The Yoga on High 300-Hour Teacher Training Program!
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Welcome to the Yoga on High 300-hour teacher training program! The Program Yoga on High’s 300-hour program is multi-faceted, and you may choose your particular focus when developing your training plan. The three main tracks though the program are the general track, the therapeutic track and the Urban Zen track. Those are described in more detail below. In general, the program develops competencies expected from an advanced yoga teacher. In terms of designing and teaching asana classes, that includes more in-depth skills at understanding correct alignment, making appropriate modifications to poses and hands-on adjustments, and developing a long-term plan for classes and the progression of your students’ practices. It also focuses on teaching more difficult postures or sequences that lead to those postures. In addition to the work done on teaching asana, the 300-hour program delves much more deeply into yoga philosophy, general anatomy and physiology, pranayama and meditation, as well as developing skills for teaching those aspects of yoga. In the 300-hour program you will deepen your understanding of: • Correct postural alignment, correct alignment in poses, and how anatomy, physiology and bio- mechanics play into correct alignment and misalignment • How to “read” a student’s body, assessing their needs. How to “read” a whole class of students, responding to the class as a whole. • How to sequence classes effectively for different outcomes (opening the body in various ways in preparation for an advanced pose, focusing on the energetics of a flow, weaving a philosophical theme throughout class, illuminating how a specific muscle or muscular/fascial system works in various poses and so forth) • How to sequence poses for different styles and paces of classes (vinyasa, hatha, restorative) • How to teach advanced poses not covered extensively in the 200-hour curriculum • How to guide a student to a heightened sensitivity to their own body’s signals and to self- adjustment • How to adapt poses for a wide range of student needs • The bio-physiology of stress and yoga techniques to counter stress • The subtle body and how to work from its level • How to practice and teach various meditation techniques (6-month meditation program and iRest yoga nidra, as well as meditation programs given by visiting teachers) pg. 1 • How to develop or evolve a personal pranayama practice; to teach varied beginning to intermediate pranayama practices; to sequence pranayama classes • Handling group dynamics in yoga classes and teaching to different learning styles • How to use props creatively and effectively in all types of classes • How to progress your own practice through classes at your level • Increased familiarity with and personal connection to classic yoga philosophical texts and principles Components of the Program • Workshops and Intensives • Practice teaching sessions • Ethics paper, philosophy paper • Practicum project and its write up • Silent retreat • Assisting classes led by lead by senior teachers Faculty Yoga on High has a distinguished faculty with a wide range of experience with various populations of students and years of experience practicing and teaching. Senior Yoga on High teachers conduct the in- person teacher training sessions and serve as mentors. You will be assigned a mentor when you join the program who will guide you throughout your studies and check on your progress. You also have the opportunity to study with a roster of nationally recognized guest teachers. Assisting A distinctive opportunity at Yoga on High is the ability to observe and assist in various types of classes with a wide range of students. We have classes for people of all ages, from very fit athletes to people whose bodies are compromised by illness or injury and for people who have experienced emotional trauma. You are required to assist with a lead teacher in a classes of your choice for a total of 15 hours. Payment Options There are two payment options available: payment in full prior to the start of the program or monthly payments. You may choose the one that fits your needs. Criteria to Graduate • Complete all required training sessions in your track • Complete all elective workshop hours as described below for each track • Complete the ethics and philosophy papers according to the specifications • Complete all homework assignments on time • Assist a lead teacher in classes or workshops; if you are assisting in a classes, be present for consecutive classes • Complete the practicum assignment to specifications • Demonstrate teaching skills that meet program standards in the final certification class at the end of the program. You work with your mentor to schedule that class at your convenience, and the focus of the class is up to you. pg. 2 Timing The 300-hour program is designed to be completed in 2 ½ years. You may extend that for another 3 months without paying additional fees by letting your mentor know that you need more time. You have the option of extending for another 3 months, after the fee-free extension, by paying an extension fee of $125.00, and working with your mentor to complete the requirements of your program. No extensions are available beyond 3 ½ years in the program. The unlimited class pass to Yoga on High ends at 2 ½ years into the program, even if you extend the program. You may also elect to move through the program more rapidly, but you cannot take more than 120 hours of workshops in any given calendar year without permission from your mentor. We know from experience that taking too many hours is fatiguing and means that you do not have time to assimilate and practice the skills you are learning. The value of a program like ours is that you are able to work with the material over time, practicing it yourself, teaching it to your students and engaging in ongoing conversations about it with your mentors and fellow teachers as you go through your studies. Tracks There are three tracks through the Yoga on High 300-hour program—the general track, the therapeutic track and the Urban Zen track. Although each has its own set of required and elective workshops, all of them fulfill Yoga Alliance requirements for registration as a 300-hour teacher. When you first enter the program, and every year thereafter, you will meet with your mentor to go over your personal goals, look back at the preceding year and forward to the next, planning your studies in the year to come based on the requirements and electives in the track you have chosen. General Track In the general track, you may chose electives from any of the workshops offered, including those listed as therapeutic. This track is for people interested in teaching yoga to a general population of students. Within this track you may elect to focus your asana studies in vinyasa, Ashtanga or hatha style, but that is not required. You are required to take these workshops: • 2 philosophy weekends (see note, below) • 2 anatomy weekends • The weekend Silent Retreat • The training day on Teaching Methodologies • 2 3-hour practice teaching sessions (see note, below) • 15 hour of assisting a lead teacher • 75 hours in Core Workshops given by Yoga on High faculty • 103 hours in electives; these may be taught by Yoga on High faculty or guest teachers Other requirements: • One philosophy paper and one ethics paper • Your final practicum • Your final certification class Therapeutic Track The Therapeutic Track is designed for students who wish to understand the therapeutic applications of yoga to a general population of students; the principles learned in this track can be applied to pg. 3 students/clients with a variety of different diseases, injuries and disabilities. In this track, you are required to take these workshops: • 2 philosophy weekends (see note, below) • 2 anatomy weekends • The weekend Silent Retreat • The training day on Teaching Methodologies • 2 3-hour practice teaching sessions (see note, below) • 75 hours in Core Workshops given by Yoga on High faculty • 103 hours in electives; these may be taught by Yoga on High faculty or guest teachers Electives may include Reiki workshops and up to 25 hours of workshops that are not specifically designed as therapeutic. NOTE: The Meditation Teacher Training counts as one philosophy weekend. Participation in EMBER counts as one Practice Teaching Session. The Urban Zen Track Urban Zen Integrative Therapy™ teacher training is a program designed by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman-Yee and accredited through the Urban Zen national organization. It teaches methods of self- care for people challenged by injury or illness and their care-givers, who also experience high levels of stress. It was originally created for people who are hospitalized, their families and their medical team, especially their nurses, but its applications are farther-reaching. In Columbus, it is being taught in hospitals, hospices, assisted-living facilities, public schools, programs for veterans with PTSD, mental health centers and public Urban Zen classes at Yoga on High. Urban Zen sessions can be delivered to groups of all sizes and in one-on-one therapeutic sessions. After completing the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program, you may apply some of those hours toward the 300-hour certification. A full description of requirements for this track are available upon request. Mini-certifications Yoga on High offers several mini-certifications, longer programs within the 300-hour program that result in a specialized certificate. These include the prenatal program, the Sekoia teacher training, EMBER Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, the 7-month pranayama program, the 6-month meditation program, Reiki Masters’ Level training and iRest™ level 1 and 2. pg. 4 Cancellation Agreement Should you need to leave the Yoga on High 300-Hour Teacher Training Program prior to completing its requirements, you must submit a letter of resignation to one of the principals, Marcia Miller, Linda Oshins, Michele Vinbury or Jasmine Grace.