Professional Training at Amara
At Amara, we offer 200 hour yoga teacher training (YTT) for yoga teacher certification, as well as mentorship and continuing education for current yoga teachers. There are 2 formats for our 200 hour YTT: a 5 week intensive or a 10 weekend academic year program. Amara is a registered yoga school with Yoga Alliance, so that graduates of our 200 hour YTT programs may register for RYT-200 status, and current RYTs may use our continuing education programs for CEs with Yoga Alliance. For inquiries about any of our professional trainings, please email yogatt@amarayoga.com You may use the following links to jump to the program that you are interested in:
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Upcoming Programs:
2016 Weekend Program: Schedule TBD
Full schedule and application coming soon.
(Weekend trainings run on Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday for 18 hours total)
This comprehensive program is intended to provide students with a deeper knowledge of their yoga practice, and the skills to teach creatively sequenced, alignment-based vinyasa yoga classes. Students who successfully complete this program will be eligible to apply for RYT-200 status with Yoga Alliance. The Amara 200-hour YTT program is taught by Kelsey Bourgeois (E-RYT 200), Kristin McCoy (RYT-200), and Don Briskin (RYT-200), with Grace Giorgio, Corrie Proksa (RYT-200), and Kathryn Fitzgerald (RYT-200).
Prerequisite: At least one year of yoga practice
Program Fees:
$2,850 - if paid in full by May 1st, 2015
$3,000 after May 1st, 2015
Amara Members: $2,700
Download our teacher training FAQ.
Questions? Email yogatt@amarayoga.com
Reading List
- The Path of the Yoga Sutras. A Practical Guide to the Core of Yoga (2011) by Nicolai Bachman.
- The Bhagavad Gita" Introduced and Translated by Eknath Eswaren (2007).
- The Key Muscles in Yoga by Ray Long
- Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness By Donna Farhi
Basic curriculum
- Asana
- Sequencing, Scripting and Adjusting
- Pranayama
- Meditation
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Origins and History of Yoga
- Yogic Philosophy and Lifestyle
- Becoming a Yoga Teacher
- The Business of Yoga
About the Training
Typical day: Each day will consist of a mixture of asana practice, practice scripting and learning postures (alignment, benefits, contraindications, scripting and adjustments), group assignments, discussion and lecture.
Writing assignments: Writing assignments will be given periodically and expected to be well thought-out and thorough. Length will vary.
Other assignments: Teachers will assign various out of class reading assignments. They will also assign various activities such as watching a video online or attending class.
Exams: There will be one midterm take home exam for yoga postures, as well as for yoga philosophy and history. There will be two midterm take home exams for anatomy and physiology. Your completion of the program is contingent upon passing a comprehensive in-training final exam.
Observation and attending classes: Each student will be required to attend 10 classes, observe 10 classes, and assist 3 classes at Amara during the training. The cost of these is included in the student's tuition.
Practice Teaching: Each student will be required to teach both at home and in the studio (to the other teachers in training) several times during the training. The practice teaching part of training will culminate in a community class taught at Amara. This class is open to the public and will be observed by the program director (E-RYT).
Mentorship at Amara
Amara Yoga & Arts Level 1 Teacher Training Mentorship is intended as a supplemental to a 200-hour yoga teacher training program. This mentorship includes assisting/observing 15 yoga classes with a Certified Yoga Instructor. The trainee will meet with the Instructor briefly before and after each class to discuss class plan to set a focus for the class and plan an asana sequence. The trainee will be instructed on ways to assist with adjustments, and toward the end of the program, assist with leading asanas under the Instructor's direction. This mentorship program will culminate with a yoga class taught by the trainee and attended by one or more Instructors and volunteer students, and will receive constructive feedback on the class. The schedule for this program will be coordinated between the trainee and the Instructor(s).
Mentorship Session - Class Observation and Assistance (15 classes)
The trainee will meet with the Instructor briefly before and after each class to discuss class plan to set a focus for the class and plan an asana sequence. The trainee will be instructed on ways to assist with adjustments, and toward the end of the program, assist with leading asanas under the Instructor's direction.
Mentorship Session – Teaching (1 class)
The trainee will teach a full yoga class attended by volunteers and Mentorship Instructor and meet with the Mentorship Instructor after and receive feedback.
Cost: $560 paid in full prior to the start of the program.
Email us at yogatt@amarayoga.com if you are interested in this program.
Continuing Education at Amara
Upcoming Programs:
Intro to Second Series Weekend: April 24, 2015 - April 26, 2015
Ashtanga Primary Series Intensive
Intro to Second Series Weekend
Join Kelsey Bourgeois for a weekend of exploration into the Second Series of Ashtanga yoga. Nadi Shodhana, the second series is known as the nervous system cleansing series and involves a lot of backbending and deep hip stretching. This workshop is intended for students with an Ashtanga practice who currently are comfortable with the entire primary series, and pre-approval is required to enroll - email Kelsey at yogatt@amarayoga.com.
This workshop counts as 13 contact hours towards towards Yoga Alliance's continuing education for teachers fulfilling their CE credits for their RYT in the Techniques Training & Practice educational category.
Next Program: April 24-26, 2015
Friday 7-9:30 PM
Saturday 12:30-3:30 & 5:30-9:30 PM
Sunday 8-11:30 AM
Cost: $175
$150 for Amara Members or sign up and pay in full by March 1st
$125 with completion of the Primary Series Intensive and sign up and pay in full by March 1st
Ashtanga Primary Series Intensive
Join Kelsey Bourgeois and Corrie Proksa for a weeklong immersion into the Primary Series of Ashtanga yoga. We will cover the following:
- An in-depth look at practicing the postures in the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga
- The invocation and closing chant
- Basic adjustments for the Postures in the Primary Series
- Practicing and teaching Mysore style
- Teaching the Primary Series in Sanskrit
- Brief history and philosophical background for Ashtanga Yoga
Next Program: TBA
Prerequisite: Recommended attendance of Tuesday 7 PM Full Primary Series led class and Thursday 5:30 PM Intro to Ashtanga Class. Each of these classes may substitute for one missed Mysore Practice.
Texts: Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice-First Series with David Swenson
Yoga Mala: The Original Teachings of Ashtanga Yoga by Master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Who should attend: Yoga teachers, teacher trainees, and anyone who is looking to deepen their understanding of the Primary Series is welcome. This training fulfills continuing education requirements for RYT 200, E-RYT 200 registered teachers per Yoga Alliance.