The Heart Center School of Yoga
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Accredited by the American Yoga Council
Has Your Yoga Practice Been Calling You Deeper?
You may not know exactly where this path leads yet, only that something in you is ready for more.
Maybe yoga has become more than movement for you. Perhaps it has helped you heal, reconnect, grow stronger, soften, or come home to yourself in a new way.
And maybe, somewhere in the back of your mind, you’ve wondered what it would be like to take the next step - not only for yourself, but perhaps one day to guide others, too.
Located in Bainbridge Township, Ohio, The Heart Center School of Yoga was created for students who want an experience that is grounded, transformational, supportive, and deeply rooted in authentic yoga practice.
A Heart-Centered Approach to Yoga Teacher Training
The Heart Center School of Yoga’s Teacher Training Program is rooted in an authentic yoga practice with an emphasis on:
Embodiment and mindfulness
Teaching methodology
Anatomy and alignment
Breathwork and meditation
Personal reflection and growth
Practical teaching experience
Supportive community connection
This training is intentionally designed to be hands-on, welcoming, and transformational.
The Heart Center School of Yoga’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is accredited by the American Yoga Council (AYC), ensuring that students receive a recognized, professional-level education while participating in a supportive and deeply personal learning environment. Additionally, our founder, Polly Manke, is a Level 3 certified AYC Yoga Instructor.
Meet The Heart Center School of Yoga Trainers
Polly Manke, Founder and Co-Lead Trainer
An American Yoga Council Level III Yoga Instructor with more than two decades of teaching experience, Polly is passionate about making yoga accessible, welcoming, and transformative for all. Her teaching is grounded in trauma-informed practices, nervous system literacy, and the belief that yoga should support real people living real lives.
Polly completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training (2002) and Yoga Therapy (2004) with respected teachers Jan Hauenstein and Judi Bar and has pursued additional training in Yoga Therapeutics as well as additional holistic approaches to healing and personal growth. Through thousands of hours of teaching, mentoring, and community building, she has developed a heart-centered approach that balances safety, skillful instruction, personal growth, and authentic connection.
Polly served as Program Developer and Facilitator for Courage to Caregivers, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals in caregiving roles from 2018-2021. This work deepened her understanding of resilience, compassion, further informing her approach to yoga, wellness, and community building.
In her client work, Polly has worked with individuals with brain injury, Parkinson's, stroke, cancer, and post-surgery recovery. Polly is dedicated to helping future yoga teachers find their own authentic voice while learning to create inclusive spaces where all students can feel supported, empowered, and seen.
Sally Sherwin, Co-Lead Trainer
Sally Sherwin, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, Reiki Master, Accredited Tai Chi Chih Instructor, brings decades of experience helping individuals discover greater ease, resilience, and self-awareness through yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and holistic wellness practices. Her teaching is grounded in the belief that yoga is not about becoming something different, but about uncovering the wholeness that already exists within us. Sally is passionate about creating accessible, heart-centered experiences that empower students to connect more deeply with themselves and others.
Sally's yoga journey began unexpectedly through a year-long wellness program at the Cleveland Clinic, where she quickly discovered yoga as a joyful and transformative practice. Inspired by its impact, she completed advanced yoga and yoga therapy training with respected teachers Jan Hauenstein and Judi Bar. She later joined the Cleveland Clinic wellness team as a yoga therapist, mindfulness educator, and Tai Chi instructor, where she developed and taught programs designed to support patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through a wide range of physical and emotional challenges.
Throughout her career, Sally has worked with individuals experiencing chronic pain, stress-related conditions, cancer, neurological disorders, brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other complex health concerns. She developed breathwork and meditation protocols used in clinical research settings and was a founding developer and instructor for the Cleveland Clinic School of Yoga, a Yoga Alliance-certified 200-hour teacher training program. Sally brings a compassionate, comprehensive approach to teaching and is dedicated to helping future yoga teachers cultivate confidence, authenticity, and the ability to create welcoming, accessible spaces for all students.
Join Our Fall, 2026 Cohort: September, 2026 - May, 2027
This in-person training will meet at The Heart Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio Fridays 4-9, Saturdays 9-6, Sundays 9-6 on the following weekends (usually 2nd weekend of the month):
September 11, 12, 13
October 9, 10, 11
November 13, 14, 15
December 11, 12, 13
January 15, 16, 17
February 12, 13, 14
March 12, 13, 14
April 9, 10, 11
May 14, 15, 16
Se
The American Yoga Council requires students to complete 180 classroom educational hours in order to qualify for graduation and certification. Because of these requirements, attendance and completion of assignments is mandatory, and missed classroom hours may delay certification.
-
What You'll Explore
Foundations of yoga philosophy
Anatomy and functional movement
Sequencing and class planning
Meditation and breathwork
Yoga ethics and professionalism
Teaching methodology and cueing
Observation and feedback skills
-
How You'll Participate
In-class teaching practicums
Small group teaching experiences
Outside practice teaching
Yoga class observations
Reflection and integration assignments
Guided discussion and experiential learning
Personal practice
-
This is for You if You...
Want to deepen your personal yoga practice
Feel called to teach or guide others
Value holistic wellness and mindful living
Seek personal growth and transformation
Value learning in a supportive, heart-centered environment
Are ready to commit to consistent practice and study
Begin the Journey
You do not need to be the most advanced person in the room to begin - all levels are welcome. You simply need curiosity, openness, and a willingness to grow.