200-Hour Traditional Hot Yoga Teacher Training
September - November, 2025
Seattle, Washington
Lead by Frani Assaf and guest lecturers

Time Commitment

Tuesday & Thursday evenings, 5pm–9:30pm
Saturday & Sundays, 10am–5:30pm

(Times/days subject to change)

Investment

Tuition is $3500, early registration $3200 (before August 1)
$500 deposit reserves your spot and goes towards full tuition
Partial scholarships available for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and individuals from under-represented groups. Those with a financial need will have priority and offered on a first-come basis. Please read the statement by clicking below and email your essay of why you qualify to frani@sweatboxyoga.com.

For questions, contact frani@sweatboxyoga.com

Teacher Training Faculty

Yoga History and Philosophy

In 2009, Mary Rodgers (she/her) stepped into a yoga class in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and from that moment, her journey with yoga began. By 2011, she successfully completed her 200-hour Kripalu Yoga teacher training with Acharya PremShakti in West Palm Beach. Since then, she has been on a continued quest to deepen her understanding of yoga, exploring various traditions within the Vinyasa and Hatha yoga styles, as well as delving into pranayama (breath work), philosophy, and meditation. Mary believes understanding yoga asana as part of a holistic system of health, wellness, and spiritual exploration. She emphasizes the significance of translating yoga from the mat into everyday life. Infusing her classes with yoga philosophy and mythology, Mary draws inspiration from the timeless wisdom passed down from teacher to student, both orally and through Vedic texts over thousands of years. 

As a BIPOC-identified yoga instructor, Mary places importance on honoring the ancestry and roots of yoga. She is committed to acknowledging and respecting the origins of yoga practices as they are assimilated and integrated into Western cultures.

Anatomy

Nickole Thornton Gonzales (she/her), LMT, CAP, CYI is the founder of NW Ayurveda, Yoga + Massage in West Seattle. She is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner for 21 years, Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Yoga Instructor, and Ritual Facilitator.  Nickole travels to various Yoga and Ayurvedic centers across the United States and Mexico providing lectures, workshops, retreats, consultations, and Panchakarma. Nickole graduated under the teachings of Dr. Vasant Lad at The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was employed in the Panchakarma department for eight years. With her background in Ayurveda, she has studied Ayur Yoga with teachers Chitra Giauque and Bethelya Anuradha at The Ayurvedic Institute. In November of 2008, Nickole attended the Sivananda Ashram in Neyyar Dam, India where she attained Sivanada Yoga 200-hour certification. While in India, she also attended the Guru Kula program to study Advance Ayurvedic Assessments with Dr. Vasant Lad. In 2019, she completed an additional 300-hour AYTT at the Sivanada Ashram Bahamas.

Equity and Social Justice

Patricia McDonald (she/her) is a local Seattleite and proud of it! A teacher of teachers and social justice consultant, passionate about challenging teachers to engage in critical conversations necessary to create equitable and inclusive environments for their students. Patricia brings 26 years of experience, facilitating learning communities and supporting participants in the rigorous work towards understanding self, their students and their practice.

Trauma Informed Yoga

Damithia Nieves (she/they) is the owner of Thrive Centered and Co-Director of the mindfulness non-profit, Space Between.  As a facilitator and educator, Damithia offers trauma-sensitive, healing centered and culturally responsive movement and mindfulness practices. As a dedicated practitioner and advocate for self and community care, she is rooted in disrupting dominant narratives that derail personal and collective growth and healing.