The Level I Course is for yoga students at all levels of experience who want to learn more about the yoga tradition or new or experienced yoga teachers who want to sharpen their teaching skills. Students who are interested in learning how to teach yoga will find these classes indispensable. The classes are taught by our lead instructors who will show correct alignment and practice points for yoga postures, how to modify postures for different practice levels and injuries using props, dialogue, verbal corrections, manual adjustments and appropriate demonstrations. We will show you how to practice (or teach) yoga safely, effectively, creatively and enthusiastically. You will make lifetime connections with a well-established community of dedicated yoga practitioners, and have access to our courses, classes, workshops and continued study, use of our library, resources and facilities.

This affordable 16 week program is for individuals who want to learn how to share yoga with others.  The course is geared to fitness instructors, massage therapists, nurses and other medical practitioners who have experience in exercise and fitness or medical fields but who lack substantial yoga experience.  The course will allow you to get started teaching enjoyable, authentic and safe yoga classes for all levels and ages of students.  You can also accumulate hours toward Yoga Alliance registration as a Registered Yoga Teacher as you begin to live the life of your deepest dreams and highest aspirations. Explore the paths of yoga with an expert, inspired instructor and uplifting, transformative classes.

This course is a 300 hour course for yoga teachers who are already registered at the 200 hour level, and who are seeking more advanced training to enhance their practice and teaching. This course provides 300 hours which complete Yoga Alliance® 500 Hour registration.  Applicants to this course must already have an active 200 Hr Yoga Alliance registration.

Requirements: Interested students should have a minimum of three years of yoga class experience at Yoga East and enough free time to teach one class a week for one year after completion of your training.  This training opportunity is only for students who have shown a substantial commitment to Yoga East's non-profit mission and our yoga tradition.  Students must have maintained a regular class attendance at Yoga East for the past three years, have volunteered for other projects or supported our mission by financial contributions. This program is underway. The next program begins January, 2011, and a downloadable application form will be posted on September 1, 2010.

Teacher Training Financial Aid
Financial aid is based on financial need and takes the form of work-study opportunities - teaching yoga in supervised settings or assisting an experienced teacher.  These opportunities are only available to students who have maintained a regular practice in classes at Yoga East for a minimum of one year prior to taking teacher training-level classes.  Please contact us if you're interested in these opportunities.

Rhonda Lawson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Named in honor of our teacher training student Rhonda Lawson.  The day before she was to have begun our teacher training program in 2004, Rhonda was seriously injured in an automobile accident and passed away a few days later.  This scholarship honors the memory of Rhonda, a dedicated student who wanted to bring the benefits of yoga to as many people as possible. The scholarship pays the total tuition for a student to complete our 200 Hour Foundation Yoga Teacher Training. Please note that there are prerequisites, the most important of which is that you have maintained regular class attendance for a significant period of time, a minimum of one year. If you do not currently attend classes at Yoga East, you need to establish a record of regular attendance before we will consider your application. One scholarship will be awarded each year to the most deserving student with financial need. 

To apply for Scholarships and Financial Aid, contact:
Laura Spaulding, Director of Teacher Training.
Yoga East, Inc.
1232 E. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40204
502-585-9642
email

Applications for the next scholarship will be posted August 31, 2010. The deadline to apply is January 1, 2011, and the scholarship will be awarded August 1, 2011 for the teacher training program beginning September 2011.  Interested students should phone Laura Spaulding at 502-585-9642 to get more information.

Employment Prospects for Yoga Teachers
U.S. Department of Labor Occupation Outlook Handbook for Yoga Instructors (fitness workers). Individuals interested in teaching yoga should read the Department of Labor's information.

The best way to become a yoga teacher is to be a serious student.
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. In the not-so-distant past, a yoga student carefully chose a teacher and practiced with that teacher for a long time. The teacher determined when and if a student was ready to teach.  Students are drawn to accomplished teachers who can skillfully guide students through the postures. Teachers should set high standards for themselves in both their practice and personal life.  Students look up to the teacher for inspiration and guidance.

About Our Yoga Explorations Courses.
Our Level I 200 hour course is based on instruction given by our founder, Maja Trigg. The course is intended to give yoga students an opportunity to study the tradition of yoga and learn about yoga in more depth than is usually taught in general classes. Our 500 hour Level II course is for yoga practitioners who already have a 200 hour registration. It provides additional instruction in the yoga tradition as well as how to confidently teach the elderly, pregnant women, and students with injuries and physical challenges.

Note: Our Yoga Explorations Courses are not Ashtanga, Iyengar or Anusara teacher training. These yoga systems have specific teacher training requirements.  If you are seeking training in these styles please consult the information below.

Ashtanga Yoga Training
In the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, no teacher training courses or programs are recognized. To become an Ashtanga Teacher one is required to go to India and practice in the presence of the teacher for a long period of time.  As stated on the website of KPJAYI: In order to become a teacher of ashtanga yoga the aspirant should demonstrate an appropriate attitude, devotion towards the practice, and a respect for the tradition of parampara, the succession of teacher and disciple. Click here for more information about Ashtanga Yoga teacher qualifications.

Anusara Yoga Training
Go to the Anusara website.

Iyengar Yoga Training
Go to the Iyengar Yoga National Association US website.

Requirements for Yoga Teacher Trainers
Merely graduating from a teacher training course does not authorize you to train yoga teachers or teach yoga teacher training courses.  At a minimum you should meet Yoga Alliance ERYT-500 requirements before training yoga teachers.

A teacher training course will not turn you into a yoga teacher. Long years of practice, dedication to yoga, respect for the tradition of yoga, humility about your own abilities, and the blessings of your own teacher will make you a teacher.

Employment Opportunities at Yoga East
Click here.

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.