Introduction

This course will leave you with a deeper personal understanding of yoga and the ability to teach a safe, positive and productive yoga class. You will understand and be able to share the spirit of yoga with others.

While this course will prepare you to teach classical Hatha Yoga classes, it is not necessary to be a teacher to attend, nor even the desire to teach. Many students have attended teacher training programs to enhance their personal practice. Those who wish to teach will find a wealth of invaluable tools to share with their students for years to come.

The three best words that describe participants' experience in a recent yoga teacher certification course at Rama Lotus:

"Educational-Confidence Building-Fun! "
"Practical-Profound-Ecstasy"
"Amazing-Caring-Freeing"
"Experiential-Transformative-Builds Stamina"
"Uplifting-Provoking-Enlightening"
"Rewarding-Horizon Expanding-Affirming"
"Growth-Change-Community"

There is a rapidly growing demand for yoga teachers in Ottawa and around the world. Join the informal international fellowship of individuals helping to spread the technology of yoga for self-healing, strengthening, and personal and spiritual growth.

Certification

This is a 200 hour program in yoga instruction for traditional Hatha Yoga. Certification is by the Rama Lotus Yoga Centre and meets the requirements for 200-hour Yoga Alliance membership.

This course time (240 total training hours: 180 hours of contact time and 60 hours independent study) can be used in combination with advanced yoga training to qualify for 500-hour Yoga Alliance membership.

Content

Technique

80 contact hours +
32 hours independent study

• Over 10 breath exercises (pranayama)
• Over 80 of the most practiced physical postures (asanas)
• Numerous warm up exercises
• Brief overview of Mudras (hand positions), bhandas (locks), drishti (points of focus for the eyes), etc.

Teaching methodology

25 contact hours +
3 hours independent study

• Prenatal considerations
• Modifications for injury
• Modifications for limited flexibility, Balance or strength
• Yoga props & accessories
• How to design classes
• Business, administration and principles of karma yoga
• Stay fresh as a teacher
• Obstacles in the path of yoga
• Power of the voice
• Assisting

Anatomy & physiology

15 contact hours +
10 hours independent study

• Western anatomy of physical body: bones, muscles, glands, nerves, connective tissue, etc.
• Yogic anatomy of the subtle body: chakras, meridians, nadis and additional yogic functions of the glandular and nervous systems
• The inter-related nature of the physical and subtle bodies

Practicum

45 contact hours +
5 hours independent study

• Mock teaching practice amongst fellow trainees
• Small group teaching practice
• Teaching practice with large group
• Public class
• 5-10 minute presentation to group on the Yoga Sutras

Philosophy, ethics, history and lifestyle

15 contact hours +
10 hours independent study

• Branches, styles, variations, history of yoga
• Exploration of the 8 limbs of yoga
• Meaning of "Yoga" and "Hatha"
• Variations of Hatha yoga (Classical, Bikram, Iyengar, Power, Kripalu, Sivananda, Ashtanga... )
• Transformational/healing aspects of Hatha yoga
• Yoga aphorisms of Patanjali
• Yamas & Niyamas/dos & donts;
• Meditation techniques including mantra, japa, trataka, metta, etc.

Please note

Contact hours are at Rama Lotus during the weekend intensives.

• All times, content and teaching team are subject to change without notice.
• Times for Independent Study hours are approximate. You will work with and learn all of the above and more!
• Journals will be distributed at the beginning of the course as you will be expected to journal throughout the training.

Schedule

Dates

Times

Friday 7pm-9pm
Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

Open yoga classes

10 Classes included in cost of the course. Feel free to try out different yoga styles with different teachers at the Rama Lotus Yoga Centre.

Take home final project

The take home project will be given at the end of February and due on the second last weekend.

Graduation ceremony

The graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 10th between 12pm and 2pm.
Guests are welcome.

Teachers

Lead teachers TBD

Guest teachers will also be included in the training.  These senior teachers will be offering additional experienced instruction for you to learn from and experience.

Registration

Investment

Course cost: $2700+hst

Early bird: $2500+hst before September 7th

Payment methods

Cash, Money Order, Interac, Visa or MasterCard.  We are sorry but we cannot accept personal cheques.

Price includes

• 12 weekend sessions
• Yoga Teacher Training manual
• Numerous handouts
• 10 class package
• Professional certification

Refund policy

Refunds are available up to 21 days before the course, minus a $250 administration cost. Written requests for refund must be submitted at the Rama Lotus front desk no later than September 29th, 2012. Refunds will be mailed or processed within 30 days. No refunds available for any reason after September 29th, 2012, including once the course has started.

Please note that the content of this course schedule as well as the teaching team are subject to change without notice.