Yoga Teacher Training

 

General Information

200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and In-depth Yoga studies Program.

 

Our 2012 training is underway and the next session will begin in 2013. Please send an email to teachertraining@mindbody-zone.com for more updates about the next session. It will follow the same format as shown below.

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Mind Body Zone is proud to offer a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training / In Depth Yoga Studies Program. Whether your intention is to deepen your personal practice or obtain the skills and knowledge to become an effective instructor, this program is diverse and non-denominational, covering all aspects of Hatha Yoga. Upon successful completion of the program, one is eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). It includes:

 

Techniques-100+ hours

• In-depth study of over 90 asana 
• Styles of yoga
• Meditation
• Pranayama
• Bandhas
• Chanting

 

Teaching Methods-35 hours

• Asana modification and use of props
• Demonstration and cueing principles
• Designing and sequencing a class
• Hands-on and verbal adjustments
• Business aspects of teaching yoga
• Students’ process of learning
• Yoga Therapy
• Public Speaking-communicating with your voice and body
• Teaching Beginners

 

Anatomy & Physiology- 25 hours

• Musculoskeletal
• Respiration and Breath
• Joint Mobility
• Preventing Yoga injuries
• Working with student injuries
• Chakras
• Chi and Meridians
• Vayus

 

Philosophy, Lifestyle & Ethics-30 hours

• 8 Limbs of Yoga
• Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Bhagavad Gita
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Yogic Lifestyle
• Sanskrit
• Ayurveda 
• Ethics

 

Practicum-10 hours

• Practice Teaching
• Assist senior teachers in his/her class
• Give and receive feedback

 

Schedule

January-October 2012*

One weekend a month 
Saturdays 11:00am-6:00pm
Sundays 10:30am-4:45pm
(*Dates/Times subject to change)

• January 28-29, 2012
• February 25-26, 2012
• March 24-25, 2012
• April 21-22, 2012
• May 19-20, 2012
• June 23-24, 2012
• July 21-22, 2012
• August 25-26, 2012
• September 15-16, 2012
• October 20-21, 2012

In addition, 48 hours of Hatha Yoga practice are required. These dates and times will be determined by the trainees.

 

Tuition

• A non-refundable application fee of $200 is due upon acceptance to the program.
• Early Bird tuition: $2,000 paid in full by Nov. 30, 2011 (total $2,200)
• Regular tuition: $2,200 paid in full by Jan. 27, 2012. (total $2,400)
• Payment schedule: $2,400 (total $2,600). Three $800 payments due 1/27/12, 4/21/12 and 7/20/12.
• Tuition Refunds-10% service charge, no refunds after Dec. 28, 2011.

Tuition does not cover the cost of a small number of books that are required reading or teaching practicum fees (if any), but does include all listed training sessions, hand outs and 48 free yoga classes at Mind Body Zone during teacher training (value of $576). Subsequent classes can be taken at MBZ at a discounted rate.

 

Prerequisites for Application and Certification:

• Minimum of 2 years personal practice of Hatha Yoga or approval from Director of Teacher Training
• Commitment to continuing practice and spiritual growth
• Completed Teacher Training Application
• On-time payment of tuition and application fee
• Attendance of all Teacher Training Meetings
• Successful and on-time completion of assignments, quizzes and exams

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty

	Lynn Cheng Kaylor- E-RYT 200, Director of Yoga Teacher Training Topics Taught: Techniques, Teaching Methodology, Anatomy, Practicum Lynn began her love and study of yoga over 26 years ago and has been teaching since 1997. She is a senior teacher, teaching over 1000 classes each year, and is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT).  Serving as the Director of Teacher Training, she is also the primary faculty member of the program, teaching about half of the 200 hours.  When she put together the curriculum for this teacher training, she asked herself "what do I wish I knew before I started teaching? What have I found to be most important?". The end result? A program that emphasizes how to teach (and practice) yoga safely and confidently.   While she has studied many different styles in her years of practice with senior teachers, she draws the most inspiration from the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Kripalu traditions.  Her classes are eclectic, incorporating aspects from her teachers, intuition and personal study; each class is different and choreographed to beautiful music. Lynn's teaching style emphasizes the importance of body alignment combined with the natural movement of the breath, inner awareness and the vision of the mind-body-spirit connection. Her hope for her students is to not only achieve their physical goals (strength, stamina, flexibility, coordination, stress relief, etc.) though asana (postures) and pranayama (breath techniques), but to also come to know, understand and incorporate other aspects of yoga in their lives. For more information about Lynn, visit www.yogailluminations.com or www.facebook.com/lynnkayloryoga
	Connie Habash, MA, LMFT Topics Taught: Philosophy, Yogic Lifestyle, Ethics Connie has been teaching yoga since 1993. She has a passion for integrating the philosophical and psychological aspects of the yogic tradition into her classes.  An avid student and teacher of introductory Sanskrit, she has studied with Dr. Sarasvati Mohan, Director of Sanskrit Academy, as well as Vyaas Houston of American Sanskrit Institute. Although inspired by many styles of yoga, she mainly draws upon the Iyengar style for alignment, the Vinyasa style for its flowing movement and emphasis on the breath, and yogic philosophy to apply the experience to our daily lives. Over the past 19 years, Connie has explored many spiritual traditions of the East and West, being especially influenced by yogic philosophy, earth-oriented practices, Hinduism, and Taoism. In 1998, she found her spiritual teacher Amma, also known as Ammachi or Mata Amritanandamayi, and felt she was finally home.  You can find out more about her at her website, www.awakeningself.com.
	Michelle Marie (Duguay), RYT 500 Topics Taught: Anatomy, Techniques, Teaching Methodology Michelle is a lifelong practitioner of yoga and the healing arts and has been teaching yoga for over 14 years.  Among her major influences are Holistic Healing, both Complimentary & Alternative, Hatha Yoga in the following forms: Shadow yoga, Bihar yoga, Yin yoga and Restorative yoga. For more than eight years, she has worked with the Stanford Hospital and Clinics Cancer Support Program. For some four years, she apprenticed and assisted Scott Blossom, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as an expert in Ayurveda and Shadow yoga. Her training in bodywork is eclectic, and has included apprenticeships under several highly seasoned healers. Since her teens, Michelle has relentlessly explored science, medicine, and natural healing, both to facilitate her own healing as well as that of her clients. She has a passion for Yoga that is inspiring, her smile and sweet energy infectious. She has an extremely gifted intuitive way in assisting her students on their yogic path with powerful hands-on work, melodic voice and a great sense of humor.  For more information about Michelle, visit michelleduguay.wordpress.com
	Setarah Moafi, L.Ac Topics Taught: Chakras, Qi, Meridians, Yin/Yang Yoga Setareh completed yoga teacher training certifications with It’s Yoga San Francisco and Erich Schiffmann and founded Yoga of Los Altos.  She received her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2007. Setareh interweaves the practices of Yoga and Chinese Medicine in a unique method. Her Yoga classes blend Yin, a series of long held poses designed to increase flexibility and open the meridians, and Yang, a flow based series that increases strength and endurance.  Setareh focuses on restoring classical approaches to Chinese Medicine, and specializes in Sports Medicine, Women’s Health and Facial Rejuvenation at clinics in San Francisco and Santa Clara, CA.  Visit www.setarehmoafi.com for more information.
	Grace Kendrick, CAS, CYT Topics Taught: Ayurveda Grace Kendrick is a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner and Yoga Teacher offering transformative holistic health and wellness programs based on the ancient science of Ayurveda and Yoga. Her Ayurveda practice is focused on helping busy moms who feel depleted, overwhelmed or anxious find sustained energy, greater balance and optimum health and happiness in their daily life. Grace is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and holds yoga teaching certifications through the White Lotus Foundation, Kundalini Yoga Institute, and Whole Birth® Prenatal Yoga & Support. For more information, please visit: www.mindfulmamayoga.com
	Himmat Topics Taught: Kundalini Yoga Himmat has been practicing Kundalini Yoga & Meditation for over 10 years. She received her initial Kundalini Yoga & Meditation certification directly from the master, Yogi Bhajan. In addition to teaching adults, Himmat is a certified Radiant Child Yoga instructor for children. She has also been practicing Pilates for the past 13 years and teaches both reformer and mat pilates. Over the years, she has practiced Buddhist mindfulness meditation, Reiki, mantra healing, Ayurvedic Pancha Karma, art therapy, spiritual psychology and Sat Nam Rasayan healing. Himmat has taught and practiced in NY, India, Italy, France and CA. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.A. from New York University. After spending 9 years of critical and creative investigations of the body-mind-spirit triad through visual art, Himmat spent 2 years studying spiritual psychology with Buddhist psychiatrist, Mark Epstein. She was the Project Coordinator of a pioneering yoga study conducted with breast cancer patients at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY). Thereafter, while living in India, she taught Kundalini Yoga & Meditation and studied Ayurveda, specializing in Pancha Karma healing. Himmat views all the above practices as tools for the lifelong journey of cultivating awareness, balance and graceful transformation.
	Monica Hanson- RYT 200 Topics Taught: Yoga Therapy Monica Hanson teaches group Yoga and Meditation classes and offers private, personalized instruction for beginning to advanced yoga practitioners and for people with health challenges. Her teaching weaves together influences from contemplative traditions and western mind-body science. Whether the practice is a vigorous vinyasa or restorative health, healing is cultivated through breathing, mindful movement and meditation. Monica is a Certified and Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT) specializing in the therapeutic and personalized application of yoga to cultivate health and healing. She teaches Yoga and Meditation at Ohlone College Health Sciences to nursing and physical therapy students. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and on the Editorial team for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy. Her specialized training includes: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as taught by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Therapeutic Application of Yoga, Duke University Integrative Medicine Center.
	Paul Miller Topics Taught: Meditation While Paul was in his late twenties and working towards his Doctorate in Electronic Engineering, he would spend the quiet evenings in the laboratory by questioning and contemplating his current spiritual beliefs. After graduating he went to work as an Electronic Engineer in various High Tech companies.  A few years ago he took four months off from his job in Silicon valley to concentrate on finding himself. What he found was a lot more than he could have imagined; it was to change his life completely. As part of this Spiritual Quest, he took up Hatha Yoga and meditation. His Yoga instructor noticing an innate ability, suggested he learn to teach it – which he now does now regularly in San Jose.  Also during this reflective four-month period, an awareness started to surface along with questions. He was introduced to Delphi University in Georgia where he discovered his latent intuitive and healing abilities. Since then he has gone on to use this gift to obtain a Doctorate in RoHun (a form of Spiritual Psychotherapy), and now runs his own meditation and healing practice and teaches Meditation and Self Awareness workshops.
	And many more instructors!

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why it’s important to choose the right training structure?

Yoga is learned by patient practice, dedication and experience. Knowledge is imparted directly from teacher to student. Large classes, high-profile seminars, yoga conferences, workshops with celebrity teachers, and distance learning are less than ideal formats for teacher training.

 

Beware of trainings that provide limited access to the trainers, those that condense many hours into a short time frame, ones that have heavy homework, online classes with less face-to-face instruction and those that offer less than 200 contact training hours.

 

What is unique about Mind Body Zone’s program?

Our multiple sessions are spaced over 10 months, we offer a close teacher-student relationship with highly experienced teacher trainers, a supervised and ongoing study into all aspects of yoga including ethical, personal, physical, psychological and spiritual realms.

 

Our program is designed for people with busy schedules; we meet once a month and you determine when and where you would like to fulfill the requirements for practice and practicum. We offer 48 free yoga classes during the training period and additional classes during this time will be offered at a significant discount.

 

Most of the material covered in any teacher training is new information-information not received in a typical yoga class or as in depth. Our pacing is set that there is enough time between each session in order for you to digest, process and incorporate the material into your practice before the next session. The training is also progressive, what you learn in the current month will be more relevant in the following month and onwards.

 

Any Yoga Alliance approved program has the same requirements; 75 contact hours hours for Techniques, 15 contact hours for Teaching Methodology, 10 contact hours for Anatomy, 20 contact hours for Philosophy and 5 contact hours for Practicum. (Contact hours are training hours given by and in the presence of an experience yoga teacher). The remaining 55 contact hours are distributed among the educational categories according to the school’s emphasis. We have placed more emphasis on Techniques and Teaching Methodology and additional hours in Anatomy and Practicum.

 

How do I know if I am ready?

If you have been studying yoga with a teacher for at least two years, we encourage you to apply. If you have less than 2 years experience, contact Lynn (Director of Teacher Training) to discuss your eligibility. Keep in mind that your sincere desire to learn and explore is the most important factor.

 

I’m not interested in being a teacher. I just want to learn more about yoga. Can I apply?

Absolutely! This training will give you a depth of skill and knowledge without parallel. Many of these topics are not addressed in a typical yoga class or with as much detail. The training will give you a much better understanding about Yoga as a complete practice and this information will help grow your personal practice. Though you will practice and learn some teaching techniques during the course, yoga teaching need not be your ultimate goal in order for you to take full advantage of the training.

 

What is the difference between taking this program for personal development versus getting a certificate to teach yoga?

If your objective is to obtain a certificate of completion, you must complete all the assignments, pass the written final, take 45 Hatha Yoga classes at any facility of your choice and spend at least 10 hours outside of the monthly training sessions to work on the practicum part of the program. This is where a trainee mentors with an experienced teacher and observes and assists in his/her classes. In addition, the trainee must teach 5 hours where the mentor will observe and provide feedback.

If you are taking this program for your personal practice, you do not have to complete the requirements listed above (although it is highly suggested that you complete the assignments as it deepens your understanding and experience of the teachings).

 

I can not do advanced yoga postures; can I still enroll in the Teacher Training Program?

Proficiency in these postures does not correlate to being an effective yoga instructor and is not important for teaching yoga.

 

I have a prior commitment and can not make a training session, can I make-up the class?

Unfortunately, if you are unable to attend a training session, we do not offer a make up class, but will work with you individually to find a suitable way to ensure you receive and understand the information that was covered. If possible, we can change the dates of training if all participants agree on the revised date.

 

I can not make the whole tuition payment in full, does MBZ offer any payment schedules?

While the amount seems large when you look at it as one payment, it actually is quite reasonable. If it is broken down to an hourly rate, the teacher training program actually costs less per hour than a drop in class rate. As mentioned, teacher training program offers much more than you would receive in a typical yoga class.

 

We offer a discounted rate (early bird) for those who pay in full and register early. For those who can not pay the tuition rate up front, we offer a payment schedule of three $800 payments. If that payment schedule does not work for you, please contact us. We are happy to work out a payment schedule for you.

 

What qualities do you need to become a yoga teacher?

Being curious and enthusiastic about yoga is the first prerequisite. Qualities such as empathy, clarity, integrity, reliability, open minded, determination and playfulness are hallmarks of a great teacher.

 

How will I go from where I am now to being a confident yoga teacher?

Our program is paced so you learn gradually in order to integrate the various practices and information. During our training sessions, we will break down and practice the elements of effective yoga teaching. By the time you complete the training, you will have the skills to teach a basic level yoga class.

 

What is Yoga Alliance?

Yoga Alliance is the only nationally recognized organization that registers both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs who have complied with minimum educational standards established by the organization. Its mission is to lead the yoga community, set standards, foster integrity, provide resources, and uphold the teachings of yoga. By completing this teacher training, one is eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). An RYT® designation enhances your credibility as a yoga professional. Yoga Alliance RYT® designations are trusted symbols of knowledge, training and experience for employers and students.

 

What kind of work does a professional yoga teacher do?

Yoga teachers work in a wide variety of settings with a range of students. Most yoga teachers are self-employed, teaching either part-time or full-time at more than one location. Income is a reflection of an instructor’s specialized knowledge and skills, so a yoga instructor works fewer hours and is paid more per hour than in most traditional jobs. Part-time yoga instructors can supplement their regular income by teaching as little or as much as they want. Venues can include yoga studios, health clubs/gyms, corporate businesses, community centers, schools, spas, resorts and doctors’ offices.

 

Testimonials

“This Program gave me the tools as well as the confidence to begin teaching immediately after training. One of my greatest compliments came from a seasoned yoga student who commented that I seem to have a lot of experience teaching yoga. This compliment really made me realize how well MBZYTT prepared me to teach in my own unique way.” – Shannon

 

“I highly value the wide range of knowlege this teacher training has given me. It has really helped me define my own style as a teacher and thereby feel confident facing classrooms full of students. To anyone looking to prepare yourself to teach, or even just deepen your practice, this is a great program!” – Marci

 

“Learn from a myriad of master Yoga teachers who share their wealth of knowledge and experience not found in books or journals.” – Shannon

 

“This training is beneficial to ANYONE who is practices yoga, at any level. Enroll in this course if simply want to know more about yoga, deepen your practice or if you want to teach. I received valuable knowledge, inspiration and an unforgettable experience!” – Su

 

“Meeting one weekend/month provided a perfectly balanced pace; we could absorb lots of information during class time, and then have time to reflect on it, incorporate it into our lives and our yoga practice, and then be excited again when the next weekend of training approached. Retention of the material was easier this way, and there was no feeling of burn-out or being rushed. A great program!” – Julie

 

“I have taught yoga for many years, and this program has broadened my teaching skills enormously and greatly enhanced my personal practice.” – Julie

 

“Awesome teachers and insightful sessions! I am so glad I explored the many faces of yoga!” –Irma

 

“a highly recommended, well-rounded agenda providing coverage of all aspects of yoga and related teachings. An excellent opportunity for personal and spiritual growth as well as teaching potential” – Don

 

“…best learning experience by blending lecture, hands on, self-practice, instructor critiques, and lots of optional reading and practice opportunities.” – Caron

 

“A wonderful experience. The training is professional and the teachers have developed a lovely sense of community in our class.” – Kate

 

“Lynn is one of the most effective and down-to-earth teachers I have encountered.” – Jill

 

“The pace of the program gave us plenty of time to review important concepts and let them sink in. The mentorship and practicum portion further helped to solidify and confidently put all that we had learned into practice.”- Sweta

 

To Apply

To apply, please fill out this application and mail it to Mind Body Zone.

For a printable version of this program, please click here.

If you have any questions, please email teachertraining@mindbody-zone.com

 

 

 

© 2012 Mind Body Zone