To all Yoga students who are interested in teaching yoga:

Yoga exists today because it has been passed from teacher to student, as one candle lights another, in an unbroken chain for thousands of years. All serious yoga students must one day become teachers. Sharing your knowledge with others deepens your own understanding and practice of yoga. You can transform your life and the lives of others with the timeless practices of yoga.

--Laura Spaulding 
Yoga East, Director of Teacher Training  

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

Yoga East, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization and admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational/admissions policies, scholarships, and other school-administered programs.

The 200 hour course is a foundation teacher training course. Experienced yoga students and new yoga teachers can learn to safely and effectively teach yoga to students at all levels of physical ability including students with physical challenges and medical restrictions. The course presents a comprehensive survey of important yoga postures from Yoga East’s syllabus for Gentle yoga and Level 1 and Level 2 classes. Participants will study and practice correct alignment and teaching points for yoga postures, how to use dialogue, verbal corrections, safe manual adjustments and demonstration, how to modify postures for students at different practice levels, and how to teach safely, effectively, creatively and enthusiastically.

The course explores hatha yoga techniques, anatomy as it relates to hatha yoga, philosophical foundations of yoga, compares different styles of yoga, presents the history of yoga from ancient times to contemporary yoga masters and compares different teaching styles and teaching methods.

Through the course you will also make lifetime connections with a well-established community of dedicated yoga teachers, and have access to our courses, classes, workshops and continued study, use of our library, resources and facilities.

Dates and Location

The course will meet once monthly beginning September, 2008 and ending May 2009. Tentative dates: 2008: September 5-7, October 3-5, November 7-9, December 5-7; 2009: January 9-11, February 6-9, March 6-8, April 3-5, May 1-3, May 23 (exams). Workshops with guest teachers such as Douglas Keller, Ramanand Patel and Francois Raoult will also be included as course requirements and the costs are included in the course fees. 

Application Deadline: July 31, 2008

Hours: Friday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 8:45-10:45 a.m.; 1:00-6:30 p.m.; Sunday 9:00-4:30 p.m.

The course will meet at the Kentucky Street Studio, 1125 E. Kentucky Street, Louisville, KY 40204. 

Students who are interested in Yoga East teacher training should be well-established in an intermediate level yoga practice, have a sitting meditation practice and be familiar with basic yoga texts such as The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Bhagavad Gita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.  You will be best prepared if you have studied and practiced for at least two years with teachers who teach Iyengar, Ashtanga or Anusara style classes.  If you have not taken at least six months of intermediate level classes with Laura Spaulding, you will be expected to demonstrate your proficiency with postures in our Level 1 and 2 syllabus before being accepted into the course. The syllabus will be posted online by June 1, 2008. 

In general, you will be expected to be able to perform Urdhva Dhanurasana (full backbend, pushing up from the floor), Sirshasana (headstand, away from a wall holding for 3 minutes), and Salambha sarvangasana (shoulderstand, holding for 3 minutes).

Students should be in good health and have no limiting injuries or conditions. Although it is possible to teach yoga while pregnant or with physical challenges, it is very difficult to go through a teacher training while your health is impaired.  If you are experiencing psychological problems, economic hardships, or the pressure of family or work obligations you should postpone teacher training.

Students with any limiting circumstances should discuss your circumstances with Laura Spaulding before submitting an application.  The teacher training is limited to 12 students and you will be expected to make a commitment to the course if you are accepted. 

This information will be posted on June 1, 2008. Texts will be available for purchase at our studios.

$3000, includes two guest teacher workshops and unlimited classes during the course. Monthly payment plans are available.

Withdrawals and Refunds: The course is a 10 month commitment and registration is limited to 12 students. In the event of withdrawal, no refund of course fees will be given.

Downloadable application form will be posted by June 1, 2008.

Certification Decisions

In order to be certified as a Yoga East teacher, the candidate must complete all course requirements including payment of course fees, and satisfactorily pass the certification exams.  Exams include two asana exams (one demonstrating proficiency in your personal practice and the other demonstrating knowledge of props and modifications for students at different levels), a teaching methodology exam and a written exam on history, philosophy and anatomy.

Comprehensive Teacher Training 500 Hour Course

The 500 hour course is composed of the Basic Course 200 hour module AND Advanced Teacher Training 300 Hour Module. New yoga teachers who have not taken the 200 hour course should refer to the Basic Course 200 Hour module information.

The 300 hour module is for teachers who have completed a 200 hour course module. Our course takes two years to complete and includes study and practice of continuing and intermediate level asanas, pranayama, kriyas, bandhas, mudras, and meditation techniques including both how to practice them and how to teach them. Holding postures longer, more complex use of props, and vinyasa techniques are examined. Anatomy and Physiology includes application of yoga asanas to chronic conditions and injuries and study of the subtle body. Philosophy includes study of tantra and Sanskrit. Supervised practice teaching at Yoga East in a collegial, nourishing environment is part of the course.

The 500 hour course is a two-year course that begins with our 200 hour Course. See the 200 hour course information for admissions information. The 300 hour module can be taken alone by yoga teachers who have already obtained a 200 hour certificate from a Yoga Alliance registered school or equivalent. YA registration or documentation of your previous hours is required for admission to the 300 hour module. We will consider applicants who have completed 200 hour programs from other schools on a case-by-case basis.  Please contact us to apply.

Yoga East teachers and alumni do not need to submit an application and should simply attend classes. Please note that you must pre-register for all classes so sufficient handouts can be prepared.

• Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar
• Light on Pranayama, B.K.S. Iyengar
• Back Care Basics, Mary Pullig Schatz
• Relax and Renew, Judith Lasater
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Sw. Muktibodhananda (Bihar School)
• The Yoga Tradition, Georg Feuerstein
• Heart of Yoga, T.K.V. Desikachar
• Yoga Mala, K. Pattabhi Jois
• Anatomy of Hatha Yoga, David Coulter
• "Anatomy for Yoga" DVD, Paul Grilley
• Bhagavad Gita, any translation
• Notebook or journal to journal your home practice assignments

Materials are available from Yoga East. The cost of materials is not included in the course price.  A suggested reading list will also be given to participants.

Course Dates, Times and Location and Fees are posted on our Calendar Page and Forum.

Scholarships: Financial aid and work-study opportunities are available for Yoga East teachers who are actively teaching classes on our schedule, Yoga East graduates with current CYE hours and other qualified students. Contact Laura Spaulding for more information at 502-585-9642. (Do not call after 6:00 p.m. or on weekends.)

Workshops with Guest Teachers
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in our workshops with internationally-recognized guest teachers. In the past we've hosted Iyengar teachers Francois Raoult and Ramanand Patel, Anusara teacher Darren Rhodes, and yoga therapy teachers Amanda McMain and Douglas Keller. See our Calendar Page for more information.

Continuing Yoga Education Classes for Yoga Teachers with Laura Spaulding
CYE's are free to YE teachers, alumni and teacher trainees.

These classes are also open to serious yoga students who have an established, vigorous practice, but you must have Laura's permission to register. Please phone 585-9642.

CYE classes give new and experienced teachers and teacher trainees an opportunity to share insights from their practice and teaching.  Each class includes refining teaching skills, discussing and contemplating the challenges we face as teachers, and how to support ourselves and each other in practice and teaching.

No CYEs are currently scheduled but CYE hours can be obtained in our teacher training courses, workshops and retreats. CYE hours are indicated.  Please notify Laura Spaulding in advance of the workshop if you need a certificate of attendance.