BECOME A GREAT TEACHER

YogaPoser specializes in Yoga Teacher Training because we believe that great teachers will shape the future of yoga, and we want to be responsible for their development. With years of experience in teacher training and curriculum design, our team has created a comprehensive physical and mental program to develop the next generation of talented, innovative and committed yoga teachers and practitioners.

The goal of the YogaPoser Teacher Training Program is to turn aspiring teachers into inspiring teachers by providing them with those fundamental tools: practice, philosophy, anatomy, and pedagogy. Instead of teaching a particular brand of yoga class, we teach yoga and we teach teaching so our graduates possess the yoga practice and teaching foundation necessary to establish their own voice as they embark on the immensely rewarding and challenging journey as a yoga teacher and/or advanced practitioner.

YogaPoser believes great teachers start as great practitioners; therefore, they must understand the practice from a student's perspective. A strong foundation in core yoga principles and teaching skills is essential to becoming a successful teacher. Our foundational approach to the concepts of asana-oriented yoga is based on the following mantra: keep it simple, practical, accessible and effective. Graduates of the YogaPoser Teacher Training will learn their voice and how to use it, enabling them to branch out into a more specialized focus, if desired, as their practice and teaching advance. This broad range of knowledge also enables greater flexibility when seeking teaching opportunities at yoga studios and fitness centers.

Techniques of Training and Practice: 95 hours
The majority of the training (95 hours) occurs through asana practice. Over the course of the training students will engage in a combination of general practices and workshop-style practices where the details of each type of asana are studied.

Teaching Methodology: 25 hours
These classes explore the theory and practice of pedagogy: the art of teaching. Through a combination of lecture, discussion and role-playing, students explore issues and tools common to all fundamental teaching precepts, as well as those that apply specifically to teaching yoga.

Philosophy and Ethics of Yoga: 30 Hours
Using the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita as primary texts, students explore and learn about the history and philosophy of yoga. The philosophy classes are lectures with an emphasis on student discussion and analysis.

Anatomy for Yoga: 20 hours
The 20-hour anatomy module is a comprehensive, stand-alone course designed to teach students the anatomy fundamentals essential for any teacher of body movement, particularly yoga teachers. The course is divided into five (5) four-hour modules, all supported with additional online content such as supplemental readings. These areas of the module include:

1. The Language of Anatomy
2. Musculoskeletal Body
3. Introduction to Common Injuries and Proprioception
4. Nervous, Cardiovascular, Digestive and Endocrine System
5. Review

Teaching Practicum: 10 hours
Students will co-teach actual public classes or co-teach themselves to gain actual teaching experience by employing the teaching tools learned during the training. In most instances students will be co-teaching actual public classes. Our experience has demonstrated that students learn significantly more in an real teaching environment and are able to gain more applicable teaching experience that better prepares them for job opportunities after graduation.

Independent Study: 20 hours
The remainder of the 200 hour program is focused on homework and outside study.