About Move Breathe Academy

A school built
on practice,
integrity, and care

Move Breathe Academy is a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training school founded by Elisa and Patrick — two teachers who believe that real transformation happens when ancient practice meets modern science, and when a training is held with genuine care for every student.

Yoga Alliance Registered • CRKBO Registered (NL) • YACEP Accredited

Explore the 200-Hour YTT — Málaga 2026 Meet the Founders

Move Breathe Academy practice in the sunlit shala

Our Story

Why Move Breathe Academy Exists

Move Breathe Academy was born out of a simple belief: that becoming a yoga teacher should be more than collecting a certificate. It should be a real, grounded transformation — one that prepares you to teach safely, with depth, and with genuine understanding of the people in front of you.

Elisa and Patrick built the school together because they couldn't find a 200-hour training that blended the things they cared about most: intelligent movement, modern breathwork science, honest philosophy, and a real commitment to every student. They pooled their training (over 1,400 hours combined), their professional backgrounds (firefighting, nutrition, civil engineering, executive business), and their years of practice into one integrated program.

What sets MBA apart is the 3 extra months of mentorship after graduation — included with every training. Most schools end their support the moment you receive your certificate. We believe that's exactly when the real work begins. Our graduates leave with a clear path forward: support with their first classes, business guidance, monthly check-ins, and a community that stays in touch long after the 14 days are over.

Today, MBA runs 200-hour trainings in Malaga (Spain) and Ericeira (Portugal), plus a year-round online community where students and graduates keep learning, sharing, and growing together. Every training is intentionally kept small — max 14 in Malaga, max 9 in Ericeira — so each student gets genuine personal attention.

Trust & Credentials

Registered, Certified, Accountable

We hold ourselves to external standards because we value being a trustworthy school — and because our students deserve training that stands up to scrutiny anywhere in the world.

YACEP Continuing Education Provider badge

Yoga Alliance Registered (RYS 200 & YACEP)

MBA is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS 200) and a YACEP-accredited Continuing Education Provider. Every graduate receives an RYT 200 certificate that meets international standards — so you can teach anywhere in the world with confidence. We are the only school that supports you through the entire Yoga Alliance registration process after graduation.

CRKBO Registered (Netherlands)

Move Breathe Academy is registered with the CRKBO — the Centraal Register Kort Beroepsonderwijs, the Dutch quality register for vocational and short-cycle private education. This means our training meets the standards required for tax-deductible education in the Netherlands, and that we are independently accountable as a registered educational institution. It's a mark we worked hard to earn — because trust matters.

3 Extra Months of Mentorship

Personal guidance, business support, and monthly check-ins — included free with every training.

Small Groups, Always

Max 14 in Malaga, max 9 in Ericeira. We keep groups small so every student is seen.

Active Alumni Community

Graduates stay connected through our online platform with live classes, masterclasses, and live Q&A.

What We Stand For

The Principles That Guide Our Teaching

Practice Over Performance

Yoga is a practice, not a performance. We teach from a place of genuine presence, not Instagram aesthetics. Every student is met exactly where they are.

Science & Tradition, Together

Ancient wisdom is the foundation. Modern anatomy, biomechanics, and breathwork science make it applicable. We hold both — without compromise.

Care, Not Content

You're a person, not a customer. From the first enquiry to 3 months after graduation, we treat every interaction with the same care we'd want for ourselves.

Honesty About Limitations

We tell you when something is outside our expertise. We refer out when it's right. We never oversell. This is a school, not a sales funnel.

The Founders

Elisa & Patrick

Two complementary practices. One shared vision for what a teacher training can be.

Elisa Ciuffarella

Co-Founder & Lead Teacher

Originally from Italy, Elisa came to yoga and movement through her own journey of recovering from injuries. With more than 1,100 hours of training and a background in nutrition, health coaching, and breathwork, she brings a holistic, grounded approach to every class she teaches.

Elisa holds an Executive MBA and trained with some of the most respected teachers in the world. She believes that real teaching starts with the teacher's own practice, and that students deserve a teacher who is still learning.

"I love to create the space for people to challenge their comfort zone and connect to their inner playful child."

Patrick van der Pol

Co-Founder & Breathwork Lead

Patrick still works as a professional firefighter — and brings that same grounded, real-world discipline to his teaching. A lifelong martial artist (karate, kung fu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu), he discovered yoga in his 20s and it changed the direction of his life.

Patrick is an Oxygen Advantage Advanced Instructor and a certified breathwork coach. He specializes in combining Western breathwork science with traditional yogic pranayama — giving students tools that work in the studio and in everyday life. He holds a BSc. in Civil Engineering and trained across multiple European and Indian schools.

"Teaching the science behind the breath — and how to use it to work for you — both on and off the mat."

"From the class material and knowledge to the teaching environment, everything was given so much care and attention. Pat and Elisa created an experience that helped me connect deeply with myself and my practice. What makes it even more special is the sense of community that continues long after the training ends."

Zipporah Gerstenbluth 200-Hour Graduate — MBA

Ready to Begin?

Train With a School That Stands for Something

Our 200-hour YTT is built on real practice, modern science, ancient wisdom, and a genuine commitment to your growth. Small groups. Expert teachers. Three months of mentorship after graduation. Yoga Alliance and CRKBO certified.

Apply for the 200-Hour YTT Join the Community

Next training: Ericeira, Portugal — 24 April to 9 May 2027 • Limited to 9 participants

A school built on practice, integrity, and care