Yoga Sutra
www.yogasutra.com
Patanjala Yoga Teacher Training
200 & 500 hour
   
Yoga Sutra    

Teaching Faculty · Ethics Code · Admin Questions

The Yoga Sutra 200-Hour
Teacher Training Program

Now accepting applications for Spring 2009
Session dates March 7th till July 19th, 2009

See below for an application, or call Guta at Yoga Sutra at 212-490-1443x13 for more information.

If you're new to Yoga Sutra and are interested in our teacher training program, try three free classes!

Download Application (PDF - 208K)

Program Philosophy and Course Objectives

Yoga Sutra teacher training

Yoga Sutra school offers three styles of yoga: Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Iyengar. Our teacher training program draws upon these traditions to provide a uniquely substantive and well-rounded learning experience. Yoga Sutra's program is designed to integrate broadly the principles of yoga as taught by Sri T Krishnamacharya , the "grandfather of modern yoga." Students will learn from teachers who have directly studied with and in many cases been certified / authorized by the principal proponents of Krishnamacharya's lineage: TKV Desikachar, BKS Iyengar, and K Pattabhi Jois. Our unifying principle is the philosophy of Patanjali as outlined in his classical text, the Yoga Sutra. We are especially delighted to include Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami in the teaching faculty, the longest standing student of Krishnamacharya outside the Master's family, as well Dr. Edwin Bryant, Professor of Hindu Philosophy.

TT Group photoOn a practical level, we are working together intimately for almost five months, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00AM to 8:00PM (with a one hour break). Each student is individually guided by a mentor who will ensure the student's progress and be there to answer questions. Students are taught Asana, Teaching Methodology, Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting, Anatomy, Subtle Anatomy (Nadis, Chakras), Yoga Philosophy (Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita), the Sanskrit Alphabet, and Prenatal Yoga. In addition, Mr. Ramaswami will lecture on the many facets of Krishnamacharya's teachings and lead a course in the traditional Vinyasa Krama Yoga. These topics will be taught in a cohesive, seamless manner. There will also be a workshop in Prenatal Yoga and Yoga for Children. Students are required to attend at least one regularly scheduled class per week at the center (in addition to observing and later assisting in classes); to do daily home practice and journal writing; and to once weekly practice with fellow trainees.

Students will leave the 200 plus-hour Patanjala Yoga Teacher training program with the following skills and experiences:

  • A well-rounded foundation in the principles of asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, and yoga philosophy
  • The skill to structure a yoga class intelligently, taking into account the students' needs
  • An understanding of the principles that unite the traditions of yoga derived from the teachings of Sri T Krishnamacharya and discussed in the Yoga Sutra
  • A basis for life-long study and practice of yoga
  • An understanding of the ways to work as a yoga teacher in different settings
  • A 200-hour Yoga Alliance registered certification

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200 Hour Certification

RYS - Registered Yoga SchoolYoga Sutra's 200-hour program consists of a full 200 plus hours of instruction/class time with senior Yoga Sutra faculty and select guest teachers who are authorities in their field.

The program is Yoga Alliance registered (RYS-200 ID# 27005).

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Dates for Spring Session (2009):

Teacher Training - Marisol Orientation: Saturday, March 7th, 2009, 11:00-12:00 PM (please arrive at 10:00AM if you still have to take care of payment and sign your contract)

Classes begin: Saturday, March 7th, 2009, 12:00 PM

Midterm: will be given out on Sunday, May 17th, to be completed by Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Classes will complete: Sunday, July 19th, 2009 (Prenatal Workshop)

Final Practical Exams: Saturday, July 18th, 3:30-7:30pm, 2009

Written Exam: will be given out on Sunday, June 28th, to be completed by Friday, July 17th, 2009

Graduation: Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Please note: There are no teacher training classes on:
Saturday/Sunday,
April 11/12 (Easter),
May 2/3,
May 23/24 (Memorial Day Weekend),
June 6/7,
July 4/5 (4th of July Weekend),
July 11/12.

Required Texts

(Books we are using in class which everyone NEEDS to have in the editions mentioned below!)

  1. The Heart Of Yoga
    - T.K.V. Desikachar, Inner Traditions International 1999
  2. Trail Guide to the Body: How to Locate Muscles, Bones and More
    - Andrew R. Biel and Robin Dorn, Books of Discovery, 2005, 3rd Edition
  3. The Yoga Sutra Workbook: The Certainty Of Freedom
    - Vyaas Houston, American Sanskrit Institute, 1995
  4. The Bhagavad Gita
    - Winthrop Sargeant, SUNY Press, 1994

Highly Recommended Texts

(Books which are useful to read and use for reference during the training)

  1. The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
    - Srivasta Ramaswami, Marlowe & Co., 2005
  2. Ashtanga Yoga
    - Lino Miele (at Yoga Sutra book store)
  3. Light On Yoga
    - B.K.S. Iyengar, Schocken, 1995
  4. Hatha Yoga Pradipika
    - Swatmarama (Swami Muktibodhananda), Bihar School of Yoga, 1998
  5. Yoga Mala
    - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, North Point Press, 2002
  6. The Yoga of the Yogi
    - Kausthub Desikachar, KYM Publications
    Available for purchase at kym.org/bookstore/kym.php
  7. Health, Healing & Beyond
    - T.K.V. Desikachar, R.H. Cravens, Aperture, 2005
  8. Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga
    - Gary Kraftsow, Penguin, 1999 (about therapeutic applications of yoga)
  9. Anatomy of Movement
    - Blandine Calais-Germain, Eastland Press, 1993
  10. The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga (Scientific Keys Volume 1)
    -Ray Long, MD (at Yoga Sutra book store)

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Schedule

      Download Schedule (PDF - 56K)

Application

      Download Application (PDF - 208K)

 

Cost and Payment Information

Tuition: (includes unlimited yoga at Yoga Sutra during program)

  • $3,330 if you pay entire tuition amount before February 17th, 2009
  • $3,515 if you pay entire tuition amount before first class (March 7th, 2009)
  • $3,700 payment plan option: after $500 deposit, pay $1,500 on day of first class (March 7th), and $1,700 by April 7th, 2009
  • Work study and payment plans available for those who qualify (Payment plans are customized; tuition is $3850.- divided into monthly installents).

Tuition includes Yoga Sutra Teacher Training Manual and Unlimited Yoga at Yoga Sutra during program, until July 31, 2009 (and afterwards alumni discount of 20% for School of Yogic Studies Courses as well as 15% discount on class packages and select workshops)

For students paying the entire tuition in advance, unlimited yoga begins at the time of payment

Note: Tuition payments are non-refundable.

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500 Hour
Advanced Teacher Training
(300 additional hours)

Our next Advanced Training
will be offered in 2010

Program Description
(Advanced 300 Hour Training - 200 Hour Certification Required)

Yoga Sutra's 500 Hour Advanced Teacher Training builds on our 200 Hour training with emphasis in rigorous, intelligent ways of learning yoga in all its aspects. Our program provides a deep understanding and broad grasp of yoga based in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya with emphasis on individualizing the practice for each student. Trainees who graduate from our training will have a full appreciation of the unity and rich diversity of the yoga tradition and a solid understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of yoga and its sister philosophical systems.

Yoga Sutra is honored to announce the involvement of Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami in our training, a direct student of Krishnamacharya for over 30 years. In addition, we are pleased to welcome to our faculty noted scholar and Professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University, Dr. Edwin Bryant, author of the forthcoming "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Notes from the Traditional Commentators" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008).

Graduates of our Advanced 500 Hour Training Can Expect To Gain:

  • Knowledge of the philosophical foundations of yoga, including the additional study of the Yoga Sutra pada-s 3 and 4, the Bhagavad Gita, Introduction to Indian Philosophy and the 6 darhana-s, principal Upanisads, Yoga Yajnavalkya, Yoga Rahasya and other traditional texts
  • An understanding of the energetic qualities (brhmana, langhana, samana) behind the asana/pranayama/meditation/chanting practices, and how to utilize them in course planning
  • Opportunity to practice teaching and receive constructive feedback from senior teachers from the onset of the training
  • A thorough understanding of how to individualize a practice of asana, pranayama, meditation and chanting for the individual student's needs
  • Personal mentoring and guidance about how to pursue an enriching and fulfilling teaching path
  • 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered Yoga Sutra Teacher Certification

The Advanced 500-Hour Coursework Includes

Yoga Philosophy:

  • Study of 3rd and 4th Pada-s of Yoga Sutra
  • In-depth study of Bhagavad Gita
  • Discussion of Patanjali's Eight Limbed Path of Yoga - Ethics
  • Introduction to Indian Philosophy
  • Study of Yoga Yajnavalkya and Yoga Rahasya
  • Study of Subtle Anatomy
  • Study of principal Upanishads concerning yoga
  • Introduction to 6 Darshana-s
  • Sanskrit and pronunciation of asana and other yoga related terms

Asana/Teaching Methodology:

  • The teaching and discussion of intermediate and advanced postures
  • Discussion of energetic qualities (brhmana, langhana, samana) of various postures, practices, styles, and how to modify them
  • How to individualize a practice (in group classes) and how to customize an appropriate practice for a private student
  • Course planning: how to intelligently plan a group class
  • The instruction of various levels: beginners, intermediate, advanced, and working with special needs

Anatomy/Physiology:

  • Overview of the musculoskeletal system and breathing
  • More in-depth study of the shoulder joint, knee joint and low back; common injuries in these areas and how to deal with them in a yoga class
  • Teaching yoga to pre-natal and postnatal women

Pranayama:

  • Additional breathing techniques and their applications
  • Learning to teach pranayama to the specific student's needs

Vedic Chanting:

  • Introduction to longer traditional chants
  • Learning the Patha-s of various mantra-s
  • Instruction in chanting methodology and leading chanting

Meditation:

  • Practice and theory of various meditation approaches

The program runs October 2008 through December 2009 (15 months), with classes taking place one weekend per month.

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500 Hour Certification

RYS - Registered Yoga School

Cost and Payment Information

Cost for graduates of Yoga Sutra 200 hour Teacher Training:

  • $500 application deposit to hold slot
  • Very Early Registration: pay in full by August 1, 2008: $4,500 (10% off)
  • Early registration: pay in full between August 1, 2008 and start of training: $4,750 (5% off)
  • $5,000 payment plan option: after $500 deposit, pay $1500 on day of first class (Oct. 4th, 2008), $1500 by Jan. 1, 2009 and $1500 by April 1, 2009.

Cost for graduates of other 200 hour teacher trainings:

  • $500 application deposit to hold slot
  • Very Early Registration: pay in full by August 1, 2008: $5,000 (10% off)
  • Early Registration: pay in between August 1, 2008 and start of training: $5,275 (5% off)
  • $5,550 payment plan option: after $500 deposit, pay $1550 on day of first class (Oct. 4th, 2008), $1750 by Jan. 1, 2009 and $1750 by April 1, 2009.

Cost for Combined 200 and 500 hour trainings:

  • By Aug. 1: $7050.-
  • By Oct. 4: $7850.-
  • Payment Plan: $8300.- ($950 off the regular price)

Tuition includes Yoga Sutra Teacher Training Manual.

Students paying the entire tuition in advance receive ten free classes per month of advance sign up. For the duration of the training, each student receives two hundred complimentary classes, October 2008 till February 2010. (All complimentary classes, including those received for advance sign up, expire by the end of the training, February 28, 2010).

If you are new to Yoga Sutra and are interested in our teacher training program, try three free yoga classes!

Note: Tuition payments are non-refundable.

The program will be 15 months in duration, scheduled to take place on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (with a one hour break), every first weekend of the month, as well as a few Friday nights, 7-9pm (2/27, 4/3, 6/6, 10/30, 2/5/10). Students are required to attend at least one regularly scheduled class per week at the center (in addition to observing and assisting in classes); to do daily home practice and journal writing; and to twice monthly practice with fellow trainees.

Payment plans available.

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Dates

Orientation: Saturday, September 27th, 2008, 3:00 - 5:00PM

Classes begin: Saturday, October 4th, 2008, 11:00AM

Midterm: May 2009

Classes will complete: Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Final testing and graduation: February 2010

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Schedule

      Download Schedule (PDF - 61K)

Application

      Download Application for 500 hour program (PDF - 272K)


INTEGRATION (updated!)

In order to guarantee the best possible learning environment for everyone, we require graduates of 200 hour yoga teacher trainings OTHER THAN Yoga Sutra's to contact Guta Hedewig (gutadance@cs.com) to make arrangements for integration assignments. These could consist of joining (parts of) the first three weekends of the 200 hr program, free of charge, in September (Sept. 13/14, 20/21, 27/28) to catch up on Sanskrit, Vedic Chanting, Traditional Practices, etc., as needed, as well as reading and studying assignments prior to the training.

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Teaching Faculty

Special Guest Teacher: Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami
Lecture on "the Many Facets of Krishnamacharya's Teachings", "Practicum of Vinyasa Krama Yoga" and "Overview of Yoga Sutra" (200 hr program) and "Yoga Rahasya," "Yoga Yajnavalkya" and "Mantras and Meditation" (500 hr program)

Ramaswami Srivatsa Ramaswami was the longest standing student of T Krishnamacharya outside the Master's family, He has studied the classic Yoga texts extensively and mastered Vinyasa Krama, Vedic Chanting, and Yoga Therapy.

Mr. Ramaswami has written four books: "Basic Tenets of Patanjala Yoga," "Yoga for the Three Stages of Life," "The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga," and "Yoga Beneath the Surface." He has also recorded about 40 audio cassettes and CDs in India of various Sanskrit chants like Sun Salutation, Gayatrii, Siva Kavacham, etc.

He has been teaching for more than 25 years in India: for 20 years at Kalakshetra (recognized as an Institution of National Importance by the Govt. of India); at Ramachandra Medical University; at Yoga Brotherhood; and at other institutions. In the US, Mr. Ramaswami is teaching workshops and Teacher Training Programs at Esalen Institute, Loyola Marymount University, Yoga Works, Himalayan Institute, Chicago Yoga Center and several others centers.

Special Guest Teacher: Dr. Edwin Bryant
Yoga Philosophy (Yoga Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, and additionally for 500 hr program: Introduction to Hindu Philosophy, Six Darshana-s and Principal Upanisads)

Dr. Edwin Bryant Edwin Bryant received his doctorate in Indic languages, philosophies and cultures from Columbia University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently professor of Hindu religion and philosophy at Rutgers University. He has been a practitioner of bhakti yoga for twenty-five years, a number of them spent in India. He has published six books and numerous articles on Vedic culture, yoga and the Krishna tradition, and has just completed a translation of Patanjali's Yoga sutras with extracts from the traditional commentators.

Special Guest Teacher: Dr. Jeffrey Rubin
Meditation

Dr. Jeff Rubin Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin practices psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy in New York City and Bedford Hills, New York. A Dharma Holder in the White Plum Sangha and Red Thread Zen Circle and the creator of meditative psychotherapy, Dr. Rubin is considered one of the leading integrators of the Western psychotherapeutic and Eastern meditative traditions.

The author of Psychotherapy and Buddhism, The Good Life and A Psychoanalysis for Our Time, Dr. Rubin has taught at various universities and psychoanalytic institutes including Union Theological Seminary, Hunter College, The Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, The C. G. Jung Foundation of New York, The American Institute for Psychoanalysis, and Yeshiva University. Dr. Rubin runs private study groups on meditation and psychotherapy and lectures around the country on three forthcoming books, How to Stay Sane in an Insane World: Insights from Yoga, Buddhism, and Psychoanalysis; The Art of Living: How to Make Your Life a Masterpiece; and Psychotherapy and Meditation: Partners in Healing. Dr. Rubin is a training and supervising analyst at the Westchester Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and can be contacted through his website (drjeffreyrubin.com).

Guta Hedewig (Director) - Pranayama, Vedic Chanting, and Introduction to Traditional Yoga Practices
Guta HedewigGuta Hedewig has studied the teachings of Krishnamacharya with TKV Desikachar and Kausthub Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai where she has completed advanced yoga courses. She is currently enrolled in their four year long Yoga Therapy Training through the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation. She also learned Vedic Chanting at the affiliated Vedavani (Vedic Chanting School) in Chennai. Additionally, Guta has studied Ashtanga in Mysore with K. Pattabhi Jois and with V. Sheshadri for many years.

Guta directs Yoga Sutra's teacher training program. She heads the 'Individualized Yoga Program,' creating individualized practices for students adapted to their specific needs, as well as the 'School of Yogic Studies,' a Continuing Education initiative at Yoga Sutra, where she teaches Vedic Chanting. Altogether, Guta oversees the entire programming at Yoga Sutra. She endeavors to create an atmosphere of the serious, in-depth study of yoga in all its aspects, based in the tradition of Krishnamacharya's teachings.
 
Concurrently, she choreographs for her dance company (www.gutahedewig.com). Guta is a certified Shiatsu practitioner.

Carl Horowitz - Asana and Teaching Methodology
Carl Horowitz Carl Horowitz is influenced by the teachings of T Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar. In addition to his studies with TKV Desikachar, Carl has also studied with several of his long-time students, including Mark Whitwell, Leslie Kaminoff and Gary Kraftsow. As part of this training program he will cover the different skills needed for leading one-on-one and group sessions. Carl will cover thoughtful ways of putting postures together so that students will come out of the course with the tools to begin creating intelligent sequences for the practitioners with whom they are working.

Sarah Plumer - Anatomy
Sarah Plumer Sarah has been practicing yoga for the past eleven years. Wanting to better understand the body and how to prevent and heal injury, she began studying with Irene Dowd (teacher of anatomy and kinesiology, and neuromuscular training) in 1999. Sarah holds a BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts in Contemporary Dance and authorization to teach the Ashtanga Yoga Method from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Sarah Perron - Prenatal Yoga
Sarah Perron Sarah Perron came to yoga from a dance background. She began her exploration of yoga in 1992. In 1999 Sarah co-founded Baby Om and co-authored the book, "Baby Om: Yoga for Mothers and Babies." Since 1995, Sarah has been studying at the Iyengar Institute with senior teachers Mary Dunn, Brooke Myers, Kevin Gardiner, and Genny Kapuler. She participated in the 2004-2005 Teacher Training program at the Iyengar Institute and recently passed her first assessment with IYNAUS (Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States).

Lisa Bridge - Yoga for Children and Administrative Director

Lisa Bridge Lisa was one of the first hires at Yoga Sutra when it opened its doors in October, 2004. She began as an Assistant Manager and was quickly promoted to Manager, Administrative Director and now, Director of Operations. Lisa has been integrally involved in helping with the growth and structure of the center. She oversees the entire managerial staff, daily operations of the center, and is a key programming director.

Lisa moved to New York in 1998 after graduating from Purdue University with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She began work in large advertising and publishing companies until being accepted into the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. While earning her M.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College under this scholarship, Lisa taught third grade in Central Harlem. There, she developed programming to bring yoga to at-risk students, later utilizing a National Americorps Scholarship to complete her certification in Vinyasa yoga. Upon graduating, she began teaching in the non-profit educational sector, bringing yoga, meditation, and music weekly to over ninety under-served children under a 9-11 Red Cross Grant. Lisa is currently launching a certification program and Children's Yoga Department at Yoga Sutra. She continues to be involved in bringing yoga to underserved areas by building outreach initiatives and hosting fundraisers for partnering organizations at the school.

Lisa is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in order to broaden her ecumenical work. She is also the singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist for 14 Lines - an alternative rock band and project with Urban Iguana Music Productions.

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Code of Ethics

      Code of Ethics (PDF - 76K)


Questions

Lisa and GutaIf you have questions, consult the following contacts:

  • For administrative questions, contact Lisa Bridge, Administrative Director, at 212-490-1443x12, or yogasutralisa @gmail.com
  • For questions related to the content of the program, contact Guta Hedewig at 212-490-1443x13, or gutadance@cs.com

 

 

Yoga Sutra - Yoga Studio and Yoga Classes in New York City
501 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor   |   New York, NY 10017   |   212.490.1443 |   info@yogasutranyc.com

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