Advanced Postures | Inversions, Arm Balances & Backbends
with Charli Van NessThe poses students often most want to learn, and teachers most need support to teach. A two–day immersion on how to bring inversions, arm balances and backbends into a mixed-ability class with skill, safety and play. Wherever your own practice is this course will take complex postures and turn them from intimidating to accessible, leaving you with the tools and confidence to break down and teach these more complex postures
Overview
Playful shifts of perspective
Inversions, arm balances and deep backbends are some of the most asked–for – and most under–taught asanas in contemporary yoga. Each ask something different of us: inversions ask us to trust the world the other way up, arm balances ask us to find lift and lightness through the hands, backbends ask us to soften and open through the front body. Together they're a complete training in courage, precision and play.
This 2–day training, led by Charli Van Ness, gives you the tools, the confidence and the hands–on experience to bring all three families of peak pose into your teaching, for students of every level, from beginners to experienced practitioners. You'll learn how: to break complex asana down into accessible steps using the wall and props; offer safe and skilled hands–on adjustments; and design sequences that prepare the body intelligently while respecting each student's individual limitations.
It's a course that takes the seriousness out of advanced asana without losing any of the rigour. Anatomy, philosophy and psychology are held together with curiosity, warmth and play.
Take this as a stand–alone CPD or count it toward your 300–hour Yoga Teacher Training.
"When we explore inversions, we learn to be comfortable with falling and find the courage to rise again. In doing so, we cultivate resilience and adaptability—lessons that extend beyond the mat. This awareness helps us accept where we are in the moment while celebrating the bravery it takes to discover new edges we never thought possible"
Who is this course for?
What's included?
Course Dates
Good to know
- Hours count towards 300–hour certification or CPD hours.
- Please note any injuries or ailments at the time of booking so Charli is aware
- Prefer a different payment plan? Pay your deposit and email us to arrange. Full payment must be received before the course starts.
- Select bank transfer (BACS) at checkout — it helps us keep course fees down by lowering card processing charges.
- Bursary available: one 50% bursary place is offered each year. Learn more →
- FAQs Learn more →
- T&Cs Learn more →
Register Interest View Dates
After this training, you will be able to...
Teach with confidence, knowing exactly how to bring inversions, arm balances and backbends in safely for every body in the room.
Work creatively and intelligently with the wall, blocks, straps and bolsters that make challenging poses genuinely accessible.
Offer safe, skilled, trauma–informed, hands–on adjustment techniques alongside clear verbal cuing, so you can support students safely
Knowledgeable in how the three peak–pose families work together to build a complete practice – the strength of the inversion, the lift of the arm balance, the openness of the backbend, each meeting and balancing the other.
What Our Students Say
What our students say
"Charli was an excellent facilitator – made me feel so incredibly comfortable and confident to try new things. I learnt so much both personally and professionally from a teaching perspective."
FJ, Yoga Teacher"I loved this course. Charli was a brilliant teacher, very knowledgeable and great at holding the space. It included a lot of great content and ideas to take away. It was fun and playful."
LE, Yoga Teacher"A fabulous, balanced course of playfulness with a wonderful guide in Charli. Lots of fresh insights and inspiration gained."
LE, Yoga Teacher"Charli is fantastic – she teaches in a way that gives you confidence and courage to try those tricky poses. Will be taking so much of this course into my own classes and my own practice."
SM, Yoga Teacher"Great course! Gave me the confidence to get into inversions I've never done before, and I've felt much more confident teaching my students in arm balances and inversions too."
TW, Yoga Teacher"Charli is an incredible person, teacher trainer and mentor. She radiates love and joy and is so very inspirational, warm and nurturing – always leading from the heart."
Saara Vance, 200–Hour GraduateYour Teacher
Your teacher Charli Van Ness
Senior teacher across both the 200 and 300-hour programmes, bringing profound depth of knowledge.
Gallery
Shala moments
Course details
- Feet Up Prop Inversion, Headstand (Sirsasana), Forearm Stand / Feathered peacock (Pincha Mayurasana) and Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) Progressions + Variations
- The wall as a teaching tool for confidence, alignment and access
- Spotting techniques and safe touch in inversions
- Common mistakes and how to address them with compassion and clarity
- Crow (Bakasana), Sideways Crow (Parsva Bakasana), Scissor Leg side Crow (Eka Pada Koundinyasana I), Flying Pigeon (Eka Pada Galavasana), Peacock (Mayurasana), Firefly (Tittibasana), Hurdlers Pose (Eka Pada Koundinyasana II), 8 Angle Pose (Astavakrasana)
- Progressions and regressions – meeting students where they are
- Prop support and modification strategies
- Verbal cueing and hands–on adjustments specific to arm balances
- Bridge (Setu Bandhasana), Wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana), camel (Ustrasana) and advanced backbend variations
- Anatomy of the spine and safe range of motion
- Counterposes and neutralising for nervous system and spine
- Hands–on adjustments for backbending shapes
- Key preparatory exercises and conditioning sequences
- Shoulder, core, wrist and spine health for advanced asana
- Long–term, sustainable progression for students and self
- How to build a class that prepares the body for peak poses
- Sequencing for inversion–, arm–balance– and backbend–focused classes
- Counterposes, integration and closing the practice well
- Understanding contraindications and risk factors across all three families
- Spotting potential injury before it happens
- Student assessment skills and individualising the practice
- Skilled, consent–based assists in inversions, arm balances and backbends
- Verbal cueing alternatives for when touch isn't right
- Building trust between teacher and student
- The psychology of advanced asana – fear, courage and play
- Working with hesitancy – physically and emotionally
- Holding the room when fear or vulnerability come up
- The history and philosophy of inversions, arm balances and backbends
- The Koshas (energy sheaths) as a framework for advanced asana
- What going upside–down, flying, and opening the heart each ask of us
- Designing and delivering sequences featuring advanced poses
- Peer teaching practice with feedback
- Integration, resources and ongoing support
Course Dates
Course dates & schedule
This course will run again
Can't make the dates? This training runs annually. Here's what's next on the calendar.
Interested in this course?
Not ready to book yet — or want to hear about future dates? Register your interest and we'll be in touch with everything you need to know including when new dates are announced.
No commitment required · No spam, ever · Priority notification of new dates
We'll only use your details to contact you about this course and related Shala School news. Unsubscribe at any time.