make her a RYT 500hr. She is also a Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher to help women navigate pregnancy: prenatal and postnatal, as well as women's health. She has completed many workshops and trainings to add on to her collection of knowledge including: Ayurveda, Herbalism, Yin Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Restorative, and Prenatal as well as TRX and Barre (after her 20yr background of dance) to add more physicality into her practice. Recently she obtained her Children's Yoga Certification. She is also certified in EFT & Hypnotherapy. She looks forward to continuing her education throughout her life as she is a life-learner and forever a student of the World.
Hannah also has her BS in Psychology and MA in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She uses what she learned at the Universities to bring an analytical approach to healing. In her MA program, she focused on Business Coaching. She is also a Certified Life Coach, Writer, Assisted Thai Yoga Bodywork Practitioner, Herbalist, and a Certified Reiki Master. As well as a High Priestess in the Order of Mary Magadala and an EFT Practitioner.
Hannah has an amazing supportive husband, Brooks, who is the yin to her yang (yes she is yang!). They own a little cabin in the woods where they spend their time snuggling their sweet boys River and Forrest, their cat Pickles, and dog Waffles. Often a book in hand with the mountain views in sight!