Kum Nye Teacher Training (KNTT) Programs:

KNTT Level 1 Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga

Starting August 2026

KNTT Level 2 The Joy of Being

Starting October 2025

Please address questions and application requests to the KNTT Program Faculty: [email protected]

KNTT Level 1: Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga

This 11-month comprehensive teacher training, based on Tarthang Tulku’s first Kum Nye text Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga, includes 9 weekend workshops, as well as 36 weekly classes taking place during the Nyingma Institute’s Early Fall through Late Spring academic terms. The next training begins in August of 2026.

As this is an online training, it allows for participation by those who live at a distance from Berkeley. The weekly class is presented online at two different times each week to accommodate different time zones: Monday evenings BST/GMT led by our faculty in the U.K. and Ireland; and Tuesday evenings Pacific Time led by Nyingma Institute faculty. See schedule posted below for dates and times.

Primary faculty for this program: Donna Morton, Abbe Blum, Santosh Philip, Jonathan Clewley, Bram Williams, Matt Padwick (see faculty bios below).

KNTT Level 2: The Joy of Being

This second-level teacher training is open to those who have completed their Level 1 certification and want to develop further with ‘Kum Nye for mind and senses’, presented in depth in Tarthang Tulku’s second Kum Nye text The Joy of Being. This training, starting in October 2025, includes 9 weekend workshops, as well as 48 weekly classes. It is also possible to take this program if you have not done the first training but have extensive experience with Kum Nye, though you would not be eligible for teacher certification. This training is unique in that the workshops will be held in conjunction with the KNTT Level 2 program at the Dutch Nyingma center in Amsterdam. All combined trainings will be conducted in English.

As this is an online training, it allows for participation by those who live at a distance from Berkeley. As with the Level 1 program, the weekly class is presented online at two different times each week to accommodate different time zones: Monday evenings Pacific Time led by Nyingma Institute faculty; and Wednesday evenings BST/GMT led by our faculty in the U.K. See schedule posted below for dates and times.

Primary faculty for this program: Abbe Blum, Santosh Philip, Jonathan Clewley, Bram Williams, Angela Bushaway, Ton van der Sheer

Information for applicants/ FAQ

Bridges to Joy of Being – 3-hour workshop June 7, 2025 program powerpoint slides

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Program Costs, Payment Options, and Discounts available:

KNTT Level 1 Program Cost: $2,750

KNTT Level 2 Program Cost: $2,750

Payment in full: A $500 early bird discount is offered for program payment in full before:
- Level 2 – September 1, 2025 (total $2,250). After September 1, payment in full is $2,750.
- Level 1 – June 1, 2026 (total $2,250). After June 1, 2026 payment in full is $2,750.
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 $2,750. A $200 discount is offered for registering prior to:
- Level 2 – September 1, 2025 (total $2,550) with a payment plan.
- Level 1 – June 1, 2026 (total $2,550) 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.
Financial aid: For those who cannot afford the full cost of tuition, please inquire about scholarship assistance.

Nyingma Institute 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. 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.

Donna Morton
Donna began her studies at the Nyingma Institute in 1997. Since completing a 6-month retreat program at Nyingma Institute in 2001, she has been teaching Kum Nye programs in Berkeley, including the Level 1 KNTT. She is also a practicing physical therapist, nutrition consultant, and health educator.

UK/Irish faculty

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
Jonathan encountered Kum Nye in London way back, before he knew what it was, and walked out of the room almost blissed out. That experience led him to a deeper involvement with Kum Nye, and other teachings of Tarthang Tulku. He shares his understanding of what he’s learnt so far whenever suitable opportunities arise.

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.

Matt Padwick
Matt has been practising meditation and Kum Nye as a member of the Dzogchen Beara Retreat Centre community (in West Cork, Ireland) since 1998. He was first authorised to teach Kum Nye in 2019, and completed this Teacher Training as a student in 2023-24. Matt offers Kum Nye workshops and retreats at Dzogchen Beara, elsewhere in Ireland and online.

Bios of the Dutch faculty for the KNTT Level 2 program