Yoga Sutra
www.yogasutra.com
Patanjala Yoga Teacher Training
200 & 500 hour
   
Yoga Sutra    

Teaching Faculty · Ethics Code · Admin Questions

The Yoga Sutra 200-Hour
Teacher Training Program

Now accepting applications for Spring 2008
Session dates March 8th till July 12th, 2008

See below for an application, or call Lisa Bridge at Yoga Sutra at 212-490-1443 for more information.

If you're new to Yoga Sutra and are interested in our teacher training program, try a free week of yoga.

Download Application (PDF - 208K)

Program Philosophy and Course Objectives

Yoga Sutra teacher training

Yoga Sutra school offers three styles of yoga: Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Iyengar. Our teacher training program draws upon these traditions to provide a uniquely substantive and well-rounded learning experience. Yoga Sutra's program is designed to integrate broadly the principles of yoga as taught by Sri T Krishnamacharya , the "grandfather of modern yoga." Students will learn from teachers who have directly studied with and in many cases been certified / authorized by the principal proponents of Krishnamacharya's lineage: TKV Desikachar, BKS Iyengar, and K Pattabhi Jois. Our unifying principle is the philosophy of Patanjali as outlined in his classical text, the Yoga Sutra. We are especially delighted to include Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami in the teaching faculty, the longest standing student of Krishnamacharya outside the Master's family.

TT Group photoOn a practical level, we are working together intimately for almost five months. Each student is individually guided by a mentor who will ensure the student's progress and be there to answer questions. Students are taught Asana, Teaching Methodology, Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting, Anatomy, Subtle Anatomy (Nadis, Chakras), Yoga Philosophy (Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita), the Sanskrit Alphabet, and Prenatal Yoga. In addition, Mr. Ramaswami will lecture on the many facets of Krishnamacharya's teachings and lead a course in the traditional Vinyasa Krama Yoga. These topics will be taught in a cohesive, seamless manner.

Students will leave the 200 plus-hour Patanjala Yoga Teacher training program with the following skills and experiences:

  • A well-rounded foundation in the principles of asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, and yoga philosophy
  • The skill to structure a yoga class intelligently, taking into account the students' needs
  • An understanding of the principles that unite the traditions of yoga derived from the teachings of Sri T Krishnamacharya and discussed in the Yoga Sutra
  • A basis for life-long study and practice of yoga
  • An understanding of the ways to work as a yoga teacher in different settings
  • A 200-hour Yoga Alliance registered certification

Return to top >

200 Hour Certification

RYS - Registered Yoga SchoolYoga Sutra's 200-hour program consists of a full 200 hours of instruction/class time with senior Yoga Sutra faculty.  

The program is Yoga Alliance registered (RYS-200 ID# 27005).

200 Hour Curriculum

About Yoga Sutra The program will be almost five months in duration, scheduled to take place on Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 to 8:00pm (with a one hour break), March through mid July. Students will learn Asana, Teaching Methodology, an Introduction to Traditional Yoga Practices (based on the teachings of Krishnamacharya), Pranayama, Meditation and Chanting, Anatomy, Subtle Anatomy, as well as Yoga Philosophy (Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita), and the Sanskrit Alphabet. There will also be a workshop in Prenatal Yoga. Students are required to attend at least one regularly scheduled class per week at the center (in addition to observing and later assisting in classes); to do daily home practice and journal writing; and to once weekly practice with fellow trainees.

Return to top >

Dates for Spring Session (2008):

Teacher Training - Marisol Orientation: Saturday, March 8th, 2008, 11:00-12:00 PM (please arrive at 10:00AM if you still have to take care of payment and sign your contract)

Classes begin: Saturday, March 8th, 2008, 12:00 PM

Midterm: will be given out on Sunday, May 11th, to be completed by Monday, May 19th, 2008

Classes will complete: Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Final Practical Exams: Saturday, July 19th, 3:30-7:30pm, 2008

Written Exam: will be given out on Sunday, June 22nd, to be completed by Saturday, July 19th, 2008

Graduation: Saturday, July 26th, 2008

Dates for Advanced 500 hour training (additional 300
hours):
Saturday, October 4th, 2008 till Sunday, December
6th, 2009 (one weekend per month).

Please note: There are no teacher training classes
on Saturday/Sunday, March 22/23 (Easter), and
Saturday/Sunday, May 24/25 (Memorial Day Weekend).

Required Texts

(Books we are using in class which everyone NEEDS to have in the editions mentioned below!)

  1. The Heart Of Yoga
    - T.K.V. Desikachar, Inner Traditions International 1999
  2. The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga (Scientific Keys Volume 1)
    -Ray Long, MD (at Yoga Sutra book store)
  3. The Yoga Sutra Workbook: The Certainty Of Freedom
    - Vyaas Houston, American Sanskrit Institute, 1995
  4. The Bhagavad Gita
    - Winthrop Sargeant, SUNY Press, 1994

Highly Recommended Texts

(Books which are useful to read and use for reference during the training)

  1. The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
    - Srivasta Ramaswami, Marlowe & Co., 2005
  2. Ashtanga Yoga
    - Lino Miele (at Yoga Sutra book store)
  3. Light On Yoga
    - B.K.S. Iyengar, Schocken, 1995
  4. Hatha Yoga Pradipika
    - Swatmarama (Swami Muktibodhananda), Bihar School of Yoga, 1998
  5. Yoga Mala
    - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, North Point Press, 2002
  6. The Viniyoga of Yoga
    - T.K.V. Desikachar, with K. Desikachar and F. Moors, KYM Publications
    Available for purchase at kym.org/bookstore/kym.php
  7. Health, Healing & Beyond
    - T.K.V. Desikachar, R.H. Cravens, Aperture, 2005
  8. Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga
    - Gary Kraftsow, Penguin, 1999 (about therapeutic applications of yoga)
  9. Anatomy of Movement
    - Blandine Calais-Germain, Eastland Press, 1993
  10. Trail Guide to the Body: How to Locate Muscles, Bones and More
    - Andrew Biel: Books of discovery, Boulder, CO; 2005 - third Edition

Return to top >

Schedule

      Download Schedule (PDF - 56K)

Application

      Download Application (PDF - 208K)

 

Cost and Payment Information

Tuition: (includes unlimited yoga at Yoga Sutra during program)

  • $500 application deposit to hold slot
  • $3,330 (10% discount) if you pay entire tuition amount before February 15th, 2008
  • $3,515 (5% discount) if you pay entire tuition amount before first class (March 8th, 2008)
  • $3,700 payment plan option: after $500 deposit, pay $1,500 on day of first class (March 8th), and $1,700 by April 8th, 2008

Tuition includes unlimited yoga at Yoga Sutra during program, until July 31st, 2008 (and afterwards alumni discount of 20% for School of Yogic Studies Courses as well as 15% discount on class packages and select workshops)

For students paying the entire tuition in advance, unlimited yoga begins at the time of payment

Note: Tuition payments are non-refundable.

Return to top >

 

500 Hour
Advanced Teacher Training
(300 additional hours)

Program Description
(Advanced 300 Hour Training - 200 Hour Certification Required)

Yoga Sutra's 500 Hour Advanced Teacher Training builds on our 200 Hour training with emphasis in rigorous, intelligent ways of learning yoga in all its aspects. Our program provides a deep understanding and broad grasp of yoga based in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya with emphasis on individualizing the practice for each student. Trainees who graduate from our training will have a full appreciation of the unity and rich diversity of the yoga tradition and a solid understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of yoga and its sister philosophical systems.

Yoga Sutra is honored to announce the involvement of Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami in our training, a direct student of Krishnamacharya for over 30 years. In addition, we are pleased to welcome to our faculty noted scholar and Professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University, Dr. Edwin Bryant, author of the forthcoming "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with Notes from the Traditional Commentators" (Farrar Strauss & Giroux, 2008).

Graduates of our Advanced 500 Hour Training Can Expect To Gain:

  • Knowledge of the philosophical foundations of yoga, including the additional study of the Yoga Sutra pada-s 3 and 4, the Bhagavad Gita, Introduction to Indian Philosophy and the 6 darhana-s, principal Upanisads, Yoga Yajnavalkya, Yoga Rahasya and other traditional texts
  • An understanding of the energetic qualities (brhmana, langhana, samana) behind the asana/pranayama/chanting practices, and how to utilize them in course planning
  • Opportunity to practice teaching and receive constructive feedback from senior teachers from the onset of the training
  • A thorough understanding of how to individualize a practice of asana, pranayama, and chanting for the individual student's needs
  • Personal mentoring and guidance about how to pursue an enriching and fulfilling teaching path
  • 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered Yoga Sutra Teacher Certification

The Advanced 500-Hour Coursework Includes

Yoga Philosophy:

  • Study of 3rd and 4th Pada-s of Yoga Sutra
  • In-depth study of Bhagavad Gita
  • Discussion of Patanjali's Eight Limbed Path of Yoga - Ethics
  • Introduction to Indian Philosophy
  • Study of Yoga Yajnavalkya and Yoga Rahasya
  • Study of Subtle Anatomy through texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shiva Samhita and Gheranda Samhita
  • Study of principal Upanishads concerning yoga
  • Introduction to 6 Darshana-s
  • Sanskrit and pronunciation of asana and other yoga related terms

Asana/Teaching Methodology:

  • The teaching and discussion of intermediate and advanced postures
  • Discussion of energetic qualities (brhmana, langhana, samana) of various postures, practices, styles, and how to modify them
  • How to individualize a practice (in group classes) and how to customize an appropriate practice for a private student
  • Course planning: how to intelligently plan a group class
  • The instruction of various levels: beginners, intermediate, advanced, and working with special needs

Anatomy/Physiology:

  • Overview of the musculoskeletal system and breathing
  • More in-depth study of the shoulder joint, knee joint and low back; common injuries in these areas and how to deal with them in a yoga class
  • Teaching yoga to pre-natal and postnatal women

Pranayama:

  • Additional breathing techniques and their applications
  • Learning to teach pranayama to the specific student's needs

Vedic Chanting:

  • Introduction to longer traditional chants
  • Learning the Patha-s of various mantra-s
  • Instruction in chanting methodology and leading chanting

Meditation:

  • Practicing and learning meditation from the yogic perspective and its various techniques

The program runs October 2008 through December 2009 (15 months), with classes taking place one weekend per month, and an additional intensive workshop during the summer of 2009 (dates tbd). The program is a FULL 300 CONTACT HOURS (in addition to our FULL 200 CONTACT HOUR basic training), making it a FULL 500 CONTACT HOUR program.

Return to top >

500 Hour Certification

RYS - Registered Yoga School

Cost and Payment Information

Cost for graduates of Yoga Sutra 200 hour Teacher Training:

  • Very Early Registration: pay in full by August 1, 2008: $4,500 (10% off)
  • Early registration: pay in full between August 1, 2008 and start of training: $4,750 (5% off)
  • After September 1 st (incl. payment plan option): $5,000

Cost for graduates of other 200 hour teacher trainings:

  • Very Early Registration: pay in full by August 1, 2008: $5,000 (10% off)
  • Early Registration: pay in between August 1, 2008 and start of training: $5,275 (5% off)
  • After September 1st (incl. payment plan option): $5,550

Students paying the entire tuition in advance receive ten free classes per month of advance sign up. For the duration of the training, each student receives one hundred complimentary classes, October 2008 till December 2009. (All complimentary classes, including those received for advance sign up, expire by the end of the training, December 31, 2009).

If you are new to Yoga Sutra and are interested in our teacher training program, try a free week of yoga.

Note: Tuition payments are non-refundable.

The program will be 15 months in duration, scheduled to take place on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (with a one hour break), every first weekend of the month. Students are required to attend at least one regularly scheduled class per week at the center (in addition to observing and assisting in classes); to do daily home practice and journal writing; and to once weekly practice with fellow trainees.

Payment plans available.

Return to top >

Dates

Orientation: Saturday, September 27th, 2008, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Classes begin: Saturday, October 4th, 2008, 11:00AM

Midterm: May 2009

Classes will complete: Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Return to top >

Application

      Download Application for 500 hour program (PDF - 272K)

Integration Workshops

Please note that in order to guarantee the best possible learning environment for everyone, we require graduates of 200 hour yoga teacher trainings OTHER THAN Yoga Sutra's 200 hour training to participate in our Integration Workshops. These workshops are scheduled to take place August 2nd & 3rd and September 6th & 7th, 2008, at Yoga Sutra, and are compulsory for the participation in the 300 hour training. Study materials will be handed out during the first workshop for review and learning, and a written and practical test will conclude the second workshop, in order to make sure that the material has been fully understood and integrated by the prospective 300 hour trainees.

The workshops will cover: Yoga Philosophy (1st and 2nd Pada of Yoga Sutra; Bhagavad Gita; Introduction to Sanskrit Alphabet); Introduction to Traditional Teachings (based on the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya); Introdcuction to Vedic Chanting; Overview of Pranayama; Asana: 'Vinyasa Krama;' Overview of Anatomy.

If you graduated from another 200- hour program and feel that you have a very strong foundation in all of the above mentioned workshop subjects, you can talk to our director, Guta Hedewig, and take the test prior to the workshop. If you complete the test successfully, you do not have to participate in the Integration Workshops and can just join the training in October. (Please note that the test requires you to know certain Yoga Sutra-s by heart, as well as certain Vedic Chants, etc.).

The workshops are scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd, 2008, 12:00 - 8:00 PM and Saturday, September 6th and Sunday, September 7th, 12:00 - 8:00 PM (with a one hour break each day). The testing will take place on Sunday, September 8th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

The combined cost for both workshops (28 Contact Hours), including study materials, will be $600. (We will do our best to prepare you fully for the final test on September 7th, and we count on everyone passing, but a sincere effort and thorough study of the distributed materials is required).

Return to top >

Teaching Faculty

Special Guest Teacher: Mr. Srivatsa Ramaswami
Lecture on "the Many Facets of Krishnamacharya's Teachings" and "Practicum of Vinyasa Krama Yoga" (200 hr training) and "Yoga Rahasya," "Yoga Yajnavalkya" and "Mantras and Meditation" (500 hr program)

Ramaswami Srivatsa Ramaswami was the longest standing student of T Krishnamacharya outside the Master's family, He has studied the classic Yoga texts extensively and mastered Vinyasa Krama, Vedic Chanting, and Yoga Therapy.

Mr. Ramaswami has written four books: "Basic Tenets of Patanjala Yoga," "Yoga for the Three Stages of Life," "The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga," and "Yoga Beneath the Surface." He has also recorded about 40 audio cassettes and CDs in India of various Sanskrit chants like Sun Salutation, Gayatrii, Siva Kavacham, etc.

He has been teaching for more than 25 years in India: for 20 years at Kalakshetra (recognized as an Institution of National Importance by the Govt. of India); at Ramachandra Medical University; at Yoga Brotherhood; and at other institutions. In the US, Mr. Ramaswami is teaching workshops and Teacher Training Programs at Esalen Institute, Loyola Marymount University, Yoga Works, Himalayan Institute, Chicago Yoga Center and several others centers.

Special Guest Teacher: Dr. Edwin Bryant
Yoga Philosophy (500 hr program)

Dr. Edwin Bryant Edwin Bryant received his doctorate in Indic languages, philosophies and cultures from Columbia University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently professor of Hindu religion and philosophy at Rutgers University. He has been a practitioner of bhakti yoga for twenty-five years, a number of them spent in India. He has published six books and numerous articles on Vedic culture, yoga and the Krishna tradition, and has just completed a translation of Patanjali's Yoga sutras with extracts from the traditional commentators.

Guta Hedewig (Director) - Pranayama, Vedic Chanting, and Introduction to Traditional Yoga Practices
Guta Hedewig Guta Hedewig started practicing yoga in 1991. She has studied the teachings of Krishnamacharya with TKV Desikachar and Kausthub Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai where she has completed advanced yoga courses. She is currently enrolled in their four year long Yoga Therapy Training through the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation. She also learned Vedic Chanting at the affiliated Vedavani (Vedic Chanting School) in Chennai. Additionally, Guta has studied Ashtanga in Mysore with K. Pattabhi Jois and with V. Sheshadri for many years.
 
Guta directs, teaches in, and serves as a mentor in Yoga Sutra's teacher training program. She heads the 'Individualized Yoga Program,' creating individualized practices for students adapted to their specific needs. Guta heads the 'School of Yogic Studies,’ a Continuing Education initiative at Yoga Sutra, where she teaches Vedic Chanting. She also serves as part of a committee as head of the Vinyasa department, in which she teaches.
 
Altogether, Guta oversees the entire programming at Yoga Sutra. She endeavors to create an atmosphere of the serious, in-depth study of yoga in all its aspects, based in the tradition of Krishnamacharya’s teachings.
 
Concurrently, she choreographs for her dance company (www.gutahedewig.com). Guta is a certified Shiatsu practitioner.

Carl Horowitz - Asana and Teaching Methodology
Carl Horowitz Carl Horowitz is influenced by the teachings of T Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar. In addition to his studies with TKV Desikachar, Carl has also studied with several of his long-time students, including Mark Whitwell, Leslie Kaminoff and Gary Kraftsow. As part of this training program he will cover the different skills needed for leading one-on-one and group sessions. Carl will cover thoughtful ways of putting postures together so that students will come out of the course with the tools to begin creating intelligent sequences for the practitioners with whom they are working..

Christopher Hildebrant - Yoga Philosophy, Sanskrit Alphabet, Meditation and Subtle Anatomy
Christopher Hildebrant Christopher is a student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India, and also studies with Manju Jois, and R. Sharath. He has travelled to Mysore eight times. He also studied with Sharon Gannon and David Life, and is certified in Jivamukti Yoga. Christopher graduated magna cum laude from Franklin and Marshall College with a triple major in Greek, Latin, and English. He continued his doctoral studies at Brown University in classical philology and Sanskrit. Christopher has taught at Brown University, Franklin and Marshall College, and New York University.

He is grateful to his teachers Sri Narayana Acharya, Dr. M.A. Jayashree, Dr. Nagaraja Rao, Sri Jagannath, Sri Sanjeeva Hegde, and Sri Lakshmish Bhat.

Sarah Plumer - Anatomy
Sarah Plumer Sarah has been practicing yoga for the past eleven years. Wanting to better understand the body and how to prevent and heal injury, she began studying with Irene Dowd (teacher of anatomy and kinesiology, and neuromuscular training) in 1999. Sarah holds a BFA from the North Carolina School of the Arts in Contemporary Dance and authorization to teach the Ashtanga Yoga Method from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Sarah Perron - Prenatal Yoga
Sarah Perron Sarah Perron came to yoga from a dance background. She began her exploration of yoga in 1992. In 1999 Sarah co-founded Baby Om and co-authored the book, "Baby Om: Yoga for Mothers and Babies." Since 1995, Sarah has been studying at the Iyengar Institute with senior teachers Mary Dunn, Brooke Myers, Kevin Gardiner, and Genny Kapuler. She participated in the 2004-2005 Teacher Training program at the Iyengar Institute and recently passed her first assessment with IYNAUS (Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States).

David Hollander - Workshop TBD
David Hollander David Michael Hollander, RYT 500, was introduced to yoga asana as a teenager and began taking classes at Sivananda yoga in the late 1980's. At about the same time he came into contact with the teachings of Sri Chinmoy. He has studied with many teachers over the years including Sri Pattabhi Jois, Manju Jois, V. Sheshadri, Dr V. Nagaraj, Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rae, and Michael Gilbert. David began teaching in 1994.

David is also a classically trained painter who exhibits in New York. His perspective is that of an artist, first and foremost, inviting others on this exciting adventure of yoga with Love, Lightness, and Devotion.

Davids' vinyasa flow incorporates elements of Ashtanga, Iyengar, and other flow styles into a dynamic experience that invites participants into the depth of the practice. Yoga Philosophy is presented in practical, useful ways along with chanting, singing, music, and artistic expression.


Lisa Bridge - Administrative Director

Lisa Bridge Lisa was one of the first hires at Yoga Sutra when it opened its doors in October, 2004. She began as an Assistant Manager and was quickly promoted to Manager, Administrative Director and now, Director of Operations. Lisa has been integrally involved in helping with the growth and structure of the center. She oversees the entire managerial staff, daily operations of the center, and is a key programming director.

Lisa moved to New York in 1998 after graduating from Purdue University with a B.A. in Creative Writing. She began work in large advertising and publishing companies until being accepted into the NYC Teaching Fellows Program. While earning her M.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College under this scholarship, Lisa taught third grade in Central Harlem. There, she developed programming to bring yoga to at-risk students, later utilizing a National Americorps Scholarship to complete her certification in Vinyasa yoga. Upon graduating, she began teaching in the non-profit educational sector, bringing yoga, meditation, and music weekly to over ninety under-served children under a 9-11 Red Cross Grant. Lisa is currently launching a certification program and Children's Yoga Department at Yoga Sutra. She continues to be involved in bringing yoga to underserved areas by building outreach initiatives and hosting fundraisers for partnering organizations at the school.

Lisa is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in order to broaden her ecumenical work. She is also the singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist for 14 Lines - an alternative rock band and project with Urban Iguana Music Productions.

Return to top >


Code of Ethics

      Code of Ethics (PDF - 76K)


Questions

Lisa and GutaIf you have questions, consult the following contacts:

  • For administrative questions, contact Lisa Bridge, Administrative Director, at (212) 490-1443, or lisabridge@ yogasutranyc.com
  • For questions related to the content of the program, contact Guta Hedewig at (212) 490-1443, or gutadance@cs.com

 

 

Yoga Sutra - Yoga Studio and Yoga Classes in New York City
501 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor   |   New York, NY 10017   |   212.490.1443 |   info@yogasutranyc.com

Web Design by Raphael Webscapes, LLC