Transformative Immersion Into The Depths Of Yoga

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  As approaches to health continue to evolve, Yoga will be a primary vehicle for the wellness programs of the future because of its ability to promote health and healing at physical, emotional, and spiritual levels simultaneously. Yoga is already being accepted into mainstream wellness approaches at hospitals, businesses, schools and universities, summer camps for children, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and a variety of other settings. Offering one-on-one Yoga therapy sessions also offers a variety of career opportunities. All of these career avenues require specific training beyond the Yoga teacher level. Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT) is a vehicle for bringing this new vision of wellness into your life and into your career. Come join us in expanding our vision into the world. 

 The IYT course serves as a valuable bridge between ancient wisdom practices and modern/scientific wellness with foundations in whole person wellness, including an understanding of Yoga as a personal journey toward wholeness, and how Hatha Yoga impacts health with the application of yogic techniques that meet the unique needs of each individual to facilitate integration.

As yoga teachers, Patanjali instructs us to counsel responsibly and holistically to our students. We are teaching much more than postures and breathing, we are teaching people, and our relationship to life. Our training provides in depth understanding of whole person wellness and the process and range of valuable response techniques, utilizing the Kosha model, the layers of our being, as a road map to help each person navigate their inner journey and describe all aspects of being human as a framework for understanding the application of yoga and how they serve as a foundation for mind-body health and wellness.

Our syllabus includes the full range of Yoga Alliance standards and more. Our teachers have studied and lived among the direct lineages of the founder, Kripalu, Krishnamacharya and Viniyoga, as well as applied sciences of Ayurveda, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, food science and family psychology.

Our components also include posture clinics and practices that include alignment, modification, effective assists and contraindications of postures to safely meet the unique needs of each student. An in-depth study of warm-ups, standing poses, stabilization poses, balancing poses, hip openers, side bends, forward bends, back bends, twists and inversions are studied. 

Development of body literacy, stabilization and alignment principles with a focus on adaptations for special needs and structural differences is included. This study supports students in understanding the unique structure of individuals. 

An in depth study and daily practice of Yogic breathing techniques, including prana vidya, for the expansion and movement of life force energy or prana. A hands on exploration of the breath, common breathing patterns and the physiology of breathing, where students will learn to classify breathing techniques and their appropriate applications and contraindications and the theory and application of bandhas, the yogic locks, and their use, benefits and contraindications.

Lecture, discussion and practice of techniques  to facilitate relaxation and body awareness  including imagery, progressive relaxation, autogenic relaxation, body mapping exercises,  body scans and Yoga Nidra, with techniques that heighten awareness and support integration. We offer a large Yoga Nidra study and practice component that includes the specific multi-step process for the integration of body, mind and spirit, creating Yoga Nidra practices for groups and individuals. Through practice students gain direct experience of Yoga Nidra to support their understanding of the application of this process.

An in depth study and practice of the way hand gestures referred to as mudra, allow us to attune to specific energy frequencies and qualities within our being. 

Study and discussion on the yogic perspective of stress and stress management, includes IYT 's comprehensive wellness and stress reduction program included in the training manual. 

Meditation as a practice and as a way of being in the world with various techniques covered through lecture and practice including forms of self-inquiry, mantra, tatrak, metta, empty bowl, walking meditation and the IYT approach to meditation. Students will gain direct experience of the value of meditation in their own practice and for their students.

Lecture and application of appropriate adjunct practices for yoga classes offers students an experience in how to integrate complementary practices into their yoga programs, including Somatics, Partner Yoga, Yogassage, Restorative Yoga & Kinesiology.

IYT - 10 Step Class Structure is a tool designed to support teachers in organizing their classes. Students will prepare a class(s) based on this 10 step model. This model supports integration of education, theme, yoga techniques, safe sequencing, effective time management & closure. Students will be able to identify and apply specific techniques with the intent of cultivating a particular experience for their students.

The use of language and voice, includes active and passive language, cueing, tone, habitual speech patterns and choosing language to direct attention and create an experience. Attention is given to the subtle principles of teaching asana, giving attention to all 5 koshas. 

Class design for specific populations includes unique educational opportunities that include, yoga for a particular health condition or population, such as chair yoga, prenatal yoga, kids yoga etc. Students will show an understanding of how to adapt yoga practices and create wellness programs for their chosen interest.

Students will explore finding their own authentic teaching style, their voice and path as a teacher. Different styles of teaching will be explored with a focus on student centered approaches, while Understanding their students and their needs. Consideration is given to different populations and personalities (including doshas and Ayurvedic psychology) and how to create safe and effective teaching & learning environments for students. Students will feel confident in encouraging appropriate interaction in specific class situations and adapting classes to meet the unique needs of students.

We offer a unique approach to the teaching of anatomy and physiology, with an intellectual and experiential program that allows students to confidently and safely lead Yoga classes. All physiological systems will be reviewed with a focus on how yoga benefits each system. 

We include the study of yogic or subtle anatomy that includes the pranavayus with experiential exercises that investigate the different forms of prana and how they circulate through the body and regulate bodily functions. 

The subtle anatomy also includes an understanding of the chakra system, the energy centers in the body as a vehicle for personal growth and transformation. This includes a review of the nadi's (energy pathways). Students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of how to apply this understanding to students and classes.

Classical philosophical & psychological expositions on Yoga are explored including but not limited to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the 8 limbs of Yoga, Samkaya philosopy(including Purusha and Prakriti), and exploration of the Gunas, Kleshas, and spiritual practice as a process of de-conditioning. Students will develop an introductory understanding of philosophical and psychological underpinnings of Yoga. This understanding will help to inspire the awareness of the individual’s relationship to the whole and Yoga as a tool for deepening this awareness.

We dive into the deeper questions of yoga by exploring its history and relevancy, along with its practices that are often referred to as "the wheel of yoga". Students will learn the historical approaches to yoga including Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Karma & Tantra Yoga, and ideas that speak to yoga as a spiritual path and as a way of life, and the relevance of yoga history to modern day practice and modern lifestyle. 

An introduction to the existential elements of Ayurveda, renowned as yogic medicine, including doshas and yogic practices that work synergistically to create balance, by understanding how principles of Ayurveda are applied to classes and students.

Yoga Ethics are an integral part of holistic living in relationship to yourself, others, and life as a whole. Discussion will include principles of the Yamas and Niyamas, and how they are integrated within the 8 fold path of Yoga and the student- teacher relationship.

Practice teaching is integral to the IYT program. There is ample class time devoted to developing and practicing teaching skills with some additional teaching requirements outside of the class time. 

The business of yoga includes marketing, ethical practice, insurance, Yoga Alliance Registration, and building a resume are part of our interactive component of this program, with tools and ideas on how to creatively find your niche for sharing yoga with others.