Yoga Teacher Training in 2011

March 11 – October 2, 2011

Yoga Birds is a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance (RYS 200). Students who successfully fulfill the requirements of the Yoga Birds Teacher Training program will receive a Graduation Certificate from Yoga Birds and may submit that to Yoga Alliance to become a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 Hour Level (RYT 200).

Go To Application

Mission of Yoga Birds Teacher Training

Yoga Birds Teacher Training mission is to offer a course for serious students and aspiring professional teachers of yoga to deepen their knowledge in the areas of yoga history, philosophy, asana and pranayama technique, meditation, ethics, teaching methodology, and the business of yoga. Yoga Birds teaching style is a synthesis of the teachings of BKS Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, TKV Desikachar, Judith Lasater, John Friend, Donna Farhi, and Leslie Kaminoff. Graduates of the program will gain new insights of Self through heightened studentship, find their unique voices as teachers, and have sufficient training and practice to impart a safe, student-oriented, appropriate, practical, artfully sequenced, beneficial, and inspiring Western-style asana- yoga class, ultimately in service to the greater good of the community.

Course Topics Include:

  • Philosophy, History, Lifestyle, and Ethics of Yoga
  • Techniques of Asana Training and Practice
  • Physical Anatomy and Physiology
  • Eastern Subtle Body Anatomy
  • The Art of Teaching Western Style Yoga Classes
  • Special Topics (such as Teaching Sun Salutations, Yoga For Pregnancy, Injury Prevention in the Classroom, Importance of Sanskrit, Yoga and Nutrition, Yoga and Religion, Yoga Class Etiquette, The Business of Yoga, Yoga Documentary Screening and More)

2011 Teacher Training Dates

Fridays 6-9pm

Saturdays 1- 6 pm

Sundays 10am-4pm

March 11, 12, 13
April 1, 2, 3
April 15, 16, 17
May 20, 21, 22
June 3, 4, 5
June 17, 18, 19
July 8, 9, 10
July 22, 23, 24
Aug 5, 6, 7
Aug 19, 20, 21
Sept 9, 10, 11
Sept 23, 24, 25
Sept/Oct 30, 1, 2
Graduation October 2, 2011, 4:30 – 6:30pm
  • Applicants to the program should have a year of regular yoga practice of asana to participate.
  • Applicants must attend at least one class or workshop with Melanie prior to being accepted into the program.
  • Included in the price of tuition of the program, all trainees will receive two 8-class packages ($216 Value) to be used within the duration of the course and a Yoga Birds Teacher Training Manual.
  • The course is a big commitment. Attendance to all Teacher Training weekends is expected. Before receiving a Graduation Certificate, any missed sessions must be made up, at the student’s expense, through a combination of attending other RYT teacher training sessions, Yoga Birds workshops (approved by Melanie), or private sessions with Melanie, additional homework, and meeting with other YBTT participants to go over missed material. Students have 1 year to make up missed course work. Thereafter, students must reapply and repeat the entire course at full cost.
  • 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.  Three hours of home practice asana per week and 10 minutes meditation per day is required throughout the duration (and hopefully beyond) the training.
  • Each participant must attend 20 public RYT-led classes during the duration of the program (in addition to home study).
  • Each participant must keep a notebook of required written assignments, self-inquiry journal entries, classroom exercises, and lecture notes, and a log (with Teacher Name, Date, and class style) of the 20 public classes attended.
  • Each participant will teach at least three complete yoga classes before completion of program (either in the public forum in a 60-minute Yoga Birds Apprentice Class or in the context of a 15, 30, or 60 minute Practice Teaching Session in the context of the training course. These classes will be assessed by currently teaching RYT’s and constructive, useful feedback will be given in service to heightened teaching skills of the teacher in training.
  • Every meeting weekend will include discussion of reading assignments, written homework assignments, quizzes on Sanskrit, and practice teaching skills in ‘student oriented teaching’.
  • There will be three exams administered throughout the session in service to the trainees processing and retaining as much of the vast amount of reading and coursework that is covered.

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, T. K. V. Desikachar

Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

Yoga Mala, K.Pattabhi Jois

30 Essential Yoga Poses, Judith Lasater

The Yoga Tradition, Georg Feurestein

Yoga Anatomy, Leslie Kaminoff

The Breathing Book, Donna Farhi

Hatha Yoga Illustrated, Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon, Daniel DiTuro

TUITION 
for the Yoga Birds Teacher Training Program is $2000. Payment Plans available. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and Debit Cards, Checks, and Cash.

Class Capacity is 16 students.

Click Here To Apply

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.

Go To Application

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, T. K. V. Desikachar
Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar
Yoga Mala, K.Pattabhi Jois
30 Essential Yoga Poses, Judith Lasater
The Yoga Tradition, Georg Feurestein
Yoga Anatomy, Leslie Kaminoff
The Breathing Book, Donna Farhi
Hatha Yoga Illustrated, Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon, Daniel DiTuro

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.

Go To Application

Certifiable Yogi

Hooray! I finished a 200hour Yoga Teacher Training program today. I am officially a yoga teacher. Validation. Accreditation. Yoga Nation.

Never mind that I have been teaching for over five years. None of that counts. That’s the old uncredentialed me. No more struggle and sacrifice for yoga. No more learning from mistakes–no more mistakes! It’s a high and happy time for this yogini.

I am pulsing in this moment. I am a real yoga teacher now. I shop at lululemon and wear super hot hard tail clothes. I hug earthy long pigtailed pretty girls. I am standing on my hands on the cover of yoga journal magazine. I am featured in cereal and soy milk ads. I score athletic shoe contracts. My classes are sprawling across the universe. Everybody is perfectly healthy flexible and beautiful. Everybody’s got a hard tail. I am a yoga star. My dreams are reality. In this moment. Money is just another form of energy. NRG my muse.

It’s all glossy and real that I’m certain to certify… one day like 2day.

Namaste.

Yoga Off The Mat or Tantra Latte Factor

It is the eve of my graduation from Yoga Teacher Training at a big studio in Austin, TX. I love yoga and I love to teach yoga and tomorrow after a nine month program, I will, in the eyes of the Alliance that deems us qualified, be certified to teach my art. Certification vs. qualification– another day’s blog.

So we talk alot about yoga off the mat. I am, in this moment, having a truly ecstatic yogic experience–yes– right this second. I don’t normally do it, but since I am on the road, and cruising on foot, I went to the nearest coffee shop –you know the one. It’s on every street corner and 4- lane highway in America.

So I went in for a decaf. I got swayed into buying some dark chocolate covered graham cracker cookies. Not on the ‘yogic diet’. But the pierced, tattooed, cool-chunky- dyed-hair girl barrista was SO Austinite-nice and convincing about how totally awesome dipping the dark chocolate covered graham cracker cookies in the hot coffee is. I was easily sold. Because really, how can chocolate get any better? How can coffee get any better?

I walked back to the apartment where I am staying alone. And I sat down at this computer. I dipped the cookie into the coffee as instructed, took the first bite and OMG–it’s like the union of Shiva and Shakti. The graham cracker softens and dissolves within the chocolate while on your tongue. Then the chocolate slithers all melty-like covering the entire cavern of the mouth. It is a simultaneous textural experience and taste bud explosion. This yoking, or union of cookie, chocolate, and coffee is simple in theory yet multifaceted in experience. This is tantra man! Pure delight in my heart, the free choice of a pleasurable foray (in an area usually ‘disciplined’), and it’s ALL intrinsically good. This is one of the most profound lessons from my yoga teacher training here in Austin. Oh, if the course had only cost $4.71…I would certainly be investing more into my latte factor.