200 hour teacher training

Established 2012

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Yoga University-EastCoast

59 Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway, Port Jefferson Station, NY, USA

Port Jefferson Station, NY

Purpose

Our program is designed to instill the in-depth knowledge, skills, and experience essential to become a professional and insightful yoga instructor.

What to expect

Becoming a yoga teacher is a journey of personal growth and transformation that requires dedication, passion, and commitment. Satya Yoga & Pilates, founded by Melissa Boyd and located in beautiful Port Jefferson, NY, offers a comprehensive yoga teaching program that prepares aspiring yogis for a rewarding career in this field. Teaching yoga is much more than just leading a class. It involves a deep understanding of yoga philosophy, anatomy, and practice, as well as the development of unique teaching styles that resonate with students. Join us as we explore the different aspects of yoga instruction and discover the tools and knowledge you need to inspire and guide others on their journey.

Style/Lineage

The lineage of this program is rooted in the form and alignment principles of B.K.S. Iyengar, alongside the injury prevention strategies and modifications developed by both B.K.S. Iyengar and Judith Lasater, Ph.D. It incorporates mindful Vinyasa flows designed by Melissa Boyd, grounded in a deep understanding of injuries and precise alignment. With a background as a classically trained dance instructor and a Polestar-certified Pilates teacher, Melissa’s sequences are fluid and seamlessly integrate these disciplines. The program also draws from the profound meditative practices of Lex Gillan and Ram Dass, providing a holistic approach to Yoga. Melissa imparts the rich history of Yoga as it was taught to her through her training at the Yoga Institute, with further refinement during her tenure as the Director of their East Coast branch. Her 200, 300, and 500-hour programs are built upon clarity, flexibility, and thorough comprehensiveness. These programs aim to help students discover their own unique teaching style while being equipped with the knowledge and experience of revered mentors from the past.

Additional Information

There is a pre-requisite of 6 months consistent practice of yoga or on and off for years. People that have never practiced yoga are not allowed in the program until they have had consistent practice.

Core competencies

By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…

General Knowledge

Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of yoga philosophy and yoga history.
Compare and contrast the chakra system as taught by Ram Das with other systems.
Discuss the history of yoga and the intersection of different lineages by comparing the schools of Iyengar to Ashtanga, Kripala, Shivananda, and Bikram.

Professional Knowledge

Apply yoga business skills for a robust teaching career. Learn how to set up a corporation, act as an independent contractor, open a studio, negotiate a lease, and navigate business contracts.
Understand the basics of Ayurveda and how to determine their dosha. This includes describing the characteristics of each dosha type and knowing when they are out of balance.
Demonstrate over 85 basic and intermediate yoga asanas, and modify them for injuries.

Practice Skills

Understand pranayama from basic to intermediate techniques, including ujjayi, complete yogic breath, alternate nostril breathing, kapalabhati, and the introduction of bandhas with breathing.
Utilize bandhas throughout the yoga practice and understand why and how they are used in pranayama.
Apply the understanding of yoga anatomy in order to effectively modify all poses with props for diverse student needs and aid in injury prevention.
Guide students through 30+ meditations: examples include focal point concentration and guided visualizations.

Teaching Skills

Construct a cohesive, comprehensive class sequence.
Teach the complete yogic breath effectively and safely
Adapt a yoga sequence in order to safely guide pregnant women through all three trimestors, modify a yoga practice for kids, and create a chair yoga sequence for seniors.
Understand how to teach each aspect of Vinyasa yoga and create flows that incorporate the follow asana categories: seated, standing, supine, prone, and balancing.

AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.

Program Emphasis

Evaluation methods

Program evaluations

Teaching evaluation
Special project

The testing is made up of a few components: first oral questions in anatomy, philosophy, and marketing. The second part of the test is teaching poses that were picked individually through the training with demonstrations, and making adjustments, speaking about benefits and modifications, and then incorporating those poses into a 40 minute flow or flows. The last part of the exam is a comprehensive written portion of the test that is made up of a cast study in which the student picks a specific age group and/or sex of the hypothetical private client. Than that client is given specific injuries and conditions. In the case study each injury has to be discussed and explained and there needs to be an hour routine created. There will then be a 5- week progression for the client discussed. There must be discussion of each pose and why it was chosen or modified. The teacher in training is allowed to hand this in up to three times. It is a comprehensive way for me to test their ability to work with private clients.