The Program
What is a Contemplative Yoga Teacher Training?
At its root, yoga is a contemplative practice. Whether on the mat, on the cushion, or in everyday life, we believe that asana and meditation form one practice, contiguous and integrated.
Our RYS 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is a hatha yoga teacher training program centered on meditation and mindfulness-awareness practices. For fifteen weeks, we train together physically, mentally, and spiritually. Not only to become certified as mindfully-aware yoga teachers, but also to cultivate ourselves as compassionately engaged human beings.
Information Sessions
“This training provides students an opportunity to steep themselves in contemplative practice. For it is only when a teacher is grounded in his or her own contemplative practice that he or she can teach contemplatively. ”
curriculum
Body, Breath, Mind
Mindfulness-awareness meditation informs all aspects of how we learn and teach yoga. We aim to cultivate practitioners who understand the hatha yoga and vinyasa systems as a complete practice grounded in personal authenticity.
Our curriculum is based on a triad logic broken into three major areas of study: 1) yoga asana practice; 2) history, theory and philosophy of Yoga; and 3) Contemplative Teacher Training. In addition to the modules required in fulfillment of the Yoga Alliance's 200-hour teaching certificate, we also instruct the foundation of mindfulness-awareness meditation.
Students called to become teachers will graduate this training prepared to teach contemplative-centered hatha yoga classes.
Required Reading:
Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Swami Satchitananda
The Bhagavad-Gita, Eknath Easwara
The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga, Ray Long
The Key Poses of Hatha Yoga, Ray Long
Yoga history, Theory and Philosophy
Vedas
Samkhya
Upanishads
Vedanta
Bhagavad-Gita
Yoga Sutras
Buddhism
Tantra
Modern Yoga
Teaching Yoga
Sharing insights from your personal practice
Teaching methodology
Vinyasa Krama
Class themes and sequencing
Modifications and contraindications
Ethics of teaching yoga
Business of teaching yoga
Contemplative Practice
Teaching presence
Mudra Space Awareness
Embodiment of the Elements
Environmental Aesthetics
Experiential Anatomy
Contemplative Performance
Selfless service Karma Yoga
Pilgrimage
Meditation
Dharana
Dhyana
Samadhi
Yoga Nidra
Mindfulness
Awareness
Compassion
Loving Kindness
Meditation in everyday life
“The technique of a world-changing yoga has to be as uniform, sinuous, patient, all-including as the world itself.”
Location
Nalandabodhi Center for American Buddhism
Our training will take place at the Nalandabodhi Center for American Buddhism located in the heart of New York City's financial district. This intimate contemplative space is a unique environment for practice that offers students a chance to connect deeply with their practices and peers.
“This is not your everyday certification; it requires a tenderness and eagerness to delve into the recesses of your heart and mind. If you want to become an amazing yoga teacher and transform the way you look at the world, this program is for you.”
