By Anna Haddad
Anna Haddad, founder and CEO of ONEYOGAHOUSE, shares what drew her to complete her first 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2012 and why she is called to share the teachings today through the studio’s teacher training this winter.
When I experienced my first yoga class, I was a martial artist and worked on Wall Street. The yoga practice gave me the concentration techniques to quiet my mind and provided me with the mental capacity to strengthen my skill sets in both Taekwondo and work. Years later in October 2012, I began my first 200-hour yoga teacher training. I was still working at my corporate job in finance and trying to navigate the seemingly impossible work-life balance. I was exhausted and burned out. But whenever I practiced yoga, I felt grounded and at ease. My first 200-hour training was a way to deepen a practice that provided so much peace and tranquility, and further enhanced my life. I never went into the training thinking I wanted to become a yoga teacher.
Yoga Teacher Training at OYH
Well, of course, that all changed! With 1,500 hours of yoga anatomy, philosophy, and meditation training under my belt, I’m excited to share our ONEYOGAHOUSE 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with the world.
I meticulously designed this training to support individuals in their yoga journey, providing them with the tools and techniques to integrate the gifts of the yoga practice into their everyday lives. Of course, students will be drawn to deepen their knowledge of the fundamentals of Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation. By the end of the 13-week program, students will also gain an understanding of the History and Philosophy of Yoga as well as an introduction to the following important texts: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita, and basic Sanskrit. Together, the training will focus on how to relate anatomy and physiology principles and alignment into sequencing to practice and teach yoga safely and inclusively.
Along with the Fundamentals of Asana + Use of Props, Yoga Anatomy, Pranayama + Techniques, History + Philosophy, students will come away knowing how to sequence a class (our House style) using verbal and non-verbal communication to effectively and confidently step into the role of a teacher, and in turn, their lives.
Other important modules will cover:
- Hands on Assists
- The Business of Yoga
- Professional Development
- The Science of Ayurveda
- Mantras and Chanting
- Restorative Yoga
You will learn foundational aspects of the lineages of yoga taught at OYH: Katonah, Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa. Just like when I was a martial artist years ago, while I was competing in Taekwondo tournaments I also dabbled in learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aikido, Filipino stick and knife fighting, Qigong, and more. Part of my goal with this training is to provide a well-rounded experience that represents the offerings and lineages taught at OYH. A number of the modules will also be offered as workshops to those who don’t necessarily feel the call to teach but wish to invest in their learning and elevate their relationship to the practice.
I often get asked by my students, “Where did you do your teacher training? It’s more than yoga.” I think this question is about their sense of feeling like the experience is way more than just the physical yoga postures. Yes, knowing that the back foot in a Warrior 1 pose should be placed at a 45-degree angle matters. However, what’s more important is finding what the practice is trying to teach you.
Yoga is a way to be more discerning. It forces you to let go of your ego. One day you can easily and confidently get into a handstand position and the next day you sway and tumble before your feet rise above your head. Through the practice, you really begin to observe yourself and your surroundings in a different light. You realize who you are, your true nature, and what truly matters to you.
This training at ONEYOGAHOUSE will strengthen students in all aspects. From the start, this will be a supportive, enriching environment so everyone has an equal chance to learn and grow.
Along with additional yoga practitioners and esteemed teachers, I will provide students with the tools they’ll need to succeed. Students will learn the components of how to build a practice from the ground up. Similar to building a house, it’s important to first start with the essentials before moving on to the decorative furnishings. After all, you can’t decorate the living room if you don’t have the structural base set in place first.
In my first training, I noticed that as my body learned how to align to each pose my life began to align as well. Yoga is responsible for giving me the courage to figure out who I was and where I was going. The finance job that was draining my energy and depleting my battery wasn’t it anymore. As the postures became more second nature, I recognized that I wanted to invest more time in what mattered most to me. Community, friendship, mental health, relationships, and well-being were aspects of my life that I had neglected for my career. When I was on my mat, I was centered and grounded. The stress of my demanding job or the regret of not spending time with my loved ones fell away.
Yoga permitted me to do all of the things that my heart desired. It encouraged me to lead a fulfilling, purposeful life, one that focused on connecting with, and giving back to others through the practice of yoga.
I’m often reminded of this quote by Eckhart Tolle:
“If the shutters are closed, the sunlight cannot come in.” I was oblivious to what life could be beyond the world of finance. But when I took the time to step away from the desk and focus on the deep inner work, I aligned to my deeper purpose.
This is why I’m honored to offer our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training at ONEYOGAHOUSE.
This training is built upon years of hard work, learning, and thousands upon thousands of hours on my mat. I’ve invited some of my dearest friends and teachers to join me throughout these 13 weeks.
Francesca Bove will teach the art of sequencing and hands on assists with her knowledge of various modalities like spinal manipulation, the Egoscue Technique, the Bodyfix method, Katonah Yoga, and the Muscle Activation Technique. Nick Potenzieri will provide his knowledge of the Iyengar method, a style that emphasizes precision and detail through the use of props. I will guide students in a wide range of topics including anatomy and physiology, Yoga philosophy, systems of the body, meditation, and embodying the role of a teacher. Craig Magnano will share his knowledge on the musculoskeletal system through Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) principles as well as Yoga philosophy.
Other instructors that you’ll recognize from the ONEYOGAHOUSE schedule include Emma Bowen (Ashtanga Yoga, Ayurveda, Eight-Limbed Path), Felipe Gonzalez (Katonah Yoga, Magic Square, Kirtan), Zaina Budayr (Business of Yoga), and Milagros Simon (Nervous System, Restorative Yoga), who will also be joining us to share their unique insights and perspectives.
Learn more about yoga teacher training
If any of the above calls to you, I invite you to reach out and learn more. Click the link below to learn more about the program and how to apply.
As I know firsthand, there’s no time like the present to commit to yourself. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in together.
About oneyogahouse
oneyogahouse
90 Furman St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
We are a yoga, pilates, and sound meditation studio located in DUMBO (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), next door to the 1Hotels in Brooklyn Bridge Park. As a community that prioritizes awakening our bodies, expanding our energy, and bringing movement to life, OYH offers a space designed to uplift and empower practitioners to ground themselves, undergo transformation, ignite their energy, and evolve in their yoga journey.
Driven by a passion for community, connection, and the transformative effects of yoga and meditation, yoga teacher and entrepreneur Anna Haddad founded OYH in 2020, and in the challenging landscape of the global COVID-19 pandemic, opened the Brooklyn location in September of 2021. Over the past several years, she’s built a team of some of New York’s most exceptional instructors. With safety, sustainability, and intentionality prioritized above all else, you can anticipate a yoga experience that’s not only accessible, but also mentally stimulating and geared towards personal growth.
We offer an array of classes suitable for every practice level.
We offer a diverse range of classes suited to practitioners of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced yogis. Our teachers come from all lineages and studies, from Katonah and Iyengar, to Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Whether you’re drawn to a hot, vigorous flow, a gentle, restorative practice, or a meditative sound therapy session, there’s something for everyone. Each class is thoughtfully designed to cater to different needs and preferences, ensuring that you find the practice that resonates with you.
Our most popular specialty classes include:
THE CENTERED ONE - MAT PILATES
Our pilates classes will challenge you in exercises that chisel your abs, tone your glutes, and sculpt long, lean muscles. You will use your own body weight, yoga blocks, magic circles, and resistance bands.
THE THERAPEUTIC ONE
This class combines a gentle slow flow and restorative yin postures and closes with a deep meditation session to explore the quietude of your mind.
THE FIERY ONE - HOT YOGA
This is a heated Vinyasa flow experience that is intentional, fun, and guided by the rhythm of the breath. Expect lots of movement with a focus on functional exercises. It’s an open-level class that’s powered by radiant infrared panels and an air purification system to minimize airborne dust, pollen, and germs.
THE STUDIOUS ONE - MASTER CLASS
Taught by senior teachers, master classes are an opportunity for intermediate yogis and teachers to deepen their practice through an extended study of the asanas. You’ll incorporate more advanced postures, yoga philosophy, and anatomical education.
THE FOUNDATIONAL ONE
This class breaks down the fundamentals of key yoga postures for both people who have never taken a yoga class and practitioners who have some knowledge of the practice but would like to renew and strengthen their foundation.
THE EMBODIED ONE - SOMATICS
Explore somatic movement exercises to help re-educate the way your brain moves, holds, and senses your muscles. You’ll commence class with an extended savasana and gradually enter into yoga asanas.
THE INTERNAL ONE
In this internal strength class using the Kinstretch® Method, focus on the determinants of your movement (i.e. ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue) rather than the external organization of movement (i.e. specific yoga poses). Through self-assessment, you’ll learn about your current range of motion and exercise more control.
THE ALIGNED ONE
Similar to The Fiery ONE, expect an open-level, but room temperature, Vinyasa class woven with elements of Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, or Katonah Yoga. These yoga classes are intelligently sequenced at a slower, sweeter pace to ease you into the practice, allowing time for your body to adapt to movement. You are sure to break a sweat by building heat from within.
In every class, the teacher will ease you into practice, allowing time for your body to adapt to the flow and temperature of the room. No class is exactly the same, but overall, you can expect emphasis on mindful movement, mobility, alignment, breathwork, and drishti—a focused gaze—cultivating a sense of presence and awareness on the mat. Our focus on breath allows you to deepen your practice, quiet the mind, and experience a profound sense of relaxation and inner peace. You’ll be encouraged to listen to your body, honor its limitations, and explore your edge with compassion.
SOUND MEDITATION
Sound has been used for its therapeutic qualities for centuries. Sound Meditation experiences at OYH will guide you through an experience of pranayama, vocalization, and visualization to prepare for deep listening. You will be encouraged to find a comfortable position, and with eyes closed, take in the sounds emitted from instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, varying chimes and bells, drums, etc. These instruments, intentionally sequenced, create a safe space for participants to enter a meditative state to down-regulate the nervous system and create a sense of ease and clarity.
Our holistic approach to community and wellness.
At OYH, you’re part of a supportive and inclusive community from day one. Whether you attend classes regularly or drop in occasionally, you’ll find camaraderie and encouragement from fellow practitioners and instructors alike. The studio fosters connections beyond the mat, offering workshops, events, retreats, and social gatherings to support local businesses (like brunch and oyster shucking) where you can connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your practice both on and off the mat.
Our holistic approach to wellness extends beyond movement. In addition to regular yoga and pilates classes, the studio offers workshops focused on nutrition, mindfulness, self-care, and personal development. Whether you’re interested in exploring the benefits of Ceremonial Grade Cacao, learning about the Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs) routine, or delving into pelvic floor therapy, there are ample opportunities to learn something new and nourish your body, mind, and soul.
Retreats offer immersive experiences that transcend the boundaries of the studio. ONEYOGAHOUSE retreats serve as rejuvenating getaways designed to allow participants to deepen their practice and forge new connections. Through carefully curated programs, attendees engage in daily yoga, breathwork, functional mobility, journaling, and meditation sessions, alongside modalities such as lymph work, kriyas, and vagal toning. Retreat members also enjoy chef-prepared group meals, outdoor adventures and exploration, cocktail hours, spa services, shopping and cultural trips, and more. Set in beautiful locations like Los Cabos, Mexico, Morocco, North Africa, and Montauk, New York, the retreat landscapes provide serene backdrops for self-reflection and relaxation.