THE FREESTYLE YOGA PROJECT TEACHER TRAINING 2012!

COURSE SUMMARY

Part 1: Adjustments and Anatomy and Physiology.
A detailed study of adjustments of a practitioners’s body whilst in a
yoga pose. These will include physical, verbal and demonstrative (ie,
the instructor ‘showing’ the pose so the practitioner can copy). We will
build up a library of adjustments that will equip the teacher trainee with
the skills and techniques to safely and confidently encourage their
students to more deeply explore their practice. The process is relatively
simple: after warming up, I will demonstrate a pose, the trainee will do
it, I will then demo the various adjustments for that pose, then the
trainees will pair up and practice on eachother. We then move on to the
next pose.

The A&P module (either led by me or an external anatomist) will apply
anatomy to yoga. I think it is the duty of a yoga instructor to have
knowledge of how the body works. But this will not be a series of dry
anatomical lectures – we will be looking at the muscular, skeletal and
respiratory systems in the context of a yoga practice.

Part 2: Review of Part 1, then Sequencing Work.
After a review of Part 1, we will move on to studying a myriad of
sequences so that the teacher trainee will have a kit-bag of poses and
sequences to choose from to suit the class/practitioner they have
in front of them. The sequences range from bite-size (literally 3 or 4
poses linked together) to more complicated routines. I will lead the
group through a sequence then the trainees will make groups of 3 or 4
and take eachother through the sequence.

Part 3: Review of Parts 1 & 2 then ‘Real’ Teaching (!!). Plus, the ‘Business’ of being a Yoga Instructor.
After a brief review of Parts 1&2, trainees will be running actual
set up by me, whereby members of the public, paying half price, can
attend, giving trainees the chance to try out their new skills in a ‘real’
situation. The classes will be advertised accordingly and the attendees
will be fully aware of the environment they are walking into. I will be
in attendance at all times.

We will also be discussing and working through various exercises
to do with the business of being a yoga instructor.

Inbetween Modules:
Students will be set various assignments based on the previous module and in preparation for the forthcoming module. These might include, Sanskrit homework, reading, anatomy and observing/shadowing/assisting classes.

Dynamic, challenging, vinyasa-orientated and still with a nod towards ashtanga, my own take on yoga, The Freestyle Yoga Project, is geared towards encouraging teachers and students to think for themselves and investigate what’s going on over the side of their particular yogic box. No one style of yoga holds all the answers and so can be potentially limiting. Freestyle works in the context of ‘vinyasa krama’ – the sequencing of postures linked by breath & movement to a particular end. Want to open those hips/backs/hamstrings? Want to nail the jump-thru/jump-back/handstand? It’s all in the preparation. Sequence a series of postures over an hour or so that address those parts of the body that require warming and opening, then carefully attempt the desired pose. This is intelligent yoga. One size does not fit all.
So, how does one teach such a free-flowing class? I will show you. There will be nuts & bolts instruction on how to carefully adjust a body in numerous yoga postures and then student teachers will be investigating how to create flowing, vinyasa sequences depending on their students’ needs/requests or particular themes you may want to lead your class through.
Teachers will learn to apply their own personalities to their classes and students will learn to tailor their practice to suit how they feel, what their bodies need and what pose they want to improve on.

Please note: you do not have to want to become a teacher to attend this TT – the course can also offer a deep insight into your own practice. However, this is not a course for newcomers to yoga – it is advisable that you have a couple of years practice under your belt before you sign up.

To apply, please email me an introduction to yourself outlining your yogic experience and some basic personal background information.

Also note: although this is not a traditional ashtanga TT, it is rooted there and thus is dynamic and challenging. You do not have to have a dynamic yoga background to join us, but if you do not, know that we will be working extremely hard.