Overview
- Course name: Yoga Instructor Training (YIT) Program (2020-21)
- Venue: Online and MIT SVS, MIT ADT University campus, Loni Kalbhor, Pune
- Designer: YogaVahini
- Course director: Saraswathi Vasudevan, Course coordinator: Uttara Venugopal
- Duration: One year – 250 hours (first year of BSc Integral Psychology @ MIT SVS)
- Delivery: Online sessions, online Yoga practice, face-to-face classroom sessions
- Eligibility: Basic fitness
- Important dates: Program starts: October 2020, Program ends: June 2021
- Enroll: For more information contact on yogavahinimit@gmail.com
Introduction
YogaVahini is offering the Yoga Instructor Training Program to the students of MIT, Pune, desiring to learn yoga as a means for personal wellbeing, helping others learn yoga for preventive care and establishing a personal connection with ancient Indian art/science. It requires that you have a strong desire to help yourself and others on the path towards a healthier, happier and harmonious living and are committed to realising this intention. Spread over a year, this program with international certification, provides the theoretical foundation and intensive hands-on practical training required for you to emerge as a competent and compassionate yoga instructor. The course curriculum, teaching methodology and practice principles are guided by the teachings of Sri T Krishnamacharya and Sri TKV Desikachar.
Testimonials of previous participants
- Anisha Bhatia (B.Sc. 1st year): The Yoga program was good and has helped me in becoming more punctual in daily chores such as waking up and eating. I now feel a better sense of things that I am supposed to do. The program also helped me in getting over my concentration problem.
- Disha Sinha (B.Sc. 2nd year): I have been doing Yogasanas in the past with my mother by following demonstrations on TV. But, this program gave a deeper understanding of the various concepts and rules of Yoga. It has helped me in reducing my confusion and irritation, and has brought calmness and mental clarity.
- Niki Patel (B.Sc. 2nd year): I had practiced Yoga in the past. But, I used to get exhausted after the same. This program taught us the proper methods of Asana movements and breathing techniques. Now I feel energetic after Yoga practice. My sleeping patterns have improved and 7-8 hours of sleep is now sufficient for me, as against the earlier 10 hours. Similarly, my food habits have changed and I don’t prefer junk food anymore.
- Manasi Veer (B.Sc. 3rd year): After attending the program, I experience stability in my thoughts, with the tendency to fluctuate having sharply decreased. I am able introspect better and my power of observation has improved. I feel relaxed at the physical and emotional levels with better sleep and reduced restlessness. Most importantly, over-thinking has decreased.
- Renuka Joshi (B.Sc. 3rd year): At the personal level, insecurities and mental blocks are reducing, and I see myself moving towards positivity. I observe improvement in my discipline, regularity and patience. At the academic level, as a psychology student, I am now better able to understand other people’s behavior and the vibes that tend to dissipate.
Unique features
- Offers 250 hours of intensive training in classical yoga that is based on the principles of Yoga and Samkhya
- Incorporates a comprehensive curriculum with a judicious mix of theoretical study, practical application and self-reflective understanding that empowers you to emerge as a confident and compassionate yoga instructor
- Includes study of classical and relevant yoga texts that is contextualised for the contemporary yoga practitioner and teacher
- Ensures personal attention is provided for each student for your personal and
professional development, combined with adequate support and guidance from the trainer and the mentor throughout the course - Offers community support wherein you are part of a yoga community through which you can receive and offer support in order to manifest your highest potential through yoga
- Provides opportunity for community outreach service by engaging with groups such as homes for underprivileged children and senior citizens, schools etc, thus taking yoga into the larger community and learning to adapt teaching methodology to diverse populations with varied needs and abilities
- Course is registered with the Yoga Alliance and you can apply to be a Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hours (RYT-200) with them
Detailed curriculum
Origin of Yoga
- Yoga: Meanings, definitions, kinds of Yoga
- Brief outline of Vedic history and culture, Vedas and Darsanas
- Contemporary India: Changes from the time of Patanjali, place of yoga
The Yoga teacher and teaching skills
- Transmission of Yoga: Traditional vs. current context of learning
- Relationship with the student, understanding boundaries in teacher-
student relationship, ethics in teaching, Yama-Niyama in the context of
teacher-student relationship - Developing teaching skills, process, dos and don’ts
- Individual & group classes: Differences, preparation, teaching methods, types & levels of group and individual classes – How to handle classes with a disparate group of students (age, gender)?
Yoga philosophy & study of important Yoga texts
- Basic overview of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (chapters I & II)
- Reference to other key texts on Yoga and allied streams of knowledge
Principles of practice
Asana
- Meaning, definitions
- Classification of Asana
- Classical techniques of over 50 postures
- Principles of Asana practice and role of breath in asana
- Variation & modification of postures to suit the needs of an individual
- Introduction to developing a Personalized Practice: Principles and process
Pranayama
- What is Prana? What is Pranayama?
- Preparation, prerequisites
- Benefits of Pranayama
- Classical techniques of Pranayama
- Principles of Pranayama practice
- Introduction to developing a personalized Pranayama practice
Meditation
- Understanding meditation
- Developing a personal meditative practice for calming the mind and improving attention
Other tools (brief introduction)
- Chanting
- Bhavana (visualization)
- Ahara (diet)
- Vihara (lifestyle modification)
Integration
- Developing practices integrating the various tools of yoga
Basics of Ayurveda
- Personal best practices
- Daily and seasonal routines
- Understanding human constitution and relationship with diet and lifestyle
Note: Apart from these topics, students have to complete a 20-hour self-study on basic Anatomy Physiology required for a yoga teacher through resources available online. Review and assessment of the same will be done to qualify for certification.
The course also includes:
- Daily personal Yoga practice (at home)
- Supervised croup & self study – includes reading texts, written assignments, project
work and oral presentations - Mentorship through the course
- Internship (teaching practicum)
- Continuous & final assessment – oral/written/demonstrations/other forms of
assessment through the duration of the course and at the end of each component of
training
Design, Structure & Calendar
The 250-hour training will be offered through online and on-site training. Completing all parts of the training is mandatory for qualifying for certification. The theory, discussions and group practice classes will be held online though Zoom (or other similar application).
Attendance, Assessment, etc
- The course allows 10% of the classroom hours to be missed without affecting
completion of the program - Missing a morning practice session/being more than 15 minutes late for class will
account for ½ day’s loss of attendance (unless intimated earlier to the course
coordinator) - Course work requirements (Mentoring, internship, project work) have to be
completed 100%
Periodical assessments will be done through oral/written tests, home assignments, group assignments, prepared and extempore presentations. Marks will be allotted for each aspect of the work and periodical feedback offered to students indicating strengths and areas of improvement. Class participation and internship will be assessed to evaluate competency of students.
Progress & Dismissal
- Completion of a program and credit for class hours is based on a Pass/Fail system.
- Students must maintain a passing status assessed through attendance, class participation, completion of homework assignments, and ability to assess, design and teach yoga classes and completion of other class assignments and internship work.
- Students who are falling short of meeting the criteria will be asked to have a consultation session with the Course Director/Coordinator for the purpose of clarifying expectations.
- Students can meet with the Course Director/Coordinator upon request for progress reports at any time during the program.
- Any student may be dismissed for excessive absence, tardiness, non-completion of homework assignments, and violations of rules and regulations of the school as set forth in the student prospectus. The Course Director, after consultation with all parties involved will make the final decision.
- If a student feels he/she cannot complete the program due to medical reasons or personal problems, he/she should meet with the Course Director. Appropriate choices can be made through discussion and mediation with the Director.
- All meetings reflecting a student’s participation in the program will be documented and will include the decisions and/or conditions of continued participation in the program.
Course Completion & Certification
The course must be completed within the allocated time unless suitable arrangements are made with the Course Director.
Certification requirements
In order to receive your teaching certification, you have to fulfil the following criteria:
- You cannot miss more than 20 hours of classroom training over the
course of the program. - A total of 20 hours of mentoring has to be completed with your respective mentor over the period of study. This will be a combination of individual and group mentoring.
- Completion and submission all assignments on the designated dates
- Attendance in and completion of all the assessment sessions (continuous and final)
- Active participation in individual and group activity as per the requirements for the course
- Completion all the internship work within the course period
- Demonstrated proficiency and competency in teaching the art and science of yoga (group and individual sessions) adapted to the needs and abilities of groups/individuals falling within the purview of the training program
Commitment from Students
- Strong desire to help oneself and others through yoga to enhance health and further
personal and professional growth - Willingness to commit to a regular personal practice as designed and guided by
the mentor - Readiness to engage in small and big groups to practice teaching skills, work on group assignments, basic interpersonal skills and adapt to different learning environments
- Internship period is designed to facilitate you to understand and apply your learning in every area of work relating to being a yoga instructor through working with a larger community of practitioners and teachers. It requires intense commitment and sustained effort to develop a strong inner discipline of practice, study and work.
