There is a sacred trust between yoga students and teachers that should be preserved and protected, especially regarding confidential information. This immersive workshop will review in depth proper ethical boundaries in yoga, the scope of practice for yoga instructors, and why it is so important to respect those boundaries for both students and teachers.

We will discuss a variety of situations and scenarios that may arise in yoga classes and how best to handle those situations while staying in the ethical boundaries designed to protect the safety and sanctity of the relationship between teacher and student.

We will go over specific techniques for teachers to handle emotional releases and outbursts in a classroom setting, in addition to a variety of probable and possible scenarios that may test boundaries and limitations of individual yoga instructors. Acknowledging our own limitations as yoga students and teachers can help us better serve our yoga students and their needs in a safe and supportive environment.

This workshop will be taught by Jay MacDonald. To learn more about her, click here.

SCHEDULE

Fridays 6 – 9 PM Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sundays: 9 AM – 1 PM

We will explore the principles of alignment, adjustments and assists with a modern and sensitive approach to each one. The overall philosophy of which will emphasize the importance of how a pose feels being of primary importance over how a pose looks or should look being of lesser importance.

We will also explore the importance of knowing the “why” of these principles and not just repeating “rote cues” that are outdated and not always helpful to the individual. The days of forceful adjustments and rigid alignment ideals are and should be a relic of the past as we now know that all bodies do not look the same or feel the same in any pose nor should they.

It is not our job to force or push a yogi deeper into a pose so they look a certain way because that decision should be more of an internal assessment rather than an external one as only they know if they are mentally, physically and emotionally ready for that deep dive.

Learn how to collaborate and invite in that internal compass and guide from your students so that you can infuse these principles with a philosophy of partnership and collaboration over an “I know best and what this pose should look like” attitude and belief.

Trainees will learn:

• the different kinds of alignment, adjustments, and assists that can be incorporated into a yoga class
• how the alignment, adjustments, and assists can be incorporated in a way that is sensitive to students of all backgrounds and experience levels
• about the variety of different anatomical structures and physiology of students and how these can be observed in students’ alignment during a yoga class
• how anatomy and physiology play roles in the proper adjustments and assists for a range of students
• the historical and/or traditional yogic philosophy, yoga lifestyles, and ethics for yoga teachers as it relates to Alignment, Adjustments, and Assists. This workshop will be presented with the framework of the principle of Ahimsa – to do no harm.
• about appropriate and acceptable teacher-student relationships as it relates to physical touch, language, and cueing under the framework of alignment, adjustments, and assists

This workshop will be taught by Jay MacDonald. Learn more about her here.

SCHEDULE

Fridays 6 – 9 PM Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sundays: 9 AM – 1 PM

Yoga instructors are not to treat or diagnose any medical condition or illness, but rather to mindfully assist students in and out of yoga poses with awareness of any issues they may have shared. This can be accomplished with props, alignment principles, and knowledge of these special considerations.

These include – but aren’t limited to pregnancy, recent injuries, psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, migraines, and more. This immersive workshop will outline the techniques and methods that can best serve instructors – and students – when special considerations are known in a yoga class.

This immersive workshop will be taught by Jay MacDonald and Lynda Saffell. To learn more about them, click here.  

Friday 6 – 9 PM Saturday 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sunday: 9 AM – 1 PM

• the importance of the spine and its alignment as it relates to yoga
• different postures that support proper alignment of the spine as well as helpful cues to utilize during a yoga class
• when and how to use props and/or modifications to facilitate joint stacking
• common contraindicators that may be present for yoga students as well as how they may show up physically during a practice
• to write and teach yoga sequences and yoga asanas in a way that best supports the posture of the back and joint stacking
• how and when to incorporate props and/or modifications during a yoga class to support any contraindicators related to the back as well as mitigate discomfort during the class and how to cue in such a way that supports the natural curvature of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar parts of the spine
• the structure of the spine and how the natural curves support its proper function and movement and how different yoga postures can help keep the spine aligned and stable
• the skeletal structure of the spine and body with focus common misalignments and how they can cause stress and how that affects bones themselves

This workshop will be taught by Jay MacDonald and Leigh-Ann Renz. To learn more about them, click here.

SCHEDULE

Fridays 6 – 9 PM Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sundays: 9 AM – 1 PM

The Yoga Sutras are one of the fundamental schools of philosophy that influence the Yoga tradition and practice. This immersion will review the Yoga Sutras, or threads, that guide yogic practice and teaching. Students will learn how to apply this ancient school of thought to modern yoga practices and classes and how to incorporate the philosophy of Yoga into the classes they teach.

This immersion will be taught by Candra Smith. Learn more about her here.

Attendees will learn:
// Ashtanga and the 8 limbs of yoga, including each of the limbs’ various techniques
//techniques and practices associated with kriya yoga

// the methods of how to teach Ashtanga and Kriya Yoga (asana, pranayama, and concentration practices) to students
// how to incorporate the themes of the yamas and niyamas into class
// how to provide cues that facilitate sensory withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and – ultimately – unity/oneness

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda (required)
• The Science of Self Realization by Roy Eugene Davis (recommended Chap 1-4)
• A Guide to Kriya Yoga Practice by Roy Eugene Davis (recommended)

Learn how to protect your joints from pain and inflammation caused by overuse and repetitive movements. We will explore how to engage the correct muscle groups and stack the joints in a way that prevents strain and discomfort in certain poses and activities.

Each joint has a specific range of motion and that can be very different from person to person. We will discuss how to tell the difference between compression and tension so that you can safely explore your joints mobility, flexibility and adaptability.

You will also learn how to support your joints by using props and/or muscular engagement for comfort and ease in a variety of yoga poses and movements. We will assimilate this knowledge into cueing your students to keep their joints healthy and happy in any yoga class.

You only get one body so you might as well treat it well and use yoga for joint health to take good care of it!

Trainees will learn:

• techniques for working with the anatomy and physiology of the joints as it relates to a yoga class
• what specific asanas are useful to incorporate into a yoga class as well as helpful props, modifications, and cues to utilize when teaching a yoga class that supports joint health
• helpful assists/adjustments that best facilitate supportive alignment in yoga postures as it relates to joint health, mobility, flexibility, and “stacking”
• how to look for common misalignments in students in terms of joint stacking
• how to to incorporate into a class that supports joint health as well as ways to modify these asanas and/or use props in seamless ways
• how to write and guide a yoga asana sequence focused on the anatomy and physiology of joint health, in particular the ankles, knees, hips, writes, and shoulders
• the anatomy of the ankles, knees, hips, wrists, and shoulders and how each of these joint families are designed to move and function
• how to address alignment and structure in certain postures during a yoga class in order to best support a yoga student’s comfort and safety during a class, as it relates to joint function and mobility
• the concepts of Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya(truthfulness) as it relates to teaching a yoga class that is focused on joint health

This workshop will be taught by Jay MacDonald, Leigh-Ann Renz, and Rebecca Mashburn. To learn more about them, click here.

SCHEDULE

Fridays 6 – 9 PM Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sundays: 9 AM – 1 PM

This immersive workshop will give students a thorough understanding of the Yamas & Niyamas; their history in relationship to Yoga; and how they can be applied to modern, everyday life. It also maps the Yamas & Niyamas onto the Chakras, offering an opportunity to see deeper patterns in our understanding of Yoga philosophy and practice.

Due to the philosophical nature of the topic, the information will be mostly analytical learning; however, there will be exploration about how these principles can be applied to the practice of Yoga, both as a student and as a teacher.

Yamas & Niyamas will be taught by Leigh-Ann Renz. To learn more about her, click here.  

Schedule

Friday 6 – 9 PM Saturday 9 AM – 6 PM (with a one hour lunch break) Sunday: 9 AM – 1 PM