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PREPARE TO BE CHALLENGED, INSPIRED, AND TRANSFORMED!

SPACE’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is an opportunity to unlock the boundless joy and unlimited potential of our existence through the science of Yoga. The aim of this unique course explores the teaching and transmission of the true, ancient Yogic traditions. Yoga is one of the great gifts to modern humanity. It has message for our bodies, our minds and our spirits. Participants will have the opportunity to experience Yoga as an art and science and acquire an in-depth knowledge base. The course is suitable for those wishing to teach or those who wish to explore their Yoga at a much deeper level and experience first hand, its powerful transformative effects.

• Study and explore the full spectrum of Hatha Yoga practices rooted in ancient teachings, including asana, pranayama, kriya, mantra, mudra and meditation.
• Study Ayurveda, the sister science of Yoga and Yogic Nutrition, and apply it directly to your practice and life as a means to improving health mentally and physically.
• Learn powerful, flowing Hatha Yoga sequences which can be adapted to suit any level of practitioner.
• Improve your own asana practice and learn universal principles of alignment to take your practice safely to a much deeper level both physically and spiritually.
• Learn proper, traditional pranayama techniques passed on directly from a living Yoga Master.

BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Must have an established, committed yoga practice (12 months minimum).
• Must be mentally and physically prepared for an intensive training.
• Must bring a positive, healthy attitude and a sense of lightness and dedication.

ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION

All students who successfully complete the course will receive a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Teaching Certificate. This is the internationally-recognized standard certification for beginner and intermediate-level teachers. 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified teachers are fully qualified and prepared to teach.

*This course will be taught in both Chinese and English.

In accordance with high teaching standards, the following major themes will be covered during the Teacher Training.

Individual Practice and Personal Development:

You will learn how to teach and practice the traditional yoga techniques and more importantly, how to master the techniques themselves; both areas receive substantial emphasis.

• Asana (yoga postures) -
  There is much more to yoga postures than strength and flexibility. During the course, you'll learn how specific poses affect the energy in our bodies and promote health and peace within.
• Pranayama (breathing exercises) -
  In the tradition of Sri. O.P. Tiwari, you'll learn the subtle science of breath. For most students, it's challenging enough to remain aware of their breathing, but our goal is to go much further... to learn to control and expand the breath consciously for mental and physical health and spiritual growth.
• Kriya (cleansing exercise) -
  The ancient yogis developed a very specific set of cleansing practices. During the course, you'll learn how to naturally detoxify your system.
• Mantra (vocal repetition of sacred sounds) -
  The yoga of sound is one of the easiest to experience. During the course, we will learn and experiment with many different sacred mantras.
• Meditation (seated practice) -
  Perhaps the most challenging practice of all is the practice of stillness. Meditation can be very intimidating, but during the course, we'll take natural steps as we learn to practice properly.
• Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) -
  Ayurveda and yoga are sister sciences. You'll discover how your body's constitution relates to your practice, the foods you should eat, and even your behavioral tendencies.

The Art of Teaching and Ethics for Yoga Teachers

Teaching a great class requires a delicate balance of skill, experience, and inspiration. You'll learn how to bring out the best in any student through real-life practice sessions. Learn proper modifications, assists, language, props usage, the mystery of sequencing techniques, principles of demonstration, observation, qualities of a teacher, the student's process of learning and other aspects of teaching yoga. Another important aspect of being a teacher is the ethical considerations. Discussion of teaching ethics and standards will be thoroughly discussed.

Anatomy and Physiology

You will learn both human physical anatomy and physiology (muscles, bones, organs, etc.) and energetic anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.) This includes both the study of the subject and application of its principles to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc.) You will also learn to apply and teach precise alignment principles and sequences to make postures deeper, safer and more therapeutic.

Yoga History / Philosophy and Lifestyle

From the ancient texts, you'll study the philosophical teachings of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the universal life lessons of the Bhagavad Gita. But, most importantly, you'll learn practical ways to apply these classical teachings in a modern world and your daily life as a student and a teacher.

Practicum

This section includes practice teaching, receiving feedback, observing others teaching and hearing/giving feedback. Also includes assisting student while someone else is teaching.

April 17 - May 9, 2010
(Off Dates: 4.24 - 4.25, 4.30, 5.5 and half day on 4.21)

A "DAY IN THE LIFE" OF A TRAINEE

07:00 - 07:45　Pranayama (breath work) Kriyas (cleansing exercises) *
07:45 - 10:30　Yoga Asana *
10:30 - 11.30　Tea / Breakfast
11:30 - 13:00　Lectures Workshops
13:00 - 15:30　Lunch
15:30 - 17:30　Workshop II and Asana Practice
17:30 - 18:00　Meditation/ Pranayama

Workshops will include yoga lectures, practice teaching, posture clinics, and leadership skills.

The training will be conducted in English and Chinese.

*Note:
MORNING INTENSIVES * 7:00am - 10:30am (Pranayama “breath work”, Kriyas “cleansing exercises”+ Asana “yoga postures”) * Open to all levels
Please see under TUITION tab for separate package and pricing for

STEPHEN THOMAS (Course Director)

Stephen Thomas is a senior international yoga teacher. He leads Teacher Trainings, Workshops and Immersions across Asia and Europe. His teaching is deeply rooted in the traditional Yoga practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation. His philosophical background is influenced by studies in the Classical systems of Yoga Philosophy as well as Tibetan Buddhism and Tantra, enriching and informing his personal approach.

He presents Yoga in its’ classical form, directly from lineage. In his teaching, he encourages a synthesis of physical effort (asana, cleansing kriyas, pranayama, etc.), with the study of sanskrit, chanting, meditation and devotion. Integrating these deep practices into the daily spectrum of one’s life is a central theme of his work.

Stephen studies directly with O.P. Tiwari of Kaivalyadham, India and continues to evolve his knowledge in the fields of pranayama, therapy, healing, and Ayurveda. This lineage is one of the few living sources of authentic pranayama available. He has completed advanced studies with Tiwari and continues to dedicate his personal practice and work to promoting health and transformation through this method of yoga.

The asana component of his teaching is used as a way to purify and stabilize the system, and to re-integrate the mind/body/spirit complex. Through the asana, the joy of the body and breath are re-discovered and a gateway into the deeper realms of the practice is revealed. His asana studies form a major part of his teaching and have been influenced by the alignment principals of Iyengar, and the transformational elements of the Ashtanga Vinyasa system.

He embodies the spirit of joy, respect and deep gratitude for those who have influenced him over the years, including, Sri.K. Patthabi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Richard Freeman, Aadil Palkhivala, Paul Dallaghan and Patrick Creelman.

Stephen currently divides his time between his base in Asia and Zurich, Switzerland. For more information or, to see his teaching schedule please visit, www.stephenthomasyoga.com, www.kdham.com, www.withinspace.com, www.airyoga.ch


Naichin Tang,

As a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Naichin specializes in one-on-one personal mind/body counseling. She started her yogic path with Bikram yoga, and then evolved to Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow. Naichin became Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher in 2003 when she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training program with Louisa Sears. Since 2005, she has been greatly influenced by Anusara style and she is now a licensed Anusara-Inspired teacher.

Rachel Tsai (History and Philosophy)

Rachel currently teaches workshops and training courses in Ayurveda, the healing and therapeutic sister science of Yoga and Yoga Philosophy around Asia. She holds qualification in both Ayurveda and Yoga (Therapy) and has an advanced Sanskrit and Jyotish (Hindu Astrology) studies with teachers she sought privately. Rachel is a dedicated Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practitioner and has made two trips to India to study Sanskrit and Yoga with Sri K Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Rangaswamy. She also takes yearly Ayurvedic internship at the Dhanvantari Dham Herbal Research Centre in Vrindaban India. During the training program, Rachel will teach workshops on Ayurveda Foundation and Yoga History and Philosophy, with an aim to broaden the scope of the study of yoga and enrich the depth of our practice. For more information about Rachel, please visit: www.matipatha.com

Adnan Tahirovic (Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics)

Born in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adnan practiced, taught and competed professionally in martial arts in Europe, and especially in France where he had the privilege of studying with the great Dominique Valera. After two decades of training, Adnan's knees were badly injured and he had to stop competing and teaching. It was at this point in time that yoga came into his life. Adnan first learned Ashtanga yoga by taking private classes over a three-year period with Marcia Solomon of Ottawa, who now resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she teaches at Richard Freeman's Yoga workshop. Adnan completed both basic and advanced teacher training programs with Richard Freeman, the “Yoga Spirit Teaching Training Course” as well as the “Primary Series Teacher Training Course” with David Swenson. Adnan also took workshops with Rod Stryker, John Friend and Erich Schiffmann.

Adnan's specialties include Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga and Vinyasa Flow as well as highly specialized programs for athletes. Adnan has facilitated a number of workshops in Canada, Europe and Asia. He was also a senior teacher and former co-owner of Santosha Yoga Center located in Ottawa, Canada. He currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan where he teaches at SPACE YOGA.

Adnan has always been interested in helping people to heal. As a result of his passion, he became a certified massage therapist in the shiatsu tradition. Adnan has devoted many years of his life to studies of musculoskeletal system of a human body and biomechanics of yoga asanas. In 2008 Adnan completed a course "Oriental Chiropractic Techniques" he took in Taipei, Taiwan. He has an ability to teach Anatomy in a way that brings the study of the body into real world situations on the Yoga mat. His Anatomy lectures always include hands-on work and he teaches Anatomy in a way that is functional and helps teachers to understand how to make yoga deeper, safer and more informed. Using his broad knowledge of anatomy, Adnan focuses his teaching on correct alignment. For more information, please visit: www.adnanyoga.com

◎ Morning Intensive Practice

Installment Plan (not include Morning Intensive Practice)

Interest free installment plan is available upon request.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation notice received 8 days prior to the start of the program, $2000 administrative fee would be deducted and the remaining balance can be transfer to other SPACE workshops and trainings.
• Cancellation notice received 7 days or less from the start of the program, there will be no refund or transfer.
• At any time prior to the start of the program, for those who reserve a spot in the teacher training, but find they cannot attend, the spot may be transferred to another student (who has gone through the application process and been approved).

1. Q: How much yoga experience do I need to attend?

A: This course is an in-depth yoga training and is open to all levels of students. However, the asana and meditation sessions will be challenging, the days are full. Participants should be in good physical and mental shape, able to do 3 hours of yoga a day, and do extended sitting for gatherings and lectures. Min. 1 year previous Yoga experience is highly recommended. A desire to teach is not required. A desire to be challenged and to transform is a necessity. Many people attend for their own learning, health and deep growth in the path of yoga.

2. Q: What kind of yoga is taught?

A: Our asana sessions tend to emphasize precision and alignment while moving with the breath; combining postures, breathing and meditation. Practice should be fulfilling, energizing and complete. It should also challenge us and help to restore systems to optimal health. The training will explore several styles such as Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, and restorative practices.

3. Q: How can you have different levels of students in the same class?

A: All classes involve teaching at mixed levels. No bodies are the same. One of the advantages of the course is the opportunity to work with fellow students of different abilities and levels. We begin slowly and build on each day's work, teaching in a way that allows each person to work at their own pace. It is important for those learning to teach to develop the ability to handle different levels of students in the same class because student levels always vary.

4. Q: Do you have a required reading list?

A:
Required Reading:

5. Q: When will I find out if I have been accepted into the program?

A: After you submit your completed Teacher Training Application, you will be contacted via phone call within approximately 7 working days. Your payment will be processed upon acceptance, and final payment date is 1 week after the acceptance.

6. Q: What if I miss a class?

A: To obtain a diploma of completion you must attend 100% of the classes to comply with Yoga Alliance requirements. However, absences due to illness will need to be discussed with the program director.

7. Q: What is the Yoga Alliance?

A: Yoga Alliance is an organization that was started in 1999 as a way to create recognized standards for yoga teachers and yoga teacher trainings. More and more yoga studios are requiring their teachers to register with the Yoga Alliance, either at the 200 or 500 hour level. Yoga Alliance registration, however, is not a legal requirement for teaching yoga. Currently there are no legal certification requirements to be a yoga teacher.

8. Q: Will I be qualified to teach yoga once I complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training Program?

A: With the successful completion of all the requirements of the program, including contact hours, homework, and exam, you will receive your Diploma evidencing your training at the 200-Hour level. You may also register with the Yoga Alliance at the RYT-200 level (Registered Yoga Teacher 200). Graduates of the 200-hour program usually begin teaching in small studios, gyms, with private clientele (friends and family), etc. Many new teachers decide to continue their Teacher Training education and participate in professional programs such as workshops and other forms of teacher trainings as a way to further solidify their skills, knowledge and style as a yoga instructor.

9. Q: What is SPACE Certification?

A: SPACE creates a pathway for teachers to achieve a benchmark that represents high level of education and skill: the SPACE Certification process. SPACE grants certification to those teachers who are recognized as knowledgeable and mature, creative, thorough and compassionate. These are teachers who can hold a room, see students’ bodies, offer appropriate modifications and adjustments, and create a well-organized and intelligent sequence of poses. These certified teachers also have an understanding of yoga philosophy and its depth as well as technical skill with asana and pranayama. SPACE Yoga Certification is an emblem of this comprehensive knowledge.

Diploma:
Upon successful completion of the SPACE 200-Hour Teacher Training, trainees will receive a Diploma from SPACE Yoga as an acknowledgement of the successful completion of the course. Receipt of a SPACE Yoga diploma is the first step toward Yoga Alliance certification as well as a doorway into teaching. With this diploma new teachers can begin the process of refining their skills as a yoga teacher at many local gyms and small yoga studios, as well as with private clients.

Yoga Alliance Certification:
Trainees will also receive their Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certification (RYT200) as soon as they apply for it and pay a registration fee. Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Certification offers the added benefit of a listing on their website and the recognition of an international certifying body. Yoga Alliance certification is also a requirement for employment at many gyms and yoga studios.

SPACE YOGA Certification:
SPACE YOGA Certification Assessment represents the students have passed the tests that consists of a written exam on all aspects of yoga: philosophy, anatomy, sequencing, as well as a practical exam to assess teaching skills in which applicants are asked to teach a 10-minutes sequence of asana in front of the teachers.

Applicants who are deemed representative of SPACE YOGA standards receive a certificate. SPACE YOGA Certification is an important achievement in the evolution of a teacher as it represents a vote of confidence from a highly respected yoga teacher training program. It also opens the door to many new career opportunities including the possibility of one day leading teacher trainings.

Although the great majority of students who attend complete this program and are certified, we reserve the right to withhold certification from any student who fails to develop the necessary skills. If it is determined that you have not successfully met the certification requirements, you can meet with the teacher trainer who will determine the appropriate steps needed to complete certification. In most cases, this process takes from three to six months but may take up to a year to complete.

Stephen Thomas Naichin Tang