WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE?

In this course you will:

• Learn how to structure and effectively teach a class
• Cultivate the skill and sensitivity required to fulfil the varying needs of your students
• Learn the art and science of yoga and its related disciplines
• Cultivate the communication, facilitation, learning and teaching skills to effectively share the yoga world view
• Practice teaching under tuition, supervision and guidance
• Enhance your own personal growth as a human being and a yoga teacher.

STUDY UNITS

• History and Philosophy of Yoga
• Yoga Health: Ayurveda, health, nutrition and lifestyle
• Yoga Relationship and ethics
• Yoga Body: Anatomy and physiology & postures, asana.
• Yoga Breathing, pranayama.
• Yoga Relaxation, nidra.
• Yoga Concentration, dharana.
• Yoga Meditation, dhyana.
• Yoga Sound: mantra, kirtan, Sanskrit.
• Self Mastery, mastering success and yoga leadership.

COURSE COMPONENTS

THE DIPLOMA OF YOGA TEACHING presents comprehensive training in teaching the world’s most ancient and holistic mind-body health practices. Modules are well organised and fit in perfectly with the requirement as set out by the standards of rishis (sages), making it a completely fulfilling course. The modules are carefully chosen to give you a thorough knowledge of the essential components for teaching a yoga class and include:-

• practice of yoga asana
• principles of alignment and adjustment
• therapeutics
• core teaching skills: observation, demonstrations, use of language + voice tone, sequencing
• discussion of teaching methodologies + philosophies
• teaching exercises in small and large groups
• homework assignments.

GUIDED TRAINING & PRACTICE
Your course includes guided training and practice during classroom attendance of the traditional yoga practices such as asanas, pranayama, nidra, concentration, meditation, mantra, chanting.

To role-model teaching styles, classroom dynamics, and how these practices will work for you when you teach in the community, practices are conducted are in an environment where the general public are also present. Attending class in a relaxed, non-pressured, supportive, group environment with like-minded people will further consolidate your personal practice of yoga, pranayama, and meditation, greatly increase your concentration, patience and general feeling of wellbeing, thus enabling you to impart this more authentically to others. This presents a platform for ongoing and continued evaluation regarding your yoga skills, attendance, attention, concentration etc.

Please note: Even though personal private practice is highly recommended, no contact hours for the course are allowed for personal, private practice.

MENTORING and MICRO GROUPS
Personal guidance and a one-to-one feel lay the foundations for study, practice and also lessen the distractions that divert the mind from the serious path of yoga teaching.

SUPERVISED PRACTICUM & TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Practicums
 in learning how to teach are sessions for you to put into practice what you’ve already learned in your foundational education from your Certificate IV in Yoga studies, and you will be required to deliver the work to fellow students, Advanced Diploma students and other Shanti Yoga teachers. These session are not open to the general public. Here you will:-

• gain invaluable practical teaching skills
• receive technical and delivery feedback about what you’re doing right, and what you can do just that little bit better
• observe others teaching and giving feedback and advice;
• gain early leadership skills which will train you to share the Shanti Yoga inspiration
• have the chance to talk over anything that comes up during the session
• best of all you will have the opportunity to work with existing yoga teachers and your peers.

PRACTICUM ASSESSMENT
These sessions also consist of you being assessed as competent or not as yet competent for your Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification.  These assessments are logged in, and they also count towards ongoing professional development for your professional association membership.

PRACTICUM ASSESSMENT is based upon your knowledge and ability with:-

• Functional Physiology, which is highly contextualised to the practice of yoga (Anatomy and Physiology)
• Yogic Physiology, based on an integration of both paradigms: Western sciences and the tradition of yoga.

Please note: Teaching without permission, qualification, outside your scope, or risk-taking, can bring on instant expulsion.

Please understand that the course curriculum is changed periodically to reflect the changing needs of the profession, to retain leadership in academic standards, and to fulfil the changing needs of the end-user in the world.

ASSIGNED STUDY WITH ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Embedded in the course are:-

• the ethical conduct (yamas) and observances (niyamas)
• the postures (asana)
• the breathing exercises (pranayama)
• relaxation (nidra)
• concentration (dharana)
• meditation (dhyana)
• physical and subtle (psychic) anatomy
• the seven major energy centres (chakras)
• seals (mudras) and locks (bandhas)
• philosophy
• scriptural study
• pedagogy
• Shanti Yoga teaching methodology
• yoga lifestyle
• sat sang
• kirtan

Assignments: You are also required to study the materials that are provided and submit the appropriate assignments. The assignment process could include a written report, class discussion, class presentation, test etc.

Supporting Tutorials and Lectures

Optional tutorials and lectures are conducted in:-

• Yogic history
• Philosophy
• Ethics
• Health and lifestyle guidelines
• Mantra and chanting
• Relationship
• Communication and leadership
• Audiovisuals
• Readings and so on

These tutorials and lectures are conducted weekly on a Monday afternoon (1-2pm), Tuesday evening weekly (8-9pm) and monthly on a Friday night (6.30-9.30pm – attendance is optionally, but highly recommended). These topics and practices are thoughtfully chosen to support your teacher training process and are directly relevant to the subject of yoga (its practice, living and teaching).

LIVING THE YOGIC PATH – yoga immersion

In addition during your course time on the mat and tutorials, you are invited to attend, at no extra fee, 4 week-end, residential, time-out retreats which include shared accommodation, delicious Ayurvedic, home-cooked, vegetarian meals, reflective time, program and yoga duties, so that you can “live your yoga”. These restore the body, expand the mind and refine your power for positive thinking in the postmodern age.

Massages, wellness treatments, single room upgrade and special diets are available as optional extras.

Teaching Shanti Yoga Asana Series (Practical):

• Eye Exercises
• Neck Exercises
• Shoulder Exercises
• Check and Bust Exercises
• Standing Work Exercises
• Salute to the Sun Exercises
• Abdominal and Back Gastric Ease
• Spinal Twist
• Classical Sitting Positions
• Side Stretches
• Cat arch and Variations
• Back Breathing
• Pregnancy Yoga
• Morning Wake-up routine
• Tension Release and Anti-Rheumatic Group Exercises
• Children’s Yoga Instructor Training
• Teaching Pranayama (yoga breathing)
• Teaching Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation)
• Yoga Concentration
• Interpersonal skills
• Occupational Health and Safety – the principles and practices that are relevant to the teaching of Yoga
• Yoga Ethics, Leadership and the Professional Yoga Teacher