Yoga Teacher Training – Immersion (200hr)
Curriculum
Principles of Practice – 120 hours / 100 hours
The source of great yoga teaching is a personal practice which opens the door to the one’s innate wisdom, allowing that wisdom to be expressed from the heart. Using the principles of modern biomechanics, teachers in training utilize the most elegant and user-friendly methods available. Daily practice includes creative sequencing techniques, relevant philosophy, pranayama (breath work) and meditation. By the end of the program students will have a solid personal yoga practice that informs their teaching and all aspects of life.
Teaching Methodology – 35 hours / 25 hours
The methodology of teaching plays an integral role in leading a safe, successful and interesting yoga class. Teachers learn to use to their own authentic voice and from there begin to examine and refine communication to become as clear as possible. This approach has far-reaching effects on and off the mat. Teaching begins on day two, and by the time students lead their own classes, they are fully aware of nuance of language and how to use it effectively to inspire and deepen the experience of yoga for their students. This skill coupled with an understanding of bio-mechanics, optimal alignment, verbal and physical adjustments and developing a class intention to enrich and add meaning to classes gives VSOHA’s yoga teacher trainees a diverse and colourful pallet to draw from.
Anatomy & Physiology – 25 hours / 20 hours
An understanding of the structure of the body and how postures create change within that structure is key to safe instruction. Compressive and tensile forces and variations in skeletal structure are explored as well as muscle groups, conscious breathwork, emotional release, the subtle body, and it’s energies. Students are provided with an excellent text to support their studies in Anatomy.
Yoga Philosophy, Ethics & Lifestyle – 44 hours / 30 hours
When teaching this art and science of Yoga, the question “What are we actually teaching and why?” needs to be answered. Yoga philosophy needs to be interwoven into our daily lives as much as the physical practice itself, in order to enrich understanding and give it context. The origins of yoga, its discipline and ethics combined with the development of its practices are fascinating subjects. Through lectures, journaling work, presentations, daily practice and discussion, a foundation of understanding develops. Classical Yoga, Tantra Yoga and the dualistic and non-dualistic philosophies are explored. Key texts: the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are also summarized.
Practice – 16 hours / 10 hours minimum
In our mini practice, students work as group to create a class to each teach a portion of. During our final practice, each student will teach an hour long yoga class. Students will be graded according to a specific set of criteria, which the program works cohesively to help them meet.
