yoga teacher training
Spynga School: Spynga The Yoga and Cycling Studio Yoga Alliance Certified 200 Hour Teacher Training Program
with Sari Nisker, Tracey Belanger-Soghrati, Meredith Bannan and additional guest facilitators.
Welcome! We are proud to offer Spynga’s Fall 2010 Teacher Training program which is a 200-hour Level One certification program intended for students of yoga who want to deepen their practice as well as for those students who wish to become teachers themselves. This 200 Hour RYTT Yoga Alliance Certification Program® will provide a comprehensive education and understanding of yogic life that includes meditation, breath work, and physical yoga postures within a vinyasa practice, theoretical and philosophical aspects of the Yoga Sutras, as well as yogic lifestyle and ethics. Students will take an in depth look at the physiological and anatomical human body and learn to teach to every kind of student with intelligent sequencing and give hands-on adjustments. The business of yoga and how to make it a viable career will be apart of the course curriculum as well.
Our teachings are a blend of our inspiration from traditions of Hatha, Ashtanga, Anusara and Jivamukti yoga that creates the art of vinyasa yoga.
Prerequisites: No formal experience is required to register in Spynga’s Teacher Training program; however, due to the intensity of the course, it is advised that you have had at least one year of a regular yoga practice prior to the start of the course. You will be required to take a class with one of the program directors if you are new to the Spynga community.
Complimentary Yoga! One of the greatest benefits of participating in the Spynga’s Yoga Teacher Training program is you will be given a complementary package of classes during the course of your training.
200 hour course September 2010 – January 2011
Intensive Weekend Dates: September 25th/26th, Chakra Theory: Friday, October 15th , October 16th/17th, Mid Term Exam: Friday, November 12th, November 13th/14th , December 4th/5th & January 8th/9th
Intensive Weekend Hours: Saturdays 11:30 am – 7:30 pm & Sundays 8 am – 6 pm, Chakra Theory: Friday Night 6- 9 pm, Mid Term Exam: 6-7 pm
Curriculum:
200 hours of Yoga Study Include:
· 5 training weekends
· 50 yoga classes
· Participating, observing and assisting in yoga classes over course duration
· Chakra Theory
· Kirtan
· A written midterm exam and a practical exam in the form of teaching a Vinyasa Yoga Class
· Reading , writing and anatomy assignments
· Develop a daily Sadhana Practice
· Complete Teaching and Home Practice Assignments
· Practice teaching beyond the scope of Spynga.
Overview of Course:
· Yoga Postures: Learn the structure, alignment, therapeutic focus and benefits, adjustments, contraindications, modifications, variations, and how to teach the poses to students of all
levels.
· Human Anatomy: In-depth study of basic and advanced anatomy, internal systems, pain and how to implement this language into your class
· Meditation Practice: Learn the basics and essence of meditation and build your own practice
· Pranayam Study: Discover the joys and richness of deep breath work. Learn different techniques, their benefits and powerful effects, as well as how to teach traditional pranayama.
· Sutra Study: Discuss Indian philosophy, lifestyle, esoteric concept, and thought from Patanjali’s sutras based on ancient Buddhist values.
· Yoga Ethics: ideas of how to live clean
· Teaching Skills: Language, Cues, Sequencing, Class Themes, and Adjustments
· The Business of Yoga: How to make teaching yoga a full time career
Required Readings:
You will be required to hand-in assignments based on yogic readings that are essential to your study during the training. These booksprovide an important foundational library of yoga texts that all teachers should have. These books are easy to find at any local bookstore or online.
* The Heart of Yoga, Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V.Desikachar
* Ashtanga Yoga, The Practice Manual by David Swenson
* The Key Poses of Hatha Yoga:: Volume II by Dr. Ray Long
* In addition to these books, you will receive a comprehensive Yoga Alliance Certified 200 Hour Spynga Teacher Training Manual.
Faculty:
Sari Nisker, Co-Program Director; As a co-creator and co-founder of Spynga The Yoga and Cycling Studio, Sari wakes up grateful everyday that she gets to spend her time teaching her passion and empowers people to take their lives to the next level. Sari has been practicing yoga for over a decade, and has worked as a private and group instructor in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto. Sari resigned from the corporate world, leaving a career in beauty and skincare product marketing, to rediscover the bright inner beauty inside her and guides her students to reveal their true beautiful, strong, and authentic selves through yoga. Bringing a deeply insightful understanding of movement and inspiration, Sari guides yogis of all levels, from kids to seniors, through a motivating, joyful, and safe yoga practice. Sari emphasizes the importance of the breath and how to use the life force of prana, which is energy, as a compass on the yogic journey and in life, leading to a quieter mind, stronger body, inner peace, and the confidence to see yourself as you truly are, what you want out of life and the best route to get there. Her classes include arrays of insight from the Anusara, Vinyasa and Ashtanga schools of yoga. Also stirred by curiosity and affection for cycling, Sari takes her yoga mantras to the bike and teaches Spynga's signature and trademarked class, The Spyngar3.jpgFlow. Sari challenges her students to go inward with every peddle stroke and is constantly amazed by the exhilaration of every indoor cycle ride. Sari received her 200 Hour RYTT Yoga Alliance certification from Sonic Yoga in New York; Prenatal certification from Be Yoga in New York; Yoga 4 Kids Certification from Sherry LeBlanc in Toronto, and 100 Hours of Anusara-inspired yoga in Toronto. Sari received her indoor cycling instructor's certification from Spinning as well. Sari is honored and thankful to share her enthusiasm for yoga and cycling with all of her students, colleagues and teachers.
Tracey Belanger-Soghrati, Co-Program Director: began practicing yoga over 10 years ago. What started out as an investigation into alternative forms of exercise has evolved into a complete transformation of self. As an 800 hour certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, she has been inspired by her teachers in New York City (Sharon Gannon & David Life) as well as vani devi, yumee chung, and jeannine woodall of Toronto. Tracey's classes embody creativity, exhilarating music & passion, which will ultimately push you beyond your perceived limitations. Tracey has studied and taught anatomy & physiology in multiple forms throughout her professional career as a critical care nurse, thai yoga massage practitioner and health educator. Her areas of specialty currently include perinatal education and support (including breastfeeding, parenting, nutrition & exercise). She also teaches pre/postnatal/yin yoga as well as birth preparation classes for couples.
Dr. Jodi Larry, Yoga Ethics Facilitator; Dr. Larry has a resilient passion for health and healing. Afterbeing struck by a rare virus at the age of ten, her life was transformed by a Naturopathic Doctor and she has been utilizing naturopathic principles ever since. Years of experience with naturopathic treatments paired with an ambitious energy and calming attitude, Jodi creates an environment that allows you to take charge of your health and transform your life. Jodi practices family medicine, with a strong focus on mental health - anxiety, depression and addictions, women's health and digestive health. All naturopathic treatments are used in her practice with an emphasis on nutrition and acupuncture. A keen and passionate mentor, Jodi was chosen to be a teaching assistant at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine for acupuncture and currently works with students on a weekly basis. When body and mind are in alignment and treated with the utmost respect and tenderness true vitality and balance will be incongruent.
Meredith Bannan, Pranayam and Primary Meditation Facilitator; Meredith’s passion for yoga and eastern philosophy began a decade ago while backpacking through Asia. In 2004, she completed Classical Ashtanga Yoga Teacher training, under the guidance of Master Yogi Baba Hari Dass. To immerse herself more deeply in yogic lifestyle, she moved to his California centre, Mount Madonna, and completed the Yoga Service and Community Program, taught meditation, pranayama and asana on the center’s faculty and mentored for the Yoga Teacher Training program in both 2005 and 2007. Meredith’s teaching style is dynamic, therapeutic and infused with inspirational insight. She is forever encouraging students to find balance between ease and effort, so they can flow with grace off the mat and into the world. Her main influences are from the yoga traditions of: Anusara, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Classical Hatha and Restorative, as well as, the wisdom of Baba Hari Dass and the Krishnamacharya lineage. In addition to teaching, Meredith is Co-Director Rainbow Body Yoga studio, and former Manager of the The Yoga Studio and Jivamukti Yoga Toronto. Whenever possible she spends her time outside, most likely doing yoga, walking with her dog, cycling or just taking a deep breath of fresh air.
Application process & tuition:
To apply for this program, please email sari@spynga.com to receive your application form. A $50.00 application fee will berequired and can be applied to tuition upon approval and if you haveany questions about the program. Once your application has been received, we will review all information and contact you to complete registration. Accepted trainees will be able to register and pay online.
Class size is limited to 10-12 students. Once registration is full, we will begin a waiting list and individualsfrom that list who are not accepted into the program will be the first on the list for Fall 2011 training.
Tuition: $3,200.00 + gst - Payment plans are avaiable.
Cancellation Policy:
Our Teacher Training program is non-refundable.
Should you need to cancel your reservation before the training starts, Spynga will credit the remainder of your deposit fee ($800.00) after subtracting the Application fee, to your Spynga account. This balancecan be used for any services that Spynga offers. Teacher Trainees who drop out of a program already in session will be met with on a case-by-case basis.
Spynga School: Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Tracey Belanger-Soghrati
Yin Yoga is a highly beneficial therapeutic practice that is available to all students at all levels. The power in this form of yoga is that it profoundly affects both the physical and energetic aspects of the self. It is the logical balance to a yang style of practice (i.e.: vinyasa yoga), and it has the added bonus of contributing to the mindfulness necessary for a successful meditation practice. Additionally, yin yoga is pivotal in affecting the functional mobility associated with a balanced and healthy body. The key to this practice is knowledge of both physical human anatomy and the energetic body (Meridian System/Nadis & the Chakra System).
Who Would Benefit From this Training?
This training would benefit teachers, practitioners and students alike. It can be used as a therapeutic treatment or as a personal practice (sadhana). You don’t need to have the desire to teach, only to fully immerse yourself in yoga.
• Sports Medicine Specialists: Massage/Thai Massage Therapists Physiotherapists/Osteopaths/ Psychotherapists
• Yoga Teachers, Yoga Students who aim to move more deeply into their practice,
• Energy Healers
• Martial Artists, Athletes
Course Overview
• This course is a 40 Hour Intensive
• Human Anatomy: Includes an in-depth examination of anatomical variation and connective tissues. There will be several videos, and dynamic interactive practice.
• History of Yin Yoga: Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Bernie Clarke
• Meridian Theory: As it pertains to Yin Yoga
• Chakra Theory
• Yin Yoga Postures: benefits, contraindications, modifications, prop utilization, sequencing for health benefits, therapeutic application, and special populations.
• Mindfulness Meditation and Yin Yoga
• The course includes a manual
Required Texts
• Insight Yoga; by Sarah Powers
• Yin Sights; by Bernie Clarke
Suggested Reading
• The Web That Has No Weaver, Understanding Chinese Medicine; by Ted J. Kaptchuk
• Yin Yoga, Outline of a Quiet Practice; by Paul Grilley
Application Process
• Applicants should be familiar with yoga and have practiced for one year.
• Email traceybelanger@gmail.com for the full application
Dates: January 2011
Time: 2 weekends, Saturday & Sunday from 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Fee: $880.00 + GST – Payment plans available