Program Description

The Yoga on High Basic Teacher Training Program has two tracks, Ashtanga and Hatha.  Completion of the coursework and requirements described here leads to Yoga on High Teacher Certification and registration through Yoga Alliance. Much of the fundamental coursework offered is shared by both systems.  We have found that drawing from these two systems, as well as our own study with many different teachers, infuses our teaching with respect for a variety of yoga styles.  It also recognizes individual approaches to teaching in a way that our students value.  Students certify in one track, but may complete the second track in any subsequent year.

Teacher trainees will be mentored, scheduled to assist teaching staff, and given opportunities to teach peers and classes of differing levels.

What can you expect to learn in our program?

The Yoga on High Teacher Training program is a full-spectrum curriculum.  At the end of this training course, you will be able to:

• Design safe, graduated classes for beginning students (we define beginners as students in the first several years of yoga classes and practice) 
• Teach breath awareness to beginners
• Understand how to sequence poses from warm ups though deep relaxation
• Analyze a pose and break it into focused points of emphasis in order to introduce it to students in increments
• Protect students with common functional or structural problems from harm
• Use props creatively
• Teach basic principles of alignment
• Step a pose up or down in complexity to accommodate students with differing capabilities
• Ask your own body a question about the beginner’s body and answer it
• Diversify your teaching approach to accommodate students with different learning styles
• “Read” a student’s body and make proper adjustments
• Teach simple restorative poses
• Guide relaxations
• Understand classroom ethics and professionalism
• Understand general principles of anatomy as they apply to teaching yoga
• Be familiar with basic theoretical principles of yoga philosophy

As part of the course materials, you receive a teacher training manual and two nine-week beginners’ course materials, one for hatha students and one for ashtangis.

Program Requirements

We require that you maintain a daily personal practice in addition to regular attendance at one of our weekly asana classes.  Our Teacher Training sessions meet some Thursday evenings and some Saturdays.  They include philosophy classes, practice teach sessions and sessions on how to read bodies and teach each category of asana. We expect each trainee to observe and assist in two 10-week sessions for beginners to get real experience in the classroom. Those who are already teaching will be offered strategies for maturing their teaching skills. All trainees meet privately with one of Yoga on High’s principal teachers at least twice a year to plan the year and to follow its progress.

Students also have 5 days of intensive training appropriate to their style of practice. This includes an experience in a retreat setting. All students must take both the philosophy weekend and anatomy weekend. Fees for these workshops are included in the fee for teacher training.

• Attend weekly asana classes
• Attend teacher training sessions (about 35)
• Assist in class (about 20)
• Two personal meetings with mentor
• 5-days intensive training                   
• Philosophy weekend                             
• Anatomy weekend                                 

Certification and Attendance Policy

To become certified, you must attend  85% of the teacher training sessions and all required asana classes. You are expected to work with another student to cover and practice the material you miss when you are absent.  When assisting, you must attend every class with the same teacher, arriving on time and staying through deep relaxation.

Cost of Program

We offer three payment options for 2010 program. The prices below include a $300 non-refundable deposit that is due once accepted into the program.

• Paid in Full $2805
• Paid in Four Quarterly installments $2950

• Paid in Ten Monthly installments $3000 

Additional information

Attend one of our teacher training open houses this summer to meet the faculty and past program participants. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and view the Center.

• Wednesday, June 16th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
• Saturday, August 21st from 1pm to 2pm

You may also contact Linda Oshins, Marcia Miller, or Martha Marcom at info@yogaonhigh.com or call the Center at 614-291-4444 and ask for any one of us.  We would love to talk to you about your past training and practice, our program, or any of your concerns.  If you would like to be on our mailing list for information on this and other teachers’ programs, please let us know.  If you would like to apply, complete an application form and return it to Yoga on High, 1081 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43201