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2010-2011 Yoga Therapy Certification Program

In this comprehensive, 300-hour Yoga Therapy Certification program, the curriculum is 50% theory and 50% hands-on practice. The learning environment intensive, yet nurturing, and in addition to daily curriculum, students will participate in daily asana practice and meditation. Students will also be living and sharing meals together and will be encouraged to conduct self-exploration during the training process. Those with 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training approved by Yoga Alliance may also receive 500 hours advanced Yoga Teacher Training certification with specialty in Yoga Therapy.

Topics for the program include:

  • Structural Yoga Therapy (November 7–13, 2010)

    Instructor: Shar Lee

    This course includes the review of human anatomy as it relates to asanas and Yoga Therapy. Students will learn the anatomy of muscles, bones, organs, the normal range of motion of joints, abnormal muscular-skeletal configurations and the role of the nervous system in movement. This will be taught as applied anatomy in a hands-on fashion directly relating all information to asanas. We will also study asanas and the body from a structural yoga point of view with an emphasis on body mechanics. Students will also learn how to diagnose the body to understand individual limitations and needed adaptations to postures. Students will learn patterns of body compensation, movement and adjustments, which facilitate and restore wholeness.

  • Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy (November 14–16, 2010)

    Instructor: Dr. Marc Halpern

    This course is designed for yoga teachers to advance their knowledge and training in both yoga and ayurveda. Participants will learn how to adapt yoga classes toward the specific needs of each individual. Graduates will be able to provide deeper instruction in the use of asana, pranayama, chanting, and meditation for healing based upon ayurvedic principles. Participants will also take a deep journey of healing inside themselves, exploring their own ayurvedic constitution and how to create a lifestyle that leads to inner peace and healing.

  • Adapting Yoga for Heart Disease (November 17–19, 2010)

    Instructor: Nischala Joy Devi

    Learn how to meet the special needs of cardiac patients. This curriculum is both instructional and experiential and is ideal for yoga teachers and health professionals who would like to safely share yoga with people living with heart disease. Specific topics include: the yogic view of disease, lifestyle and dietary considerations, risk factors, the physiology and psycho-social aspects of heart disease, and the adaptation of postures and breathing practices and relaxation techniques.

  • Yoga for Chronic Pain (January 30–February 1, 2011)

    Instructor: Neil Pearson

    Yoga therapists require an understanding of the pathophysiology of common disease processes in order to provide individualized yoga instructions and ensure the safety of students and clients. Equally important is a clear understanding of tissue healing and the neurophysiology of pain. Over three days, you will explore common injuries, diseases and pain from a biopsychosocial perspective. This knowledge will be integrated with the wisdom of yoga, enhancing and broadening your perspective of yoga as a preventative and rehabilitative modality.

  • Yoga for Grief (February 2, 2011)

    Instructor: Antonio Sausys

    Grief is the body’s response to loss, any loss. When going through any given condition, we not only loose the ‘dream of a healthy life’ but we also experience the loss related to the restrictive nature of the condition’s symptoms. It is then important to identify some symptoms related to grief and to learn ways to address them. In this workshop participants will learn about the physical symptoms of grief, its psycho-neuro-immunological bases and a set of simple Yoga exercises to address them while aiding the psychological transformation of grief into a resource of personal growth. A comparative analysis is made of the Western and Eastern models of the Psyche stating the importance of the psychic centers’ involvement (particularly the ‘Heart Chakra’) both physically and emotionally and specially in regards to the yogic theory of Attachment. The methodology alternates theoretical lectures with experiential work.

  • Yoga for Cancer (February 3–4, 2011)

    Instructor: Antonio Sausys

    This course integrates techniques, thoughtful insights and, why not!, humor, towards a very dynamic class intended to provide practitioners with tools to better understand and cope with life with cancer. Suitable for those having or having had Cancer as well as those related to it, rather than presenting random series, this workshop features the use of specific series and techniques to accomplish specific goals. These goals include coping with the secondary effects of treatment and surgery as well as establishing a new psychosomatic dialogue with the body towards a stronger identification with the Spiritual aspects of the self that cannot have cancer. The emphasis is on the relationship of the physical techniques with their mental and spiritual correlates to empower those with cancer towards personal realization.

  • Yoga Nidra (February 5–6, 2011)

    Instructor: Robin Carnes

    Integrative Restoration (iRest) is a modern adaptation of the ancient meditative process of yoga nidra. During this workshop Robin will guide you through the process of iRest using didactic lecture, interactive dialogue, and experiential practice. You will learn how iRest can serve as an effective tool that you can integrate into your professional and personal practice. iRest yoga nidra offers a clear-cut process for transformation and a context for how transformation unfolds as well as a framework for accessing the healing presence of pure Awareness in the healing process. This presentation will challenge and inspire you to approach yourself, your students, and yoga therapy as portals for experiencing the healing and ever-present nature of unconditioned, nondual awareness.

    Successful research has been conducted with the US Military to assess the efficacy of iRest for healing stress-related disorders (PTSD) in servicemembers returning from deployment in the Iraqi and Afghanistan warfronts. Significant research results have also been obtained using iRest with the homeless and college students. The protocol for these studies was developed by Richard Miller, PhD and is written about in his book, Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga (Sounds True) and in The Sacred Mirror: Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy (Paragon House) in the chapter “Welcoming All That Is.”

  • Yoga of Recovery (February 7–8, 2011)

    Instructor: Durga

    This is the first comprehensive course to combine Ayurveda and Yoga with traditional recovery tools to offer a more holistic mind, body, spirit approach to addiction and self-destructive behaviors. This course is for therapists, social workers, addiction counselors, sponsors, yoga teachers, Ayurvedic practitioners etc. Anyone interested in a more holistic and complete view of the problem and its solution. Bringing the west (12 Steps) and the East (Yoga and Ayurveda) together offers us a truly empowering approach to counseling those who embark on a program of recovery. It is the evolution of the solution. Upon completion of the course you will have the skills to introduce the healing potential of the holistic sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga into your own life and those around you.

  • Yoga for Depression (February 9–10, 2011)

    Instructor: Amy Weintraub

    For thousands of years, yogis have understood what current research in neurobiology and clinical observations are demonstrating — that, working with a body and breath-based practice, we can manage our moods. LifeForce Yoga interweaves the power of an ancient discipline with current scientific findings to help you release what’s no longer serving you — withouut a story attached! In this two-day training, you will learn and practice breathing exercises, easy postures, guided meditations, and other experiential yogic tools for mood management that are not often taught in regular yoga classes but are useful in working therapeutically with individuals and groups.

    Suggested for Practice: Yoga for Depression: A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga (Broadway Books), LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues – Level 1 & Level 2 (DVD) LifeForce Yoga® CD Series.

  • Yoga for Younger & Older Populations (February 11, 2011)

    For class on Feb 11, students will select a smaller breakout group of their choice, either Yoga for Younger & Older Populations or Yoga for Pre & Post-Natal.

  • Yoga for Pre & Post Natal (February 11, 2011)

    For class on Feb 11, students will select a smaller breakout group of their choice, either Yoga for Younger & Older Populations or Yoga for Pre & Post-Natal.


Schedule

The program’s daily schedule is as follows:

6:30-7:00 Morning Meditation
7:00-8:30 Morning Asana Practice
8:30-9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 1:00 Morning Class
1:00-3:00 Lunch and Free Time
3:00-5:30 Afternoon Class
5:30-6:00 Personal Asana Time
6:00-6:30 Evening Meditation
6:30- on Dinner and free time

Home study

In addition to the 28 days of the program, students must complete 30 hours of home study between the first and second sessions, giving students the needed hours for their 500-hour Yoga Alliance certification. Home study is a very important part of our program, as it allows students to really integrate and learn to utilize what they are learning. It is designed to give students hands-on experience with interviewing clients, doing assessment and prescribing yogic tools.

Reading List

Required Reading
A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
The Healing Path of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Yoga for Depression by Amy Weintraub

Recommended Reading
Overcoming Addictions by Deepak Chopra
Ayurveda and the Mind by David Frawley