Program Objectives
To ignite a passion for learning and a genuine curiosity about life and our place in it.
To place the physical practice of yoga within the context of a bigger picture; Patanjali’s 8 limbs as a guide for ethical living.
To build critical thinking and awareness around the process of learning skills in order to modify responses to different situations and contexts.
Skill Set for the 300-Hour Program
How to safely and effectively teach more than 50 asanas.
How to integrate systematic cueing, respect for breath, and harmonious flow.
How to sequence for a particular effect and with particular themes.
How to clearly demonstrate poses.
Understanding of functional anatomy and how it relates to the practice of poses and sequencing of classes.
How to teach basic restorative poses, meditation, pranayama, kriyas, mantras, and chanting.
Knowledge of the fundamental texts of hatha yoga and of the historical and philosophical context of our practice.
How to effectively observe and read bodies; alignment, energy, doshas, etc.
How to pronounce Sanskrit and knowledge of Sanskrit names for poses.
How to confidently make hands-on and verbal adjustments.
Introduction to how to teach specialty classes, such as pre/post-natal and kids yoga.
Tools to begin to address physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health issues as a yoga teacher.
Knowledge of how your classes are received by students and help with your personal challenges as a teacher through clear and compassionate peer feedback during practicum sessions.
What You Will Learn
Personal Practice
Deepening one's personal asana, pranayama, and meditation practice over time.
Body awareness; accessing sensation; proprioception.
Adapting poses to address individual differences.
Asana
Applications of yama and niyamas to asana.
Sequencing, elements and effects of Beginner, Level 1 and Intermediate classes.
Sequencing, cautions and modifications of Surya Namaskar variations.
Sequencing, cautions and modifications of Tensegrity Repair series.
Sequencing, cautions and modifications of Five Tibetans series.
Understanding sequencing through deep exploration of actions, effects, key muscles, cautions, alignment cues of neutral spine and hip poses.
Understanding sequencing through deep exploration of actions, effects, key muscles, cautions, alignment cues and sequencing of hip flexion poses.
Understanding sequencing through deep exploration of effects, key muscles, cautions, alignment cues and sequencing of hip and spine flexion poses.
Understanding sequencing through deep exploration of effects, key muscles, cautions, alignment cues and sequencing of hip extension and rotation poses.
Developing techniques to determine at what level particular asanas are effective.
Understanding how to build classes to help students work toward healthy and sustainable practice.
Personal assessment through asana and breath and the ability to see each individual as a whole.
Diagnostic tools that can be used to effect positive change for chronic conditions, skeletal imbalances, emotional traumas, etc.
Reading bodies, adjustments, and manual assists.
Kriyas
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of jala neti.
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of uddiyana kriya.
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of agni sara.
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of nauli.
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of kapalabhati.
Therapeutic effects, application, and cautions of bhastrika.
Chanting
Pronunciation and rhythm of Lokah samastah.
Pronunciation and rhythm of Sahanavavatu (from Taittiriya Upanishad).
Pronunciation and rhythm of Gayatri (from Rig-Veda).
Pronunciation and rhythm of Ashtanga Invocation.
Pronunciation and rhythm of Bij mantras.
Mantra
Sanskrit, translation and origins of Lokah samastah.
Sanskrit, translation and origins of Sahanavavatu (from Taittiriya Upanishad).
Sanskrit, translation and origins of Gayatri (from Rig-Veda).
Sanskrit, translation and origins of Ashtanga Invocation.
Symbol, translation and origins of Bij mantras.
Meditation
Applications of yama and niyama to meditation.
Structure and principles of practicing and teaching meditation.
Six-month long daily meditation practice.
Sequencing and themes.
Interconnection to organ systems, seasonal changes.
Participate in periods of silent meditation.
Restorative
Sequencing and themes.
Interconnection to organ systems, seasonal changes.
Elements and theory of restorative postures.
Teaching and postural checklist for restorative postures.
Effects, indications, sequences, modifications.
Teaching Methodology
How to teach a comprehensive syllabus of yoga asana, pranayama, meditation, and chanting.
How to address physical, emotional, mental, spiritual health issues as a yoga teacher.
Becoming an effective teacher.
Teaching from a conscious model of values, principles.
To be able to create a spiritual field; to hold the space.
Communication skills.
Systematic cueing.
Using themes and sequences for energetic effects.
Constitutional assessment of individual doshas.
Techniques of doing accurate postural assessment through a range of poses.
Teaching as a means of creative expression.
Elements of pedagogy including:
Definition, principles, skills of observation.
Definition, principles, skills of communication.
Definition, principles, skills of demonstration.
Definition, principles, skills of adjustments.
Definition, principles, skills of creating a class/sequencing.
Definition, principles, skills of connection, and establishing relationships.
Anatomy and Physiology
Kosha model of human anatomy.
Types and instances of muscular contraction.
Exploration of planes of movement through all major joints.
Explication of functional muscle grouping for planes of movement through all major joints.
Detailed study of key muscles in the human body.
Skeletal, muscular, organ systems.
Kinesiology.
Physiology.
Accessing the emotional body for energetic effects.
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics
Exploration of yama and niyama as calls to action for how to live in the world.
Sanskrit, pronunciation, translation, explication of the first and second padas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Explication and examination of codes of conduct for teachers (Octopus Garden, Yoga Alliance, and others).
Ignite a passion for learning, a genuine curiosity about life and our place in it.
Increased tolerance for ambiguity: ethics.
Study classical texts: Bhagavad Gita (bhakti, karma, jnana yoga), Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradikipa.
Understanding the interface between yoga and Buddhism. Tantra.
Practicum
Observing, assisting, and teaching in regular drop-in classes held at the studio.
Preparing sequences and class themes.
Reading bodies, including hands-on adjustments.
Participating in classes led by your peers.
Participating in group feedback dialogues following classes.
Effective listening and communication tools.