Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga Teacher Training
Next Kum Nye Teacher Training to start in August 2026 and run through July 2027
Please address inquiries to the Nyingma Institute: info@
The Nyingma Institute has currently completed its second Level 1 Kum Nye Teacher Training in July 2024, and our next offering will begin in August 2026..
The training includes nine weekend workshops, as well as a weekly class during the Nyingma Institute’s Early Fall through Late Spring academic terms.
The class is taught predominantly online, so we can include participants who live at a distance from Berkeley. The weekly class is presented online at two different times each week: Monday evenings Pacific Time led by Nyingma Institute faculty; and Wednesday evenings BST/GMT led by our assisting instructors in the U.K.
All 9 weekend workshops are available online. However, to provide an opportunity to gather together in person, Workshop 8 is available for participation both online and in-person. The workshop is included in a short retreat running from Thursday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, hosted at Ratna Ling Retreat Center in California. There is an additional cost for accommodations and food for the 3-night stay at Ratna Ling, but no additional cost for instruction. In-person attendance for this workshop/retreat is encouraged but fully optional.
While this is a teacher training program, those who want to take a deep dive into Kum Nye but who are not interested in becoming certified to teach are most welcome to join.
Faculty include veteran Kum Nye teachers from the Nyingma Institute including Abbe Blum, Santosh Philip, Anita McNulty, and Donna Morton. They will be joined by UK-based instructors Bram Williams, Jonathan Clewley, and Angela Bushaway.
Program Cost: $3,200
- Payment in full: A $500 early bird discount is offered for program payment in full before July 1, 2026 (total $2,700). After July 1, payment in full is $3,200.
- Monthly payment plans (10 installments): An initial $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. Payment plans are based on the full amount of $3,200. A $200 discount is offered for registering prior to July 1, 2026 (total $3,000) with a payment plan.
- Cancellation policy: Refunds are available during the first 4 weeks of the program, minus the $500 deposit. After 4 weeks, there are no refunds.
Faculty
Abbe Blum
Abbe has been teaching in the Nyingma Mandala since 1998, and currently presents Kum Nye, Joy of Being, Lotus Trilogy, Caring, and Nyingma Psychology courses at Nyingma Institute and Dharma College. She worked as one of the editors on several of Rinpoche’s latest books and co-designed the hands-on Joy of Being Workbook.
Santosh Philip
Santosh has taught at Nyingma Institute since 2003. His primary teaching area is Kum Nye, where he conveys his considerable love and respect for Tibetan Yoga self-massage and movement practices to his students, both at the advanced and introductory levels. He is also an architect and entrepreneur.
Anita McNulty
Anita has been a student of the Nyingma teachings since 1982. She has a special interest in the study and practice of Kum Nye. She is retired from a 42 year career as an RN & currently lives in Michigan with family.
Donna Morton
Donna first encountered Nyingma teachings in 1997. Upon completing a 6-month retreat program at Nyingma Institute in 2001, she began teaching Kum Nye programs here. She is also a physical therapist, holistic nutritional consultant, and health educator.
Assisting Instructors
Angela Bushaway
Angela has been practising Kum Nye for many years. She has attended annual Kum Nye retreats in The Netherlands and Germany, as well as training programmes in California. She currently teaches Kum Nye classes in Malvern, England with her partner Roger. Angela is a trained acupuncturist and shiatsu practitioner. When not working she enjoys walking their dog in the Malvern Hills.
Jonathan Clewley
Bram Williams
Bram is a long term student of yoga, dharma and Nyingma. He came to Kum Nye almost by mistake, subsequently attended several programmes and trainings in California, attends annual Kum Nye retreats in Holland and Germany and now practices and teaches in London and Oxford. Currently studying myofascial anatomy in movement, Bram is also an occasional puppeteer and a qualified Lip-Reading Tutor.
Level 1 Kum Nye Teacher Training 2023-2024 Schedule
1) EARLY FALL TERM (8 weeks): August 21 – October 14, 2023
- Weekly Class: Mondays, 6 – 7:30 pm, PT & Wednesdays, 11 am – 12:30 pm, PT (7 pm, BST/GMT)
- Workshop 1: September 9 – 10
- Workshop 2: October 14 – 15
2) LATE FALL TERM (8 weeks): October 23 – December 16, 2023
- Weekly Class: Mondays & Wednesdays
- Workshop 3: November 18 – 19
3) WINTER TERM (4 weeks): January 8 – February 3, 2024
- Weekly Class: Mondays & Wednesdays
- Workshop 4: January 13 – 14
4) EARLY SPRING TERM (8 weeks): February 12 – April 6, 2024
- Weekly Class: Mondays & Wednesdays
- Workshop 5: February 17 – 18
- Workshop 6: March 23 – 24
5) LATE SPRING TERM (8 weeks): April 15 – June 8, 2024
- Weekly Class: Mondays & Wednesdays
- Workshop 7: April 20 – 21
- Workshop 8: June 8 – 9
- Workshop 9: July 20 – 21
Times (Pacific Time):
Weekly Class:
Mondays : 6 PM – 7:30 PM (KN faculty)
Wednesdays: 11 AM – 12:30 PM (7 PM BST/GMT)
Workshops:
Saturday and Sunday : 8:30 AM – 1 PM
Exercise 37: Balancing the Senses
Exercise 48: Enjoying Space
Exercise 44: Touching the Senses
Exercise 22: Flying