Within Yoga Alliance Registered School’s Teacher Training Courses, I offer training modules in the practical aspects of teaching (teaching methodology, teaching techniques, hands-on assists and working with injury & health conditions), Yin & Yang (active Hatha) Yoga, as well as programs designed to fit individual yoga studios teacher training needs. All programs qualify for Contact CEUs with Yoga Alliance.

Yoga Teacher Training Modules: 

Yin & Yang Yoga:
Delving into the balance of yin & yang in practice and in life.
Friday – Sunday, 20 hours

Learn how to weave the healing powers of these two very different styles of yoga into an integrated, balanced practice. Yin Yoga is a quiet, gentle practice. We stay in the floor-based postures from 3 – 5 minutes while relaxing the muscles. Yin Yoga targets the body’s connective tissue, addressing the mobility and health of our joints in the hips, pelvis and spine; releasing resistance while activating the flow of prana through the core of the body. Most of us are more familiar with the Yang side of yoga practice: deep breathing, heat building, alignment based vinyasa and slow flow pose sequences.  Yoking these mutually supportive yoga styles will deepen our edges of self-discovery as we build strength, flexibility and energy flow.

Our time together includes:

• Introduction to Yin & Yang styles of practice: how they affect the body, mind and energy differently, and how they complement each other.
• Meridians and organ systems
• Working with injury & illness – pose modifications in Yin & Yang asana
• Hands – on energy support and assists
• Balance: choosing an appropriate practice for current conditions
• Yoga as a healing practice

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Yin Yoga & Meditation:
A 4 Day Intensive for Dedicated Practitioners and Teachers
Thursday – Sunday, 26 hours

Creating and guiding a classroom space of quiet and introspection through Yin Yoga and meditation is essential “medicine” for our students. As yoga teachers, fostering meditative focus and awareness is crucial for our students in developing a committed yoga practice. Additionally, Yin yoga and meditation provide not only an important balance to our active, multifaceted and often fragmented day to day lives; these gentle practices can also be a continual source of insight, rejuvenation and compassion.

In this training intensive, we will cover the foundations and technique of Yin yoga: the differences between and relationship of Yin and Yang (active Hatha) yoga practices, our meridian and organ systems and the relationship to our connective tissue, Yin yoga pose technique and benefits, with pose modifications & alternatives for contraindications and injuries. We will also delve into developing and deepening your meditation practice, with an emphasis on how to share these techniques with others. Each training day will combine theory with a Yin yoga practice, meditation, and time for questions. 

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The Art of Teaching:
Working with Injuries and Health Conditions 1 on 1, and in group classes.
Thursday – Sunday, 22 hours

Our yoga practice can be a powerful component of healing. This practicum module offers you, the yoga teacher, tools to intelligently and compassionately support your students who come to your class with injuries and health conditions.

Our time together includes:

• Overview of common injuries and health conditions your students come to class with
• Orchestrating group classes, while accommodating and modifying for students with injuries. 
• Working 1 on 1 with private students and their injuries and health conditions
• Sequencing injury/health condition specific classes
• Specific cueing for breath, intent, pose alignment, modifications and hands on assists for common injuries and health conditions
• Yoga as a healing practice – supporting and encouraging your students in maintaining an appropriate practice (classes) as they heal.

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“Boot Camp” for Teachers: 
Honing Your Skills of Communication, Intuition and Hands-On Assists
Thursday – Sunday, 30 hours

Don’t let the name fool you! This will be a fun and enlivening journey into up-leveling your teaching skills! Take this rare opportunity to get specific, constructive feedback on your teaching. You will receive support for making your instruction more effective and engaging; to see your students from a myriad of perspectives, and to develop a multi-layered approach for on-the-mat guidance. Cheer each other on in sharing your love of yoga with presence, passion and integrity.

Our time together will include:

• Hands-on Assists: assessing, adjusting, and following up for common asanas, as well as your specific requests.
• Seeing Energy and Empathing: developing your observation and sensing skills, and incorporating these skills in your instructions and hands-on adjustments.
• Communication: clearly, effectively and efficiently communicating one-on-one, in small groups, and to the whole class, including:
  • Tone, pacing, articulation and tenor of your voice
  • Word choice
  • Non-verbal communication via body movements and demonstration of asanas
  • Physical communication via hands-on assists.
• Video review and feedback of your teaching

Please come ready to jump in, to tangibly train your practical teaching skills, and to support and be supported on your teaching path. Expect honest, clear and constructive feedback from both Heather and each other, to support your evolution as a teacher.