The 500 hour teacher training program topic areas exceed the required minimum number of hours as directed by the Yoga Alliance. For ease of understanding this outline shows the program as it is delivered over eight three-day modules and one eight-day intensive. The text Yoga: The Greater Tradition by David Frawley is required reading for entry into any part of the program. The curricula are as follows:

Module 1. Pranayama: The art of breathing.
Module 2. Experiments in Being: Nondualism, meditation and the yogic mind
Module 3. Pravara: Studying classic yogic texts
Module 4. Dhyana on living and dying
Module 5. Eastern body: A meld of structure, function and energy
Module 6. Western body: The conditions necessary for life and action
Module 7. Special interest groups: Making yoga accessible
Module 8. Asana: Adjustments, alignment, purpose and sequence
Intensive. Teacher training practicum

Module 1. Pranayama: The art of breathing.
This module will begin and end each day with a Sadhana practice. Subsequently students will explore the history of pranayama; the anatomy and physiology of breathing; different types of pranayama; and the purposes of pranayama. Material will include how the bandhas relate to pranayama, the role the vayus play, as well as precautions and contraindications for pranayama practice.
Teacher(s): Norman Sim
Required Reading:
Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyengar.
Recommended Reading:
The Breathing Book by Donna Farhi
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Module 2. Experiments in Being: Nondualism, meditation and the yogic mind
Each day of instruction will begin and end with Sadhana. Material covered during the 3 days of this module will include: a review of the koshas and kleshas; the yogic concept of mind; and the constituents of breathing awareness, seated and walking meditation, dyads and meditative inquiry. The theory and practice of Yoga Nidra will also be introduced. Ample time for additional practice is included in this module.
Teacher(s): Misha Butot | Jennifer Piercy
Required Reading:
Yoga The Greater Tradition by David Frawley
Pratyabijnahrdayam- realization of our true heart (a concise translation will be provided to students before the course
Recommended Reading:
The Inner Tradition of Yoga by Michael Stone
www.iRest.us
www.swamij.com
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Module 3. Pravara: Studying classic yogic texts
Like the preceding modules, this module begins and ends each day with a Sadhana practice. Several classics of Yogic literature will be discussed including the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, The River Sutra, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and so on. Each text will be related to an aspect of Yogic practice.
Teacher(s): Tatiyana Bastet
Required Reading:
Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Muktibodhananda (translation with explanatory notes published by the Bihar School of Yoga)
The Upanishads – translation by Eknath Eswaren
The Bhagavad Gita – translation by Eknath Eswaren
The Yoga Sutras – translation by Swami Jnaneshvara
The River Sutra by Gita Mehta
Recommended Reading:
The Upanishads as translated by Juan Mascaro.
Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Rama.
The Bhagavad Gita as translated by Juan Mascaro.
The Yoga Sutras as interpreted by Mukunda Stiles.
Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study & Practice of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras by Reverend Jaganath Carrera.
Ka by Roberto Calasso
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Module 4. Dhyana on living and dying
Morning and afternoon Sadhana practice are integral to each day of this module. Instruction will be given on the nature of pain and suffering, principles of alignment and support as well as restorative theory and practice. Case examples on death and dying and the relevance of this material to yogic practice will be discussed. The primary teacher for this module has a particular interest in the structure and function of the spine as well as in hospice care.
Teacher(s): Misha Butot | Jennifer Piercy
Required Reading:
Yoga The Greater Tradition by David Frawley
Katha Upanishad, Isha Upanisha
Recommended Reading:
Yoga for Pain Relief by Kelly McGonigal.
Yoga for Depression by Amy Weintraub
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Module 5. Eastern body: A meld of structure, function and energy
During the morning and afternoon Sadhana practice in this module emphasis will be given to the Eastern concepts of the body. These concepts will include the nadis, koshas, bandhas, and vayus. Instruction will include practices for purification (kriya) of the body; promotion of prana in the nadis; as well as Yoga notions of detoxification and the purpose and prescription of mudras.
Teacher(s): Ida Manly | Norman Sim
Required Reading:
Recommended Reading:
Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System by Anodea Judith
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
The Key Muscles of Yoga and The Key Poses of Yoga by Ray Long
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Module 6. Western body: The conditions necessary for life and action
Throughout the twice daily Sadhana practices in this module instruction in Western notions of structure and function will occur. The focus will be on detailed function of the individual joints, the primary organ systems, the connection between the two. Students will explore and come to understand the very tangible and wide variety of physiological benefits that come from practicing Yoga. Principles of kinesiology will be introduced to benefit student understanding of safe, effective and efficient asana practice.
Teacher(s): Norman Sim
Required Reading:
Yoga Body: Anatomy, kinesiology, and asana by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.d., P.T.
Recommended Reading:
Vayu’s Gate – Yoga and the Ten Vital Winds by Orit Sen Gupta.
Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System by Anodea Judith.
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff.
The Key Muscles of Yoga and The Key Poses of Yoga by Ray Long.
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Module 7. Special interest groups: Making yoga accessible
Inter-mixed with the morning and afternoon Sadhana practices, instruction in this section will cover a variety of topics related to Yoga practice for special interest groups. These groups will include the ante and post natal student; practice throughout the life-cycle; plus and minus size students as well as how to design then implement one-on-one sessions. Topics covered in this section include physiology, ethics, special needs and so on.
Teacher(s): Crystal Star
Required Reading:
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh Khalsa
Recommended Reading:
Step-by-Step Yoga For Pregnancy by Wendy Teasdill
Birthing from Within by Pam England & Rob Horowitz
Mega Yoga by Megan Garcia. (plus-size)
Yoga in Your School by Teressa Asencia
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Module 8. Asana: Adjustments, alignment, purpose and sequence
This module is about the physical practice of the postures and instruction on this theme will be woven into the twice daily Sadhana practices. Specific instruction will cover the purpose of asana, safe, effective, efficient practice, as well as physiological principles of muscle, bone and flesh. Notions of alignment, elongation and centering will be discussed to deepen students’ knowledge and appreciation of the contributions each of these principles makes to an asana. Students will also learn principles for minor and major alignments; what makes a sequence complete; along with the role of the primary joint(s) in an asana and the forces acting through it.
Teacher(s): Ida Manly | Norman Sim
Required Reading:
Yoga Body: Anatomy, kinesiology, and asana by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.d., P.T.
Anatomy and asana: Preventing yoga injuries by Susi Hately Aldous
Recommended Reading:
The Heart and Science of Yoga by Leonard Perlmutter.
Yoga Beyond Belief: Insights to Awaken and Deepen Your Practice by Ganga White.
Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar.
Dancing the Flame of Light by Donna Holeman.
The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu Devananda.
Self-Awakening Yoga by Don Stapleton
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Intensive: Teacher training practicum
Students in the teacher training intensive will spend one day learning to teach material from the individual topics of the eight instructional modules. Techniques and approaches unique to the topic area will be presented, students will have time in each day to practice teach, be peer reviewed and instructor mentored. Instructional material will include how to design, prepare, deliver, and evaluate a class. In addition, students will be shown how to reflect critically on their performance as a teacher with a view ensuring completeness and a high-level of instruction.
Teacher(s):
Required Reading:
Teaching Yoga by Donna Farhi
Recommended Reading:
The Ethics of Caring: Honouring the web of life in our professional healing relationships by Kylea Taylor.
Yoga Teacher’s Toolkit by Joseph LePage.
Yoga Posture Adjustments and Assisting: An Insightful Guide for Yoga Teachers and Students by Stephanie Pappas.
The Inner Tradition of Yoga by Michael Stone.
Yoga for a World Out of Balance by Michael Stone
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