Last Saturday at Yoga Birds, Yoga Day USA was to benefit The Haven, a no-kill, adoption guarantee shelter in Fairhope, AL. It was a great success. We raised over $1300 for the shelter. It was way more than I expected to raise. Goes to show I need to expand my expectations! Upon delivering the donation to the shelter, I was introduced to Reggie, a Baldwin County stray who has been at The Haven since November. My husband Burke and I signed the adoption papers today and now we have a new pet! Reggie is the perfect companion for our other Haven ‘graduate’ Bear. Everyone says how lucky the dogs are to become adopted. I feel it’s the other way around. The dogs are so ‘in the moment’, and they evoke amazing heart qualities. I may feed and house them, but these pups take care of me! They teach me the Yoga of compassion, patience, unconditional love and total devotion. What gifts!
Yoga Teacher Training in 2010
For 2011 Teacher Training schedule go to: http://www.yogabirds.com/2010/07/yoga-teacher-training-in-2011/
Yoga Birds is offering 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2010. Students who successfully fulfill the requirements of the YBTT will receive a Certificate of Completion from Yoga Birds. This training program meets RYT-200 standards and students may contact the Yoga Alliance for registry at the RYT-200 level at the completion of the program.
Overview of Logistics, Required Texts, Pre-Requisites, and Tuition
Meeting Weekends
June 4, 5, 6
June 18, 19, 20
July 9, 10, 11
July 23, 24, 25
August 6, 7, 8
August 20, 21, 22
September 17, 18, 19
October 1, 2, 3
October 15, 16, 17
November 5, 6, 7
November 19, 20, 21
December 3, 4, 5
December 10, 11, 12 (storm date)
December 17 Graduation
Fridays 6-9pm
Saturdays 1-6pm
Sundays 10-4pm
- Applicants to the program must have at least six months of regular (at least 2x/week) yoga practice of asana to participate.
- Applicants must attend at least one class or workshop with Melanie prior to being accepted into the program.
- Attendance to all Teacher Training weekends is expected. All missed sessions must be made up, at the student’s expense, through a combination of attending other RYT teacher training sessions and/or workshops (approved by Melanie), additional homework, and meeting with other YBTT participants to go over missed material.
- Attendance to one Yoga Birds, RYT-led public class per week is required and included in the price of the program.
- Participants must attend at least two and observe a minimum of one Foundations of Yoga Class.
- Participants must attend at least two and observe a minimum of one Restorative Yoga Class. Participation in as many classes and workshops as possible is recommended.
- Participants are expected to have or begin home study practice from the start of the program. A minimum of 3 hours asana per week and 10 minutes meditation per day is required throughout the duration (and hopefully beyond) the training. .
- Each participant will submit a log of attendance to public classes, observation of public classes or special topics, and home practice reflecting the course requirements before completion of program.
- Each participant must keep a notebook of required written assignments, self-inquiry journal entries, classroom exercises, and lecture notes.
- Each participant will teach or co-teach one Yoga Birds Community Class before completion of program.
- Every meeting weekend will include written homework assignments, quizzes on Sanskrit, readings from assigned texts, and practice teaching skills in ‘student oriented teaching’.
- A section of the program will include an audio taping of each participant while practice teaching. There will be an assessment of the recording with feedback from the participant and the Director of Teacher Training.
- The texts for required reading are not included in the price of the program. All texts must be acquired before the start of the program. Please read the Introductions to all of the texts before the first Training Meeting.
Required Reading List (hover over titles for details):
The Heart of Yoga
Light on Yoga
Yoga Mala
30 Essential Yoga Poses
The Yoga Tradition
Yoga Anatomy
The Breathing Book
Hatha Yoga Illustrated
TUITION
The tuition for the Yoga Birds Teacher Training Program is $2000.
There are a few different payment methods:
A $400 deposit is required to reserve your space. (Pay Now)
Final payment of $1600 is due on May 31, 2010. (Pay Now)
An optional payment plan is a contract in 5 payments with a monthly credit card auto-draft: $400 deposit to register and 4 subsequent payments of $425 on June 1, July 1, Aug 1, and Sept 1, respectively. The deposit is refundable through May 31, 2010 minus a $100 administrative fee. No refunds are given after May 31, 2010 unless your space can be filled from a waiting list. (Pay Deposit Now). After paying your $400 deposit, please use the contact form to let us know you would like to set up this option.
*Included in the Tuition:
Yoga Birds Teacher Training Manual
1 class / week at Yoga Birds for the duration of the Training Dates.
Sacredness of Breath and Sound with Phil Jones
Visiting Australian interfaith minister and recording artist Phil Jones will present an interactive workshop teaching meditation and simple breathing techniques with the Australian didgeridoo. The didgeridoo is an ancient mesmerizing drone instrument made from a eucalyptus tree and traditionally played in ceremony and healing by the Aboriginal clans of Australia. Phil has been performing Sanskrit chants for over 40 years and will begin the evening with meditative chanting – setting up a wonderful vibrational atmosphere for the workshop, whereby the participants will be invited to tone and chant the OM mantra as he sings the chants to the accompaniment of a Shruti box (a traditional east Indian instrument). No musical experience is necessary. Phil studied seven years with an enlightened Hindu teacher (1968-1975) and parallels the didgeridoo, a non-denominational meditation accelerator, with Eastern Philosophy, New Thought, and Aboriginal Traditions. He was the lead singer and songwriter of the renowned English band Quintessence (Island Records/RCA), where he pioneered the merging of sacred Sanskrit mantras into a modern musical format during the late 1960’s and 1970’s (performing three concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and two at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London). Phil has been a frequent guest presenter at Deepak Chopra’s Center for Well-Being, has appeared on radio (NPR, Sightings, etc) and television (The Wisdom Channel, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, BBC), and is featured performing and teaching the Australian didgeridoo on the IMAX DVD: ‘Sydney – A Story of a City.’ Phil’s website is www.philjonesmusic.com $20 Pre Registration, $25 Day Of Register and Pay at www.yogabirds.com. Workshops are non-refundable.
Yoga Birds iPhone App from MindBodyOnline
You can now easily check the Yoga Birds class schedule on your iPhone by downloading the MindBody Online iPhone App.
This application will help you find yoga locations all over the world who use the MindBodyOnline scheduling and check-in software.
Now all of you iPhone owners will be able to plan your yoga classes throughout your busy weeks to find calm, relaxation, and mental focus.
To download the iPhone app CLICK HERE
Slow Flow To Explore The Inner Body
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras define pratyahara as the state and practice of encouraging the senses to draw within, promoting a continuous inward flow of consciousness. This quality or attitude of pratyahara transforms the vigorous physical practice of Hatha Flow into an internalized moving meditation. Melanie Buffett, RYT will lead this slow flowing class. It will begin with music and gradually move toward silence and darkness, allowing you to go deeper and take your practice inward. Explore your practice on a more sublime, subtle level. Seasoned Beginner/Intermediate Level. Minimum of 3 months yoga practice required to attend. 2 HOURS $20 pre-register. $25 day of. Workshops are non-refundable.
Yoga for Weight Loss Workshop
Yoga unifies body, mind, heart, and spirit. The habits and behaviors that contribute to unhealthy or unnatural excess weight gain usually signify a missing link in the body, mind, heart, spirit connection.
In this 3-hour workshop, Melanie Buffett shares her personal journey of losing 80 lbs and maintaining that weight loss (for over 13 years). If permanent weight loss is your goal, learn how one woman did it by consistently applying principles of meditation, breath work, physical yoga practice, and conscious eating in a balanced, healthy, ‘yogic’ way to her daily life.
Melanie leads an inspirational and informational practice that incorporates humor with the serious business of achieving and maintaining healthy weight once and for all. Some experience or knowledge of yoga practice is recommended. Participants must be able to sit on the floor and stand up from the floor without assistance. Yoga mats and props provided.
Early Bird Registration (recommended) $30. Day-of (space permitting) $35.
Yoga 201 Workshop
Melanie Buffett’s Yoga 201 explores more advanced yoga poses and yoga pose flows with attention to proper form and alignment for maximum safety and benefit. Students should be prepared to work the prepartory poses leading up to handstands at the wall, backbends with straight arms, and arm balance poses. Minimum of 3 months of regular yoga practice is a requirement to attend. 3 HRS. $30 pre-registration. $35 day of. Workshops are non-refundable.
Yoga 101 Workshop
Offered regularly, Yoga 101 is a 3-hour Saturday afternoon workshop. This workshop will demystify yoga for the new student. Students will learn building blocks for practicing 30 essential yoga poses. Time is also devoted to introducing basic yogic breathing with awareness. This workshop prepares new students for flowing and faster paced classes. Also beneficial to give deeper insight of alignment in an already established practice. Participants must be able to move up and down from the floor to standing without assistance. BEGINNER LEVEL. 3 HRS. $30 pre-registration. $35 day of. Register and Pay online.
$99 Unlimited Yoga Package
NEW PACKAGE DEALS
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6 MONTH UNLIMITED YOGA CLASSES
JAN-JUNE 2010
$550 paid in full by January 1, 2010
Click Here for the 6 Month Unlimited Yoga Package
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or
MONTHLY UNLIMITED YOGA CLASSES
$99 / MONTH
12 month contract
Click Here for the Unlimited Monthly Yoga Package.
Or for your convenience, purchase online today!
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WORKSHOPS at Yoga Birds
Saturday, March 13 with Melanie Buffett, RYT
Inversions & Backbends
1-3pm $20/$25 day-of
Slow Flow to Pratyahara
3:30-5:30 $20/$25 day-of
Workshops are a great format to take your practice to new heights while delving deep within. Join us!
Inversions and Backbends For Seasoned Beginners
This workshop is for anyone who would like to learn the basics of backbends and inversions. Join Melanie Buffett, RYT as she guides you through a sequence designed to help you become stronger and more flexible so you can practice these poses with confidence and enjoy a whole new perspective in your practice. Students should be prepared to go upside down and press up into a full backbend with help and support. Seasoned Beginner/Intermediate Level. Some Yoga Experience Required. 2 HOURS $20 pre-register. $25 day of. Workshops are non-refundable.