About this course
1. Techniques, Training and Practice: 150 hours
2. Teaching Methodology: 30 hours
Minimum contact hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 20 hours
Special Requirements: A maximum of five of the above hours can be counted on the subject of business aspects of teaching yoga
Topics in this category could include, but may not be limited to:
- Communication skills such as group dynamics, time management, and the establishment of priorities and boundaries
- How to address the specific needs of individuals and special populations, to the degree possible in a group setting
- Principles of demonstration, observation, assisting and correcting
- Teaching styles
- Qualities of a teacher
- The student learning process
- Business aspects of teaching yoga
The Teaching Methodology category covers a broad overview and analysis of teaching methods, rather than how to practice or teach specific techniques. See the example topics below to help clarify the differences between the Techniques, Training and Practice category and the Teaching Methodology category:
| Example Techniques, Training and Practice Topics | Example Teaching Methodology Topics |
| The Five Categories of Asana: The trainee will practice and learn the key poses in each category of asana (standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists, and inversions) and will begin to develop a relationship to both the form and the function of these different categories.
Maps of Alignment: Trainees will achieve comprehension of the alignment maps for each of the five categories of asanas through observation and experience of how the poses in each category share a common foundation, and how to build upon this foundation | Principles of Demonstrating Asanas: Discuss how effective demonstrations in class can help emphasize an alignment or other focus for the specific pose or sequence of poses.
Learning Modalities: identifying your dominant style, and learning how to teach based on others’ learning styles Use of Language and Voice: Lecture and discussion on active vs. passive language and the effective use of each; positive and conscious communications and habitual speech and communication patterns |
3. Anatomy and Physiology: 35 hours
Minimum contact hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 0 hours
4. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 60 hours
Minimum contact hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 0 hours
Special Requirements: A minimum of 2 of the above contact hours must be spent on ethics for yoga teachers
Topics in this category could include, but would not be limited to:
- The study of yoga philosophies and traditional texts, such as the Yoga Sutras and Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Yoga lifestyle, such as the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), and the concepts of dharma and karma
- Ethics for yoga teachers, such as those involving teacher – student relationships and community
- Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service and being of service to other through yoga (seva)
5. Practicum: 40 hours
Minimum contact hours w/ Lead Trainers: 10 hours
Special Requirements: Each trainee must spend a minimum of 10 contact hours of practice teaching as the lead instructor. Practice teaching practice does not include assisting, observing or giving feedback.
Topics in this category could include, but would not be limited to:
- Practice teaching
- Receiving and giving feedback
- Observing others teaching
- Assist ing students while someone else is teaching
Remaining Contact Hours and Elective Hours
TOTAL HOURS: 500 hours
*Note: Along with the specified contact hours in each category above, you must provide an additional 245 contact hours to meet the total contact hours required, 450 hours.
