For additional information on the Studio and
the course, download
our letter (Right
click on link and choose "Save
Link As" to save file on local
drive.) For application to our
Teacher Training Programme,
click here to download
our application.
For yoga practitioners interested in becoming
teachers and for those already teaching wishing to upgrade
their skills, the Teacher Training Programme at Esther Myers
Yoga Studio provides practice in the poses and techniques
of yoga, with a solid grounding in the organic principles
that underlie them.
Our teaching is inspired by the work of Vanda
Scaravelli (1908-1999) and Esther Myers (1947-2004), and is
based on three principles: breathing, gravity (our connection
to the earth), and spinal elongation.
Learning to apply these principles will bring greater clarity, simplicity and depth to your practice and teaching.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Our minimum requirements for admission are as follows:
- At least two years of yoga practice
- Daily breathing practice
- Daily practice of the postures
- Completed application form
- Attendance at 6 classes (or the equivalent in workshops/retreats) at Esther Myers Yoga Studio with Monica Voss, Tama Soble or Paola di Paolo prior to the first workshop in October. These classes provide you and the faculty with an opportunity to determine whether this course is the right fit for you. Acceptance is conditional if the mandatory 6 classes are not completed before the first weekend workshop.
- Interview in person with a member of the Teacher Training faculty
- Payment of $65 (non-refundable) application fee
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The following is an outline of our Teacher Training course requirements.
Daily Practice:
- Work up to a 15-20 minute breathing practice: 4 days/week
- Work up to a 45-60 minute posture practice: 4 days/week
On-going classes:
- A weekly class at your own level for a total of 70 class hours each year. Minimum class length is 1.5 hrs if studying outside the Studio.
- A weekly internship class in which you observe and eventually learn to do hands on assisting for a total of 70 class hours each year. Minimum class length is 1.5 hrs if studying outside the Studio.
For all students living in the GTA: Regular classes and internship classes must be taken at the Studio (in year 1, with Teacher Training faculty; in year 2, with any teacher at the Studio). At Esther Myers Yoga Studio teacher trainees pay for regular and internship classes. There is a 15% discount off the total cost when signing up for 2 classes per week per term. The Studio offers a special price on unlimited classes. Please check the class schedule.
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For all students living outside of the GTA: Regular classes and internship classes may be taken with a teacher near your home. However, prior to enrolling in classes with your teacher, she/he must be approved by one of our faculty members. Also, during the 2 year course a minimum of 40 personal class hours as well as 40 internship class hours must be completed at Esther Myers Yoga Studio with one of the Teacher Training faculty. These classes are part of the required internship and regular classes (not in addition to them).
TEACHING REQUIREMENTS
Year 1
- Practice teaching at the Teacher Training workshops
Year 2
- Teach a minimum of 52.5 hours of yoga classes
- 12.5 hours of community service – teaching yoga as a volunteer to a group in need. This can be part of your teaching requirement.
- Make 2 videos of your own teaching. This assists us in giving you feedback regarding your progress as a teacher. A third video may be required.
MONTHLY WORKSHOPS
- 10 workshops each year for 2 years (100% attendance required)
The workshops include classes and seminars on:
- Postures and breathing practice
- Experiential anatomy and spinal movement
- Basic teaching techniques
- Presentations and hands-on practice through supervised teaching
- Teaching and discussion of the history, philosophy, and psychology of yoga studied in light of contemporary issues
- Exploration of the body/mind/emotion connections and discussion of the psychology of teaching.
RETREATS
2 retreats / teachers’ workshops / intensives over the course of the 2 years. These retreats/workshops must be taken through Esther Myers Yoga Studio with faculty of the Teacher Training Programme.
READING AND WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS (purpose and goals)
The value of the assignments is to prepare you for the workshops and help you to practise communicating your thoughts clearly and simply. As you observe, reflect and express your thoughts, you will create a personal manual, with an assessment of your own learning and the development of your students.
For the faculty, the assignments are a window into your thought processes. They assist us in understanding your strengths and weaknesses and in planning workshops to address your needs.
A research paper on an approved topic, 10-12 pages double spaced, is required in Year 2, as well as 3 book reports on different aspects of yoga practice.
MEETINGS
A minimum of one meeting per term is required with a faculty member. These meetings are set up so that we can discuss your questions and progress in the course. Informal meetings should take place on a regular basis with your internship teacher. You and/or your internship teacher may initiate a meeting.
PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT
The faculty members assess each trainee on professionalism, including attitude toward learning and teaching, demeanor during internship classes, punctuality for all classes and workshops, and general appearance.
There is a subjective component in our assessment of your abilities. Certification is not given automatically. If the faculty has questions, doubts or concerns about a trainee's competence, additional requirements may be set on a case by case basis.
PLEASE NOTE
Assignments are to be submitted prior to each workshop. Only complete assignments will be accepted. Your home practice log is part of each assignment.
There will be a progress assessment at the end of Year 1.
All assignments and other requirements for Year 1 must be completed before admission to Year 2.
We are aware of time pressures. The programme is flexible and open-ended. We want to work with you to help make the course work for you. If you have not completed the requirements as of the regular graduation date, we will keep your file open at no extra charge for 6 months. However, after 6 months a payment of $150 will be required for every additional 6 months until successful completion of all requirements.
The Teacher Training faculty reserves the right to adjust these requirements at any time. Reasonable notice will be given, and accommodation will be made, should changes result in hardship.
CERTIFICATION
You will be given a certificate upon satisfactory completion of the course, signed by all three faculty members. We do not provide any type of written document for partial completion of the Teacher Training Programme.
COURSE FEES
The two year Teacher Training Programme will cost approximately $6000. This figure covers the cost of workshops, classes, retreats (at the Studio or in Ontario) meetings, books, handouts and the marking of your papers. You pay for each term of classes as it occurs. You pay for the first year of workshops in two installments at the beginning of Year One, and for the second year of workshops in two installments at the beginning of Year Two.
Upon acceptance into the course, a $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place.
WORKSHOP PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Year 1
Acceptance into programme - $500.00 non-refundable deposit
September 1, 2008 - $900.00 *
October 1, 2008 - $850.00
* $50.00 materials fee included
* $200.00 is included as a deposit towards your first retreat/intensive/teachers' workshop
Year 2
September 1, 2009 - $500.00
October 1, 2009 - $500.00
Total workshop fees - $3200.00
Please note, there are no refunds after January 1, 2009 on the 1st Year payments, and no refunds after January 1, 2010 on the 2nd Year payments.
