Gentle Yoga Teacher Training

Description

Gentle Yoga is designed for teachers to teach students who need to have the basic yoga postures modified due to age, weight, illness, injury or limited flexibility. Due to poor lifestyles and chronic stress, many students come to yoga unable to safely practice the postures. In keeping with the principle of ahimsa (nonviolence), teachers will learn to teach how to modify the asanas so that their students can benefit from a physical practice as they build the strength and resilience to perform the full postures.

This course is designed to help yoga teachers evaluate limitations in their students and suggest modifications of the poses for them. These will include routines for those who need to practice in a chair. We will have the participants experience the modifications themselves in class as well as learn them in more detail in workshops. These workshops will also include discussions on the philosophy and psychology of teaching gentle yoga.

Schedule

Friday
Friday Afternoon: Registraion and Arrival
06:00 – 06:45 pm – Vegetarian Dinner
07:00 – 07:30 pm – Orientation welcome
08:00 – 09:30 pm – Satsang: Intro to Gentle Yoga

Saturday

06:00 – 07:30 am – Satsang: Silent meditation, chanting and lecture
08:00 – 10:00 am – Asana class: A gentle yoga experience
10:00 – 10:45 am – Vegetarian Brunch
11:00 – 12:00 pm – Karma Yoga (selfless service)
01:00 – 03:00 pm – Workshop: the philosophy and psychology of gentle yoga
03:00 – 04:00 pm – Free Time and Nature walks
04:00 – 06:00 pm – Afternoon class: Learning to teach modifications
06:00 – 06:45 pm – Vegetarian Dinner
08:00 – 09:30 pm – Satsang: meditation, chanting and lecture

Sunday
06:00 – 07:30 am – Satsang: Silent meditation, chanting and lecture
08:00 – 10:00 am – Morning class: Another experience of gentle yoga
10:00 – 10:45 am – Vegetarian Brunch
11:00 – 12:00 pm – Karma Yoga (selfless service)
12:00 – 02:00 pm – Sunday afternoon workshop: questions and answers

Prerequisites

TTC Graduate is required

Testimonial

I appreciate the gentle yoga because I receive more direction to pay attention to what I am capable of doing, being gentle with myself, I learn alternative ways of doing each asana or stretch offered and feel more of a sense of community in the gentle class environment. Barbara S., 69

I have been doing gentle yoga for two years now. Six months after my failed back surgery, I was in worse pain than before. I started going to gentle yoga classes one day a week and now go three times a week. The benefits are many. The less vigorous class with modified poses in gentle yoga enable me to carry out most of the poses with ease. It has taught me balance, relaxation and meditation and improved my memory and concentration. Learning how to relax through breathing exercises has taught me to fall back to sleep whenever I wake up in the middle of the night and to get rid of headaches. It is amazing how the power of gentle yoga has enabled me to do the things I love to do, without which I would have been afraid to do because of my chronic pain. Julie A., 60

At 72, I strive to age competently. A major practice to that end is gentle yoga-for strength, flexibility and relaxation three essentials to ensure my lifes continuing high quality. Asana modifications, based on individual students’ limitations, are demonstrated, supervised and encouraged. Without this feature, given my age and condition, I would not be able to experience the benefits of yoga. Paula L., 72

Arrival and Departure

Arrival: The course will begin at 7pm on the first Date of the course with an Ashram Orientation followed by Satsang at 8pm.
Departure: The course will conclude at 3pm on the Final date.

We encourage you to arrive by 4pm on Day 1, making the most out of the afternoon by joining us for the Asana class and dinner. You are always welcome and encouraged to extend your stay to any length before or after the course. Please indicate your desired arrival and departure dates on your registration form.

What to Bring

Other: slip on shoes, loose comfortable clothing, writing materials, meditation shawl or blanket, yoga mat, flashlight. All books and materials are available in our boutique.