Schedule for 2015-1016 Weekend Teacher Training

We start very broadly with questions such as "What is is Yoga?" to gradually set the foundation of the training. We gradually layer in more philosophy, anatpmy, and technique. Each successive weekend is more and more experiential, more and more practical, and thus less and less theoretical. Please note that we cover over 75 asanas. Wherever it indicates "Asana," we will cover 3-10 specific poses.

Here is the general outline of the training (not the detailed syllabus or curriculum).

 

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Weekend One – September 12-13

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Welcome & Course Overview
  • Opening Circle ~ Setting Intention
  • Philosophy & History:
    • What is Yoga?
    • What are the histories and philosophies of yoga?
  • The Essential Elements of Asana
    • Breath
    • Steadiness, Ease, Presence of Mind (Sthira, Sukham, Asanam and Dritana)
    • Alignment Principles
    • Energetic Actions
    • Playing the Edge
  • Anatomy Basics– Part I:
    • Terminology (Anatomical Position, Planes of Motion, Directional Terms)
    • The Human Skeleton
    • The Nature of Bones & Ligaments
  • Anatomy Basics – Part II:
    • The Nature of Muscles: Structure & Function
    • Types of Joints & Joint Movement
    • The Spine & Postures
  • Observing and Appreciating Student Postures:
    • Partner Observation
  • Asana:
    • Introduction to Standing Poses
    • Standing Poses with Externally Rotated Hips (Part I)
  • Practice Teaching (3 basic poses)

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Mantra:
    • What is mantra?
    • What is Om? Why Om? When to Om (and when not to Om)
    • The meanings of A-U-M
  • Pranayama:
    • Basic Yogic Breathing (Ujjayi)
  • Meditation:
    • Breath as Mantra

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Anatomy Basics 3:
    • The Shoulder & Pelvic Girdles
  • Asana:
    • Introduction to Giving Hands-On Guidance and Adjustments
    • Standing Poses with Externally Rotated Hips (Part II)
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Standing Poses

 

Weekend Two – October 10-11

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Anatomy Basics – Part 4:
    • Ankles, Knees, Hips
  • Focus on Asana:
    • Standing Poses with Neutral and Internally Rotated Hips
    • Standing Balance Poses
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Standing Poses
  • Pranayama – Refined Yogic Breathing:
    • Vrtti, Kumbhaka, Viloma

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Philosophy & History:
    • More Deeply Exploring the Ancient Roots of Modern Yoga:
      • The Bhagavad-Gita
      • The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
  • Meditation:
    • A Counting Technique
  • Mantra:
    • Gayatri

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Core Integration
    • Arm Balances
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Applied Core & Arm Balances
  • Pranayama:
    • Kapalabhati (Skull Brightening)
  • Bandhas;
    • Mula, Uddiyana, Kapalabhati
  • Meditation:
    • Chakras Inspired

 

Weekend Three – November 7-8

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Anatomy Basics:
    • Part 5 – Wrists and Elbows
  • Asana:
    • Backbends Part 1
  • Pranayama:
    • Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril)
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Backbends

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Philosophy:
    • Subtle Energy & Yogic Anatomy (Prana, Nadis, Chakras)
  • Mantra:
    • Gopala

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Backbends Part 2
  • Asana:
    • Seated & Supine Twists
  • Meditation:
    • Heart-Centered Meditation
       

Weekend Four – December 19-20

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Seated & Supine Forward Bends & Hip Openers
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Seated & Supine Forward Bends & Hip Openers

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Meditation:
    • Chakras of Meditation Tropes
  • Mantra:
    • Om Namo Bhagavate

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Seated & Supine Forward Bends & Hip Openers
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Seated & Supine Forward Bends & Hip Openers

 

Weekend Five – January 16-17

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Inversions & Finishing Poses
  • Pranayama
    • Bastrika and Holotropic Breathing
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Inversions & Finishing Poses

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Restorative Practice
  • Mantra:
    • Om Namah Shivaya

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Asana:
    • Teaching Integrated Vinyasa Sequences
    • Plank-Chataranga, Sun Salutations & Dancing Warrior Variations
  • Practice Teaching:
    • Integrated Mini-Sequences

 

Weekend Six – February 20-21

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Guiding the Practice – Part I:
    • Philosophy, Principles, and Techniques
    • Hands-On Adjustments and Refined Use of Props with Standing Pose, Arm Balances, and Backbends
    • Practice Teaching

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Creating Space for Slef-Transformation
    • Taking the Seat of the Teacher
    • Holding Space
    • Class Themes

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Guiding the Practice – Part II:
    • Hands-On Adjustments and Refined Use of Props with Twists, Forward Bends, Hip Openers, and Inversions
    • Practice Teaching

 

Weekend Seven – March 19-20

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Planning & Sequencing Classes – Part I:
    • Philosophy, Principles, Techniques
    • Designing Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes
    • Practice Teaching

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Cultivating Your Teaching Voice

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Planning Sequencing Classes – Part II:
    • Designing Classes for Ayuvedic (Doshic) Constitutions
    • Subtle Energy (Chakra and Kosha Classes)
    • Practice Teaching

 

Weekend Eight – April 16-17

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Specialized Teaching – Part I:
    • Teaching Yoga to Students Who Have Injuries and Other Special Conditions

Saturday Evening (2 hours):

  • Finding Your Dharma & Making Yoga More Meaningful

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Specialized Teaching – Part II:
    • Teaching Yoga to Pregnant Students

 

Weekend Nine – May 21-22

Saturday Morning & Afternoon (8 hours):

  • Practice Teaching

Saturday Evening (8 hours):

  • Food and Special Nourshment

Sunday Morning & Afternoon (2 hours):

  • The Yoga Profession
    • Standards, Ethics, & Business Practices
    • Preparing for a Lifetime of Practicing and Teaching Yoga
  • Certification Exam
    • What to Expect
    • How to Prepare
  • Closing Circle

 

 

Display Date
September 2015 – May 2016 (One Weekend Per Month)
Date