~ Yanumoja Yoga Teacher Training ~ Wakefield, QC ~

September 2018 ~ June 2019 (one weekend/mo) Full

A certificate program based on attendance, participation and competence

Dates and learning objectives posted below.

This weekend training (10 weekends) is 235-hours in length (150-hours in-class, 40-hours teacher-supervised practice, and 45-hours practicum teaching) and meets the standards for RYT 200 with the Yoga Alliance. Certification is given through Energies of Aliveness as a Yanumoja Yoga Teacher (235-hours) after completion of all requirements of the course.

Training over a length of time allows students to more deeply integrate the theory, philosophy and practices of yoga into their lives and more thoroughly develop their teaching skills.

The course is first and foremost a personal journey of transformation, and relies on the development of teaching skills and knowledge as the vehicle for personal journeying. This experiential training offers personal attention to each student-teacher.

For a description of Yanumoja Yoga click on the Yoga button in the left column.

The space is limited to 6 student-teachers to ensure adequate teaching-practice and group discussion.

Testimonials

Schedule

20 days from Sept 2018 through June 2019, (one weekend/month)

Orientation: Wednesday, September 12 (7-9 PM)

See dates below under Outline of topics by day.

Daily schedule

Required Texts and Equipment

Students are required to purchase and supply the following texts and materials

- Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow
- Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germaine (tbc)
- 3-ring Binder, Notebook (paper) and pens

Recommended Texts also include:
- Falling into Grace by Adyashanti

Completion Requirements

Students must complete the following components within 18 months of beginning the course in order to be certified

- attend all in-class lectures and exercises

- all homework assignments must be handed in on-time and completed satisfactorily
- attend 40 hrs of teacher-supervised practice (yoga classes of different styles and teachers)
- teach 45 hrs of classes (this can be volunteer or paid teaching after the completion of in-class lectures) with documentation.
- take-home exam must be handed in on-time and completed satisfactorily

Tuition

$2,500 + tx (a $500 + tax = $575 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration). Registration closes August 17th, 2018 or before if course is full.

The balance of the tuition is to be paid monthly ($230) with post-dated cheques or e-transfer for the 15th of each month beginning September 2018 or a lump sum for the fall in September 2018 + lump sum for winter-spring in January 2019.

Learning Objectives by weekend

Weekend 1: Sept 22-23, 2018

Topics: Interweaving of Threads: History of Spirituality and Medicine in India and China; What is energy?; Circle of Life; What is yoga?; Tantra, Sankhya, and Vedanta and the 37 Principles (Tattvas); Basic Tantric precepts; 8 limbs as techniques of yoga seen through the eyes of Tantra.

Learning Objectives:

To understand the interweaving of threads in the history of yoga, the therapeutic benefits of yoga and spiritual practices and where the Yanumoja lineage fits in; to be able to effectively describe this to a student.

To understand the 37 Tattvas, how they were discovered, which Tattvas are associated with Classical Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra and what overall effect this creates as a way of seeing the world.

To understand the 8 limbs of yoga and be able to distinguish Tantric versus Classical perspectives; to explore one Yama and one Niyama, practice for one week and journal about one's experience.

Weekend 2: Oct 20-21

Topics: 37 Principles (Tattvas) in depth; Breath as Medicine; Vayus (excess and deficiency); 3 Bodies/ 5 Dimensions of Being (Koshas); Nadis
Pranayama: basic techniques – benefits, contraindications, how to do, how to teach; Chakras

Learning Objectives:

To develop a personal understanding and experience of the 37 Tattvas and define how this fits with where one is at and how this might affect/influence one's life and practices.

To be able to define Prana, vayu, and nadi; to practice breath ratios and be able to describe the effects of the different ratios of Prana and Apana and suspensions.

To name and describe the function of each of the 5 vayus; analyze one's vayus and determine imbalances; describe the relationship to pranayama techniques.

To describe the 3 bodies in the circle of life and how imbalances are treated; To name the 5 koshas and describe how they relate to the 3 bodies; discuss the possible imbalances in each of the koshas and yogic techniques for holistically treating excesses and deficiencies.

To know from where the idea of Nadis arose, define the 3 main nadis and be able to describe what happens when Ida and Pingala are out of balance; experience one method for balancing Ida, Pingala and awakening Sushumna; to be able to define Kundalini Shakti, Shiva Amrita and Samadhi and describe the process of awakening from a classical yogic versus a tantric perspective; to know the 2 functions of Prana and describe the difference between the active and the energy of potentiality.

To know the elements, active and receptive organs, and some signs of excesses and deficiencies for each chakra and be able to explain some of the ways to rebalance each chakra; to be able to feel into which one of one's chakras feels most balanced and most unbalanced, explain why, identify some yogic practices to rebalance, record the experience and receive feedback from E-RYT.

Weekend 3: Nov 17-18

Topics: Yanumoja Yoga: Sacred Journeys and Themes in teaching; Tantra, mantra, yantra; Karma and Samskaras; Anatomy introduction; Anatomy of a Cell; The Brain; The Respiratory System

Learning Objectives:

For participants to gain an understanding of what Yanumoja means to them and how the principles and their personal experience of these transfers to thematic choices in teaching

To understand Karma, samsara, samskaras and the relationship to the koshas and chakras. To begin a personal exploration of samskaras.

To understand the cellular system and be able to make the links to the therapeutic benefits of yoga, self-healing and the life cycle.

To be able to name the 3 main parts of the brain, understand what they govern, how they relate to the koshas and how one can stimulate brain functioning through yogic practices

To understand the physical, energetic, emotional and spiritual effects of the respiratory system, describe the effects of poor breathing and effective breathing on well being, understand diagnosis through breath and identify asana and pranayam techniques to enhance breathing and respiratory functioning.

Weekend 4: Dec 15-16

Topics: Granthis and Bandhas; Dissolution and Death; Completions Exercise; Continuation of Dissolution; Enlightenment and the Purpose of Yoga; Mantra and Mudra and Meditation

Learning Objectives:

To know the names of the 3 granthis and what they represent; to be able to explain the purpose of mula, uddiyana, jalandhara and maha bandhas, the effects of holding and releasing, and the interrelationship of bandhas and granthis; practice and master correct technique for each bandha.

Understand the relationship of death to enlightenment; be able to explain the difference between regular dying, active dying and conscious dying; reflect on one's personal understanding of death; make the links as to why this is an important topic in teaching yoga.
To identify the 4-tasks of morning and describe what multiple-loss theory can teach us about the grieving process. To reflect on what one would offer a student (in terms of yogic practices) coming for help to process a loss.

To be able to define Kundalini Shakti, Shiva Amrita and Samadhi and describe the process of awakening from a classical yogic versus a tantric perspective; to know the 2 functions of Prana and describe the difference between the active and the energy of potentiality.

To discuss pratyahara, meditation, letting-go and the therapeutic approaches and values. To practice mudras and mantras and know how and why these are performed.

Weekend 5: Jan 19-20, 2019

Topics: Addictions and Trauma and the Koshas; Energetics of Yoga; Digestive System; Posture Analysis and Alignment Principles; Circulatory System;

Learning Objectives:

To be able to describe the relationship of addiction to the koshas; identify 3 specific tools in yoga to help with addictions and describe their therapeutic benefits.

To be able to define trauma, describe how it is related to cellular memory and how posture and breath-work in yoga might bring trauma to the surface (trigger repressed memories); describe trauma with respect to the Chakras and to the Koshas; and list some of the best ways to approach the practice of yoga when recovering from trauma. To know the important considerations in dealing with a student in crisis in class.

To understand the digestive and eliminative systems and be able to distinguish hyper and hypo conditions and make the links to the therapeutic benefits of yoga.

To understand the circulatory system, hyper and hypo conditions and be able to describe associated yoga postures and modifications as well as yogic approaches to rebalance restore and maintain the system.

Through classes and posture analysis teaching and practice segments, the participant gains knowledge and felt-experience of alignment principles, what to watch out for in students and clients, modifications, physiological response, associated energetics (elements, vayus, chakras) and any contraindications related to certain physical or emotional states and conditions

Weekend 6: Feb 23-24

Topics: Lymphatic System; Posture Analysis and Alignment Principles; Nervous System; Endocrine System; Reproductive and Urogenital Systems; Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Objectives:

To understand the lymphatic and immune systems and know how to strengthen these systems in yoga.

To understand the basic functioning of the nervous system, the conditions that affect the system and the impact on other systems to the extent that signs associated with imbalances in the nervous system are recognized and asanas, pranayam techniques and mudras to energize, relax and rejuvenate the system are identified.

To understand the workings of the endocrine system, its relationship to the nervous system and the chakras and be able to identify ways to restore and maintain balance in the entire system.

To understand the general workings, problems and issues associated with the male and female reproductive systems; to be able to identify treatments/approaches for stimulating and those for relaxing the system; to know the dos and don’ts for pregnant women;

Weekend 7: Mar 23-24

Topics: Bones, Joints, Ligaments (general introduction); Muscles (general introduction); Posture Analysis and Alignment Principles; Muscles and bones of the feet, ankle, knee and legs; Muscles and bones of the pelvis

Learning Objectives:

To be able to describe the job of the bones and skeleton, what the skin of the bone does and what it becomes, the difference between: fibrous joint, cartilage joint, and a synovial joint, the job of a ligament and what makes it different from a muscle.

To be able to describe the purpose of muscle, the structure, the 3 kinds of muscle and what distinguishes them from one another, name the different kinds of skeletal muscle and the qualities of muscle, describe what a healthy muscle feels like and what causes cramping/pain in a muscle during usage, and list some qualities of an unhealthy muscle.

Weekend 8: April 27-28

Topics: Muscles and bones of the neck, spine, abdomen and rib cage; Muscles, bones and joints of the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand; Bones of the skull; Posture Analysis and Alignment Principles

Learning Objectives:

To name the 4 sections of the spine, describe the function of the curve of the spine and what kind of movement happens most easily in each section of the spine, name 5 different shapes of joints a give direct examples in the body.

Identify which muscles are contracted and elongated in various selected postures.

Weekend 9: May 25-26

Topics: Restoratives and Chair Yoga Options; Teaching skills practice

Learning Objectives:

To experience a one-hour chair yoga class, reflect on the experience, and apply the learning by modifying 5 other postures to work with chairs and analyze case-studies in small groups; debrief in plenary.

Through a one-hour experience of restorative yoga, the participants will come to value the benefits of restorative postures by self-assessing their experience, listening to the experience of others, and collectively listing some of the illnesses and conditions that could be eased and treated with restorative posture work and noting any contraindications that may apply.

To acquire a basic understanding of what it means to be a yoga teacher.

To know what to include in a class and design an 8-week thematic focus outlining intent and week-to-week topics to support the theme; create a sampler class of one of the 8 weeks, teach it and receive feedback.

Through demonstration, learn various techniques for offering hands-on adjustments in major postures and demonstrate one's ability by working with a peer and receiving feedback.

To experience the effects of skillful demonstration and use of language and learn some basic principles and dos and don'ts in offering clear demonstration with concise expression for guiding students.

To understand the effects of “what we say and how we say it matters”; reflect on and share one's experiences as a learner and identify examples of ineffective and effective use of language by the teacher.

Weekend 10: June 16-17

Topics: Teacher Presentations (Practical Exam); Review; Take-Home Exam; Completing the Course; Completion ceremony

Learning Objectives:

To practice teach and receive feedback on the various aspects of teaching, namely: overall experience and impression of the class; use of theme and integration throughout; choice of posture, breath-work, visualization and meditation to support thematic choice; clarity of demonstration and instruction on all aspects; overall flow; use of language and voice in creating atmosphere; use of voice, body, language and appearance and presence in creating trust with students and a sense of connection; consideration of needs and level of students; ability to offer modifications/alternatives where appropriate; and closing of the session.

To apply, please contact: Suzanne