Course Content
Curriculum Overview for Flow Yoga Teacher Training, Level I
(As per Yoga Alliance Guidelines)
-Techniques Training/Practice- asanas and far beyond… Guided practice of the techniques and how to teach them. (50% of the total hours)
-Teaching Methodology- observation, demonstration, corrections, hands-on adjustments, voice and qualities of the teacher, teaching styles, the business of being a yoga teacher and, how to simultaneously attend to the individual and the class as a whole.
-Anatomy and Physiology- both the physical and the energetic bodies, and how they relate to the benefits and contraindications/modifications of asanas, alignment, and movement patterns.
-Yoga Philosophies, Lifestyles and Ethics- The lineage and how it shows up in one’s practice, teaching and daily life.
-Practicum- practice, practice, practice! There will be lots of helpful feedback from Leah, Carrie, Mary Beth, Ambika and your fellow FYTT students.
Class Topics
(subject to change)
Technique- These classes cover the verbal and hands-on cuing as well as common transitions in to and out of poses that are covered in the FYTT program. Training the eye of the teacher, we take a close look at the placement of the body and the dynamic flow of the pose. Two and a half to four hours on each category: Surya Namaskara A, Surya Namaskara B, Standing Poses 1, Standing Poses 2, Standing Balances and Downward Dog, Seated poses 1, Seated Poses 2, Inversions 1, Inversions 2 and Arm Balances.
Practicum- Student Led Classes (SLCs) Each student teaches two, seventy-five minute classes each followed by seventy-five minutes of feedback and discussion. Two sample classes are provided, Flow Yoga and Flow Basics. Individual students are to follow the sample classes to whatever extent is useful for them. Some students follow the sample classes completely, while others who are more familiar with teaching flow yoga use them as references.
Pranayama- The role of breath in yoga, techniques, and how to guide your students through a pranayama practice.
Anatomy- Three hours are spent on each of the following topics: Introduction to Structural Anatomy; The Spine; The Trunk; The Extremities; Overview of Energetic Anatomy.
Survey of yoga styles- Primary faculty and guests lead classes in some styles commonly found in the west. Examples include: Kundalini, Ashtanga Primary Series, Restorative, Anusara, Iyengar, Shadow, Yin and Partner Acrobatic Yoga. These classes are followed by discussion/lecture on the theories behind the various styles.
Bandhas, experiential workshop
Pre/postnatal Modifications- Answering the question, “what do I do when a pregnant woman comes to my non-prenatal yoga class?”
Business- The nuts and bolts of being in business for yourself as well as how to see your (true) self as a business person.
Sanskrit- A brief overview of the language and its significance. We will cover the pronunciation of the Sanskrit terms included in the program and on the quizzes.
Ethics- Clarifying one’s intention as a teacher and working with each student equally.
Sequencing- How to put a class together, and why.
Music- The use of music in class and how it can help or take away from the class experience.
Guided Imagery- Creating guided relaxation scripts as well as using imagery for cuing posture, and action in asana practice.
Yoga History and Philosophy- A time line approach to the history and development of philosophies in yoga and how they came to the west with a closer look at Patanjali’s Eight Limbs. We look at how yoga compares and contrasts with religion with a focus on some ‘popular’ Hindu deities and their role in Yoga.