Begins January 2009

HATHA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING and PERSONAL GROWTH INTENSIVE

Our 250+ hour program is recognized by the Yoga Alliance

Follow your BLISS and move from student to teacher by becoming part of this sacred process of teaching this philosophy to others.

This certification will provide you with the tools for teaching the ancient science of yoga and an ancient means of personal reflection.

"Teach, Learn, Grow"

Make the rewarding transition from student to teacher.  Our course eases you into this process through hands on training.  We provide you with the necessary tools and techniques to successfully teach a wide variety of students.

Our program is unique in many ways.  In addition to being extremely competitive financially, we offer a very supportive program.  Our unique assisting program allows you to "test the waters" and receive honest and compassionate feedback.  You will also be assigned a personal mentor who can help answer questions and support you along the way.

"To teach is to learn."

We hope that this program calls you to become part of the sacred process of sharing this teaching with others.

Some reasons to attend HTTI 2009:

To increase your understanding of yoga

To develop skills as a yoga instructor

To gain a practical understanding of postures and how to teach them

To make your life more meaningful by sharing the joys and benefits of yoga with others

To have a meaningful way to supplement your income

All students interested in learning about yoga and teaching yoga are invited to apply.  A level of proficiency in the postures is recommended, but not required.  We also suggest a minimum of one year of yoga practice prior to the HTTI (approximately 50 hours).  We require that you attend a minimum of 10 hours with a Yoga Connection Senior Instructor.  Exceptions are made on an individual basis.

Location:

The HTTI, with the exception of the weekend retreat, will be held at our main studio: 4893 E. Speedway Blvd. (two blocks east of Swan).

Schedule:

The HTTI will meet every Saturday from 2-6 pm.  Students will also meet Tuesdays, 5:30-8:30 pm, to practice Hatha Yoga together followed by an hour of teaching.  There will be a Sunday class 2-3 times a month and a weekend retreat scheduled for the spring in a lovely location just outside of Tucson.

HTTI 2009 Textbooks: (all texts are available at the Yoga Connection bookstore)

The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga by Goswami Kriyananda

Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain

Extension by Sam Dworkis

Atlas of the Human Body by Takeo Takahashi

Tuition is $2495.  Tuition is due by the first day of class unless other arrangements have been made.  Pay tuition in full by December 1st to receive a 10% discount, or by January 1st to receive a 5% discount.

Tuition includes a teacher training manual with extensive handouts, 20% discount off all additional workshops not part of your program before & during HTTI; 10% discount on all textbooks and in-stock, regularly priced merchandise thru the end of the course; personal mentor who will provide individual attention and feedback; teaching support, including our unique assisting program; 30 yoga classes at the Yoga Connection; weekend retreat at a beautiful location one hour outside of Tucson.

Work/study is available on a first come first serve basis.

Registration:

To reserve your place in HTTI 2008 a $300 ($75 non-refundable administration fee) deposit is required.  Upon receipt of your application and 2 letters of recommendation we will schedule an interview with you.  If you would like to meet with us before you register, please call.

Cancellation and Refunds:

If you cancel before December 1st or are not accepted into the program, $225 (your deposit less the administration fee) will be refunded.  If you cancel after December 1st, your deposit will be refunded only if we can fill your space.

Course Descriptions:

Hatha Yoga- Understanding the Postures 
Students will learn theory, application and practice of asana and the relationship of asanas to each of the seven chakras.  Students will learn how to teach, modify and sequence standing, sitting, twisting, balancing, inverting and bending asanas.  Extra attention will be paid to modifications to increase student access to postures and prevent injury.

Yoga Philosophy
The eight limbs of Ashtanga will be presented and discussed.  Discussions will center on balance in life and the changes and sensations that come with adopting a yogic lifestyle.

Anatomy and Physiology
The skeletal, neuromuscular, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, and reproductive systems will be covered.  Focus will be on the relationship of asana to the body systems and personalizing proper alignment.  We will also cover the biomechanics of yoga and how to move safely into and out of asanas.

Subtle Body Anatomy
The subtle body consists of prana, chakras and nadis.  These concepts and others will be covered as well as how they relate to asana, breath control (pranayama), meditation and mantra.

Hatha Yoga Class and Workshop Attendance (50 hours)  This gives you the opportunity to practice the postures, pranayama and meditations that you are studying in class as well as observe and experience different teaching styles and communication skills. 50 of these hours must be taken at the Yoga Connection.  Attendance of classes and workshops at other studios is encouraged.

Karma Yoga (15 hours)  Students must volunteer 15 hours of their time with the Yoga Connection or another organization of their choice.

Assisting (25-50 hours)  Hone your skills interning with Yoga Connection instructors - observing, assisting and working closely with the instructor on demonstration, technique, methodology and presentation.  Student may not begin assisting until they have taken a minimum of 25 hours at the Yoga Connection, and attended the Safety in Movement workshop, about half way through the course.  At least 50% of the assisting time must be at the Yoga Connection and the remaining 50% can be done with an approved Yoga Connection graduate.  Instructor approval is required.  For most instructors, students will need to attend at least two of their classes before assisting.

Teaching (25 hours)  Under the guidance of a senior instructor, you will lead classes and gain valuable feedback from instructors and students.  After completing a minimum of 90% of the course work and assisting in at least 3 classes, students may begin teaching classes.

About the Primary Instructors:

Priscilla Potter, E-RYT 500, Swami Mahatarananda has been training yoga training yoga teachers for over twenty years and is the founder of the Yoga Connection, a non-profit organization dedicated to service through Yoga.  Her inspirational teaching style is supported by 30 years of training and over 25 years teaching.  She is a professional astrologer and a long time student of Kriya Yoga.

Sue Ferguson, RN, BSN, E-RYT-500 has been on the HTTI faculty for eight years and has taught with the Yoga Connection for eleven.  Her teachings will include Anatomy and Physiology, Anatomy of Movement, Yoga for Women and posture clinics.  Sue also heads our prenatal and kids programs.  She combines her medical experience with yoga helping prepare clients and students for events such as childbirth and surgery.

Gary Phelan, RN, E-RYT 500 is a certified yoga instructor who has been studying yoga for 16 years and has worked in nursing since 1976.  He has been on the HTTI teaching staff for 11 years and has been teaching since 1992.  Gary brings to his teaching a gentleness and humor that makes the learning process easier.  He has a thorough understanding and profound insight into the nature of Hatha Yoga.

Jim Norris, MS is a certified yoga instructor and a longtime yoga student.  His teachings will focus on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - some of the earliest writings on yoga.  Through his teaching you will study he eight stages of Kriya Yoga, from which all Hatha Yoga was born.  Jim will also introduce the important technique of Mantra Yoga.  His teaching is based on years of study and teaching in these key areas of yoga.